Last week, Hamtramck City Council unanimously passed the below Complete Streets resolution.

But don’t expect the city to complete any streets in the near term. City Council is also halting all non-emergency work by their public works department as they explore the possibility of declaring bankruptcy.

Their financial issues are really a shame because they have been doing some interesting master planning. Their preliminary recommendation presentation (from July 28, 2010) included these transportation goals:

Make Hamtramck’s streets and sidewalks safer and more accessible for drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists. Improve right of ways to promote the city’s image, create a more pleasant public realm, and strengthen connections between neighborhoods. Create better transit connections within Hamtramck and to/from locations outside the city.

It’d be nice maker Hamtramck roads safer for all, including bicyclists and those new Chevy Volts made just down the road.

RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (MDOT) COMPLETE STREETS INITIATIVE AS OUTLINED IN PUBLIC ACT 134, AND PUBLIC ACT 135, OF 2010.

WHERAS, increasing walking and bicycling offers improved health benefits for the population and more livable communities; and

WHERAS, a Complete Street is safe, comfortable, and convenient for travel by automobile, foot, bicycle, and transit regardless of age or ability, and

WHERAS, the Michigan Legislature has passed Complete Streets legislation that requires the Michigan Department of Transportation and local governments to consider all users in transportation related projects; and

WHERAS, Complete Streets support economic growth and community stability by providing accessible and efficient connections between home, school, work, recreation, and retail destinations by improving pedestrian and vehicular environments throughout communities; and

WHERAS, Complete Streets enhance safe walking and bicycling options for school-age children, in recognition of the national Safe Routes to School program; and

WHERAS, the City of Hamtramck recognizes the importance of street infrastructure and modifications such as sidewalks, crosswalks, shared use paths, bicycle lanes, signage, and accessible curb ramps, that enable safe, convenient, and comfortable travel for all users; and

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the city council of the city of Hamtramck, Wayne County, Michigan that:

FIRST: to the extent feasible, the City of Hamtramck will incorporate Complete Streets design considerations and practices as a routine part of infrastructure and planning and implementation; and

SECOND: that the City of Hamtramck supports the continued development of the City’s Master Plan, Infrastructure Plan, and Parks and Recreation Plan, that supports the ease of use, safety, and accessibility for all users within the City of Hamtramck.

PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE  CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF HAMTRAMCK, WAYNE COUNTY, MICHIGAN THIS 9^th DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2010.

AYES: Gordon, Hassan, Jankowski, Miah, Stackpoole

NAYS: None

ABSTENTIONS: None

ABSENT: Ahmed

C and G News published an article on Ferndale’s passing of a Complete Streets ordinance.

In it, Mayor  Covey (and soon to be county commissioner) astutely noted that Ferndale has already had great success with Complete Streets, citing the W. Nine Mile road diet — a key turning point in revitalizing Downtown Ferndale.

Another key benefit to the ordinance?

Councilwoman Kate Baker pointed out that having a Complete Streets policy in place will also help to get the Police Department, the Department of Public Works, the Community Development Services Department, the Parks and Recreation Department and the Plan Commission on the same page.

That’s an interesting point. In many cities now, there is no such formal departmental coordination on road projects. We recently spoke with another city’s planning commission chair. They pushed their city engineering to let their commission review and comment on the road designs before they’re finalized.

In Detroit there been a discussion on what the health department’s role is in transportation decisions. We know that road designs affect whether people can safely bike or walk. We know that these decisions affect obesity.

And, road injuries and fatalities are a health issue. New York City Mayor Bloomberg noted the increase in life expectancy for his city residents just from reduced pedestrian and cycling deaths.

One final word: Thanks to the city of Ferndale for the beautifully re-paved bikes lanes on Hilton north of Nine Mile. They’re so smooth!

Despite the downturn in the weather, there’s been an upturn in media coverage for bicycling news among communities in southern Oakland County.

And while we’ve already covered these stories, it’s great to see them in the media before a much larger audience.

Metromode has two new articles.

• Royal Oak non-motorized plan gets public jump start
• Berkley, Novi pass Complete Streets resolutions, other cities consider the same

The latter article includes a discussion of getting Complete Streets in Birmingham.

Jana Ecker, a planner with the city of Birmingham, said although that city is already a walkable community, there isn’t a resolution in place yet. For example, the city doesn’t have bike lanes. “It will require some changes from what we do now,” she says. She expects the city will take another look at the ordinance in November, after it’s reviewed.

The Detroit News published an article that covers both Royal Oak’s planning efforts and the local Complete Streets victories.

• Cities focus on cyclists’ safety

And even the Oakland Press provided some positive coverage of the recently passed Complete Streets legislation in Lansing.

• Michigan one step closer to more walkable and bikeable communities

All combined these articles reflect the significant (and relatively new) momentum behind making at least the lower portion of Oakland County a bike friendly environment.

Royal Oak Bike and Dine

Don’t forget that the Royal Oak Bike and Dine is tonight. Here’s the information:

Please join us for a Progressive Bike & Dine in Royal Oak and Berkley.  Royal Oak is conducting a non-motorized transporation plan, and Berkley recently adopted a “complete streets” policy, so this event will celebrate progress in both communities.

No RSVP is required but we would appreciate an RSVP so that we can alert each restaurant on how many guests to expect.  RSVP via the Facebook event (http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/BikeWalkRoyalOak), or reply to this email, tregan3@hotmail.com, or phone 248-797-1075, or mail to 3126 Glenview, Royal Oak 48073.  The event will begin:

• Thursday, October 21st
• Lily’s Seafood, 410 So. Washington, Royal Oak MI 48067.
• Join us in the bar any time between 5:30pm to 6:30pm to register.

The pace will be leisurely–new and occasional cyclists are welcome and encouraged.  Our schedule is approximate but the locations are confirmed:

• Optional drinks at Lily’s, 5:30pm to 6:30pm.  We leave from Lily’s to begin the ride at 6:30pm.
• Appetizers at Amici’s Pizza, 3249 W. 12 Mile, Berkley MI 48072, 6:45pm – 7:15pm.
• Entree at Royal Oak Brewery, 215 E. 4th, Royal Oak MI 48067, 7:45pm – 8:30pm
• Dessert at Pronto’s, 608 S. Washington, Royal Oak MI 48067, 8:35pm, 9:00pm
• Optional after-dinner drinks at Lily’s, 9:00pm – ?.

There is no fee outside of the bill at each restaurant.  Participants should:

• Bring cash in small bills (to make dividing up the tab easier).
• Wear reflective clothing, since we will be riding after dark.  Attach bicycle lights if you have them.
• We will NOT cancel in case of rain or cold weather.

The Spinal Column is reporting on the possible use of sharrows in the Village of Milford:

The Milford Village Council at its Tuesday, Sept. 7 meeting received a presentation from the Milford Downtown Development Authority (DDA) regarding possible “sharrow” lanes for bicycles in the village.

A “sharrow” is a specific on-pavement lane marking that identifies that bicycles and cars share the same lane. They are currently in place in sections of the state, including Ann Arbor, South Haven and Flint.

The DDA is recommending installing sharrows on the major connectors in the DDA district, including along General Motors Road, Milford Road, Main Street and Commerce.

Sharrows are a great, low-cost solution in many cases, especially where there is no parking and widening a road for bike lanes is too expensive. Bike lanes and/or sharrows are a much better, safer alternative to the side paths that had been proposed earlier this year in Milford.

At a recent MDOT meeting, some staff were unaware of sharrows, but were willing to look into their possible implementation on a state trunkline in Detroit. In this case the sharrows would provide bike lane continuity on short sections of road where there is inadequate road width for bike lanes.

The Heritage Newspaper’s Press and Guide had a recent article on greenways in Metro Detroit.

It’s a good article with a focus more on the Dearborn, Detroit, and Downriver areas.

Still, we’re a little unclear about some statements.

Detroit is leading the way in the endeavor, and currently has more greenways than any other city in the country, quite a change for a city that built its reputation on the automobile. In Detroit’s favor, it is a city with many, many miles of unused railways, which advocates hope will eventually be converted totally to greenways.

We’re not sure the city of Detroit has more greenways than any other city, but it could very well be among the leaders from an investment perspective.

And this is a great quote from Tom Woiwode of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan.

“Ultimately, the goal of the GreenWays Initiative is to connect all the communities in southeast Michigan and to link the system with projects outside the region,” said Woiwode. “In the meantime, watching as greenways are embraced by a region known for the automobile continues to be a pleasure.”

The article does end on a flat note.

“Every day, we are a little closer to being able to travel the whole tri-county area without ever setting foot on a road.”

That’s neither true nor realistic — and not even desirable. Many of the planned greenways in Detroit are partially, if not 100% on the road.

Riding on roads is not a bad thing to be avoided. What we need to avoid is building roads that don’t safely accommodate bicyclists. We need Complete Streets.

Chances are we’re not building a greenway to your front door. Or your school. Or your work. We just need to fix the roads between your starting and ending points.