High oil prices prompted Americans use their bike more than their car.  Last month we wrote about the falling price of oil and how people were still biking more.

Since then the prices of oil has dropped even more.

Still, the October driving numbers are down according to the Federal Highway Administration:

Americans drove more than 100 billion fewer miles between November 2007 and October 2008 than the same period a year earlier, said U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters, making it the largest continuous decline in American driving in history.

The Secretary noted that Americans drove 3.5 percent less, or 8.9 billion fewer vehicle miles traveled (VMT), in October 2008 than October 2007, making it the sharpest decline of any October since 1971.

Of course during this downturn, bike commuting and public transit ridership have increased.

And, these changes are not just due to high oil prices.  (more…)

The Detroit News ran an article today about the new DDOT bus bike racks that we’d previously reported:

The Detroit Department of Transportation is set to receive more than $500,000 in federal money to install bike racks on the fronts of all city buses.

The DDOT bus fleet would follow other local bus lines in installing bike racks under the buses’ windshields. The intent is to extend travel options for bus riders, especially those without easy and affordable access to cars.

“This is definitely something we’ve urged DDOT to do for a number of years to increase the usability for their service,” said Megan Owens, executive director of the advocacy group Transportation Riders United. “It really expands the area people can get to.”

Link: Detroit News article

Celebrating the first SMART bus bike racks at the State Fairgrounds in April 2004

Prior to the high gas prices, the question was often asked if the SMART bus bike racks were a success.  SMART thought so.  They attributed increased ridership to the bike racks.

SMART can’t run buses to every address.  Being able to use a bike to get from ones true starting point to a bus stop makes buses more viable for many folks, but especially those in less densely developed areas.

Of course fewer asked about the bus racks’ effectiveness during this year’s bump in gas prices.  The answer was quite visible as many more buses had bikes on them.

At yesterday’s Model D speaker series, a SMART representative said they transported bikes 16,000 times last month.  Wow.

In fact due to the increased usage, SMART is now looking to upgrade their bus bike racks so that they carry 3 bikes.

It sounds like that original question won’t be asked as much anymore.

DDOT to get Bike Racks

It began with a Transportation Riders United, MTGA, a bike petition, and others asking for bike racks on DDOT buses.

A bus rack manufacturer loaned DDOT some racks to try out on the Russell line.  Their Bikes on Buses (B.O.B.) program was started.  Meanwhile, DDOT requested funding to equip all of their buses with bike racks.

The great news is MDOT has approved that funding request.  Over a three-year period, all of DDOT line haul buses will get bike racks.

Model D Speaker Series: Bikes + Transit

Next Tuesday, October 21st, the Model D Speaker Series welcomes John Hertel and Scott Clein to the Motor CIty Movie House at the Russell Industrial Center.  The event begins at 5 PM with the presentations starting at 5:30 PM.

From Model D:

Hertel is the local transit czar, and will speak on the the Regional Transportation Coordinating Council’s recently released transit plan for Southeastern Michigan, including a light rail or streetcar system down Woodward Avenue. (Hear more about it here from Model D Radio/Michigan Now reporter Chris McCarrus.)

Clein is an engineer with  Giffels-Webster, the firm which recently helped design a non-motorized plan that calls for more than 400 miles of bike lanes in Detroit. The plan recently got approval from Detroit City Council. Read more about it here.

To sign up for this free event or to get directions, visit Model D.

We’ll see you there!

SMART bus with a two-bike rack

DDOT has listened to our requests.

DDOT has announced that the Russell bus line will include bus bike racks.  They are doing this on a trial basis.  Eventually we may see all  DDOT buses with bike racks similar to what SMART has done.

DDOT is calling this Bikes On Buses or B.O.B.

There are B.O.B. details on-line along with a B.O.B. user guide.  Or you can call DDOT customer service at 313.933.1300.

Special thanks to DDOT and the Transportation Riders United (TRU) for helping push this project forward.  This is a great complement to the bus network, but also a great benefit for Detroit cyclists wanting to get to cycling destinations across the city (e.g. Belle Isle, Riverwalk.)