Since yesterday I’ve been guest blogging Metromode. The topics are non-motorized transportation in Metro Detroit.

The first two posts are now live and there are three more to go.

That bio photo is from a little-known Detroit trail called the Milbank. It connects Conner to Van Dyke between Eight Mile and E. Outer Drive. This trail is included in the October 3rd Conner Creek bike tour by Wheelhouse Detroit. The tour also includes a lunch stop at the nearby Two-Way Inn in the old village of Norris/Nortown.

Yes, the Inn is haunted.

m-bike hasn’t stepped on the car-only soap box. Cars have a transportation role in many peoples’ lives. Often, today’s built environment and lack of reliable public transportation options make cars a near necessity, as do some jobs. That’s being realistic.

That certainly doesn’t mean that people in some locations with the right job can’t live car-free.

However, m-bike does have a car-lite agenda. We need to build communities that support transportation choices beyond just cars.

That said, last Tuesday, September 22nd was World Car Free Day. Based on their web site, the group behind the event doesn’t seem to clear on whether they want a car-free day or a car-free year.

Every September 22, people from around the world get together in the streets, intersections, and neighbourhood blocks to remind the world that we don’t have to accept our car-dominated society.

But we do not want just one day of celebration and then a return to “normal” life. When people get out of their cars, they should stay out of their cars. It is up to us, it is up to our cities, and our governments to help create permanent change to benefit pedestrians, cyclists, and other people who do not drive cars.

Either way, my car stayed in the driveway on Tuesday as it does most days.

World Car Free Day did get a response from Detroit News Auto Columnist Manny Lopez. The title of that opinion piece: “Car-free crusade is absurd.”

Being an auto columnist, you’d expect Lopez to resist the notion of going car free. But rather than make a moderate, well-reasoned pitch, he brings in more absurdity, including this:

“There is no betterment of mankind by government policies trying to get people out of cars,” says Sam Kazman, general counsel of the non-partisan Competitive Enterprise Institute, which is opposed to the anti-car group’s crusade. “I’m not even that sure it’s a fine and dandy notion (to be car-free).”

Ah, the betterment is well-documented. People become more healthy when they can choose active transportation options, including public transit.

“A fine and dandy notion?” Who grew up watching too much of Mr. Rogers?

The real absurdity lives at the extremes.

Yes, living car-free in Metro Detroit is a challenge. But continuing to foster car-only communities given what we know about our health and environment?

That is absurd.

SEMCOG recently launched a new MiBikematch service and the Free Press has an article it.

MiBikematch, a service to match up bike riders who would be more comfortable taking the trip with another rider, has been launched, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments said Wednesday.

Users register there, entering their starting point, destination, days they ride and their work hours. That information is compared to other users for potential matches. Participants may contact potential riding companions through e-mail or the Web site. The service is free, SEMCOG spokeswoman Iris Steinberg said.

The program is part of an effort by state and local agencies to encourage folks to think beyond driving to ease congestion and improve air quality in a state among the tops in the nation in the percentage of drivers commuting alone by car.

Note that after signing up, you can select how you prefer to commute: by bike, car pool, van pool, or some combination of those.

It’s apparent that in order to make this service a success, we need a lot of bike commuters signing up.

$5 per gallon of gas would hurt the program either.

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has a training program for traffic engineers and planners that centers around designing roads for cycling. This year that program came to downtown Detroit.

What makes this program so effective is it’s led by John LaPlante, inarguably America’s leading expert in bicycle facility design. LaPlante is the primary author of the AASHTO guidelines for the development of bicycle facilities. He’s also a key figure in bicycle signage standards (via the MUTCD from the FHWA) and AASHTO’s pedestrian facilities design guidelines.

Laplante worked for the city of Chicago for 30 years include a stint as the Acting Commissioner of Transportation. In this role he was responsible for the planning, design and construction of all roads, bridges and mass transit facilities in the city of Chicago including their bicycle network.

Also leading the training class was Michael Amsden, the Bikeways Planner for the city of Chicago. Mike led us on a six-mile bike tour that made planned stops where he discussed options for improving the bike-friendliness of streets and intersections. Those stops included the mysteriously appearing and disappearing bike lane along Atwater and the super scary Broadway/Gratiot/Randolph intersection.

Representatives from the city of Detroit (5!), Wayne County, SEMCOG, Royal Oak, Corktown, MDOT and others were in attendance. Extra kudos go to the city of Detroit staff since the class coincided with the city’s first unpaid furlough.

Nearly all of the training was from the MUTCD and soon-to-be-release updated AASHTO bicycle guidelines.

One common theme was it’s best to implement bicycle facilities without removing much on-street parking. Removing parking only makes enemies and there usually are alternatives.

For example, some low-volume roads with on-street parking cannot accomodate bike lanes because they are not wide enough. If the parking is sporadic, one could simply stripe 7 foot parking lanes and add bike route signage. Most of the time, bikes would have access to an entire 7 foot lane, and with limited traffic, could easily skirt around parked cars. This is similar to Lincoln in Birmingham, except there should not be bollards (i.e. posts) in the road.

LaPlante also reinforced the message that in most cases sidepaths should not be built and designated for bicyclists. I noted that many Oakland County communities, including Oakland County itself, called sidepaths “safety paths.” LaPlante response was, “Safety paths? That’s an oxymoron.”

A big thanks goes to John Stroh III and his staff for providing an excellent meeting location at the Stroh River Place along the Detroit RiverWalk.

Here is our Detroit bike route (which we mostly followed) along with photos. You’ll likely want to view the map in a larger window in order to see the photos.

A new section of the Detroit RiverWalk is set to open this Sunday, but only for members of the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy. If you’re not a member yet, you have until Friday to join and get your free pass.

From the DRC web site:

The Detroit RiverFront Conservancy is hosting its first Member Appreciation Open House on Sunday, September 27 from 12 noon to 3 p.m. at Rivard Plaza. The event will feature a sneak peek tour of the soon-to-open, new 6-acre section of Tri-Centennial State Park. Tours will begin at 15 minute intervals throughout the afternoon.

This family-oriented Open House will feature a variety of interactive nature exhibits from the Nature Discovery (Michigan amphibians & reptiles), Wildlife Recovery Association (Michigan birds of prey) and the Howell Nature Center (Birds of prey and Michigan mammals). Michigan Sea Grant and Riverside Kayak will also be onsite to showcase kayaking and fishing on the Detroit Riverfront.

Conservancy members will be able to enjoy complimentary refreshments from the RiverWalk Cafe and free carousel rides. Diamond Jack will provide complimentary river tours for members.

This new section of the state park helps close some of the gap between the RiverWalk and Dequindre Cut.

Model D also has additional coverage of this event.

There is also discussion underway to rename Tri-Centennial State Park and Harbor to the William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor. That seems like a fine idea given the former Michigan governor’s dedication to environmental preservation.