This Saturday, June 9th is the 2nd annual 10-mile bike ride benefit for homeless veterans.
The ride starts at 9am at the Detroit Veterans Center (2770 Park Avenue) in the Cass Corridor.
The Foundation is also asking for donations of new or used bicycles, head gear/caps, T-shirts, bicycle repair kits, water bottles, and donations.
For additional information, contact Ms. S. Jones at (313) 766-1726.
Detroit’s ever-growing bicycle scene is largely due to women leadership.
The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, SDBA, Midtown Detroit, Wheelhouse Detroit, Fender Bender, DECC, MTGA, Criterium Detroit City, etc.
And that influence continues to grow.
Detroit Je T’aime published a story on Fender Bender called, Detroit’s Real Bike Chix.
Sarah Sidelko goes by the nickname “Sidewalk” – in matters of transportation justice, she’s the boss. Sarah has been living in Detroit for 10 years – out of which she spent 7 years without a car. That inspired her to create Fender Bender, a bike shop exclusively dedicated to women, queer and transgender folks.
“It’s about creating a safe space where we can have free conversations. We use bike mechanics to think about ourselves”, says Sidewalk.
The article also mentions Fender Bender’s successful SOUP pitch which earned them $514 – a story also covered in Model D.
Fender Bender Detroit will use the SOUP grant funds towards funding the July and September Fender Bender Detroit bike mechanic training course. This six week series of bicycle mechanic training classes comprehensively covers bicycle maintenance and repair skills for each function, system, and component of the bicycle. We learn, understand, and demonstrate the anatomy of the bicycle, tools used in repair processes, and repair skills.
Melanie Piana has been very busy on the other side of Detroit’s north border. She led efforts to pass Ferndale’s Complete Streets ordinance. She’s now starting a woman-focused group as mentioned on Mode Shift.
Forget the Lycra, Spandex and jerseys. Bring your skirts, heels and other “normal” clothes to this new monthly Ferndale bicycling gathering for women.
Inspired by the CopenhagenCycleChic.com website, the new Metro Detroit event is organized by Melanie Piana, mayor pro tem in Ferndale.
“We need to educate people that cycling can be a very normal part of your life, and that you don’t need to spend a lot of money on clothing and gear to do it,” she says. “Cycling is a very normal, everyday activity and in Michigan and other places it’s something viewed as a fad or a hobby, not something you do as a very normal daily activity to get around and do daily things like going to the grocery store or pharmacy.”
The Ferndale Patch also covered this story.
Back within the City, MASH magazine had their first ride last Saturday.
This RIDE was created to encourage YOUNG WOMEN (and men) IN DETROIT to BIKE!
Their next ride is June 16th.
This weekend we added the asphalt trails at Belle Isle to Google Maps.
This was a bit challenging as the tree canopy prevented us from seeing the trails in the satellite photography.
So, here are the steps we took to add them.
Once these trail changes were published, there was a small delay before the Google Map graphics were updated. That seems to have happened now. Use the best bike trackers to avoid getting out of your race track.
By the way, Google has produced an excellent video that basically explains this same process.
If you head out ride these trails for the first time, the asphalt’s condition may not be a good fit for skinny tires. Tree roots have pushed up the pavement and added speed bumps to the trail.
There are a number of fallen ash trees across the path as well.
Forwarding information from Birmingham’s Planning Director, Jana Ecker. It would be great seeing some strong candidates on this committee:
The City of Birmingham is in the process of soliciting proposals to create a Multi-Modal Transportation Plan for the City. The City desires to immediately assemble an informal Multi-Modal Advisory Committee to assist in this effort. The City Commission would like the Advisory Committee to be composed of representatives from the following areas:
1. Advisory Parking Committee Member (1)
2. Bicycle Representative (1) (Birmingham resident or business owner, or frequent cyclist in Birmingham)
3. Millennial Generation Representative (Birmingham resident born between 1980 and 1999) (1)
4. Pedestrian Representative (1) (resident or business owner in Birmingham)
5. Physically Handicapped Pedestrian Representative (1) (resident or business owner in Birmingham)
6. Planning Board Member (1)
7. Principle Shopping District Board Member (1)
8. Senior Citizen Representative (1) (Birmingham resident or business owner over the age of 65)
9. Traffic & Safety Board (1)
10. Transit Rider Representative (1) (resident or business owner in Birmingham, or frequent transit system user in Birmingham)
The Advisory Committee will serve as a “sounding board” for the City and the selected consulting firm throughout the creation of the Multi-Modal Transportation Plan.
The first task of the Advisory Committee will be to assist City staff in reviewing the consultant proposals received by the City; these proposals are due to the City by 5:00pm EST on June 29th. In addition, the selected consulting firm is required to facilitate at least two (2) public workshops and Advisory Committee members would be expected to participate in these workshops. Additionally, the firm that is selected to complete the Multi-Modal Transportation Plan will meet with the Advisory Committee a total of six (6) times while developing the plan. It is anticipated that the length of service for the Advisory Committee would be approximately 6 – 9 months.
You are receiving this email as you have either expressed an interest in participated in the multi-modal plan, or you have been identified as a candidate that may be interested and qualified in filling one of the above positions. If you are interested in serving on this Advisory Committee, please respond to this email and include the category/ies for which you may qualify. Once I have filled all positions, each member of the Advisory Committee will be sent a roster for the committee, and a kick off meeting will be held to introduce the Advisory Committee to the scope of the project and to establish a meeting schedule. It is anticipated that the kick off meeting will be held PRIOR to receipt of the proposals from consultants.
If you know of others that may be interested in volunteering for this project, please feel free to forward this email to them. Thank you in advance for your interest in making the City of Birmingham a great place to live, work and play!
Jana Ecker
Planning Director
City of Birmingham
248-530-1841
On Sunday morning, June 17th you’ll be able to ride your bike from Detroit to Windsor over the Ambassador Bridge.
Make sure you register now. It appears Bike the Bridge registration is closing for the event at 11am on May 31st. Since this event involves U.S. and Canadian Customs pre-screening, there just can be exceptions for late registrants.
Here’s additional information from the web site:
This is a very special Biking event. The Ambassador Bridge, spanning from Detroit to Windsor, pauses traffic to allow bikes to cross. Canadian riders will ride to the US, across the bridge, and meet up with the Americans. Then both the Canadians and Americans will ride back across the bridge. A delicious Breakfast will be provided after the bridge ride, at Canada’s beautiful Mic Mac Park. Breakfast will be provided by Tres Bean Cafe’ of Windsor. We also plan to have guest speakers and musical entertainment. Then one of two tours can be selected. The short tour will be approximately 15 miles/ 24 KM in length. The short tour will include a special production by Mackenzie Hall. The Long tour will be approximately 40 miles/ 64 KM in length. Both tours will focus on the theme of the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812. The long tour will include a trip to Fort Malden. At the conclusion of the tours Americans, will be bussed back across the bridge and their bikes will be transported via truck. You will also receive a uniquely designed T-shirt as a memento of the event. If you want to attend this event you must have a valid Passport, Passport card, enhanced driver’s license, or Nexus card at the time of registration. This applies to everyone attending this event.
Hopefully the Canadians won’t tease us to much about our rapid surrender of Fort Detroit during the War of 1812. At least we took Fort Malden the next year.
WindsorDOTca also has an article on this event.