Another great program that refurbishes donated bikes for needy children…

From the Detroit News:
The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office has added two new partners to its Re-CYCLE for Kids program.

The program allows members of the community to donate bikes and bike parts as well as bicycle tools and accessories to give away to needy children through local charities. Officials have given away about 600 bikes since the program started in February 2006.

The bikes are then refurbished by minimum security inmates who perform work details in the community through the Sheriff’s Office Trusty Camp.

For information and a list of drop off locations, visit www.oakgov.com/sheriff/ or call (248) 858-5000.
Read Complete Article

An invitation from the DNR:

The Department of Natural Resources
Parks and Recreation Division cordially invites you to participate in a Public Workshop on Wednesday, January 14, 2009.

We Need Your Help Planning the Recreation Design and Programming for Tri-Centennial State Park and Harbor.

Did you know that downtown Detroit has a state park? Tri-Centennial State Park and Harbor, located on the Detroit River between Rivard and St. Aubin Streets, is a work in progress. We need your help to complete this park’s recreation plan!

Please join the community for a two hour workshop to help decide the future recreation development of Michigan’s only urban state park. Come to share your ideas for this state park.

Where:  Christ Church of Detroit, Ledyard Hall, 960 E. Jefferson (Use the Woodbridge St. entrance) Detroit, MI 48207

When: Wednesday, January 14, 2009 (Alternate date in case of severe weather is January 21).  Choose the time option that works best for you!

• Option 1: 3- 5 p.m.
• Option 2: 7- 9 p.m.

Please R.S.V.P. by January 6, 2009, either by email at SenkoL1@michigan.gov, or phone at 517-373-9900.

Seating is limited, so be sure to R.S.V.P. and reserve your opportunity to participate!

Group organizations/clubs are requested to limit their member participation to two (2) representatives, to allow as many organizations and individuals to participate as possible. If you cannot attend, you can still share your comments by sending them to: DNR-Tri-Centennial@michigan.gov.

Light refreshments will be provided.

There are habits in life that if you don’t pick them up as a kid, you’re unlikely to pick them up as an adult, e.g. eating right, hunting, smoking, and biking. Sometimes that’s a good thing, sometimes it’s not.

I’m reminded of the “give a man a fish” adage. Give a kid a ride to school and they’ll be in class that day. Give them a bike and they’re empowered to ride to school and elsewhere on their own (and be a whole lot healthier.)

A big thanks to Variety on Christmas!

From the Detroit Free Press:
When 12-year-old Jalen Hunt and his brother, 11-year-old Danotis Smith Jr., first set eyes on their new bicycles, they were looking forward to summer so they could go for a ride.

“This feels good,” said Jalen while testing out his bicycle. “This is new. It doesn’t look like my old one.”

More than 165 children like Jalen and Danotis received brand-new bicycles thanks to Variety, a children’s charity that offers support to more than 25 children’s agencies and groups throughout southeastern Michigan. For 12 years, Variety has worked with agencies to identify children who need a bicycle. Some of the children have never owned a bicycle or have never had a brand-new one.

Since Variety began its Bikes for Kids event, nearly 3,000 bicycles have been given away.

Read the complete article

A recent report from the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association shows more Americans are road biking.

According to the report, more than 39 million people participated in some sort of road biking at least once in 2006, an increase of more than 9 percent over 2005. Out of the more than 39 million people who rode at least once, almost 14 million were frequent riders. This group is defined as those that go on 25 or more rides a year.

From From metromode:
“The Ypsi City Council approved adding seven blocks of bike lanes along West Forest Avenue between College Place and Norris Street. A Michigan Department of Transportation grant is paying for most of the $80,000 project while the city forks up (pun intended) $16,000 of the tab. The city will widen the road at certain points to accommodate bike lanes on both sides.

“Although Ypsilanti doesn’t have a specific non-motorized transportation plan, like Ann Arbor, it does try to add in bike lanes and paths where possible when roads are being rebuilt or resurfaced.”