An improvised bike rack in the New Center

The Detroit Free Press has a brief article noting the new bike racks and other streetscaping that’s coming to New Center.

Woodward will see new trees, decorative light fixtures, trash containers, benches and bike racks between I-94 and Baltimore and between West Grand Boulevard and Euclid. The Michigan Department of Transportation is partnering with the city of Detroit and the New Center Council on the nearly $2-million project, aimed at making the area more pedestrian-oriented.

These racks will certainly complement SMART’s bus bike racks and DDOT’s new bus bike rack program.  Woodward is the busiest bus transit corridor in Michigan.

Photo of Madison, Wisconsin from www.pedbikeimages.org / Dan Burden

Last week we spoke before the Royal Oak Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and asked them to support our push for safer biking and walking in Royal Oak.

While our public comment echoed much of what we said before the City Commission last week, we did try to focus a bit more on the downtown area.

For example, we noted that on average 1% of Michigan trips are currently made by bike.  They’ve made a big commitment in Portland, Oregon to improve biking and now 8% of their trips are by bike and it’s growing.  (Amsterdam is at 40%!) If we followed Portland’s lead, we could save money by decreasing our need for more car parking.  And bicyclists shop local.

Overall, the DDA was receptive and was interested in having a representative on our bicycle task force.

At the same meeting, the DDA approved nine new bike racks throughout Downtown Royal Oak.  SMART is covering the cost for eight of the racks.

We’ve also received additional media coverage from The Mirror and the Royal Oak Review.

We are meeting with City Manager Tom Hoover and staff this Tuesday.