Advocacy

Since 2007, the Detroit Greenways Coalition has been the City’s leading advocate for better biking and walking. From city hall to Washington DC, we have a strong working relationship with elected officials and government staff. Through the years, our consistent voice has helped make major changes in Detroit’s infrastructure and policy.

Highlights

• There were about 13 miles of bike lanes and trails when we started. Today there are close to 300 miles.
• We initiated the vision for a citywide network of greenways, which includes the Joe Louis Greenway and Rouge River Greenway.
• We led U.S. efforts to get bicycles and pedestrians access on the new Gordie Howe International Bridge to Canada.
• In partnership with the Bike Riders United, we successfully encouraged Detroit City Council to remove the city’s mandatory bicycle license ordinance in 2008.
• In 2008 we brought the city’s non-motorized master plan before Council with Giffels-Webster Engineering and helped get it approved. We then worked with the city and council staff to begin its implementation.
• We partnered with the Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance to successfully advocate for MDOT policy change that allowed bike lanes on state trunklines such as Michigan Avenue in Corktown.
• We worked with Riverside Kayaks to change a city ordinance making it legal to launch kayaks and canoes from city parks.
• We advocated for modernizing Detroit’s ordinances for biking and bike lanes, including elimination of the bike bell requirement and allowing youth to ride bikes in the street (with help from BikeVON.)
• We are continuing to advocate for a Complete Streets+ ordinance in the city of Detroit. This would include green stormwater management as part of many road projects.
• We monitor all city council activity and have stepped in to preserve public right-of-ways around the Little Ceasars Arena and Conner Playfield.