m-bike.org

Category: Detroit

News and events happening within the City of Detroit

  • Donations sought for Community Bike Shop

    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

  • Another Dequindre Cut & East Riverfront Community Forum

    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.

    On November 18th, we want to discuss future programming on the Dequindre Cut and the East Riverfront.  We are inviting the leaders in the community to participate in this discussion.  If know of any community leaders (block club officers, CB Patrols, PTA/LSCO, District Councils) in the near eastside neighborhoods who want to share the thoughts of their constituency or hear our thoughts, please forward the invitation!

    Please RSVP to 313-566-8243 or at rsvp@detroitriverfront.org. Space is limited!

  • Federal funds to help install Detroit bus bike racks

    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

  • Bridging Bagley Street in Southwest Detroit

    Bagley Pedestrian Bridge Concept from MDOT
    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…)

  • Metro Times Best Of Awards

    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.