From the Detroit News

By early next summer, the Corktown/Mexicantown Greenlink project will add bike lanes and routes all across the area. It’s likely that these neighborhoods will have a higher density of bike facilities than any other in Michigan.

But there’s more than just biking planned for this area.

Tonight from 4pm until 7pm is a public open house:

Come share with us a Community Vision for a 20 Block Area of Vernor and Bagley in and around the Mexicantown Mercado. Over 100 stakeholders came together to strategize on the Redevelopment of this Vital Area.

Design Boards will be on display for your review and comments.

Sponsored by: Southwest Housing and Detroit Collaborative Design Center, University of Detroit Mercy School of Architecture.

Today’s Detroit News has an article with additional details.

One good question is how will this area’s planned redevelopment enhance and take advantage of the new biking facilities? We’ll know more tonight.

Despite the downturn in the weather, there’s been an upturn in media coverage for bicycling news among communities in southern Oakland County.

And while we’ve already covered these stories, it’s great to see them in the media before a much larger audience.

Metromode has two new articles.

• Royal Oak non-motorized plan gets public jump start
• Berkley, Novi pass Complete Streets resolutions, other cities consider the same

The latter article includes a discussion of getting Complete Streets in Birmingham.

Jana Ecker, a planner with the city of Birmingham, said although that city is already a walkable community, there isn’t a resolution in place yet. For example, the city doesn’t have bike lanes. “It will require some changes from what we do now,” she says. She expects the city will take another look at the ordinance in November, after it’s reviewed.

The Detroit News published an article that covers both Royal Oak’s planning efforts and the local Complete Streets victories.

• Cities focus on cyclists’ safety

And even the Oakland Press provided some positive coverage of the recently passed Complete Streets legislation in Lansing.

• Michigan one step closer to more walkable and bikeable communities

All combined these articles reflect the significant (and relatively new) momentum behind making at least the lower portion of Oakland County a bike friendly environment.

Royal Oak Bike and Dine

Don’t forget that the Royal Oak Bike and Dine is tonight. Here’s the information:

Please join us for a Progressive Bike & Dine in Royal Oak and Berkley.  Royal Oak is conducting a non-motorized transporation plan, and Berkley recently adopted a “complete streets” policy, so this event will celebrate progress in both communities.

No RSVP is required but we would appreciate an RSVP so that we can alert each restaurant on how many guests to expect.  RSVP via the Facebook event (http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/BikeWalkRoyalOak), or reply to this email, tregan3@hotmail.com, or phone 248-797-1075, or mail to 3126 Glenview, Royal Oak 48073.  The event will begin:

• Thursday, October 21st
• Lily’s Seafood, 410 So. Washington, Royal Oak MI 48067.
• Join us in the bar any time between 5:30pm to 6:30pm to register.

The pace will be leisurely–new and occasional cyclists are welcome and encouraged.  Our schedule is approximate but the locations are confirmed:

• Optional drinks at Lily’s, 5:30pm to 6:30pm.  We leave from Lily’s to begin the ride at 6:30pm.
• Appetizers at Amici’s Pizza, 3249 W. 12 Mile, Berkley MI 48072, 6:45pm – 7:15pm.
• Entree at Royal Oak Brewery, 215 E. 4th, Royal Oak MI 48067, 7:45pm – 8:30pm
• Dessert at Pronto’s, 608 S. Washington, Royal Oak MI 48067, 8:35pm, 9:00pm
• Optional after-dinner drinks at Lily’s, 9:00pm – ?.

There is no fee outside of the bill at each restaurant.  Participants should:

• Bring cash in small bills (to make dividing up the tab easier).
• Wear reflective clothing, since we will be riding after dark.  Attach bicycle lights if you have them.
• We will NOT cancel in case of rain or cold weather.

There is a bridge that carries I-96 traffic over the Huron Valley Trail just east of Milford Road. As part of a larger freeway construction project, MDOT wants to replace the bridge with a low maintenance box culvert. (The Huron Valley Trail currently passes under Kensington Road in a box culvert at Island Lake State Recreation Area.)

When MDOT initially asked the Huron Valley Trail committee about creating a detour, they declined. It appears some minds have changed.

MDOT is now hosting a public meeting to discuss having a trail detour.

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is making improvements in your community. The Huron Valley Trail is expected to be closed under the railroad bridge in the Spring of 2011 & we need your help. On October 13, 2010, stop by anytime between 3pm-7pm to share your ideas and be a part of the planning process.

We’ll be at the Lyon Township Municipal Center, 58000 Grand River Ave about½ mile west of Milford Rd.

See you there!

For more information, call Sue Datta at (248) 483-5135.

It seems to us that this might be a good time to put bike lanes on Milford Road.

Also, if you want to stay on top of issues like this, there is a new Friends of the Huron Valley Trail email list.

Royal Oak Bike and Dine

A kickoff planning meeting for a progressive bike and dine event in Royal Oak is tomorrow, October 9th at 6pm.  The Bike and Dine itself would be held on Thursday, October 21st.

The brief 30-minute meeting is being held at the bar of Lily’s Seafood, 410 S. Washington in Downtown Royal Oak.

There is a Facebook event page set up for this meeting.

Livonia to look into planning

The city of Livonia is determining what is involved in creating a non-motorized transportation plan. From the Livonia City Council minutes of September 22nd.

On a motion by Brosnan, seconded by Toy, and unanimously adopted, it was:

#322-10 RESOLVED, that having considered the report and recommendation of the Infrastructure and Community Transit Committee, dated September 1, 2010, submitted pursuant to Council Resolution 20-10, regarding the City developing a connectivity plan for non-motorized transportation, the Council does hereby refer the subject of outlining the elements necessary to create a master plan for non-motorized transportation, including the estimated costs of engaging in the process, to the Administration for its report and recommendation.

This is very promising step for Livonia. Of course estimating the costs is perhaps an easier task than finding the funding.

Large cities like Livonia receive enough state road funding allocated to non-motorized transportation to pay for such plans. However, it’s fairly safe to assume that this allocated money is being spent on sidewalks and crosswalks.