m-bike.org

Author: Todd Scott

  • Tigers didn’t win but Fender Bender Detroit can!

    Please vote for Fender Bender Detroit and help them get valuable funding that supports bicycling in Detroit:

    Fender Bender Detroit needs your VOTE! We are on of 95 submissions in the running for a $2500.00 grant! Right now we are number three, so it’s very possible to win with your help!

    We need the most votes to win this fund, and your quick participation is essential.

    Voting is a very easy and significant way to back the work we do, and also support us in growing our space, programs, experience, and permanence in Detroit.

    Go to the link below and follow these short simple steps:

    1) Fender Bender on Good.Is

    2) Read our short submission

    3) Click on the big green/blue “VOTE” button

    4) Enter a username, and your email address

    5) Go to your email inbox and open the email sent to you.

    6) Click on the link sent in that email to confirm your vote!

    IF YOU HAVE ANY TROUBLE TRY UNTIL IT GOES THRU – some folks have said it took a couple times to register

    7) If you have time, leave any positive feedback, nice comments, thoughts, or experiences in the “discussion board” at the bottom of our profile

    Spread the GOOD word!! Forward this far and wide to anyone who can get behind this and/or interested in a space like Fender Bender.

    Any extra promotion people are willing to spend a minute putting out to their own community, neighborhood, social circles, etc. is very appreciated!

    There are only 4 days left – don’t hesitate – do it now!!

    http://empowerwomen.maker.good.is/projects/FenderBender313?sort=popular

    Thank you SO much, and lots of love,

    – Fender Bender Detroit Collective –
    Kezia, Sarah, Gemini, Loren, Ayana, Tia, and Jessi

  • Kids decorate bikes for Detroit Trunk or Treat

    From the Detroit Police:

    Come decorate your bicycle or trunk for Halloween and pass out candy!

    “Trunk or Treat” is a safe environment for kids organized by Central District Police District… Children will arrive at 5:00pm and will also receive other gifts for attending.

    When: Wednesday, October 31, 2012, 4:30pm – 7:00pm

    (Cars must arrive by 4:30pm and stay entire time for safety of children)

    Where: Central District, 7310 Woodward, Detroit, MI 48202

    Contact Officer Dorsey at (313) 587-4172 or DORSEYD832@detroitmi.gov

     

  • Putting Woodward on a serious road diet

    Woodward Avenue in Detroit between McNichols and Eight Mile is ten lanes wide and carries roughly 30,000 motor vehicles a day.

    With that traffic volume, Woodward is twice as wide as needed. That translates to:

    • Roughly twice as expensive to maintain in good repair
    • Twice as expensive to light
    • Twice as expensive to remove snow
    • Twice as much water run off flowing to storm sewers

    And wide roads are much more difficult for pedestrians to cross safely. They also encourage speeding.

    One interesting idea: change the road so that only the five northbound lanes are used. South of the Eight Mile bridge, vehicles would crossover and use a two-way 5 lane road which includes a center turn lane. Similar, but temporary crossovers are used during expressway construction when half of the road is under construction. Curbside parking would remain on the northbound curb.

    This would free up the existing five lanes of southbound Woodward for other uses?

    We imagine two lanes closest to the median would be dedicated to Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). The curb lane would be for a two-way cycletrack for bicyclists. The middle lanes could be permeable to absorb storm water and while also having space for southbound BRT stations.

    This redesign could also reduce the footprint of the overly built Woodward and McNichols intersection.

    Sound crazy? Remember that Woodward south of McNichols is effectively has six lanes during rush hour and five lanes at other times.

    It’s an idea we’ll definitely pitch during the upcoming Woodward Complete Streets planning process, scheduled to get underway very soon now.

  • Take the Birmingham bike/walk/transit survey

    Press release from the city of Birmingham. Note that the survey is intended for everyone, not just Birmingham residents:

    The City of Birmingham is in the initial stages of preparing a multi-modal transportation plan for the City. The plan will help to improve the balance between all modes of transportation, with the goal of making foot, bike and transit travel easier and safer. To help guide the project, a survey has been prepared that will be used to help identify travel patterns, preferred types of improvements and desired project outcomes. The survey takes approximately ten to fifteen minutes to complete. To access the survey please click on the following web link:

    https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BirminghamMMTP

    Alternatively, paper version of the survey may be obtained at the City Clerk’s office (located on the first floor) and the Planning Department (located on the second floor) at City Hall or the Baldwin Public Library. Completed paper surveys may be returned to the same locations or faxed to 734‐668-8820.

    The web survey will close Sunday, November 4th at 11:00 p.m.

    The results of the survey will be posted on the project webpage and be presented to the City Commission on November 12th.

    Future public input opportunities for the project include: a Visioning Workshop on Thursday, January 17th from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., and two Preliminary Plan Open House sessions on Thursday, February 28th from 3:00 to 5:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. The Visioning Workshop and the Preliminary Plan Open Houses
    will be held at the Baldwin Public Library.

    For more information on the project please contact:

    Susanna Weckerle
    Assistant City Planner
    Birmingham, Michigan
    (248) 530-1846
    sweckerle@bhamgov.org

    Or visit the project webpage at http://greenwaycollab.com/Projects/Birmingham/BMMTP.html

    Your time and insights are most appreciated.

  • Veronica Davis to talk transportation in Detroit

    This Thursday, October 25th at 6pm is a special, free community gathering at the Gleaner’s Community Food Bank (2131 Beaufait) presented by the Detroit Food and Fitness Collaborative (DFFC).

    The event is called Active Living in Detroit and the guest speaker is Veronica Davis from Washington, DC – a professional transportation engineer, non-motorized planner, and recent honoree of President Obama’s Champions of Change program. There’s more information about Ms. Davis on the Whitehouse web site.

    Many people do not recognize the role that equitable and
    accessible multi modal transportation options play in their
    everyday lives. Transportation planning and choices have
    the ability to impact socioeconomic conditions, personal
    health and overall quality of life. I seek to help others
    understand that the role of transportation cannot be
    underestimated.

    There will also be updates on our the DFFC’s overall and two priority active living efforts: Complete Streets and building more trails, greenways, and bike lanes.

    We hope you can attend and share this with other who share our similar interests in making Detroit a healthier, more active community.