You may already know that Detroit is a leader in urban agriculture. This week you have the opportunity to witness it firsthand.

Wednesday evening, August 5th, is the 12th Annual Detroit Agriculture Network Tour of Urban Gardens and Farms.

From the press release:

This year’s tour will highlight a selection of prosperous, innovative, and visually stunning gardens and farms that are contributing to the new food system through bio‐intensive urban agriculture and commerce between local restaurants and farmer’s markets. The Garden Resource Program Collaborative (GRPC) works to support the emergence of a new, sustainable food system in Detroit through a network of more than 517 backyard gardens, 244 community gardens, and 46 school gardens. The GRPC facilitates resources, education, and training of urban gardeners, farmers, and community leaders through a variety of programming.

The bicycle tour will “weave through gardens located in the Cass Corridor, Woodbridge, and Greater Corktown.” At the end of the tour will be locally-grown food and refreshments created by local chefs!

There is also a bus tour option, but it is full as of today.

All tours start at the Catherine Ferguson Academy (2750 Selden in Detroit.) Sign in begins at 5pm and the tour starts sharply at 6pm.

There are still a few open spots on the bike tour.

Register ahead of time by contacting Ashley Atkinson at 313‐237‐8736 or via email at aatkinso@umich.edu. The tour fee is a sliding scale from $1 to $20 which offsets costs and helps “grow Detroit’s agricultural movement.”

And for those that can’t make it August 5th, there is a Garden Bike Tour on August 15th just south of the border. It’s part of Windsor’s 2nd Annual Summer Harvest Festival. (via Bike Windsor)

Though not on the bookshelves yet, the Observer has a review of David Byrne’s new book, Bicycle Diaries.

From the review:

Byrne has cycled in Berlin, Buenos Aires, Istanbul, Manila and Sydney… Even more impressively, he once cycled from the centre of Detroit to the suburbs, through, as he puts it in his inimitably understated way, “some funky but at least inhabited neighbourhood”. He describes the experience of cycling along “Eminem’s now famous Eight Mile Road”, where the desolation makes him think of postwar Berlin, as “one of the most memorable bike rides I’ve ever taken”.

We’re looking forward to reading the book when it’s released this September.

Bike parking has been a hot topic of late.

In Ann Arbor and Hamtramck

Both cities’ efforts to promote bicycling were mentioned in this recent metromode article, Cheap Ways To Revitalize Your Downtown. And both cities are looking to improve bicycle parking — a hot topic this past couple weeks within the city of Detroit.

In Detroit

We recently mentioned a rekindled bike parking discussion with the Detroit Tigers that was initiated last year by Wheelhouse Detroit.

There’s also been discussion at various meetings that not only recognized the importance of improved, safe, and convenient bike parking, but included some steps we can take.

It’s been noted that bike parking within parking structures could be a very good option. And they’re shelted too. The city owns 11 structures. We probably need to not only add bike racks but produce signage so bicyclists can find them.

And rather than buy racks, why not solicit local designs and local builders to create them as is done in Buffalo, New York? Let’s keep the money local and create green jobs.

We’re also looking to pull together some recommendations on bike racks, including designs and location. Many cities have such recommendations, so Detroit’s will likely take the best of those.

Reduced Motor Vehicle Parking Requirements

And, Detroit’s city planning commission is revising motor vehicle parking zoning requirements and may include language for bike parking. ?We’ve suggested that businesses along bike routes might be required to have fewer vehicle parking spaces. And perhaps space requirements could be reduced for any business so long as they provide bike parking. (By the way, providing bike parking is easy points for LEED certification too.)

A Washington Post article, Don’t Build Parking, And They’ll Come–Without Cars, while primarily addressing transit and walking, certainly applies to cycling as well.

Free or nearly free parking induces car usage, the planners say… Don’t build the parking, and residents will be more likely to buy into a transit- and walking-based urban life.

In New York City

The New York City recently took steps to help improve bike parking within some buildings. They also have a great design guide, which we’ve previously mentioned which includes specifications for bicycle racks. And finally, kudos to NYC for this map showing nearly all of their CityRacks.

The Hub of Detroit is a great resource for Detroiters looking to get a great deal on a used, functional, and often hip bicycle.

Located in the Cass Corridor, they also help Detroit youth get into bicycling and bicycling repair.

Here’s a great opportunity for a nice afternoon ride in Detroit that will help fund their youth education program:

Saturday August 1st, 2:30 PM to 6:30 PM @ The Hub of Detroit, 3611 Cass Ave.

Join the youth graduates of The Hub’s Earn-A-Bike program on a city of Detroit bike tour. ?This is an opportunity for the youth, ages 6-18, to take the bikes they have built during the program on the road and ride with adult role-model cyclists.

• Route includes the Eastern Market, Heidelberg Project, Riverwalk, Downtown, Cass Corridor, and more places of interest along the way.
• Ride ends at the U-M Detroit Center for refreshments and snacks.

Register Online: http://safestreetsyouthride.eventbrite.com/

All proceeds will support The Hub’s youth education programs.

$25 Adult Tickets
$10 with Student ID

After a promising start and a disappointing abandonment, the hike/bike trail at Detroit’s Rouge Park is back on track.

Last year the Student Conservation Association worked primarily on replacing steps to Scout Hollow, which is also in Rouge Park. But this year there was an interest in doing something more in line with was the SCA did throughout the country — build trails.

MTGA and the MMBA helped get the SCA started and away they’ve gone.

Model D has an excellent article this week that describes more about what’s happening in their article, Urban mountain bikers take heed: Rouge Park Trail being improved and expanded.

It’s expected that the SCA will finish up the 1.5 mile trail on the west bank of the Rouge River this year then tackle the east bank next year. Both projects combined will result in a challenging 3-mile singletrack loop for hiking and mountain biking — all within the Detroit city limits.

Look for a trail project wrap up celebration sometime next month.