Everyone is invited to a new trail opening in Canton on Thursday, October 23rd starting at noon.

This new trial runs from Haggerty Road and Michigan Avenue to the I-275 bike path.  It was constructed by MDOT in cooperation with Canton Township, Wayne County, and the Western Township Utility Authority.

The opening celebration is at the Fellows Creek Golf Club at 2936 S. Lotz Road in Canton.

Please RSVP to Brad Sharp via email by October 22nd.

Link: Canton Trail Opening

The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy hosting a Community Forum to discuss the East Riverfront and Dequindre Cut.  It will be held at the Detroit Waldorf School (2555 Burns) on Tuesday, October 28, 2008 from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m.

Refreshments will be served at 5:00 p.m., and the agenda will begin at 5:30 p.m.

The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy is asking attendees to RSVP by Friday, October 24, 2008 via email (rsvp@detroitriverfront.org) or by calling (313) 566-8206.

Link: Community Forum Information

DDOT to get Bike Racks

It began with a Transportation Riders United, MTGA, a bike petition, and others asking for bike racks on DDOT buses.

A bus rack manufacturer loaned DDOT some racks to try out on the Russell line.  Their Bikes on Buses (B.O.B.) program was started.  Meanwhile, DDOT requested funding to equip all of their buses with bike racks.

The great news is MDOT has approved that funding request.  Over a three-year period, all of DDOT line haul buses will get bike racks.

Model D Speaker Series: Bikes + Transit

Next Tuesday, October 21st, the Model D Speaker Series welcomes John Hertel and Scott Clein to the Motor CIty Movie House at the Russell Industrial Center.  The event begins at 5 PM with the presentations starting at 5:30 PM.

From Model D:

Hertel is the local transit czar, and will speak on the the Regional Transportation Coordinating Council’s recently released transit plan for Southeastern Michigan, including a light rail or streetcar system down Woodward Avenue. (Hear more about it here from Model D Radio/Michigan Now reporter Chris McCarrus.)

Clein is an engineer with  Giffels-Webster, the firm which recently helped design a non-motorized plan that calls for more than 400 miles of bike lanes in Detroit. The plan recently got approval from Detroit City Council. Read more about it here.

To sign up for this free event or to get directions, visit Model D.

We’ll see you there!

Left photo: Construction of the Antietam Bridge over the Dequindre Cut is progressing.

Center photo: Some additional landscaping has been completed at the south entrance off of Woodbridge.

Right photo: Poetry posted along the trail.  Apparently not everyone is enthusiastic about this trail project.

From the Detroit Free Press:

A fund has been established for the two young children whose mother, Jacqueline Robinson, was killed by a hit-and-run driver as she rode her bike on Woodward Avenue Sept. 19.

Donations can be made in the name of Robinson’s mother, Judith Parent, who is caring for the boys. The address is Bank of America, 28746 Woodward, Royal Oak 48067. The bank is next to the site where Robinson died. Police are seeking a 2008 white Jeep Liberty.