From the Healthy Environments Partnership:

Do you have an idea for how to create a more beautiful and physically active environment in your community?

For example, have you ever wanted to plant a community garden, create artwork along a greenway, or host a walk & talk program in your neighborhood to bring policy makers out where residents could share local concerns?

If so, the Greenway Mini-grants can help make it happen!

Mini-grants of up to $1000 are being awarded to community groups developing sustainable projects and activities that 1) engage community residents, 2) build local ownership of the greenways, and 3) create social and physical environments conducive to active living and heart health.

Mini-grants will be awarded to Detroiters working to achieve these goals through creative community-based projects along the Conner Creek Greenway, Brightmoor’s Lyndon Greenway, or the Corktown-Mexicantown Greenway.

For more information about applying for a mini-grant contact: Deedee Varick, Health Educator, 734-615-3956, deedry@umich.edu

Mini-grant application and guidelines available at: www.hepdetroit.org (click on Community Activities)

Application deadline: February 15, 2010

Links: Mini-grant Flyer & Mini-Grant Application

In February, PBS will be debuting a new transportation documentary with a focus on Detroit.

Narrated by Blueprint America correspondent Miles O’Brien, the 90-minute documentary asks whether it is time to fundamentally change the way Detroiters — and by extension all Americans — get around. Detroit is the crucible in which the nation’s ability to move toward a modern 21st century transportation infrastructure is put to the test. The documentary shows how investments in the past — beginning with the construction of canals in the 18th century –profoundly shaped Detroit’s physical layout, population growth and economic development. Before being dubbed the Motor City, Detroit was once home to the nation’s most extensive streetcar system. In fact, it was that vast network of streetcars that carried workers to the area’s many car factories. And it was the cars made in those factories that would soon displace the streetcars in Detroit — and in every major American city.

Detroit’s engineers went on to design the nation’s first urban freeways and inspired much of America’s 20th century transportation infrastructure system — from traffic signals to gas stations — that became the envy of the world.

But over the last 30 years, much of the world has moved on, choosing faster, cleaner, more modern transportation and leaving America — and Detroit — behind…

While this documentary looks interesting, there is some irony in their description. It was streetcars and bicyclists that were eventually displaced from Detroit streets often with the argument that the automobile was a more modern means of transportation.

On the transportation invention timeline, we’re not moving on by choosing bicycles. We’re moving back.

And moving back isn’t always that sexy, which is probably why those post-WWII transportation visions of the future had sleek cars on elevated super-highways and inexplainably-fit peds on moving sidewalks.

The Jetsons didn’t ride bicycles.

Now the Flintstones — they had active transportation (which really doesn’t help explain why Fred and Barney had higher BMIs than George Jetson.)

It seems the WALL-E vision for a transportation future without human-power and is more accurate.

Having recently returned from Washington DC, I can’t help but draw comparisons between the two cities in terms of bike friendliness.

What did I see? Detroit has far more bike friendly streets owing largely to the lower vehicular volumes. Washington DC has far more cyclists, bike lanes, and a bike rental system.

I’m not sure how valuable the rental system was as I walked a dozen miles around town and only saw one station. I saw far more Metro stations.

And speaking of their subway system, it does allow bikes outside of rush hour. DC’s buses also have bus bike racks though I didn’t see any in use. It seems more common to see SMART buses carrying bikes in Detroit.

That said, my unscientific survey did find one commonality between the two cities: most cyclists in both cities are white.

Washington DC has been recognized as a bronze Bike Friendly Community in the League of American Bicyclists program.

While in DC, I did speak with the League staff about recognizing Detroit’s bike friendliness. Their latest application doesn’t reward Detroit’s often excellent bicycle level of service achieved through mininal traffic volumes. Their paradigm is bicycle level of service is a reflection of bicycle infrastructure investments. We did talk about bringing some of their staff to Detroit next summer to gain a first-hand perspective on what we have.

But back to the comparison, DC clearly leads in urban livability, bicycle commuting levels, bicycle infrastructure investment, and more. Even still, I’d rather bike in Detroit.

The Detroit Free Press is reporting on a bicycle giveaway this December 20th.

Greater Grace Temple, Happy’s Pizza and Blue Cross Blue Shield plan to bring smiles to nearly 200 youngsters this year with its Bicycle Christmas’ giveaway.

“For many people, one of their fondest childhood memories was to receive a brand new bicycle on Christmas morning,” Senior Pastor Bishop Charles Ellis III said in a statement.

“We want to do something to help those youngsters whose families are hit hard by this economy and could face having little or nothing under the tree on Christmas Day.”

Parents must fill out the applications which will be available starting tomorrow (Monday) at 10am at the Greater Grace Temple at 23500 W. Seven Mile Road in Detroit.

BikePortland.org is reporting on new legislation being introduced in Congress next week.

U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) plans to introduce a new bill to Congress next week that would create a $2 billion grant program that would hasten investment in biking, walking, and other “active transportation” options.

Blumenauer’s office sent out a one pager and a PDF of the bill today, saying that the proposed legislation has already been vetted with national organizations and leaders. The bill would look to increase mode share for biking and walking through “concentrated funding for active transportation networks”. “It is time for the federal government to support communities’infrastructure investment,” the statement says.

This sounds much like the Active Transportation funding program Rails-to-Trails tried getting in to federal transportation bill. They were unsuccessful apparently because “it looked too much like earmarks.” The city of Detroit had submitted a $50 million request under this proposed program. That funding would have built 400-miles of bike lanes and countless miles of greenways.

This new legislation from Blumenauer’s office would be different in that it’s a competitive grant program (with a two-year application cycle). The grants would range from $5 to $15 million for five years.

Conveniently enough, $15 million was the estimated cost (in 2006) of adding 400 miles of bikes lanes across Detroit.

Next Tuesday is a Brookings/ National Association of City Transportation Officials bicycling event in Washington DC. Congressman Blumenauer is a guest speaker and may likely discuss this new funding opportunity. (Yes, David Bryne will be there as well. I’ll invite him to ride in Detroit again.)

Fortunately I was able to attend this event both as the Detroit Greenways Coordinator for the Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance and a media representative from this web site.

Learning about the event after registration had closed, I successfully made the following pitch:

Whether I can attend or not, I would suggest that bringing a Detroit perspective to the discussion would be invaluable. Detroit is not Portland or Chicago or New York. The city of Detroit has gained its high level of bike friendliness as residents (and their vehicles) have left. We are at our pre-WWI population levels with a post-WWII street infrastructure. Our 40 square miles of vacant/abandoned land provides unique challenges and tremendous opportunities for non-motorized transportation growth and designs.

Perhaps this New York Times op-ed provides a window into what we have in Detroit and in other Rust Belt communities.

But while the infrastructure is accommodating, the Motor City culture in many ways is not. Though it’s beginning to change, many still see bicycles as a last choice mode of transportation. We are exploring ways to turn that around.

Certainly, getting the funding to build 400 miles of bike lanes would be great, but how where would the money come from to maintain (e.g. repaint) them? It seems it will be all the more critical that we advocate for changes to SEMCOG’s Congrestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funding formulas so make sustainable funding dollars available for any bicycle facilities we build.

Look for a follow up report after Tuesday.