m-bike.org

Category: General bike news

  • Michigan drops in Bicycle Friendly Rankings

    bfs_logoThe League of American Bicyclists (LAB) released their 2009 rankings and Michigan fell 3 spots to 15th.

    According to Josh DeBruyn, our MDOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator, it appears the drop was primarily due to other states improving their scores.

    These overall rankings are based on scores in six different areas. Here is how Michigan ranked within those areas:

    • Legislative: tie 43rd
    • Policies and Programs: tie 7th
    • Infrastructure: tie 8th
    • Education: tie 9th
    • Evaluations: tie 16th
    • Enforcement: tie 19th

    Obviously Michigan scored most poorly in the legislative area. According to DeBruyn, this is perhaps due to other states having passed Complete Streets Policies; banning cell phones and texting while driving; having 3′ passing laws; and allowing photo enforcement of moving violations.

    We did notice the state ranking application asked about mandatory helmet laws. We contacted the LAB and those answers are only for data collection and are not used in the rankings.

    Here is the complete state ranking list:

    (more…)

  • Streetfilms: Meet Veronica Moss, A.U.T.O. Lobbyist

    Click Veronica’s photo for some light-hearted Friday satire from our friends at StreetsBlog:
    veronica-mossfinal1

    For this Streetfilms exclusive, we were granted unfettered access to Veronica Moss, lobbyist for the Automobile Users Trade Organization (AUTO). Veronica gave us a few precious moments inside her SUV to talk about roads, traffic, cyclists, and big cities. While instructing us on proper honking techniques for “old people” and children, she also offered up some choice bons mots. Here’s a sample:

    • “People need to be able to drive their cars — that’s an American right!”
    • “Bikers are a pimple on the butt of any city.”

  • Donating used bikes in Oakland County

    From the Free Press:

    The Oakland County Sheriff’s Re-CYCLE for Kids Program is accepting donations of new, used or in-need-of-repair bicycles, bike accessories and parts.

    The program, sponsored by the Sheriff’s Office and started in 2006, refurbishes bikes using inmate labor and then makes them available to children and adults in need through local charitable organizations.

    Bicycles can be donated at any of the following sites:

  • A Week of Detroit Biking Events

    Looking almost normal while biking to work in DetroitThis past week had a concentration of biking-related news and events in Detroit.

    And if it weren’t for the dire automotive news and the thrilling Red Wings results, we may have had a bit more media coverage.

    Monday: Bike Registration

    Detroit City Council’s Public Health and Safety committee held a public hearing on a new voluntary bike registration program. MTGA, The Hub, and Detroit Bike Riders United were gave public testimony in support of the new ordinance. The ordinance passed and went before the full council on Tuesday. We did not yet hear the results but expect it was passed.

    Thursday: Dequindre Cut

    Detroit’s newest greenway, the Dequindre Cut had its official grand opening.

    It was a very exciting, event-filled, and sunny day. One could not ask for a better kick off.

    Though just on the job for his fourth day, Mayor Bing attended and spoke positively about this trail. That shouldn’t be unexpected as Mayor Bing is a board member for the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy.

    As he hustled off to another appointment, I caught up to him and gave him a copy of the new Detroit Greenways Network brochure.

    Media coverage: Metro Times and Click on Detroit video

    Later that evening, the Green Garage hosted the Model D Speaker Series. Tom Woiwode from the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan spoke about the Dequindre Cut, Bil Lusa highlighted the Detroit biking scene and Tour de Troit, while I covered the status of greenway development in Detroit.

    There was a very solid turnout (over 190 had pre-registered).

    Friday: Bike to Work Day

    We had two groups ride this year, one starting in Royal Oak and the other in Grosse Point. Each had about 25 riders and both ended at Campus Martius.

    The weather was perfect.

    And we had bike commuters looking “normal” in blue jeans, baggy shorts and cotton T-shirts.

    Detroit Synergy, American Cycle & Fitness, and a host of other sponsors made these rides (and the cool T-shirts) possible.

    Media coverage: Metro Times

  • Grand Rapids Bike Summit

    2009 Grand Rapids Bike SummitNear the end of last month, Grand Rapids hosted a successful bike summit according to Pedal GR.

    With 60 bicycles crowding the Bike Valet Parking area and around 200 attendees inside to learn how to make Grand Rapids into a Bicycle Friendly Community, I would call the first ever Grand Rapids Bike Summit a big success! In the crowd there were young people, old people, roadies, mountain bikers, casual bicycle riders, hardcore cyclists, fixed gear riders, government officials, politicians, and many others.

    Their main keynote speaker was Bill Nesper from the League of American Bicyclists. Nesper leads their Bicycle Friendly America program and spoke about how Grand Rapids can achieve Bike Friendly Community status.

    For more details on this summit, visit the Pedal GR web site.

    Last year Kathyrn Underwood of the Detroit Planning Commission suggested Detroit host a bike summit. That is certainly an idea worth considering. Grand Rapids has given us a model to follow.