m-bike.org

Author: Todd Scott

  • North Corktown pump track under construction

    Corktown Pump Track constructionThis weekend a pump track is being built in the North Corktown neighborhood near MLK and Trumbull.

    What is a pump track? From the Corktown Pump Track page on Facebook:

    A pump track is a continuous dirt loop, similar to a BMX track but smaller, which can be ridden by cyclists of all ages and skill levels safely. They require little maintenance, promote healthy living & exercise and can beautify & transform a small space. This particular pump track was inspired by the wonderful kids that live in the direct vicinity of this location.

    But to really get an understanding of it, you may want to a watch a video of someone riding a pump track.

    The construction begins tomorrow, November 14th at 10am. They hoping to have it completed and rideable by Sunday.

    This is a great location for a bike-related attraction. It’ll be on the Corktown/Mexicantown Greenlink, which includes bike lanes on MLK and Trumbull.

    This is also on the same block as the Spirit of Hope which had a blessing of the bikes earlier this year.

    So, how many major cities have a pump track located just a few blocks away from their central business district, a major casino, and a number of urban farms with chickens, goats, and hogs?

    Riding in Detroit is not always pretty, but it’s always pretty interesting.

  • State Park funding bills pass Senate!

    The state park funding (aka Recreation Passport) legislation, Senate Bills 388 & 389 , were adopted by the full Senate this morning with a vote of 24-11 and? 23-12?respectively. Now both bills go to the full House for a vote in the near future.

    This vote was a major step forward towards sustainable state park funding.

    There’s no knowing how the House will vote, though we did seem to have good support for similar legislation in the House’s Great Lakes and Environment committee.

  • Artificially low speed limits on trails

    The Spinal Column is reporting on new trail signs for the Milford Trail through the village of Milford. According to the article, these signs include a will “post a speed limit of 10 miles per hour.”

    Apparently they are only follow the same rules set forth by the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority.

    Whenever a usable and designated path has been provided near a roadway, cyclists, hikers, joggers, runners and in-line skaters shall use that path and shall not use the roadway. However, the speed limit on the hike-bike trails is 10 miles per hour, so cyclists riding at faster speeds shall use the roadway.

    It’s doubtful many people will observe 10 MPH limit since it’s unreasonably low and many bicycles don’t have speedometers.

    So what is the better answer?

    It’s probably to not set a speed limit at all. The trail signs would require bicyclists to yield to pedestrians, stay to the right, and avoid recklessness. That should cover everything.

    Besides, the trail should meet the AASHTO standards which calls for a minimum design speed of 20 MPH.

    Shared use paths should be designed for a selected speed that is at least as high as the preferred speed of the faster bicyclists. In general, a minimum design speed of 20 MPH should be used. Although bicyclists can travel faster that this, to do so would be inappropriate in a mixed-use setting. Design and traffic controls can be used to deter excessive speed and faster cyclists can be encouraged to use the roadway system. Lower design speeds should not be selected to artificially lower user speeds. When a downgrade exceeds 4%, or where strong prevailing tailwinds exist, a design speed of 30 MPH or more is advisable.

    If the trail is designed for safe travel at 20 MPH then it doesn’t make sense posting a speed limit at half that.

  • State Park Funding bills move towards a vote

    It is expected that Senate bills 388 and 389 for the Recreation Passport will be voted on by the Michigan Senate and House this Thursday, November 12th, 2009.

    There is a summary analysis on-line as well. This analysis provides all the details of what these bills would do if passed and signed into law. There’s also additional information (as well as media coverage links) on the Citizen’s Committee for Michigan State Parks web site.

    We urge you to please contact your state senator and state representative and ask that they support these bills to help fund our state parks.

    This funding is absolutely critical as the state parks have been kept afloat for years by relying on previous fund balances. Those fund balances are now drained. We should also note that since 2004, no state taxpayer money has gone towards our state parks.

    This funding would also be a huge boost to Michigan trails, not only in state parks, but in state forests as well. Those trails are significantly unfunded.

  • Quick primer on bike lanes

    New York City’s DOT recently put together this great video which shows the variety of bicycling facilities they are building.

    Since most people in Metro Detroit are unfamiliar with most, if not all of these bicycling facilities, this really provides a great introduction.

    Are you living in a “world-class cycling city?” If you aren’t then why not forward this video to your mayor, city council, planning commission, or road commission?

    One also item worth noting: NYC DOT has at least four non-motorized project managers. Jealous.