m-bike.org

Author: Todd Scott

  • “We see the bike as a solution”

    Minnesota Public Radio has an interesting article on the first national summit of Major Taylor bike clubs also known as the National Brotherhood of Cyclists.

    The event was a chance to ride, give away bikes, and promote the message that bicycling has a valuable role in African-American communities despite what some may think.

    Anthony Taylor, one of the festival organizers and one of the founders of the Major Taylor Bicycling Club of Minnesota, said you often hear the phrase “black people don’t swim” in the African American community.

    “Of course they swim, but in America we hear it all the time. It has become the truth and so now you see kids who say black folks don’t swim. That’s a barrier to living better, living healthier,” Taylor said.

    Taylor said a similar myth has developed around biking. He said many African Americans just don’t see biking as something that black people do.

    “And we have to say that isn’t true, because I know the African American community is focused on improving their quality of life, improving their health, and we see the bike as a solution to that,” he said.

    We think it would be quite valuable bringing this  national summit to Detroit in the near future, especially given the recent progress on the Underground Railroad bicycle routes coming to Detroit.

    We’ll make that recommendation to our local Major Taylor Club, the Metro Detroit Cycling Club.

    We’re not sure how much Major Taylor raced in Detroit. However, one of his biggest nemesis was Detroit Athletic Club racer and national champion Tom Cooper. And off the track, Cooper was a racist who tried banning Taylor from racing.

    Cooper did race against Taylor for the 1901 American Championship held in front of 10,000 New York fans at Madison Square Gardens. Taylor wrote in his autobiography, “If ever a race was run for blood this one was.”

    Cooper lost in a remarkably huge manner and refused to shake Taylor’s hand at the end.

    Perhaps this result encouraged Cooper to retire from bicycle racing and jump into auto racing (eventually with Henry Ford.)

  • Wayne State University bike parking map

    There’s been much discussion in the city of Detroit lately about adding more bike parking.

    And during that discussion, we were sent this interesting link from Wayne State University. It shows bike racks on campus and around the perimeter. Clicking on the rack icon makes a window pop up with additional location information. Neat.

  • Hamtramck supports Complete Streets

    Last week, Hamtramck City Council unanimously passed the below Complete Streets resolution.

    But don’t expect the city to complete any streets in the near term. City Council is also halting all non-emergency work by their public works department as they explore the possibility of declaring bankruptcy.

    Their financial issues are really a shame because they have been doing some interesting master planning. Their preliminary recommendation presentation (from July 28, 2010) included these transportation goals:

    Make Hamtramck’s streets and sidewalks safer and more accessible for drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists. Improve right of ways to promote the city’s image, create a more pleasant public realm, and strengthen connections between neighborhoods. Create better transit connections within Hamtramck and to/from locations outside the city.

    It’d be nice maker Hamtramck roads safer for all, including bicyclists and those new Chevy Volts made just down the road.

    RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (MDOT) COMPLETE STREETS INITIATIVE AS OUTLINED IN PUBLIC ACT 134, AND PUBLIC ACT 135, OF 2010.

    WHERAS, increasing walking and bicycling offers improved health benefits for the population and more livable communities; and

    WHERAS, a Complete Street is safe, comfortable, and convenient for travel by automobile, foot, bicycle, and transit regardless of age or ability, and

    WHERAS, the Michigan Legislature has passed Complete Streets legislation that requires the Michigan Department of Transportation and local governments to consider all users in transportation related projects; and

    WHERAS, Complete Streets support economic growth and community stability by providing accessible and efficient connections between home, school, work, recreation, and retail destinations by improving pedestrian and vehicular environments throughout communities; and

    WHERAS, Complete Streets enhance safe walking and bicycling options for school-age children, in recognition of the national Safe Routes to School program; and

    WHERAS, the City of Hamtramck recognizes the importance of street infrastructure and modifications such as sidewalks, crosswalks, shared use paths, bicycle lanes, signage, and accessible curb ramps, that enable safe, convenient, and comfortable travel for all users; and

    NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the city council of the city of Hamtramck, Wayne County, Michigan that:

    FIRST: to the extent feasible, the City of Hamtramck will incorporate Complete Streets design considerations and practices as a routine part of infrastructure and planning and implementation; and

    SECOND: that the City of Hamtramck supports the continued development of the City’s Master Plan, Infrastructure Plan, and Parks and Recreation Plan, that supports the ease of use, safety, and accessibility for all users within the City of Hamtramck.

    PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE  CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF HAMTRAMCK, WAYNE COUNTY, MICHIGAN THIS 9th DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2010.

    AYES: Gordon, Hassan, Jankowski, Miah, Stackpoole

    NAYS: None

    ABSTENTIONS: None

    ABSENT: Ahmed

  • Snyder puts likely allies in his cabinet

    Michigan’s next governor has been making some intriguing appointments that initially look favorable to biking and trails.

    According to Crain’s Detroit Business, Bill Rustem will serve as the director of strategy.

    Rustem will help implement the policies and initiatives needed to reinvent Michigan, Snyder’s spokesman said.

    “Bill understands how to implement good policy and make government more responsive to the people it serves,” Snyder said in a statement. “Bill will help my administration implement the vision to reinvent state government so it brings value to people’s lives.”

    Rustem served as Milliken’s chief staff adviser on environmental matters and as interim director of the Toxic Substances Control Commission. Milliken was widely regarded as a moderate Republican. Rustem was also instrumental in the 1976 campaign for Michigan’s bottle deposit law and helped create Michigan’s Natural Resources Trust Fund. He is an adjunct professor at Michigan State University.

    And as we noted earlier, Rustem was also a board member of the Michigan chapter of the Rails to Trails Conservancy.

    Could he help us connect Complete Streets, trails, urban renewal, and youth retention within the governor’s office?

    Another Crain’s article reveal Dennis Muchmore’s appointment as chief of staff.

    His background includes previously serving as executive director of the Michigan United Conservation Clubs, vice president at the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, and as a member of Oakland University‘s board of trustees. Muchmore currently is on the state’s Climate Action Council and is chair of the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund board.

    Yes, another Trust Fund person and someone who understands DNRE issues — this is good.

    We’ve spoken in the past with Muchmore and he’s expressed his interest in bringing Trust Fund dollars to urban trail projects.

  • Sign of the times: Removing 15 traffic signals

    There’s been much discussion on Detroit’s overbuilt roads. The loss of people and their cars not to mention the construction of the Interstates has left the city’s streets feeling bare — an excellent condition for bicycling.

    In that same vein, many of Detroit’s traffic controls are no longer appropriate for the low traffic volumes.

    So in response, the Detroit City Council is considering the removal of 15 traffic lights tomorrow:

    Brown, reso. autho. Traffic Signal Removal at 15 locations.  (There are fifteen (15) signalized intersections that are currently operating on full time “STOP control” mode for more than a year in compliance with the Michigan Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MMUTCD) and are scheduled for removal due to changes in traffic conditions.)

    It seems some of these traffic lights haven’t been working for a while. Public Works has put up stop signs in their place.

    And hopefully this removal effort is just a start. We’re guessing there are ten times more traffic lights that could be removed in Detroit.

    This could make biking in the city just a tad quicker.