BELIEVE IN THE BIKE

There have been a lot of changes in the Detroit as of late, among which has been an increase in bicyclists around the city. Frankly it’s a trend that can be found in any other major city as well, likely the result of increased energy prices and self-health awareness. But in Detroit of all places it would seem this lifestyle would never really take root. It is after all the Motor City. Designing on the scale of the pedestrian never seemed to be in the minds of planners. Why walk when you could drive? Why pedal when you could you could sit behind the wheel? 

Today however it is not uncommon to see people navigating their way around the city on bike. Much in the same fashion as other cities around the world, Detroit has been becoming more bike friendly in recent years as younger, more active residents look to find alternative modes of transportation. Unlike other cities however, Detroit is uniquely positioned to  rapidly increase the amount of city bike lanes with very little impact on vehicular traffic. The major thoroughfares that were created for a city of over 2 million people are now empty. Reclaiming lanes on these roads to create bike lanes is a relatively easy process. Some of the city’s largest roads including Michigan Avenue now feature bike lanes for use. A recent Detroit News article says the city now has over 40 miles of bike lanes. By spring time more than seven miles of bike lanes will be completed in Midtown along Second and Third avenues and a 2-mile loop is scheduled to be finished in 2012.  This month alone the city gained 16 miles of greenways that opened in Southwest Detroit as reported by Model D.

The Detroit News estimates Detroit is home to 1,200 cycling commuters today. That number pales compared to the 22,000 and 17,000 commuters living in New York and Los Angeles but those cities have far greater populations and hundreds of miles of bike lanes. The 40 miles of lanes now open in Detroit are a  good start though. The new generations of people moving into the world’s cities are all about alternative modes of transportation. With the idea of any large-scale mass transit system still many years off, Detroit should embrace its bikeability.
There are already signs that biking can take root in Detroit. The Dequindre Cut has been extremely popular for riders since it opened two years ago. Groups like Detroit Critical Mass and Criterium Detroit City have tons of members and promote biking throughout the city. Just this past weekend the Tour De Troit, a 30-mile bike ride through the city, attracted over 4,000 participants. Click here to view photos from the event. 
Detroit obviously has a long ways to go, and bike lanes are just a minuscule part of the equation. It is a promising step however, and hopefully these 40 miles of bikes lanes are just the start of what will become a city-wide system.
originally posted on 313detroit

Bikes and Murder folk representing!

[posted by jamie]

pillowfights-boxingtuesday:

Detroit bike lanes - they are REAL!