Model D Media published a story highlighting updates along the Detroit Riverfront.

The most visible and exciting progress is the RiverWalk extension through Tri-Centennial State Park:

…construction of the first phase of expansion known as the Lowlands Unit will be complete in mid-June, according to Ken Davis, an engineer with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The trenches that will comprise the wetlands area have been dug, the pump station to control water flow has been installed and construction on sidewalks and walkways has begun.

The Dequindre Trail, which will connect the State Park and RiverWalk to the Dequindre Cut is expected to be completed by the end of summer.

Construction of the Detroit Wayne County Port Authority terminal building next to the Renaissance Center is progressing too. Construction should be complete in early 2010. There are conceptual plans for water taxi service between the Detroit and Windsor, which may prove to be the most convenient way for cyclists to cross between both countries.

And, the short section of RiverWalk which was closed during the terminal’s construction is now opened. However, be forewarned that this section currently includes a stretch of loose gravel.

Also, Diamond Jack’s is moving their Hart Plaza dock to Rivard Plaza. This is great news as the current location and loading facilities create a major bottleneck for RiverWalk users.

While many pedestrian/bike bridges often provide critical trail connections, the Bagley bridge provides a critical community connection.

And it’s going to make that connection with some pizazz.

We’ve been tracking the progress on this bridge for some time now.

One rumor was it would be completed in time for the Cinco de Mayo celebrations, but unfortunately that rumor proved false.

Still, as this picture from May 3rd shows, it’s getting close.

In a previous post about the benefits in adopting a rolling stop law in Michigan, we said rolling stops are already a “common existing practice”. We added that having a rolling stop law would make bicyclists more law abiding by making the law more appropriate for biking.

We called it a common practice based on what we see.

However, the city of Portland recently did a field study which found 93% of cyclists already do rolling stops. It’s reasonable to expect a similar compliance rate among Michigan cyclists. Therefore, as we noted earlier, a rolling stop law would only legalize what most cyclists do already.

The Portland field study also found that 78% of motor vehicles rolled their stops. Should they adopt the same law? No.

The difference is motor vehicles rolling stops and running stops is a major source of road injuries and fatalities in the U.S. Pedestrians and cyclists are especially vulnerable.

Bicyclists do not pose this same threat to other users.

In addition, a fit cyclist can generate one-third of a horsepower. Stopping and starting places a much higher burden on cyclists than it does on motor vehicles.

In a recent interview with the Washington Post, our new Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood said:

The president wants to create opportunities for people to live in communities where they don’t always have to be in an automobile to get where they’re going.

That sounds great to us.

Then on Earth Day, the Secretary put a post on his Fast Lane blog about bicycling. Here’s an excerpt:

Of all the Fastlane entries over the first days of this Administration, the one that has generated the most responses is the one on my address to the National Bike Summit. We all know that bikers are passionate about their wheels; we also know that bicyclists are vulnerable to automobiles and need secure lanes and greater awareness from drivers. On Earth Day, it seems appropriate to talk about bicycling, not only as recreation, but as an environmentally sound commuting option. And, about what the DOT is doing to improve the cyclist’s commute.

The upcoming reauthorization of DOT’s surface transportation programs provides an opportunity for us to feature bicycling as part of a new American mobility within livable communities. As I said today in testimony before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, this includes fostering communities where bicyclists feel both safe and welcome on the roadways. Bike-friendly development also has the potential to contribute significantly to the revitalization of downtown districts and offer an alternative to sprawl and automobile-focused commuting.

In an ideal world, we’d fly Secretary LaHood to Detroit have him meet with our local road agencies (e.g. RCOC) that don’t share this committment and vision for creating safer roads for cycling.

That would be an interesting discussion.

Bicyclists in Idaho have enjoyed a law that other states are now trying to adopt.

In Idaho, bicyclists can legally treat stop signs as yields under many conditions when it won’t adversely affect others, including pedestrians.

The benefit for bicyclists is threefold:

• It conserves momentum, making bicycling easier
• It conserves time, making bicycling quicker and more convenient
• It adopts the common existing practice, making bicyclists more law abiding

Bicycle advocates in Oregon recently tried to get the same law in their state. Spencer Boomhower made a great animation that explains the proposed law.

Bicycles, Rolling Stops, and the Idaho Stop from Spencer Boomhower on Vimeo.

Unfortunately the effort was for naught. The bill died in the Oregon House.

Could we get this law in Michigan?

It would be an extremely valuable law change for those living in older communities that improperly use stop signs as neighborhood traffic calming. It would be equally valuable in Detroit where traffic levels have dropped dramatically since the 1950s yet the old traffic control devices remain in place.

Unfortunately there are obstacles.

Sign photo from BikeJax

In speaking with the League of Michgian Bicyclist staff, they don’t see this as a priority.

And, since this Idaho law is not in the Uniform Vehicle Code (upon which most states based their road laws), it would take considerable effort to get this passed in Lansing much less supported by the Michigan State Police.

One alternative idea is to post some signs along popular or designated bike routes with modified stop signs. This modification could indicate bicyclists would only need to yield whereas others must stop. It’s unclear how easy this alternative signage would be to implement. Regulatory signage has to be in the Michigan Manual on Traffic Control Devices before it can be installed on a road. The bike yield sign shown on the right is not in our Manual.

Piloting this short term signage solution may provide enough data to justify changing the law.

So there are no easy answers, but they’re rarely are. We need to continue to push for changes that making bicycling an easier, safer, and more convenient mode choice in Michigan.