The Metro Times continues to do a tremendous job covering the cycling scene in Detroit. They get it.

This week they added another great article to their resume called Two-wheel revolutions: New options for nomotorized traffic on the way in Detroit.

The articles stitches together stories on the Strategic Framework, Greater Riverfront East project, Tour de Troit, Complete Streets, and this info on MDOT’s new bike lanes.

Along Michigan Avenue west of downtown, bike lanes should be painted by November as a “trial,” says Matt Chynoweth, a development engineer with the Michigan Department of Transportation’s Detroit Transportation Service Center.

“We’re going to evaluate for a year and if we have a spike in pedestrian accidents out there then we may have to evaluate it and take it out,” he says.

Bike lanes are an easy way to increase safety by helping motorists realize cyclists are nearby. And some planners say they could be introduced all over the city for little more than the cost of the paint.

Chynoweth will be at the Corktown Residents’ Council meeting will be Tuesday, October 5 at 6:30pm to discuss these new bike lanes. The meeting is being held at the Most Holy Trinity School at 1229 Labrosse in Detroit.

More on GREEN

Sandi Svoboda also blogged about the Greater Riverfront East Environmental Network (GREEN) last week. This project has the potential to transform Detroit’s lower east from the Dequindre Cut to the Pointes: greenways, road diets, bike lanes, and much more.

One of the big focuses is extended the Detroit RiverWalk east to Detroit’s border. Given the marina district, it could be crazy expensive to develop the route along the river’s edge, so the routing may be creative.

We received this notice from the city of Novi’s planning department:

Everyone who lives and/or works in the City of Novi is encouraged to participate in the creation of the City’s Non-Motorized Transportation Plan.  As discussed with the [Walkable Novi Committee and Non-Motorized Transportation Plan Steering Committee] members, several methods would be used to collect input.  The following collection venues are now in place:

1. A web-based survey Click here for Non-Motorized Transportation Plan Survey available on the City’s web page, www.cityofnovi.org.

2. Fall for Novi – The Community Development Department will staff a Non-Motorized Transportation Plan table at the event and collect input via a paper copy of the above survey and collect verbal and written comments.  In addition, a City of Novi pathway and sidewalk map will be handed out.

3. Two workshops are scheduled:

Project Visioning Workshop
Wednesday, September 29th at 7pm
Novi Public Library

Preliminary Plan Workshop
Tuesday, October 26th at 7 pm
Novi Public Library

4. Additional information is also available on the City’s web page at www.cityofnovi.org/Community/PathwaysAndSidewalks.asp

Please share this information with everyone that works or lives in Novi.

If you have any questions or comments regarding the project, contact the City’s consultant, Greenway Collaborative, at info@greenwaycollab.com or City Planner Mark Spencer at mspencer@cityofnovi.org.

From the press release from the Active Transportation Alliance:

Royal Oak city officials are creating a plan to make it easier for bicyclists, pedestrians and transit users to get around in the community. As they put this plan together, they want to hear your thoughts and ideas. Attend the public meeting on Sept. 28 to tell them where you bike and walk and where you wish you could bike and walk in the city. They also want to hear your ideas on how public transportation in Royal Oak can be improved.

• What: Non-Motorized Plan Open House
• When: Tuesday, Sept. 28, 7 p.m.
• Where: Farmers Market, 316 E. 11 Mile Rd., Royal Oak

All Royal Oak residents are invited to attend. This is your chance to help shape the city’s first plan for non-motorized travel.

Remember: The bike parking is always free at the Farmer’s Market!

The Detroit News ran a recent article on a $25,000 grant they gave to the DNRE. This grant is seed funding for developing another phase of Milliken State Park on the RiverWalk.

Mayor Dave Bing being accepted the grant this morning for the William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor from Coca-Cola, the American Parks Foundation and the National Park Foundation as a part of the “America is Your Park” campaign. The Detroit Pistons were also represented at the event.

The plan includes redeveloping the Globe Building, a former automotive manufacturing facility across the street from the park, to construct 17,000-square-foot play area. It will include a rock climbing wall, playscape, obstacle course and a state-of-the-art archery range.

“One of the most important pieces of real estate we have in Detroit is our waterfront,” Bing said. “This riverfront is going to be a great attraction for a long time, not only for those who visit us, but for those of us who live in the city and around the city to come downtown. I feel real good about where we’re going downtown, but our communities are just as important.”

This DNRE plan is only for a portion of the Globe Building with the remainder being developed by a private developer. The playground would be both indoors and out.

The DNRE has developed a couple conceptual designs for the Globe Building. The DNRE has submitted a grant request to the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund to help turn this plan into reality.

These concepts would certainly add tremendous value to the Detroit RiverWalk and Dequindre Cut greenways.

Don’t call it downsizing or right sizing.

The planning effort to redefine and rebuild Detroit is officially called the Strategic Framework Plan.

There is an initial set of five “Community Dialogue Forums” planned around Detroit. These meetings are a opportunity for cyclists to make sure the resulting plans include biking, greenways, Complete Streets, Safe Routes to School and more.

The Framework planning team does have copies of the city’s non-motorized plan and the Detroit Greenway Vision. Still, it would be helpful for them to hear directly from residents about the important role of bicycling in Detroit’s future.

Those community meetings are:

• Tuesday, September 14, Greater Grace Temple, 23500 W. Seven Mile Road (NW)
• Thursday, September 16, American Serbian Memorial Hall, 19940 Van Dyke Street (NE)
• Saturday, September 18, Whittier Manor, 415 Burns Drive (SE)
• Tuesday, September 21, El Kiosko Banquet Hall, 7271 Dix Street (SW)
• Wednesday, September 22, Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, 315 E. Warren Avenue (Central)

Doors will open at 6 p.m. for all weekday meetings, with the meeting program from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Doors will open at 10 a.m. for the Saturday meeting, with the meeting program from 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.