The Earthworks Urban Farm (a program of the Capuchin Soup Kitchen) is starting a community bike shop on Detroit’s lower eastside.  This shop would be where Soup Kitchen guests and community members could build and repair their bikes.

However, they need tools for this shop.

If you have any of the following you wish to donate, please contact Patrick (313.579.2100 Ext. 204.)

• metric and english box wrenches
• adjustable crescent wrenches
• allen wrenches
• regular and needle nose  pliers
• screw drivers of various sizes
• socket wrench sets both metric and english sizes
• vise grips
• tire levers
• cone wrenches
• chain tools – chain breakers and chain whips
• freewheel removers
• spoke wrenches
• a truing stand
• clamp for a bike stand

They are also seeking donations to build a work bench:

• peg board and hooks
• plywood
• 2×4’s
• screws
• lag bolts (8-10″)
• rolling casters with locks
• a level

Here’s information for an upcoming forum on one of Detroit’s most talked about greenways:

The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy is hosting a Community Forum on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 at Friends School at 5:30 p.m.   The October 28th Forum provided an update on the construction of the Dequindre Cut, the Conservancy’s role in the future of the Dequindre Cut and an update on the East Riverfront.

The Detroit News ran an article today about the new DDOT bus bike racks that we’d previously reported:

The Detroit Department of Transportation is set to receive more than $500,000 in federal money to install bike racks on the fronts of all city buses.

The DDOT bus fleet would follow other local bus lines in installing bike racks under the buses’ windshields. The intent is to extend travel options for bus riders, especially those without easy and affordable access to cars.

“This is definitely something we’ve urged DDOT to do for a number of years to increase the usability for their service,” said Megan Owens, executive director of the advocacy group Transportation Riders United. “It really expands the area people can get to.”

Link: Detroit News article

Bagley Pedestrian Bridge Concept from MDOT

There may be no better poster child for showing how expressways can divide a community than I-75 and Corktown/Mexicantown.

At this year’s Cinco de Mayo celebration, Bagley Street west of I-75 was closed to vehicles and packed with revelers in a huge community celebration.  On the other side of I-75, Bagley was devoid of people.  Even the coffee shop was closed.

It’s so apparent how I-75 and the Ambassador Bridge facilities have split these Southwest Detroit communities, but especially for those on foot or on bike.  Re-connecting Bagley would certainly be a  positive step forward.

Now MDOT is taking that step.

As part of their Gateway project, they are building a bike and pedestrian bridge over I-75, making Bagley Street contiguous once again.

For cyclists, Bagley is already a decent road to ride.  It has low traffic and low speeds.  Bagley east of I-75 will eventually have bike lanes as part of the Corktown/Mexicantown Greenlink Project.

Some of the many outstanding cycling destinations along Bagley include Clark Park, La Gloria Bakery, Los Galanes, Honey Bee Market, Cafe Con Leche Coffee House, Matrix Theatre, and my favorite Mexican restaurant, Taqueria Lupitas.

Also, MDOT is looking for artists to create public art along this bridge.  Here is their press release with further details: (more…)

The Metro Times recently published their Best Of awards.  Detroit trails and bicycling walked away with a number of awards.

Perhaps the most unexpected was the award for Next best thing to light rail for Detroit.  The winner was the Detroit non-motorized transportation master plan.

Working quietly last month, Detroit City Council heard and approved the Detroit Non-Motorized Transportation Master Plan. That sounds deathly dull, but it’s actually exciting news for the pedalists among us. Though the state had vowed to commit funds to cycling initiatives in Detroit, and Detroit’s Traffic Engineering Department had signed off on the endeavor, the plan had never been brought before council for its approval — something MDOT needed before it would help move things forward. The plan ought to get cyclists pumped: It will track cycling destinations across Detroit with an eye to connecting them with a network of bike trails, lanes and greenways, calling for as many as 400 miles of bike lanes across the city. The plan’s organizers believe lanes could be painted down during normal MDOT road maintenance. And for groups wanting bike lanes in their neck of the woods, working in tandem with the city means it won’t be the uphill slog it used to be.

Wow!

Here are the rest of the awards.

Metro Times People’s Poll

BEST BICYCLING PATH OR TRAIL
Dequindre Cut

BEST PLACE TO ADD BICYCLING PATH OR TRAIL
Woodward Avenue

BEST MOUNTAIN BIKING
Pontiac Recreation Area

BEST ROAD TO PRETEND YOU’RE LANCE ARMSTRONG
Hines Drive

BEST DETROIT RIVERFRONT ATTRACTION
RiverWalk

Read more about each People Poll winner at the Metro Times.

Metro Times Staff Picks

DETROIT’S BEST STEP FORWARD
Detroit’s RiverWalk

BEST WAY TO SUPPORT RIVERWALK
Buy a brick

NEXT BEST THING TO LIGHT RAIL FOR DETROIT
City Bicycling Plan

BEST PROJECT OF 2008 WE’RE STILL WAITING TO BE FINISHED
Dequindre Cut Bicycle Path

BEST URBAN GETAWAY
University of Michigan-Dearborn natural area (and Rouge Gateway Trail)

Read more about the Staff Pick’s at the Metro Times.