m-bike.org

Author: Todd Scott

  • Fundraiser ride on the Clinton River Trail

    This Saturday, September 18th is the Friends of the Clinton River Trail Fall Classic Ride. And this year there’s a 5K walk option as well.

    You can still register on-site at Riverside Park in Auburn Hills on the morning of the event starting at 8:30 AM.

    C and G News recently ran a story on this event and others that the Friends are involved in.

    The Clinton River Trail Fall Classic is coordinated by Friends of the Clinton River Trail, a volunteer organization dedicated to developing and improving the trail for all users.

    “We coordinate the printing of maps and stock the map boxes,” said Mimi Zwolak, event coordinator. “We send out an annual newsletter. We are all volunteers, different from the Paint Creek Trail, which has a commission. We meet monthly and we are a loose governing body.”

    The Clinton River Trail is so lucky to have a Friends group such as this. The group is so energetic and willing to lead — and fun, too. They are a super dedicated group, so you should feel pretty good if you can come out on Saturday to support them.

  • Time Magazine visits the Dequindre Cut

    Time Magazine’s Detroit Blog finally visited the Dequindre Cut trail in Detroit.

    These kinds of projects show what you can do with Detroit if you’ve got vision. And, baby, the future’s so bright…

    This beauty opened in May 2009. It is formerly a Grand Trunk Western Railroad line on the city’s East side. Hence it is located below street level, giving it that peaceful, serene air. I hate to compare anything in Detroit to Chicago, but here goes. It felt similar to that lovely green stretch along Lakeshore in Chicago, where everyone strolls, jogs and bikes to distraction. It’s what “real” cities need.

    Yes, it is great.

    And it’s pleasantly surprising how quickly people from all over the area have learned about this trail, except for Time Magazine.

    One favorite example is when Lt. Governor John Cherry opened the Detroit Greenways map and immediately asked, “Now where’s that Dequindre Cut?”

    It’s just from Atwater to Gratiot, but with a bit more state money, Lt. Governor, we could extend it around the entire city.

  • Eric Sharp: Motor City is now Cycle City

    Eric Sharp, Outdoors writer for the Free Press has done a fine article on the Tour de Troit.

    Early fall is a great time to ride a bicycle. There’s a hint of crispness in the morning air, yet the days usually bring shirtsleeve comfort without the humidity of summer.

    If you’re a neighborhood cyclist who has done a 10-mile ride and you’ve wanted to try something a little more ambitious, it would be tough to beat the Tour de Troit for that first outing.

    Yes, there were 2,000 bicyclists registered as of last week. Another 1,000 are expected to sign up before the 25th.

    While the T-shirt deadline has passed, it’s not too late to register and take part in one of the Anerica’s biggest bicycle rides.

  • Uniroyal site: RiverWalk East’s missing link

    Free Press Graphic

    John Gallagher of the Free Press has given an update on the Uniroyal site, the large brownfield between Mt. Elliot Park and the MacArthur Bridge to Belle Isle.

    Detroit’s Brownfield Redevelopment Authority this week approved agreements with three corporations for $15 million-$20 million to clean up the western half of the 40-acre site. Cleanup agreements also are expected soon for the eastern portion.

    A cleanup of the old industrial site would allow the extension of the Detroit RiverWalk to the MacArthur Bridge to Belle Isle.

    “This is a historic agreement for the City of Detroit,” [Mayor Dave Bing] said in a statement Friday. “The Uniroyal site has sat idle for decades. This puts us in a position to complete the RiverWalk and continue the transformation of the riverfront for future generations.”

    This is great news, but this RiverWalk section won’ t be built tomorrow. The article says it will “likely to take a couple of years.”

    We also mentioned previously Morgan and Wright, the world’s largest bicycle tire manufacturer relocated from Chicago to this Detroit site to make car tires. They eventually became part of Uniroyal.

  • Support PEAC, ride the Celebration of Cycling

    This Saturday is PEAC’s Celebration of Cycling ride in Metro Detroit.

    The Eighteenth Annual Celebration of Cycling Ride will be held on September 18th, 2010 starting at Warrendale Shelter in Hines Park. Routes range from a traffic-free 12-mile course to a challenging century ride. This ride is truly for everybody, including competitive cyclists and families.

    PEAC is a great organization that not only helps cyclists with disabilities, they were instrumental in getting the Complete Streets legislation passed in Lansing.

    From PEAC’s John Waterman:

    Three youth with disabilities (Conor Waterman 9 , Katie Birchmeier 9, and James Kleimola 17) stood up for all cyclists in Michigan to help pass Complete Streets Legislation.

    Conor, Katie and James wrote their own speeches and testified in front of the House Transportation Committee, Senate Transportation Committee and The Disability Caucus.  Their testimony and hard work was instrumental in the passage of Complete Streets and Senator Basham stated, “Conor, Katie, and James helped me make up my mind.”  After their presentation the Senate immediately moved it out of committee.

    Now you can help these students by riding in the Celebration of Cycling Ride on September 18, 2010.  Join hundreds of people grabbing their bikes to help individuals with learn to ride.  If you cannot ride please sponsor a cyclist with disabilities for $20.00, so Everyone Can Ride.  Thank you for helping individuals with disabilities improve cycling for everyone.