m-bike.org

Author: Todd Scott

  • Snyder Team responds to comments on bike bridge

    We submitted comments on gubernatorial candidate Rick Synder’s web site regarding his comments on the US23 pedestrian bridge.

    We noted that the true inefficiencies in Michigan transportation lie in the structure. There are 50-some communities in Oakland County alone that receive road funding. There is significant room for consolidation.

    We also noted that there are 81 county road commissions which are separate from county government, many if not all of which are not beholden to the public.

    This is the response we received:

    Thank you for your inquiry.  I would like to clarify that Rick does not oppose bike trails.  He is a big supporter of bikeable and walkable cities.  What Rick said during the debate is that we need to prioritize funds better.  Despite the fact that he is supportive of building new bike bridges, he thinks that it is a higher priority to reinforce dangerously crumbling bridges that thousands of people drive over every day.

    The point you make about non accountable agencies is an interesting one.  I am not intimately familiar with how Rick’s ideas for transportation reform but I can tell you that he is committed to bringing greater efficiency and common sense to MDOT and transportation in Michigan as a whole.

    Please continue to follow Rick’s campaign and let us know if we can be of any assistance to you.

    Sincerely,

    The Reinvent Michigan Team

    There’s a clear need to educate candidates such as Rick Snyder and others on the efficiency benefits of consolidation within Michigan’s transportation funding environment.

    One first step would be to make it easier for counties to have their own road agencies and eliminate their county road commissions. This consolidation would eliminate duplicate administration and make them accountable to elected officials. It would also bring together county planning with road planning, which could result in significant savings through proper land use planning.

    However, under current state law this consolidation is prohibited for all but two counties — Wayne and Macomb. State law also requires counties to become charter counties first, something that takes significant time and money.

    And when Macomb County adopted a charter a year ago, 64% of their voters also chose to dissolve their road commission.

    We should make it easier for voters in the other 81 Michigan counties to consolidate and save taxpayer money.

  • Detroit Alleycat & human-powered haircuts

    Don’t expect normal.

    Omnicorp Detroit hosted an Halloween-themed alleycat yesterday that ended with complementary human-powered haircuts. Yeah, turn the pedals and make that hair clipper buzz.

    Trust us, it worked, but you may not want to try trimming your leg hair as you pedal.

    Outside Omnicorp Detroit in Eastern Market
    A custom chopper rides through the Market
    Announcing the alleycat winners
    Human-powered haircuts!

  • Detroit nearly banned bicycling in bloomers

    Amelia Bloomer – underwear advocate

    The good old days when government was smaller and didn’t interfere in everyones personal lives…

    From the web site Jolique, which has an exhaustive amount of information on bicycling and bloomers:

    Although both bloomers and bicycles were gaining popularity for women by the late nineteenth century, for some they were a dangerous combination. Many opposed both bicycling and bloomer-wearing on the bases of morality and a concern for the public good. For example, some opponents believed that by wearing “male dress” (i.e., bifurcated garments, later called “rational dress” or “alternative dress” by dress reform advocates) women would adopt other masculine traits, such as the desire for other women.

    There was opposition to bloomers in Detroit, too.

    It was Feburary 16th, 1897 during the Golden Age of Bicycling.

    Detroit City Council had the third reading of some very critical legislation: “An ordinance to prohibit obstructing the views of persons in theaters halls or opera houses where theatrical performances are given and to provide a penalty therefor.”

    Alderman Batchelder offered substitute language for this ordinance.

    Sec 1. Any person who shall wear upon his or her head any hat bonnet or other covering for he head or wear sleeves which obstructs the view of any person or persons in any theater opera house or other place or building wnere theatrical or other performances are given where an admission fee is charged or in any church during services therein or in any restaurant during a feed

    And any female bicycle rider caught wearing bloomers in the public streets or any street car conductor found flirting with female passengers while in the active performance of his duty as such shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and shall on conviction thereof for each offense pay a tine of not more than $10 nor less than $2

    Apparently Batchelder had no issue with men bicycling in bloomers.

    Nonetheless, there was no support for his substitute language and his proposal died. Female bicyclists in Detroit could still ride in bloomers (and flirty streetcar conductors were given a reprieve.)

    The ordinance which penalized those obstructing views in theater halls and operas also failed on a 10-20 vote.

    And people complain about today’s Detroit city council?

  • Happy Halloween — and watch out for Alice

    Detroiter Alice Cooper showed off his bike handling skills in this clip from the movie Prince of Darkness. No more Mr. Nice Guy.

    So be a little extra careful if you’re riding your bike around town and have a safe Halloween.

  • A couple Detroit Halloween rides

    With the weather taking a turn towards colder temperatures, it’s a great time to pull on a Halloween costume and bike with others.

    There are two rides this weekend in Detroit.

    Friday is the Critical Mass ride — this month called the Detroit Critical Massquerade. As usual, the ride leaves from Trumbull and Warren at around 7pm.

    Saturday at 2pm is the Devils Night Alley Rat Costumed Bike Race. That ride meets outside The United Specialty Produce Door at 1501 Division near Riopelle in Eastern Market.

    According to the flyer, there are “Trophies for Podium, DFL” and “Awards for Best/Worst Costume.”