www.pedbikeimages.org / Dan Burden

Ever wonder how many people are biking or walking to work in Metro Detroit?  How do we compare with the bike friendly cities of Chicago and Portland?

Fortunately the U.S. Census publishes statistics on how people get to work. The below numbers are from 2007, which is before gasoline hit $4 a gallon and encouraged increased bike commuting.  We look forward to seeing the 2008 numbers.

Note that the Metro Detroit error margins are generally +/- 0.1%. For cities, the error margins are much larger which makes comparing these numbers somewhat precarious.

One conclusion that can be drawn is women don’t bike to work as frequently as men, but especially in some areas such as Wayne County, Southfield, and Grand Rapids.  Even in more bike friendly cities like Ann Arbor, Chicago, and Portland, women workers are much less likely to bike to work.  There is no corresponding gender difference among those walking to work in many of these regions (the City of Detroit is an exception).  In Metro Detroit, women  walk to work more often than men (1.6% vs. 1.4%).

Another conclusion: Detroit has much room for improvement compared to places like Ann Arbor, Chicago, and Portland.

One question we have is how does the Census Bureau count workers that use bus bike racks?  Are they counted as public transit commuters, as bicyclists or both?

This brief interview with Congressman Earl Blumenauer was recently published in Parade Magazine:

Why care about cycling now?
Right now, the U.S. consumes about 10% of the world’s oil supply just to get back and forth to work. If we are able to reintroduce the bicycle into our communities, we are going to make it easier for people to break our addiction to oil. I have cycled to work in Washington, D.C., for 12 years. I’ve burned over 300,000 calories and saved $94,000 in car costs, 206 gallons of fuel, and 4800 pounds of carbon dioxide.

Your city—Portland, Oregon —is very bike-friendly. What has worked?
We have expanded the number of bike lanes, established bike routes throughout the city, and turned major streets into “bike boulevards” so there is less through traffic. It’s making a huge difference. People in Portland use their cars much less than the American average. That translates into savings of more than $2500 per year per family. There should be a bicycle master plan for cities large and small.

How do you balance the competing demands of cyclists who want more lanes and drivers who worry about congestion?
It’s not about competition. Cycling actually helps improve traffic flow on roads. If all of those thousands of people who bike every day in Portland were to get back in their cars, we would have more traffic congestion and more frayed nerves. Cycling helps with parking, too—you can fit a dozen bikes in the space one car would take.

Link: A Greener Commute by Meg Massey

Photo of Madison, Wisconsin from www.pedbikeimages.org / Dan Burden

Last week we spoke before the Royal Oak Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and asked them to support our push for safer biking and walking in Royal Oak.

While our public comment echoed much of what we said before the City Commission last week, we did try to focus a bit more on the downtown area.

For example, we noted that on average 1% of Michigan trips are currently made by bike.  They’ve made a big commitment in Portland, Oregon to improve biking and now 8% of their trips are by bike and it’s growing.  (Amsterdam is at 40%!) If we followed Portland’s lead, we could save money by decreasing our need for more car parking.  And bicyclists shop local.

Overall, the DDA was receptive and was interested in having a representative on our bicycle task force.

At the same meeting, the DDA approved nine new bike racks throughout Downtown Royal Oak.  SMART is covering the cost for eight of the racks.

We’ve also received additional media coverage from The Mirror and the Royal Oak Review.

We are meeting with City Manager Tom Hoover and staff this Tuesday.

In 2004 our state legislators removed all taxpayer support for Michigan’s state parks.

The result is our state parks rely heavily on camping fees and motor vehicle passes to keep the front gate open.

You can help keep our state parks operating by buying a $24 motor vehicle pass for 2009.  You can also buy them to give as gifts.  The DNR also offers gift certificates.

“Most Michigan residents are located within a one hour drive of a state park, recreation area or boating access site.  The permits provide Michigan residents, and non-residents, access to 98 Michigan state parks or recreation areas and over 800 access sites located statewide,” said Ron Olson, DNR Parks and Recreation chief.  “Giving a motor vehicle permit, a boating access site permit, or a gift certificate is giving the gift of outdoors, and it also helps support our state park system.”

These state park passes are really quite a deal.  For only $24, one can have year-long access to one of the nation’s premier state park systems.   California State Park annual passes are $125.

People have asked why the DNR doesn’t raise the motor vehicle entry fees to help make ends meet.  The bottom line is they can’t.  The price is set by the state legislators who have been reluctant to make any changes.

Gift certificates and permits can be purchased year round through the Michigan e-store or by calling 517-373-9900.

If you live, work and bike in Royal Oak — we need you on Monday, November 10th at 7:30 PM at City Hall (third floor).

Royal Oak City Environment Committee, the Sierra Club, and concerned local bicyclists are speaking before City Commission to ask for improved bicycle and pedestrian safety in Royal Oak.  In short we are asking them to develop a non-motorized transportation plan.

Here are some tips from Tom Regan, who’s down a lot of work getting us to this point:

We will speak at public comment, which is at the very start of the meeting, so you must be on-time.

Idea — Bike to the event and carry your bicycle helmet into the meeting. Hold your helmet when you speak at public comment.

The themes are very simple. You can address any one or more of these points when you speak:

• Royal Oak can be a dangerous place to ride a bike.
• All Royal Oak citizens will benefit if Royal Oak becomes a safer place to walk and ride a bike.
• Royal Oak should write a non-motorized transportation plan as a way to set community goals and reach them in an intelligent and efficient manner.

Be very brief, or take the whole 5 minutes, or just give your name and address and say “I would like Royal Oak to write a non-motorized transportation plan.” If even that sounds scary just stand next to someone else when they talk and hold your bike helmet!

The local Sierra Club has jumped into this effort with both feet. They are an extremely well-organized and active chapter, we are very fortunate to have their help. The Royal Oak Environment Committee has also endorsed the effort.

Please send your letters-to-the-editor now. There will be a sudden drop in letters with the election over, now is a good time to get published. Nothing long or involved is needed, just dash off something quick on how Royal Oak would benefit if it were safer for walking and biking:

• Royal Oak Mirror
• Royal Oak Review
• Royal Oak Daily Tribune
• Oakland Press

We look forward to seeing some helmets at Monday’s meeting.