Leor Barak on the Detroit Riverfront

Green Teas are monthly meetings to promote green activities within the City of Detroit. Past topics include urban gardening and greenways.

The August 28th Green Tea is about biking, including what current projects are underway and how can folks can more involved.

If you plan on attending or need to rent a bike, RSVP to Jeff Williams via email or call 313.894.1030.

Here are the details:

THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2008, 4:30 PM at Wheelhouse Detroit (located at Rivard Plaza on the Riverwalk, Atwater and Rivard.)

BYOB (Bring your own bike or rent one from Wheelhouse!)

Meet other folks who bike, share what you think would help facilitate biking in the city, connect with bike organizations, learn about biking opportunities along the riverfront and the Dequindre cut, find out about the Detroit non-motorized plan and how you can support it, share your favorite routes, find a commuting partner!

We will also take a short ride to the Eastern Market for refreshments! (In case of rain, the meeting will take place under Shed 2 at the Market).

Mark from Canada posted the below comment on the MTGA web site.  We’ve reprinted it here (with his permission) because it echoes our push for safe AASHTO on-road bicycle facilities in Oakland County.  It’s great that Ontario is so forward-thinking and progressive with respect to cycling.

I’m accustomed to road cycling in Canada, and planning a visit with a friend in Oakland County. I can’t believe I’m being pushed onto “recreational trails” if I want to cycle! I want to get places and see the community, not paved trails in woodlands or parks! Bikes are classified as a vehicle by Ontario’s road authority, and there’re active advocacy groups successfully pushing for bike lanes on current and future roadways. Maybe we have a healthier mindset in Canada. Or maybe Michigan just can let go of the narrow minded car mindset. I recall seeing some arterials without sidewalks even!

Racing in a searsucker shirt is cool, even above 90F

Biking as a kid was simple. You had a bike and you rode it. Somewhere along the way, it began a much more elaborate affair that required special clothes, special shoes, gloves, helmet, sports glasses, and socks with logo messages. Biking was no longer as mainstream or as easy — except in places like Europe or even the City of Detroit.

Fortunately there’s been a trend back to normalcy. High gas prices certainly are encouraging new people commute on bikes and to use the proper equipment, we recommend checking the vessi.com footwear.

One trend indicator is the number of group rides where normal clothes are almost expected. The Detroit Synergy rides are certainly that way. If you show up for one of those rides in full-on Tour de France lycra clown gear, you may get publicly teased.

Another similar sounding ride is starting this Saturday at 10pm in Royal Oak. It’s hosted by a new group call Motor City Motorless. Here are the details:

(more…)

Today’s Detroit News has an article titled Cutting the Cost of Commuting. It discusses how some Michigan companies are helping their employees cope with higher fuel costs.

What’s great is the more progressive companies like Google and Herman Miller are promoting bike use.

Google’s Ann Arbor office donates $5 per day to a charity of choice for those who walk or bike, according to spokesman Patrick McLaughlin. About half the workforce take public transportation, walk, bike, or carpool.

Brian Walker, CEO of Zeeland-based furniture manufacturer Herman Miller and an avid bicyclist, decided to discourage the use of cars altogether when he implemented a “bike pooling” system that matches other cyclists by location and schedule.

Rather than offer stipends to buy gas, the company provides one-time reimbursements of $100 for bicycles, $50 for helmets, and $500 for hybrid cars.

Here’s more video from NBC Nightly News on America’s growing switch to bike commuting. As noted, many cities across the U.S. have the infrastructure to help their residents make that switch. Unfortunately that is not the case in nearly all of Detroit’s suburbs.

Many cities… have a well-established infrastructure of bike lanes, bike-friendly public transit systems, and bike parking, making switching from four wheels to two easy for drivers fed up with high gas prices.