m-bike.org

Author: Todd Scott

  • Getting bike racks on DDOT buses

    SMART bus bike rackSMART buses have them. Lansing CATA buses do too. Flint and Marquette buses are getting them thanks to recent MDOT grants.

    So why don’t DDOT buses in Detroit have bike racks?

    One big reason is they haven’t received many requests from their customers for them. That’s something we can change.

    If having bike racks on DDOT buses is something you would use, please contact DDOT to let them know. Your options include:

    • Writing them a letter (DDOT, 1301 E. Warren Ave, Detroit, MI 48207)
    • Calling their customer service line at 313-933-1300.
    • Attending the upcoming DTOGS public open house on May 7th at Wayne State. Talk with the DDOT officials about bike racks on buses. The DTOGS plan would allow bikes on the trains.
    • Testifying at the City budget hearing on May 8th, 5:00 PM, Coleman A. Young Center, 13th floor. Ask City Council for more money than what the Mayor has recommended to help pay for bus bike racks. This gets the message to City Council and the Mayor’s office.
    • Speaking about it at the monthly Customer Comment meetings, which are every third Thursday, 5pm at DDOT, 1301 E. Warren Ave, Detroit, MI 48207.
    • Attending the monthly DDOT Advisory Commission meetings, which are held every third Wednesday at 10 am at DDOT, 1301 E. Warren Ave, Detroit, MI 48207.  You have the opportunity to bring it up during the open public comment period near the end of the meeting.

    Make sure you’re clear about requesting bike racks on the buses versus just installing bike racks at the bus stops.  And, the more times and ways DDOT hears this message, the better our chances for success.

    It should also be noted that there was initial opposition from SMART officials for their bike racks. Some of those who originally opposed them are now singing their praises. The rack usage was “far greater” than what they anticipated. It was a noted reasons for their increased ridership. SMART has even discussed upgrading their current 2-bike racks to 3-bike racks.

    As for funding, MDOT’s Transportation Enhancements grants program has funded bus bike racks in other Michigan cities. Increased ridership can help offset any additional maintenance that these racks require.

  • New Detroit Greenways Coordinator Announced

    Below is a recent press release from the Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance.  I am quite thrilled to be in this new position and look forward to helping implement trails within the City of Detroit.

    Michigan Trails and Greenways AllianceNew Detroit Greenways Coordinator: A Boost to City Trails

    Detroit’s greenways, existing and in the works, will get a boost with a new greenways coordinator set to begin today.   A lead grant from the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan for $20,000 was awarded to Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance (MTGA) to provide the mechanism for coordination and collaboration among eight individual non-profit groups with greenways in various stages of implementation within the City of Detroit.

    MTGA has contracted with Todd Scott from Royal Oak to serve in the position.  Todd was formerly Executive Director of Michigan Mountain Biking Association and has held numerous advisory positions related to trails and on-road bicycling, including the Citizen’s Committee for Michigan State Parks, Oakland Trails Advisory Council, MDOT Metro Region Nonmotorized Advisory Committee, City of Ferndale Bicycle Committee, and the League of Michigan Bicyclists.  “Todd’s skilled advocacy, wealth of knowledge about nonmotorized transportation and recreation, and understanding of and enthusiasm for the revitalization of Detroit are key ingredients that he brings to this project,” stated Nancy Krupiarz, Executive Director of MTGA.  Todd has spent a great deal of time in the City, as a recreational participant and an advocate, and he is passionate about the economic, health, and transportation benefits that an interconnected greenway system will bring to the area.” (more…)

  • Bike to Work with Lila and Fox2 News

    Bike giveawayAmerican Cycle and Fitness is expanding on their 2007 Ride to Work Day this May 14th. Rather than just one ride, they’ll have three. You can register for free and one rider will win a Trek 7100 commuter bike.

    The ride from Walled Lake will include LIla Lazarus from Fox 2.

    From their web site, the three rides on May 14th are::

    Note that these rides are weather permitting, so keep watching the American Cycle and Fitness web site for updates. There will be rides back to the stores at the end of the day.

  • Getting Started on Biking to Work

    Bike to Work Day in DetroitThere is no better time to start riding your bike to work and elsewhere with today’s high gas prices and great weather.

    To help answer any questions you might have, consider attending REI’s free upcoming Bike Commuting workshop on May 14th at 7pm at their Troy Store. Here’s their plug:

    Save thousands of dollars per year, improve your physical and mental well-being, and never get stuck in traffic.

    These are all benefits we have realized by commuting to work by bike. Would you like to ride your bike to work? Do you think there are too many impediments to make this a reality? Join our year-round bike commuters at this free clinic designed to help you eliminate the reasons for driving a car to work. Richard Knakal and James Kimball have been navigating the suburban jungle of roadways to commute by bike to work for over 40 years combined. With experiences derived from commuting in Metro Detroit, Minnesota, Colorado, Arizona, and Washington they have the expertise to provide you with information you need to make your bike commute both successful and enjoyable.

    Don’t forget that Detroit Synergy’s Bike to Work days are coming up at the end of May.

    • May 16th – Royal Oak – via Woodward
    • May 23rd – Dearborn – via Michigan
    • May 30th – Grosse Pointe – via Kercheval/E. Jefferson

  • Donating your bike in Metro Detroit

    Unlike car dealerships, most bike shops don’t take in used bikes towards a new one.

    Those with nice bikes in good working condition often sell them at swap meets, in on-line classified ads, or on eBay. For older, used bikes, you’re usually better off donating it to a friend or a group.

    A recent Back Alley Bikes/Trips for Kids Detroit rideBack Alley Bikes

    There are at least a couple good groups looking for bikes in the Metro Detroit area. The first is Back Alley Bikes. They offer programs where kids can refurbish a used bike by themselves then get to keep it. They also offer bicycle repair training for adults.

    If you have a kids bike or anything with fat tires, this is a great place to donate it. They are also looking for bicycle parts, too.

    Back Alley Bikes is located on Cass at Martin Luther King. The entrance is from the alley behind the building. Just look for the painted sign.

    Re-CYCLE for Kids

    The Oakland County Sheriff’s office has developed a program as noted in this Detroit Free Press article, Bike recycling gets a push in Wixom:

    [Lighting Supply Co.’s Wixom store] is a drop-off location for the Oakland County Sheriff Office’s bike rehabilitation program, Sheriff’s Re-CYCLE for Kids. The program takes in bikes from donors and then has low-level offenders at Trusty Camp, a correctional facility, fix them up. The bikes then go to needy children.

    Lighting Supply is the only private business in all of Oakland County that has volunteered to be a drop-off site for the 2-year-old program, according to the sheriff’s office. For volunteering to be a drop-off site, the company received a community award from the City of Wixom in late February.

    The Lighting Supply Company has stores in Ferndale and Wixom.