m-bike.org

Author: Todd Scott

  • Detroit Bike Shorts for June 7th

    Here are various bike-related updates from around the state and Metro Detroit area —

    Model D Speaker Series: Urban Mobility

    If you missed this event, don’t worry. Jason Rzucidlo has a nice writeup with photos.

    Of course, Model D also covered the event.

    Marja Winters, deputy director of the city’s Planning and Development department, said non-motorized transit options are an essential component to the mayor’s Detroit Works Project. Credit the growing movement across the country to urban areas, often for the diversity of options a city affords. “The quality of place is becoming the number one determining factor,” she said. “And ranking high in the decision-making process is the notion of alternative forms of transit.”

    We probably would not have heard similar quotes from Detroit’s planning department just a few years ago. This really signals the great deal of progress and increased awareness that has happened during that time.

    Bicycle Friendly State rankings

    Michigan continues to drop in the state rankings developed by the League of American Bicyclists. The Mitten state is now ranked 22nd and was given a “D”.

    This 10 spot drop since 2008 is likely attributable to new ranking criteria and the lack of progress in key areas — progress that other states have made. Michigan received an “F” score in the categories of Infrastructure, Evaluation & Planning, and Enforcement.

    Ride challenge for MDOT Director

    With the U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood biking to work yesterday, we suggested MDOT’s Director Kirk Steudle could do the same via Twitter.

    @michigandot OK Director Steudle. You’re next and please post pics  http://t.co/hVNYoFs

    MDOT responded with “I forwarded your tweet to Dir. Steudle to let him know. Thanks! ”

    GM’s Akerson calls for fuel tax increase

    The unwillingness in Washington DC and Lansing to increase fuel taxes has helped led to a transportation funding crisis. (Yeah, sprawl and the lack of regional planning in Metro Detroit are factors as well.)

    Bill Ford Jr. has previously advocated for a fuel tax increase. Now, so to has GM’s CEO Dan Akerson according to this Detroit News article.

    A government-imposed tax hike, Akerson believes, will prompt more people to buy small cars and do more good for the environment than forcing automakers to comply with higher gas-mileage standards.

    “You know what I’d rather have them do — this will make my Republican friends puke — as gas is going to go down here now, we ought to just slap a 50-cent or a dollar tax on a gallon of gas,” Akerson said.

    “People will start buying more Cruzes and they will start buying less Suburbans.”

    An increased fuel tax can also encourage more people to bike, walk, and use public transit, while providing improved funding.

    I-275 Metro Trail

    There was a reopening ceremony for a portion of the I-275 bike path on Saturday. We weren’t there, but the Detroit Free Press was. The I-275 path will continue to be expanded northward as the southern portion is rebuilt and reopened. You can stray up to date with the progress by visiting the Friends of the I-275 Pathway on Facebook.

    Michigan Airlines Rail-Trail

    The Spinal Column is reporting that the Surface Transportation Board has denied a quick abandonment for the rail corridor that many hope will soon become a trail.

    STB board members denied Michigan Air-Line Railway’s petition because it didn’t “provide the Board with sufficient evidence regarding the revenues and costs associated with the line, thereby making it impossible to determine what burden, if any, (Michigan Air-Line) Railway incurs in continuing to operate the line.”

    Nevertheless, Michigan Air-Line Railway still hopes to get the STB’s approval to abandon the railroad, therefore allowing the trail project to move forward.

    “We’re still moving forward with the grant applications,” said Commerce Township Planner Kathleen Jackson. “The NRTF board doesn’t make the grant decision until December, and (Michigan Air-Line Railway) hopes to have an answer by then.”

    We do hope this gets resolved prior to the Natural Resource Trust Fund grant decision is made in December. This is the third attempt at getting this grant which will help pay for most of the property.

  • Who knows the rules of the road?

    Motorists don’t understand the laws

    The Oakland Press ran an article on Keith Riege, owner of the Paint Creek Bicycles in Lake Orion. The Oakland Press’ focus on bicycle safety certainly isn’t going to help bike sales. The words “death”, “killed”, and “hit” appear a total of 14 times.

    “People drive by, yell, swing their car door open, throw bottles or come up right behind you, put their car in neutral and gun their engine to scare you,” said Riege. “People don’t think bikes should be in the road at all.”

    Riege said he rides on the side of the road because all of his near-death experiences have occurred on sidewalks.

    “I was almost killed last summer. I got to the entrance of the senior center, and I went to go across the sidewalk. A car turned right in. How could they not see me? They were traveling the same direction I was,” he said. “My life flashed before my eyes, and the vehicle just kept going.”

    Riege said, when he talks to anybody who rides a bike on a regular basis, “most everyone has been hit.”

    Bill Gilboe, a mechanic at Paint Creek Bicycles, said he has been hit about seven times while riding his bicycle.

    This article inaccurately paints cycling as a great way to get hit, if not killed.

    Bicyclists don’t follow the laws

    The Detroit News printed a half-baked letter to the editor on bicycles.

    I agree with the bumper stickers I saw last year, depicting cars and bicycles that said: “Same road, same rules.”

    Yes, they are the same rules. Under Michigan law, use of a vehicle negates the “pedestrian” right of way. In other words, if you choose to ride a bike in the road, you have to obey the rules of the road. Such rules are seldom followed by anyone other than the “professional” bike riders (the ones with reflectors, helmets and even electronic signals), and I’ve never seen the laws enforced by police.

    Huh? Bicycles are not vehicles in Michigan. Bicycles are not pedestrians.  And bicyclists “seldom” follow the rules other than professionals with electronic signals? Really!

    And please, can we stop using those incorrect “same roads” bumper stickers from the out-dated vehicular cycling movement?

    From turn signaling to vulnerable user legislation, we want different rules. Rules that make bicycling more efficient and safe. We want to see the Idaho rolling stop law in Michigan as well, which Mia Birk recently wrote about. It’s time for new stickers.

    American’s don’t know the rules of the road

    According to a CNN Money report:

    More than one in five Americans — some 36.9 million — are not fit to drive and would fail a driving test if asked to take one today, according to a new survey of the nation’s drivers.

    According to GMAC Insurance, which conducted the survey, the results mean that a great number of people on the road still lack basic driving knowledge, an ignorance that leads to dangerous driving habits.

    For example, a full 85% of those surveyed could not identify the correct action to take when approaching a steady yellow traffic light.

    Michigan ranked 20th among states with an average of 78.3% correct answers, just a slight bit higher than the 77.9% national average.

    If this survey is accurate, why are twenty-some percent of Michigan drivers still on the road? Is GMAC Insurance denying coverage to this failing group?

    Or is real life more like the “Mayhem” commercials from Allstate Insurance where you can drive distracted, make poor decisions, and if you crash, the other policy holders have you covered.

    Google knows the rules of the road

    Google is continuing their research on self-driving cars. They are lobbying for legislation in Nevada to make self-driving cars legal.

    While the concept sounds scary at first, imagine cars that didn’t speed or run you off the road? With Google’s vow to do no evil, this might not be a bad idea.

  • Inaugural Detroit Parks and Trails Day is June 4th, 2011

    Last week City Council unanimously passed a resolution endorsing a Detroit Parks and Trail Day.

    Detroit Parks and Trails Day will be held in conjunction with National Trails Day on the first Saturday in June (June 4, 2011). This is a perfect day for Detroiters to come out and celebrate Detroit’s vast parks and trails. This can be done in many forms from playing a ball game to cleaning up the park. The key is that the green space is being celebrated and utilized!

    On Facebook, Evan Major suggesting visiting some of Detroit’s west side parks and trails.

    Be sure and check out the mountain bike trail at Rouge Park and the Nature Trail at Eliza Howell! Friends of the Rouge Friends of Eliza Howell Park Great views of the river from both!

    While we don’t have a final copy of the official resolution, we do have any earlier draft on which the official version was based.

    (more…)

  • Downriver Highriders and Kid Rock

    Kid Rock’s video for “Roll On” features numerous Detroit landmarks, cars, and a whole like of bicycles.

    This weekend while on the RiverWalk I met the the cyclists who were featured in the video. They’re from the Downriver Highriders and hail from Southwest Detroit, River Rouge, Ecorse and other downriver communities. (It also looks like some Eastside Riders might be in the video too.)

    They were quick to note that they ride everywhere.

    Groups like the Highriders and Eastside Riders are quite a contrast from the typical cycling clubs found in the Metro Detroit suburbs. They’re not about racing or going fast or wearing leotards. They’re just about riding and having a good time, something that is more appealing to the general population.

    It’s also why they’re in a Kid Rock video.

    If you want to join the Highriders, they have a Facebook page with more information. The Eastside Riders Bike Club also have a Facebook page.

  • Update on Milliken State Park and Globe Building

    The Associated Press is reporting on the DNR’s plans to build an adventure and discovery center in the historic Globe Building located on the Dequindre Cut and Detroit RiverWalk.

    Anthes said the DNR is aiming to open the activity center in the fall of 2012, and it’s working with the Detroit Economic Growth Corp. and the developer, Troy-based Labor Management Fund Advisors. The developer is seeking at least one more occupant for the remainder of the building, and is working out financing for the balance of the project.

    Besides the rock-climbing wall and zip lines, planners also envision an interpretive forest, archery range and classroom space in the gutted but structurally sound building. Anthes said they also are considering a kayak simulation ride as a rider might have on the river across the street.

    Anthes said they haven’t found anything quite like it nationally, and it makes sense to create such a center in the largest city of the Great Lakes State.

    Perhaps the most exciting new information is the anticipated opening date of fall 2012.

    As we’ve said before, this project will bring tremendous value to this area and these trails. It will become a major destination for Detroiters as well as tourists.

    There are two previous m-bike articles from 2010 that discussed the globe building and grant funding.