m-bike.org

Author: Todd Scott

  • Another Cyclist Hit-and-Run in Fort Gratiot

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    Michael Eckert, a 50-year old cyclist and assistant managing editor of the Times Herald was struck in a hit-and-run in St. Clair County.

    According to an article in the Times Herald:

    Police said the vehicle involved is believed to be a mid-sized, purple Pontiac that may have damage to the passenger side front door. The driver is believed to have fled the scene of the accident north on Pollina Road.

    Eckert’s wife, Theresa, said a man found Eckert lying by the side of the road and called 911. She said one of Eckert’s shoes was found 200 feet from his bike.

    Eckert sustained multiple broken ribs, a broken clavicle, a collapsed lung and there was a problem with the vertebrae in his neck. Eckert was able to speak, however, Theresa Eckert said.

    According to one commenter on the Times Herald web site, Eckert rode with lights on his bike: “He does wear red led flashers and a headlight while riding, See him every night.”

    If you have any information, please call the sheriff department at (810) 985-8115

  • Crashes and Fatalities are not “fun” facts

    Tom Greenwood of the Detroit News writes a decent column about commuting, but he’s kicking off 2009 on a sour note.

    It’s the first day of 2009, so let’s start the year with some fun famous first facts concerning cars, roads and traffic.

    Greenwood’s first “fun” fact is the first car crash occurred in 1896 when a motorist hit a bicyclist.

    His second “fun” fact was in 1899 when a motorist killed a pedestrian — the first fatality caused by a car.

    Injury crashes and fatalities are not fun and should not be trivialized.

    We reminded him that in Michigan last year, motorists struck 2,160 bicyclists (18 fatalities) and killed 133 pedestrians.

    Tom Greenwood can be contacted at commuter@detnews.com, (313) 222-2023 or by writing to The Detroit News, 615 W. Lafayette, Detroit, MI 48226.

  • Biking Between Windsor and Detroit

    detroit-riverBikes are not allowed on the Ambassador Bridge or in the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel.  They certainly aren’t allowed on the railroad tunnel beneath the Detroit River.

    If you’re lucky, you might be able to talk the Truck Ferry operator into a ride.

    Or you can take the Windsor Transit Tunnel Bus.  But, unlike all the other buses in the Windsor fleet, you aren’t allowed to use the bus bike rack.  You must disassemble your bike, put it in a bag, and carry it on the bus — not a practical solution.

    Groups like Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision (SDEV) and MTGA are working to add a better option with the proposed new bridge over the Detroit River.  (The bridge is more properly called the Detroit River International Crossing or DRIC.)

    The Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) says:

    The new bridge over the Detroit River and the plaza will be engineered to accommodate bicycles and pedestrians. U.S. Customs and Border Protection and its Canadian counterpart (Customs and Border Services Agency) will determine whether this traffic is allowed.

    That’s a great start.  MTGA and others have submitted comments in support of making the new bridge a practical non-motorized connection between Windsor and Detroit.

    Imagine the boost to cycling tourism.  Imagine how valuable an international connection would be between two cities both developing bike and greenway networks.  Imagine the Tour d’Troit heading over to Windsor on a new bridge.

    The FEIS also includes more good news:

    Bike lanes will be added to both sides of Jefferson Avenue and Clark Street, linking the Rouge River Gateway Master Plan Trail and potentially the proposed West Riverfront Greenway. Non-motorized paths will be included in the buffer zone surrounding the plaza.

    Some of our friends in Windsor are also pushing for this crossing as well.

    In the meantime, efforts are underway to determine if and how the Transit Windsor Tunnel Bus could better accomodate bikes.

    EDIT: There is a Yahoo! discussion group dedicated to this topic.

  • Duh! Obesity and Transportation are Linked

    by Austrian artist Erwin Wurm
    by Austrian artist Erwin Wurm

    A recent study by the University of Tennessee’s Obesity Research Center documents the relationship between obesity rates and active transportation (i.e. biking, walking, and public transit.)

    The study’s lead author, David Bassett, co-director of the Obesity Research Center and professor in the Department of Exercise, Sport and Leisure Studies, said more people are thinking about transportation issues to save gas and money. On top of that, Americans are obsessed with losing weight, and the latest statistics show about one in three U.S. adults are obese.

    “Many people blame this on things like technology, TV, Internet and sedentary jobs, but what we found was that there are other industrialized nations who have similar, high standards of living, who do not suffer from obesity to nearly the same extent that the U.S. does,” he said. “I truly believe that the transportation modes in various countries are important in explaining international differences in obesity rates.”

    This study’s results are just another justification for building more biking and walking infrastructure in Metro Detroit.

    And it also supports the Safe Routes to School concept, especially given the amount of childhood obesity in Michigan.  In 2007, 12% of children in Michigan were obese (>20% overweight.)

    Unfortunately many of those responsible for transportation decisions have little experience or background in health.  Improving community health is not on their radar.  But one thing road engineers are good are is understanding numbers — and this study provides them.

    • In 2000, Europeans walked an average of 239 miles per person per year.  Americans walked 88 miles. And while Europeans biked 118 miles per year on average, Americans rode only 25 miles.
    • In Atlanta, every hour per day spent driving was associated with a 6 percent increase in the likelihood of being obese.

    One caveat is the results do not prove causality.  However, the authors note the results “suggest that active transportation could be one of the factors that explain international differences in obesity rates.”

  • Public Workshop for Tri-Centennial State Park

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    From the DNR:

    The Department of Natural Resources Parks and Recreation Division cordially invites you to participate in a Public Workshop on Wednesday, January 14, 2009.

    We Need Your Help Planning the Recreation Design and Programming for Tri-Centennial State Park and Harbor.

    Tri-Centennial State Park and Harbor, located on the Detroit River between Rivard and St. Aubin Streets, is a work in progress. We need your help to complete this park’s recreation plan! Please join the community for a two hour workshop to help decide the future recreation development of Michigan’s only urban state park. Come to share your ideas for this state park.

    Where?

    Christ Church of Detroit, Ledyard Hall
    960 E. Jefferson (Use the Woodbridge St. entrance)
    Detroit, MI 48207

    When?

    Wednesday, January 14, 2009 (Alternate date in case of severe weather is January 21). Choose the time option that works best for you!

    • Option 1: 3– 5 p.m.
    • Option 2: 7– 9 p.m.

    Please R.S.V.P. by January 6, 2009, either by email at SenkoL1@michigan.gov, or phone at 517-373-9900. Seating is limited, so be sure to R.S.V.P. and reserve your opportunity to participate!

    Group organizations/clubs are requested to limit their member participation to two (2) representatives, to allow as many organizations and individuals to participate as possible. If you cannot attend, you can still share your comments by sending them to: DNR-Tri-Centennial@michigan.gov.

    Light refreshments will be provided.