The excuse of not having money to make your community more bike friendly just got a whole lot weaker thanks to Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants (EECBG).

This funding is another a portion of the overall economic stimulus package and it can fund bicycling planning, construction, and programming:

Entities may develop and implement programs to conserve energy used in transportation, including but not limited to:

• Development of infrastructure such as bike lanes and pathways and pedestrian walkways;
• State/locals/regional integrated planning activities (i.e. transportation, housing, environmental, energy,land use) with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and vehicle miles traveled;
• Incentive programs to reduce commutes by single occupancy vehicles;

Nearly $58 million will go to Michigan cities, townships, and counties that already receive block grant funding (see list below.) A minimum of just over $11 million will be awarded competitively among Michigan’s other communities.

The application deadline is June 25th, 2009. Any awarded funds must be obligated within 18 months.

Royal Oak, Novi and Detroit

Both of these cities are applying for EECBG funding to develop non-motorized transportation master plans. These plans would help both cities develop a strategy for making their cities more walkable and bikeable. (Troy is current going through this plannng.)

Detroit already has a non-motorized transportation plan, so we will be encouraging them so spend a portion of this funding on implementing the plan.

What Can You Do?

We are encouraging all cyclists to contact their local government and ask that they apply for EECBG funding to make their community more bike friendly.

If your city doesn’t have a non-motorized transportation plan (and nearly all don’t in Metro Detroit), EECBG funding can pay for one. This is a good starting point for cities looking to become more bike friendly. For cities like Royal Oak and Novi, these plans costs between $40K and $50K

As mentioned, some cities are automatically eligible for a specific amount of funding. Here’s a listing for eligible cities in Oakland, Macomb, and Wayne County. For a complete listing, visit Michigan’s Recovery web site.

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This past week had a concentration of biking-related news and events in Detroit.

And if it weren’t for the dire automotive news and the thrilling Red Wings results, we may have had a bit more media coverage.

Monday: Bike Registration

Detroit City Council’s Public Health and Safety committee held a public hearing on a new voluntary bike registration program. MTGA, The Hub, and Detroit Bike Riders United were gave public testimony in support of the new ordinance. The ordinance passed and went before the full council on Tuesday. We did not yet hear the results but expect it was passed.

Thursday: Dequindre Cut

Detroit’s newest greenway, the Dequindre Cut had its official grand opening.

It was a very exciting, event-filled, and sunny day. One could not ask for a better kick off.

Though just on the job for his fourth day, Mayor Bing attended and spoke positively about this trail. That shouldn’t be unexpected as Mayor Bing is a board member for the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy.

As he hustled off to another appointment, I caught up to him and gave him a copy of the new Detroit Greenways Network brochure.

Media coverage: Metro Times and Click on Detroit video

Later that evening, the Green Garage hosted the Model D Speaker Series. Tom Woiwode from the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan spoke about the Dequindre Cut, Bil Lusa highlighted the Detroit biking scene and Tour de Troit, while I covered the status of greenway development in Detroit.

There was a very solid turnout (over 190 had pre-registered).

Friday: Bike to Work Day

We had two groups ride this year, one starting in Royal Oak and the other in Grosse Point. Each had about 25 riders and both ended at Campus Martius.

The weather was perfect.

And we had bike commuters looking “normal” in blue jeans, baggy shorts and cotton T-shirts.

Detroit Synergy, American Cycle & Fitness, and a host of other sponsors made these rides (and the cool T-shirts) possible.

Media coverage: Metro Times

Bike to work day is everyday for the dedicated cyclists. But for those who need a nudge to try it, this Friday is Bike to Work day.

There are two organized Bike to Work rides to Detroit this year. They are a combination of last year’s rides hosted by Detroit Synergy and American Cycle and Fitness.

If you need another excuse, Armadillo Printwear is cooking up some cool T-shirts for participants.

Here are the Friday itineraries with the estimated times:

Woodward Avenue Route

• 6:15AM Start: American Cycle & Fitness in Royal Oak
  29428 Woodward Ave. (just north of 12 Mile Rd)
• 6:25AM Royal Oak Farmers Market, West Entrance
• 6:40AM Ferndale, Southbound Woodward Ave. @ 9 Mile Rd
• 7:35AM Cultural Center/Midtown, WSU
• Welcome Center – Woodward Ave. @ Warren Ave.
• 8:00AM Finish: Downtown, Campus Martius Park
• Afternoon ride leaves Campus Martius @ 5:30pm. Arrive in Royal Oak @ 7pm

Grosse Pointe Route

• 6:15AM Start: American Cycle & Fitness Grosse Pointe, 20343 Mack Ave. (6 blocks south of Vernier Rd)
• 6:35AM City of Grosse Pointe Village, Kercheval @ St. Clair. Parking at Trader Joe’s Parking Garage
• 6:50AM Grosse Pointe Park/Detroit, East Jefferson Ave @ Lakepointe – Grosse Pointe Park Public Library
• 7:30AM Rivertown/Indian Village, 6533 East Jefferson Ave @ Bellevue ?Parking on Bellevue Street
• 8:00AM Finish: Downtown, Campus Martius
• Afternoon ride leaves Campus Martius @ 5:30pm. Arrive in Grosse Pointe @ 7pm

For more information on these rides, visit the Detroit Synergy and American Cycle and Fitness web sites.

Recycle Royal Oak was held today.

Tom Regan and I were there to distribute biking and trail information while talking about our efforts to make Royal Oak more friendly and safe for biking and walking.

We had a steady of crowd of people from Royal Oak and the surrounding communities that we very interested and supportive of our work.

Just looking around the event, it was apparent that our booth had the lowest carbon footprint. Both Tom and I biked there and trailered our table, chair, and literature. In progressive green cities like Portland and Boulder, we probably would have been the rule rather than the exception.

At Monday’s City Commission meeting, our Bicycle Task Force recommended the City allocate $40K to hire a firm to develop a non-motorized transportation master plan for the city.

Interim city manager Don Johnson has budgeted that expenditure using stimulus funding from Energy Block Grants. The city has received $543,400 in such funding.

According to the Department of Energy (DOE), the purpose of these block grants are to:

• reduce fossil fuel emissions in a manner that is environmentally sustainable and, to the maximum extent practicable, maximizes benefits for local and regional communities;
• reduce the total energy use of the eligible entities; and
• improve energy efficiency in the building sector, the transportation sector, and other appropriate sectors.

The DOE notes the following activities are eligible for funding:

• Development of infrastructure such as bike lanes and pathways and pedestrian walkways;
• State/locals/regional integrated planning activities (i.e. transportation, housing, environmental, energy, land use) with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and vehicle miles traveled;

So, it’s clearly appropriate for Royal Oak to allocate a portion of these funds to plan for improved biking and walking within the city.

Thanks to the City Commission and staff for allowing this to move forward.

Also, during Monday’s meeting Commissioner Carlo Ginotti moved that this project continue to move forward. It was passed unanimously.