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  • Detroit greenways ready for expansion

    Detroit RiverWalk

    More sections of the RiverWalk should be under construction come next spring. That includes segments on both sides of Chene Park and the critical connection between Mt. Elliott Park and Gabriel Richard Park at the foot of the bridge to Belle Isle.

    Mt. Elliott park is getting a new universal recreation play structure that includes a super cool water feature.

    Gabriel Richard Park is getting a parking lot.

    And the grassy land just north of the Wheelhouse Detroit is getting a children’s playground.

    It’s not too late to buy tickets for the Shimmer on the River event, a fundraiser for the RiverWalk.

    Today’s Crain’s Detroit Business has an article which includes more details on this exciting news.

    Dequindre Cut

    The Dequindre Cut rail corridor north of Gratiot is not only active but privately owned. The city of Detroit has been negotiating with the owner to acquire the property while allowing them to keep their rails, which are mostly used to railcar storage. The city is getting closer to finalizing the deal.

    Once purchased, the trail will switch over to the west side of the Cut at Gratiot and continue north to Mack. The rails will remain on the east side of the Cut and will be fenced off. There will also be trail connection into Eastern Market near Wilkins and near the Greening of Detroit’s urban agriculture demonstration area.

    The city will likely apply for significant grant funding this fall to build this extension, as well as complete some Eastern Market streetscaping, build a bike/walk connection to the Midtown Loop, add bikes lanes to Hamtramck, and repair the bridges over the Cut.

    Midtown Loop

    The last we knew, construction for Phase II of the Midtown Loop will begin this fall. That includes the sections along Canfield and Cass.

    Conner Creek Greenway

    The next segment to be built will run from Eight Mile to McNichols along Conner Avenue. It includes new sidewalk, bike lanes and bike route signs. That won’t likely begin until next year.

  • Detroit group ride reports

    There are a serious number of bike rides occurring in the city of Detroit right now.

    We often tell you about them ahead of time, but don’t let you know how they went. While we missed these three rides, they were written up in the media and on the web.

    Art Ride

    From the Knight ARTS web site:

    With Detroit under the national spotlight as a hub for creativity, many people are chomping at the bit to see what the buzz is all about. As Forward Arts rounded out its first year as an organization, it added Art Ride to its repertoire of projects that use art to transform and engage the community. Art Ride is a donation-based public art bike tour that exposed guests to some of the hidden gems of our city, including Recycle Here!, Hamtramck Disneyland, the Powerhouse Projects and Heidelberg Project satellite site “Street Folk 2.”

    Jewish History Tour

    From the Detroit Free Press:

    It was a day to get an up-close view of Detroit while learning about the city’s Jewish history. And for some people, it was a chance to learn more about their family’s heritage while riding bicycles through the streets of Detroit.

    Jewish bus tours have been offered in the city for the last decade, organizers said, but the bike tour was designed to give riders a personal experience.

    “When you’re on the bus you’re separated from the neighborhood and you’re going fast,” said Jerry Cook, one of the people who came up with the idea for the tour. “I thought, gee, if we were on a bike, we’d really feel it more.”

    The Hub of Detroit’s Youth Ride

    From the Detroit Je T’aime web site:

    Last Saturday, August 20th, the bike organization?Hub of Detroit?had a fundraising event, the Annual Safe Streets Youth Ride. ?For most of the kids in the ride, it was their first time biking around the city; usually, they just bike outside their porch. Some of the children had built their own bike thanks to the Summer workshops of the Hub. The ride (followed by a barbecue) was a precious moment to share with the kids, their parents and friends. When the Eastside Riders joined us on their tweaked bikes, the ride became a happy bling-bling & eco-friendly parade! An unusual mix that only Detroit can cater!

     

  • New Underground Railroad Bicycle Route map released

    Adventure Cycling has just announced a new addition to their Underground Railroad Bicycle Route (UGRR). Currently the route begins in Mobile, Alambama and heads north to Oberlin, Ohio before turning east and crossing into Canada at Buffalo.

    MTGA worked with Adventure Cycling and others folks — including descendants of those who used the Underground Railroad — to add a 281.4-mile route from Oberlin, Ohio to Detroit, Marine City and Sombra, Ontario.

    The map for this route is now available. The cost is $11.75 for Adventure Cycling members and $14.75 for non-members.

    This alternate, beginning in Oberlin, Ohio, takes cyclists around the western side of Lake Erie through historically rich Michigan. There are many sites to visit in the towns that the route goes through. In Michigan the route becomes much more urban. Because there is no bicycle-friendly connection between Detroit and Windsor the route crosses into Canada north of these cities, which were both important sites to freedom seekers.

    The route does offer a balance between connecting the many historic UGRR sites while also providing a reasonable bicycle route. In other words, it doesn’t visit all the historic sites nor is it the most direct.

    Within the city of Detroit, the route takes advantage of the new bike lanes installed on West Vernor and Michigan Avenue. It passes many historic UGRR sites, including the Finney Barn, Second Baptist Church, and Elmwood Cemetery.

    The route also passes near the Hostel Detroit, which is expected to be a popular lodging option for cycling tourists.

    MTGA continues to push for passenger ferry service to Windsor, Ontario that will accommodate cyclists. Currently cyclists need a motor vehicle to get to Windsor via the Tunnel or Ambassador Bridge. The route does provide an option for continuing north to Marine City where existing ferry service can transport cyclists to Canada.

    A companion map showing the route through Ontario is under development now and is expected to be available by February 2012.

    For those seeking a less ambitious bicycling tour, a 13-mile UGRR route within the city of Detroit has been developed. Brochures showing that route are also in the works.

    And, the Wheelhouse Detroit offers UGRR tours throughout the summer as well though this year’s remaining tour is sold out. (Disclaimer: I lead those.)

  • Royal Oak non-motorized plan update

    Royal Oak’s non-motorized plan is nearing completion and will be presented to the City Planning Commission at their September 13th meeting at City Hall (211 S. Williams Street, third floor). The meeting begins at 7:30pm and it would be a great to see cyclists in the audience showing (if not speaking) their support.

    The Planning Department expects to have the draft plan on the city web site early next month. This will give the public the opportunity to review it prior to the meeting.

    You will be able to submit comments via email as well.

  • Woodward Corridor lands huge Complete Streets grant

    Here’s some exciting news about Woodward that has nothing to do with the Dream Cruise.

    Senator Carl Levin’s office and the Federal Highway Administration just announced a $752,880 grant for “developing a Complete Streets plan for Michigan’s 27-mile Woodward Avenue corridor that connects 11 communities and two Southeast Michigan Counties.”

    “Transportation investments like these will create jobs and improve the quality of life for Michigan residents as well as strengthen the state’s economy,” said Secretary [U.S. DOT Secretary Ray] LaHood. “The demand from the states for these funds shows just how critical the need is for infrastructure investment.”

    The funding is being awarded to the Woodward Avenue Action Association (WA3) who will be releasing more details soon.

    WA3 has been a big supporter of Complete Streets and they are members of the Detroit Complete Streets Workgroup.

    It will be interesting to see how this new planning effort fits with some prior Woodward bike/walk plans, the forthcoming Royal Oak non-motorized plan, and the Woodward Light Rail project.

    But as for the Dream Cruise, there is a Complete Streets connection. The best way to move within the Woodward Corridor during the Cruise is on foot or by bike. Making Woodwared a Complete Street could give better, safer, and faster transportation options during the event.

    Complete Streets Resolution passes

    And in related news, Oakland County Commissioners passed a Complete Streets resolution for the county.

    Special thanks to everyone who contacted their commissioner. It worked.