Detroit cyclist Horatio “Good Roads” Earle ran for Michigan Senate in November of 1900. With his win, he went to Lansing and created the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT).

By the way, the Good Roads of Earle’s time are the Complete Streets of today. In 1900, there were very few motorized vehicles on the road, no stop signs, no traffic signals, no crosswalks. Everyday was a Ciclovia. If a road were paved, it was a Complete Street.

This is an excerpt from The Autobiography of “By Gum” Earle:

My fourth effort was in 1900 as a candidate for state senator from the Third District in Michigan, and I won, which gave me a chance to officially promote the good roads cause in which I was so interested. Every paper in Detroit opposed my nomination, and when they lost out, they said the doughnut won, but I went to Lansing, and by gum, Michigan has shown the world how to build good roads.

A good deal of my success in the campaign was due to the efforts in my behalf made by the “Detroit Wheelmen.” One of the most effective pieces of campaign literature was the one which follows, recalling the laws and privileges secured for the bicyclists, who were at that time in the hey-day of their strength and influence.

PONDER A MINUTE

Baggage law for you,
Dry strip for you,
Bicycle shelter for you,
Bicycle ordinance for you,
Hotel discount for you,
Path protection law for you,
Toll knocked out for you,
Equal rights with horse for you,
No tags on wheels for you,
No lamps on wheels for you,
No bells on wheels for you.

Chief Consul Horatio S. Earle has been one who has worked without a cent of pay for these things. Will you get out and vote, and get others to vote for him for state senator, Third District, next Tuesday? Give your answer at the ballot box.

League of American Wheelmen Committee

This list echoes the one made my Edward Hines when he solicited bicyclists to join the Michigan Division of the L.A.W. Hine’s list provides more details on each item.

Yes, nearly 110 years later we are fighting the same battles. We fought mandatory bicycle registration (“tags on wheels”) and are working on getting roll-on bicycle service with AMTRAK  and the M1 Rail (“baggage law”).

And of course we’re still fighting for Good Roads.

Don’t expect normal.

Omnicorp Detroit hosted an Halloween-themed alleycat yesterday that ended with complementary human-powered haircuts. Yeah, turn the pedals and make that hair clipper buzz.

Trust us, it worked, but you may not want to try trimming your leg hair as you pedal.

Amelia Bloomer - underwear advocate

The good old days when government was smaller and didn’t interfere in everyones personal lives…

From the web site Jolique, which has an exhaustive amount of information on bicycling and bloomers:

Although both bloomers and bicycles were gaining popularity for women by the late nineteenth century, for some they were a dangerous combination. Many opposed both bicycling and bloomer-wearing on the bases of morality and a concern for the public good. For example, some opponents believed that by wearing “male dress” (i.e., bifurcated garments, later called “rational dress” or “alternative dress” by dress reform advocates) women would adopt other masculine traits, such as the desire for other women.

There was opposition to bloomers in Detroit, too.

It was Feburary 16th, 1897 during the Golden Age of Bicycling.

Detroit City Council had the third reading of some very critical legislation: “An ordinance to prohibit obstructing the views of persons in theaters halls or opera houses where theatrical performances are given and to provide a penalty therefor.”

Alderman Batchelder offered substitute language for this ordinance.

Sec 1. Any person who shall wear upon his or her head any hat bonnet or other covering for he head or wear sleeves which obstructs the view of any person or persons in any theater opera house or other place or building wnere theatrical or other performances are given where an admission fee is charged or in any church during services therein or in any restaurant during a feed

And any female bicycle rider caught wearing bloomers in the public streets or any street car conductor found flirting with female passengers while in the active performance of his duty as such shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and shall on conviction thereof for each offense pay a tine of not more than $10 nor less than $2

Apparently Batchelder had no issue with men bicycling in bloomers.

Nonetheless, there was no support for his substitute language and his proposal died. Female bicyclists in Detroit could still ride in bloomers (and flirty streetcar conductors were given a reprieve.)

The ordinance which penalized those obstructing views in theater halls and operas also failed on a 10-20 vote.

And people complain about today’s Detroit city council?

With the weather taking a turn towards colder temperatures, it’s a great time to pull on a Halloween costume and bike with others.

There are two rides this weekend in Detroit.

Friday is the Critical Mass ride — this month called the Detroit Critical Massquerade. As usual, the ride leaves from Trumbull and Warren at around 7pm.

Saturday at 2pm is the Devils Night Alley Rat Costumed Bike Race. That ride meets outside The United Specialty Produce Door at 1501 Division near Riopelle in Eastern Market.

According to the flyer, there are “Trophies for Podium, DFL” and “Awards for Best/Worst Costume.”

To be successful, it is critical that bike and trail advocates have a diverse voice.

That’s one reason we remind others that efforts like Complete Streets are not just about Lycra-clad cyclists.

For example, the AARP is one of the major advocates for Complete Streets. Why?

In a poll conducted for the AARP study, 40 percent of adults age 50 and over said the sidewalks in their neighborhoods are inadequate. Nearly 50 percent reported they cannot cross main roads close to their home safely, yet half of them would walk, bicycle or take a bus more often if the problems were fixed.

Mobility activists assert that the best way to address these problems is with “complete streets” policies, which allow pedestrians, bicyclists and those who use public transportation to share the road safely and comfortably with automobiles.

And at the other end of the age spectrum, MTGA recently led guided tours of the Dequindre Cut and Detroit RiverWalk to Councilmember Cockrel’s Green Task Force Youth Committee and the Great Lakes  Bioneers Detroit.

Building an interest in trails for these younger groups is clearly important, as is making the connection between walking, biking and being green.

But it’s also key that we encourage their active participation in programming and advocacy. They are a key stakeholder.

The more they can be involved in these efforts now, the more likely they will continue making Detroit more walkable, bikeable, and green.