A trail fundraiser ride from our friends south of the border at Bike Friendly Windsor:
Essex Rotary club has paired up with the Essex Region Conservation Authority to raise money for developing the Chrysler Greenway between McGregor and Essex.
They are holding a Bike-a-thon at 10am Monday, September 6th with two route choices: CO-AN park to Harrow and back (25km) or CO-AN park to Kingsville and back (55km).
Registration forms can be picked up at any United Communities Credit Union branch in Essex County.
There were 180 riders for the 2010 Bike the Bridge event this year. One big reason for the increase is Canadian bicyclists could start in Windsor, ride over the Ambassador Bridge to Detroit, turn around and ride back — a neat option.
Once over the bridge, both the U.S. and Canadian cyclists enjoyed a breakfast at Windsor’s Mic Mac Park. Afterwards, 49 cyclists rode to Amherstburg, Ontario for a quick guided tour of Fort Malden. Many of the other cyclists rode to Walkerville where they heard about the local history of prohibition and Hiram Walker — and got to sample some Canadian whiskey.
Both groups re-converged at the Carousel of Nations event held along Windsor’s river front park. The U.S. cyclists then boarded chartered Transit Windsor buses for the return voyage back to Detroit.
The 2010 Bike the Bridge registration closes tomorrow, May 31st, at midnight. Riders must register early for this event so that the roster can be sent to Customs ahead of time.
Last year was the inaugural event and this year will be a little different. Riders can chose between a shorter historical tour of Walkerville or a longer 40-mile round trip ride to Fort Malden in Amherstburg.
Here is the press release with additional details, including a Bridge ride option for Canadians.
Ambassador Bridge Allows Cyclists to Cross For JUST One Day
Border Cyclists to Meet for Bike the Bridge & Area Tour
(Windsor, ON) On June 13, 2010 the Ambassador Bridge will allow a rare occurrence: during a brief window of time, a small group of people will be allowed to cross the bridge on their bicycles for Bike the Bridge 2010.
This is the second year for the tour that was started as a way to bring attention to how difficult it is to get across the river between Detroit and Windsor when riding a bicycle. Currently cyclists can only take their bicycles across the border if they are driving it there themselves or taking a taxi (bicycles are not allowed on the Tunnel Bus either).
Few Canadian riders participated in the past due to the logistics of getting their bikes across to participate but this year, riders from Windsor will be allowed to cross the bridge on their bikes to meet up with the Detroit riders before cycling back over the Ambassador Bridge as a group. After the crossing, the group will stop at a Windsor park for a breakfast catered by Tres Be-An Cafe. From there riders get to choose from two adventures: either a long distance ride lead by Todd Scott (director of Detroit Trails), or a tour of Hiram Walker with a presentation by Marty Gervais followed by a sojourn to the riverfront for Carrousel of the Nations.
Sue Moretto, the Michigan-based organizer of the event, is excited to bring everyone together and return to Windsor with her riders, We had so much fun on the ride last year; the breakfast was delicious and it was a great day.
Moretto has spent several months working with representatives of the Windsor Bicycling Committee (WBC) to finalize plans on the Windsor side of the border.
We are delighted that well be part of this effort. Events such as these are commendable as they help promote our important connection of our regions as well as cycling as a healthy transportation alternative, says Alan Halberstadt, the Windsor city council representative on the WBC.
For $35, Canadian riders get their bridge crossing, breakfast, a commemorative t-shirt and their choice of two cycling tours. Riders must be 16 years and older (18 and older for Hiram Walker tour) and must wear a helmet. Riders must pre-register by May 31, 2010 at http://bikethebridge2010.eventbrite.com/
Today did not go as planned. At 11am I read about the Secretary of Transportation being on the Detroit RiverWalk. At 11:50pm I was walking into the ceremony wearing a suit and looking like I’d actually been invited.
Secretary Ray LaHood was in Detroit to tour the new Detroit Terminal Port and highlight the $7 million in stimulus funding that helped make it possible.
Also with the Secretary was Senator Carl Levin, Senator Debbie Stabenow, Congressman John Dingell, Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, and MDOT Director Kirk Steudle.
Before the tour, I had a chance to speak with both senators. They are both very in tuned with Detroit greenway projects, including the RiverWalk, Dequindre Cut, and Corktown/Mexicantown Greenlink. Senator Levin has helped bring significant funding to the Detroit RiverWalk.
When speaking with Senator Levin, I mentioned the fact that U.S. bicyclists cannot get across to Windsor and their excellent greenways without taking a car over the bridge or through the tunnel. Having this new Detroit port with customs and water taxi service would provide an excellent means for bicyclists crossing between our two countries. He apparently grasped the value in this as I overheard him repeating this to Secretary LaHood. He also highlighted it during his interview with ClickOnDetroit.
Senator Carl Levin said the new terminal will include a customs office, which will help increase traffic between Detroit and Windsor for water taxis, ferry boats and even bicycles.
“They can’t now come across. There’s no way to do it, so there may be a ferry service they are talking about to just literally bring people back and forth with their bicycles,” Levin said.
While I only had a brief moment to speak with Secretary LaHood, it was enough to give an elevator statement on our efforts in building a network of greenways across Detroit.
I also had a chance to talk with Curtis Hertel, the executive director of the Wayne County Port Authority who will be running the terminal. He too is interested in further discussions on how the Port can accommodate bicyclists crossing between Detroit and Windsor.
Still wearing my hat as Detroit Greenways Coordinator for MTGA, I made sure the Senators’ and Secretary’s staff got copies of the Detroit Greenways Network Brochure.
State Representative Marie Donigan and member of the House Transportation Committee was also there. She spoke with LaHood about improving transit in Detroit.
Will the RiverWalk be completed on this stretch next year? Probably not. There will still be a couple temporary connectors. Money to complete those is being sought. Also note that when ships are unloading passengers, the main RiverWalk will close. However, there is an alternate section that will pass around the Terminal building so that pedestrians, cyclists, runners, and skaters can pass.
Yesterday 60 cyclists rode where no one had in more than 30 years — on the Ambassador Bridge from Detroit to Windsor.
This was the inaugural Bike the Bridge event, a special group ride which worked out the details with the Detroit International Bridge Company (DIBC) as well as U.S. and Canadian Customs.
The DIBC closed the Detroit-to-Windsor side of the bridge to motorized traffic during the ride over. They also placed mats over the expansion joints to help prevent any tire damage.
It took about 20 minutes for the cyclists to clear the bridge. That’s not too bad considering this is the tallest hill climb in Detroit.
Halberstadt did mention that if the DIBC builds a second span across the Detroit River, they have mentioned keeping the existing bridge open and possibly available for non-motorized traffic. It’s still far too early to speculate whether than will happen or not.
The ride continued to a Windsor park where the group was fed. The 51st annual Tour di Via Italia bike race was just a few blocks away on Erie Street.
For the return to Detroit, the bicycle were loaded onto a rental truck and Transit Windsor provided two buses.
Biking in Windsor, Ontario is really a nearby gem, but unfortunately Detroit cyclists can’t just ride to it — at least not yet. Having a convenient, year round non-motorized international connection across the Detroit River would really increase the appeal of biking in the Detroit-Windsor area.
A trail fundraiser ride from our friends south of the border at Bike Friendly Windsor:
Yesterday 60 cyclists rode where no one had in more than 30 years — on the Ambassador Bridge from Detroit to Windsor.