It’s been a busy week for bike advocacy and promotion in Detroit this week, which explains the lack of new entries on m-bike.  My job with the Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance take precedence over the blog!

So here’s a brief recap of some highlights.

Downriver Trails

The Downriver Linked Greenways Initiative met to provide updates throughout the Downriver area.  In summary, there’s a lot going on from Monroe to the Detroit’s southwest border.  Some of the major trail efforts include:

• I-275 bike path revitalization
• Pathway connections along the Huron River
• The Downriver Delta project – a partnership to connect Southwest Detroit with its neighboring communities
• Humburg Marsh International Wildlife Refuge
• All the water trail (a.k.a. blueway) efforts along the Detroit, Huron, Rouge and other area rivers.

Woodbridge Greenway

A couple University of Michigan students are continuing work to look at possible greenways within Detroit’s Woodbridge neighborhood.  We discussed many possibilities within the neighbor as well as how it could connect with the Corktown/Mexicantown Greenlink, Midtown Loop, and Wayne State University.  This has huge potential.  Woodbridge is a very cool neighborhood.

Model D Speaker Series

Scott Clein from Giffels-Webster gave a great presentation at the Russell Industrial Center on Tuesday.  He spoke along side John Hertel from the Regional Transportation Coordinating Council.  Yes, it was well-received, but what I found so positive is that we (cyclists and peds) got equal billing with some major transportation leaders.

Rouge 08

This annual event is far more than trails and greenways.  It’s overriding theme is the Rouge Watershed.  Still, trails are a part of efforts to improve the Rouge.  They provide recreation, but also build stewardship by providing access to these valuable regional resources.  If the public doesn’t have access to them, they’re much less likely to become stewards and advocates for their protection.

A couple highlights stuck out at this event.

First, Marathon Oil committed to making their two-thirds ownerships of Fordson Island a greenspace.  This is great news.  Fordson Island sits in the Rouge River just north of the Fort Street bridge.  We had hoped to extend the Rouge Gateway across the island, and this announcement makes that hope much more realistic.

Second, we have some great grassroots groups within the Rouge watershed.  Three addressed the group at Rouge 08: ACCESS, Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision (SDEV), and the Southwest Detroit Business Association (SDBA).

Lisa Goldstein from SDEV discussed many of the environmental issues facings Southwest Detroit, including the new bridge proposals.  Lisa deserves some big thanks for submitting excellent comments on MDOT’s bridge proposal.  Her comments noted the need to non-motorized access to Canada, as well as access within the bridge/expressway area.

Kathy Wendler from SDBA gave an excellent presentation on a vision for extending the Rouge Gateway around the Fort Street Bridge and Fordson Island.  This is an absolutely amazing project that really justifies the word “Gateway.”  It would tie together green industries with greenways and blueways.  It’s also a presents a paradigm shift.  Yes, this area is heavily industrial, but it’s our heritage and we can celebrate it in very green ways.

From the Detroit Free Press:

A fund has been established for the two young children whose mother, Jacqueline Robinson, was killed by a hit-and-run driver as she rode her bike on Woodward Avenue Sept. 19.

Donations can be made in the name of Robinson’s mother, Judith Parent, who is caring for the boys. The address is Bank of America, 28746 Woodward, Royal Oak 48067. The bank is next to the site where Robinson died. Police are seeking a 2008 white Jeep Liberty.

Below is a brief five year span of early Detroit bicycling history.

Landmarks of Detroit;  By Robert Budd Ross,  George Byron Catlin,  Clarence Monroe Burton

The Detroit Bicycle Club was organized in the spring of 1879. There were only a few persons in Detroit who rode bicycles at that time, the membership did not exceed twenty, and there was no club house.

In the summer of 1886 there was a State bicycle meet in Detroit, under the auspices of the local club. The membership increasing, the club rented a club house on Miami avenue near Wilcox street, and from thence to another near Bagley.

In 1890 the members of the Star Bicycle Club, which had been organized a few years before became members of the Detroit Bicycle Club; the name was changed to Detroit Wheelmen; the club was incorporated; the club house was removed to  No. 64 Washington avenue; and about 125 members rode through Canada on their bicycles to Niagara Falls, a distance of some 300 miles, where the League of American Wheelmen held their national convention.

In 1891 the national body held its annual meeting in Detroit, at which time one of the bicycle shows held in the United States was held in the Auditorium, and an exhibition of first class bicycle racing was given on the old Hamtramck course, on Jefferson avenue.

In 1892 a twenty-five mile road race was contested on Belle Isle Park, and W.C. Rands of Detroit, made the distance in one hour and fifteen minutes — the fastest on record.

In 1893 the club house was removed to No. 298 Randolph street. A road race was held on Belle Isle, and the world’s amateur record was broken by W.B. Hurlburt in one hour eleven minutes and fifty nine seconds.

In 1894 another road race was held on Belle Isle, and W.W. Grant won in record time of 1:00:26.5. In 1895 the club promoted another road race on Belle Isle. This time A. Callahan of Buffalo, won in 1:07:48.8. This was the last road race promoted by the club, but it has always been foremost in putting on track race meets in which the best talent participated, and they have generally been successful from a financial standpoint. Several fast riders have been developed in the club, the most notable being Tom Cooper.

The next club house was built by the club at an expense of about $40,000. It is at Nos. 53 and 55 Adams avenue east, is built of stone and brick, three stories in height with a basement, a fine auditorium, bowling alley, billiard and whist tables, baths, library, kitchen, dining room, etc. The membership is about 450, and the present offlcers are: President, Charles W. Lloyd; first vice-president, Pearce M. Bland; second vice-president, J. H. Hungerford; secretary, Fred C. Winckler; financial treasurer, Frank L. Chidsey; treasurer, George C. Sharer; captain, Frank J. Kremer; directors, L. Vineburg, H.E. Perry, Frank Byrne, W.H. Speaker, W.H. Willebrand, James Cranshaw jr., W.E. Sewell, Louis Schneider.

Rep. Donigan discusses transit issues at the recent Green Brainstorming workshop in Royal Oak.

It seems those who are most quick to negatively stereotype politicians have the least experience in working with them.  That’s not to say some politicians don’t deserve a bad rap, but many don’t.

And speaking of politicians, the 8th annual Tri-County Summit was recently at the Detroit Institute of Arts.  (Covered by the Detroit News and Detroit Free Press.)  It was a great opportunity to talk trails and bikes with area politicians, including:

Oakland County Commissioner Jeff Potter

Commissioner Potter has been around for awhile and always a major trails advocate.  Prior to joining the commission, he was mayor of South Lyon, where he helped spearhead the Huron Valley Trail in Western Oakland County.  He’s continuing to push for its expansion to the southwest into Lyon Township and beyond.

Oakland County Commissioner David Coulter

Commissioner Coulter represents Ferndale, Hazel Park, and some of Royal Oak.  Coulter has been an advocate for public transit and a supporter of non-motorized transportation in Southeast Oakland County.  We recently discussed Detroit’s new non-motorized transportation plan and how that can provide connections with Ferndale’s Bicycle Network.

State Representative Marie Donigan

Representative Donigan’s district is Royal Oak and Madison Heights.  Donigan has been pushing public transit in Michigan before it was popular and before gas hit $4 a gallon.  She’s recently introduced innovative legislation to create Transit TIF‘s to finance public transportation development.  She’s also co-sponsored HB 6299 and HB 6300 which increase penalties for motorists that injure or kill cyclists.

Detroit Councilmember Sheila Cockrel

Councilmember Sheila Cockrel along with her fellow Public Health and Safety committee members JoAnn Watson and Alberta Tinsley-Talabi, have been very supportive of improving biking within the City of Detroit.  Cockrel and staff have been working with the law department to craft replacement bike license ordinances, which is coming along well.  Ms. Cockrel also had The Hub build up a bike for her.

Last Friday, a female was a victim of a hit-and-run collision on Woodward Avenue in Royal Oak.  She was struck and dragged more than 100 feet.  She died later at Beaumont Hospital.

According to a Detroit Free Press article:

Police say they believe a 2008 white Jeep Liberty was involved in a hit-and-run accident Friday that caused the death of a bicyclist.

Police said Tuesday that the Jeep likely has damage to its front and possibly to its passenger side.

Anyone with information is strongly urged to call the Royal Oak Police at 248.246.3515 anytime.