Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood was in Detroit this morning to announce the federal governments support of the M1 Rail project on Woodward. Crain’s Detroit covered the announcement.

As expected, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced this morning that the $400 million to $500 million Woodward Avenue light rail project is launching the required environment study process needed to qualify the effort for federal funding.

This study process will include discussions on how rail and bicycles will co-exist on Woodward. Mixing the two can be challenge. It would be best addressing those challenges from the start.

And biking can greatly improve access and use of the M1 Rail. Someone might walk a half-mile to use the train, but they might bike three times that, especially if the trains can carry bikes.

Secretary LaHood didn’t just talk about M1 Rail. He mentioned livability and the importance of biking and walking opportunities.

Also, the city of Detroit applied and received $25 million in TIGER funding from the U.S. DOT last year. That funding is going towards the initial development of the M1 Rail line. TIGER II grant applications are due this month and the city is applying again. This time for a major non-motorized project that will tie into the M1 project.

Stay tuned!

This Wednesday, August 4th is the 13th Annual Detroit Agriculture Network Tour of Urban Gardens and Farms. You must register in advance! Last year’s rides sold out.

The tour will feature five routes, including bus tours to eastside, westside, and central city gardens and two bicycle routes weaving through downtown gardens. All tours will leave from Catherine Ferguson Academy, located at 2750 Selden in Detroit. Sign-in begins at 5:00pm and tours will leave at 6:00pm sharp. After the tour, a reception featuring locally-grown food prepared by local restaurants and chefs will provide visitors with a delicious taste of Detroit! Registration begins July 6th and early registration is strongly recommended. You can register by contacting Ashley Atkinson 313-237-8736 or detroitagriculture@gmail.com. When registering, please give the name of every person attending the tour and specify which tour, bus (east, west, or central) or bike tour you prefer. The fee for the tours is a sliding scale of $1 – $20 to offset costs and help grow Detroit’s agricultural movement.

This is one of the most excellent bike tours you can do in the city of Detroit. It supports a great cause and the post-ride meal focused on Detroit-grown produce is the best.

Senator Tom George on an earlier ride through Detroit

Today I lead a Henry Ford bicycle tour for the Wheelhouse Detroit.

We had a couple unexpected guests: Senator Tom George and his son Matt. Senator George is running to become the Republican candidate for Michigan Governor. They were in nearby Milford this morning as Matt did the criterium race.

Although the polls aren’t in his favor, having Senator George in the top office certainly wouldn’t hurt the bicycling agenda — especially since he’s also a doctor who understands health and active living.

This was not his first ride in Detroit. The photo on the right is from an earlier ride.

It was his first ride on the Dequindre Cut and he was quite impressed.

We mentioned earlier that we suggested a Detroit ride with Congressman Pete Hoekstra — another cyclist running for Michigan governor. As of this posting, we haven’t gotten a response.

— Todd Scott

Woody Miller leads the 2009 Tour-de-Troit Metric Century ride

The details have been set for the Woody Miller Memorial Ride. It will take place at the Belle Isle Beach at 9:30 AM on August 14th.

From the Facebook event page:

Join family and friends in celebrating the life of Woody Miller (September 28, 1944 – July 17 2010). Woody was an avid cyclist: serving on the board of The Hub of Detroit, mentoring new riders, and advocating for the cycling community. He was a great promoter and supporter of the arts, most recently lending his skills to the creation of TheDetroiter.com. Cyclists can join him on his last lap around Belle-Isle following the ceremony. Please wear casual summer attire or cycling gear.

If you are on Facebook, they are asking that you RSVP.

Detroit Chicken Races T-Shirt

The city of Detroit’s urban ag and bike culture are growing together and no where was that more evident than at last Sunday’s chicken races.

Yep, the first ever Detroit chicken races were at the Temple Bar in the Cass Corridor. Only Detroit-based hens could compete. Seventeen showed up.

Miss Chicken arrived in style aboard a BOB trailer. In speaking with the owner, the bike travel didn’t really seem to faze her.

Many of the 200 fans arrived by bicycle as well.

Team Cluckstrong, a nod to Lance Armstrong’s Livestrong, also competed. The Team had Cluckstrong T-shirts and wrist bands. Their bird raced with a Cluckstrong leg band.

Even the official T-shirts made by the Trumbleplex touted a fixie chicken.

Photos from the event are on-line.