Yesterday Mayor Cockrel signed the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Act.  He joins a growing list of other Metro Detroit signees that have done the same, including:

• John Hieftje (Ann Arbor)
• Marilyn Stephan (Berkley)
• Daniel Paletko (Dearborn Heights)
• Robert Porter (Ferndale)
• James Ellison (Royal Oak)
• Gretchen Driskell (Saline)
• Brenda Lawrence (Southfield)
• Norma Wurmlinger (Southgate)
• Cameron Priebe (Taylor)
• David Flaisher (Township of West Bloomfield)
• Mark Steenbergh (Warren)
• Paul Schreiber (Ypsilanti)

Part of this agreement includes the following:

We will strive to meet or exceed Kyoto Protocol targets for reducing global warming pollution by taking actions in our own operations and communities such as:

2. Adopt and enforce land-use policies that reduce sprawl, preserve open space, and create compact, walkable urban communities;
3. Promote transportation options such as bicycle trails, commute trip reduction programs, incentives for car pooling and public transit;

There’s no surprise that many of these Michigan cities have taken the lead on bicycle facility development.  Some have not.  For those communities that have not seen the light — or made the commitment to improve biking — this may be another justification to help push them along.

Detroit now has an Office of Energy and Sustainability.  Mayor Ken Cockrel made the exciting announcement yesterday.

From Crain’s:

Detroit Mayor Ken Cockrel Jr. said Wednesday he plans to create green jobs and save the city money through a new emphasis on environmental issues.

“Today, we are all a bit more sensitive to the environment,” Cockrel said in making the announcement, “in part because we know the importance of being environmentally conscious, but also because we can enhance economic development in the City of Detroit while generating new jobs by being environmentally aware.”

This is great news from a cycling perspective since we’re obviously a very green solution.

And, in fact, this office is somewhat of an offshoot from Mayor’s Green Task Force, and before that, the Council President’s Green Task Force.  It was the latter that helped us get Detroit’s non-motorized transportation master plan moving through city government.

So, we expect this office has a role in making Detroit more bicycle friendly, and as a result, more green.

MyFoxDetroit has a video story covering this announcement.  The Detroit News, Free Press, and ClickonDetroit also covered this event.

Vacated residential lots become farms in Detroit -- the opposite of what happens in sprawling suburbs

A group called SustainLane recently ranked 50 U.S. cities for their efforts in becoming sustainable.

Detroit jumped up an impressive 12 spots to finish 31st.

Improved biking and walking certainly play a big role in boosting these sustainability rankings.  It certainly reinforces the fact that cycling advocates have so many positive reasons to push for our cause.  From safety to health, from clear air to sustainability, from kids getting to school and the high cost of fuel, there are a myriad of reasons why cities need to embrace improved biking and walking facilities.

According to SustainLane’s summary for Detroit:

America’s “Motor City” is bearing down on the sustainability throttle: the city’s green engine is heating up and has propelled it up twelve spots in SustainLane’s 2008 rankings. What’s fueling Detroit’s upswing? First and foremost, adaptive reuse of land abandoned from decades of suburban flight. Detroit boasts a thriving community garden network growing on vacant land across the city. Quality-of-life issues are a high priority for Detroit officials, who are planning for more greenways, connecting landmarks and bringing in new businesses. The city has already seen a successful transformation of its formerly-blighted riverfront into a bustling area of parks, plazas, and a five-mile recreation path. Expect to see more greening in the near future: City council president and head of the recently-formed “Green Task Force,” Kenneth V. Cockrel Jr., replaced the city’s mayor who resigned early September 2008.

SustainLane also included some short local succcess stories.  Detroit’s was of the Dequindre Cut, “It’s Pronounced De-kwin-dur.”

Karen Heining (Detroit Derby Girls) with Mayor Cockrel

Early Friday morning, Council President Ken Cockrel Jr. became Detroit’s new mayor.

As many have said, this opens a new and exciting chapter in this city’s history.  And while this is certainly true in many ways, it’s especially true for biking in Detroit.

Mayor Cockrel and his staff were instrumental in getting  Detroit’s Non-Motorized Transportation Master Plan moving through city council and approved just last Tuesday.  And with walking and biking being the greenest transportation, it certainly fits with the Mayor’s green agenda, which he mentioned in his inauguration speech.

But also, Mayor Cockrel is a Detroit cyclist.  He rides a few times a week, often before the start of his work day.  Even during these transitional times, he’s still finding some time to ride.

However, he said he was planning to put the bike away soon due to the lack of morning daylight.  We promised to get him information on bike lighting options so he can continue riding.

Just a little over a month ago we lamented Al Fields leaving Mayor Kilpatrick’s office.  He was cyclists’ main if not only advocate in the mayor’s office.  Al had gotten a lot done for Detroit biking, so his leaving left behind a huge vacancy.

We can safely say that that vacancy has been filled.