News from the Trail - November 2023

The Detroit Greenways Coalition works to promote and build a network of greenways, Complete Streets, and bike lanes that will connect people and places, improve the quality of life, beautify neighborhoods, and stimulate neighborhood-level economic development in Detroit.

News from the Trail - November 2023

Joe Louis Greenway

The City of Detroit is having a ribbon cutting event for the Warren Gateway on Tuesday, October 31st from 2-3pm at 8034 W Warren Avenue. Halloween activities (eg. Halloween arts and crafts, trick or treating, food trucks, petting zoo) will follow from 4-7pm.

The Gateway is the first constructed trailhead on the Joe Louis Greenway and on the border of Detroit and Dearborn. It features a signature playscape, a pavilion with flexible community space, fitness equipment, green infrastructure, and accessible parking.

Also, if you need music for your bike ride, start with Hashous Clay. His latest release is called "Joe Louis Greenway".

See you on the slide.

We're Hiring!

We are looking to hire a Bikes 4 Employees (B4E) Outreach and Activities Manager. The role will be the primary point of contact for bike applicants and recipients, optimizing their experiences and maximizing positive outcomes. This is a nine-month contract position with the opportunity for continuation as an employee in a leadership role as B4E scales up. To be considered for the first group of interviewees, apply by 4 pm on Monday, November 27, 2023. For more information, please review the job description. Long-time Detroiters with a
passion for bicycling and helping others are encouraged to apply.

Job Posting

Uniroyal Promenade

Were you one of three thousand people who showed up for the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy's Grand Opening event? There were a whole lot of smiles on hand.

It was mentioned during the celebration that this completes the East RiverWalk. Does that mean we will always use Atwater to get around the Aretha Franklin Amphitheater? Maybe not. Improvements here as well as along Atwater are still possible. More near term improvements are also under consideration for bicyclists traveling between Gabriel Richard Park and the MacArthur Bridge bike lanes. Stay tuned!

The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy is also premiering their new hour-long documentary film, "Ignore the Noise: The Transformation of the Detroit Riverfront" at the Detroit Film Theatre at the Detroit Institute of Arts on Wednesday, November 15th. Doors open at 5:30pm with the screening at 6:30pm and a panel discussion afterwards. The documentary "tells the story of how the Detroit Riverfront evolved from industrial, blighted and underused to a vibrant world-class waterfront featuring parks, pathways and greenways." Tickets are just $5.

Buy Documentary Tickets

Support the Detroit Greenways Coalition

10,000 Speed Humps

The City of Detroit just celebrated it's 10,000th speed hump installation. On streets where speed humps were installed in 2021, crashes decreased by 36%. "The feedback we continue to receive and the data both show that speed humps are making our neighborhoods safer."

Safe Speed Limits

There are two speed limit bills in Lansing right now. One clarifies the local flexibility in setting safer speed limits while the other keeps the current default 25 MPH speed limit on many residential streets, including nearly all in Detroit. Both bills seemed delayed in the House, so we reached out to Speaker Joe Tate. Both then passed the House and are now in the Senate. Thanks Speaker Tate!

I-375

Michigan Senator Stephanie Chang is hosting an I-375 Town Hall Discussion on Saturday, November 4th from 4-6pm at Chrysler Elementary (1445 E. Lafayette). MDOT will give a presentation with a community conversation to follow.

MDOT also has a streetscape aesthetics survey. While aesthetics are important, we suspect many would prefer answering questions on the project's fundamental design.

Take the MDOT Survey

MDOT Bridge Updates

Second Ave bridge over I-94 had an official opening ceremony. We love this quote from Mayor Duggan, "They've connected the people who live in this area, not just with a road, but with a bikeway and a pedestrian walkway. This is the way we ought to be rebuilding this city."

We just got word of the currently-closed Canfield pedestrian bridge test results. MDOT says it can't be repaired and it's scheduled for replacement in 2050, which we find unacceptable. We will continue working with the city, legislators, and the Woodbridge community to address this lost connection sooner.

Green Task Force

James Hannig, DPW Deputy Director of Complete Streets will be presenting on the city's road safety work at the next Green Task Force Transportation and Mobility Committee virtual meeting on Tuesday, November 21st at 4pm. Civilized Cycles will also be on the agenda to discuss their bike manufacturing in Detroit.

Join Green Task Force Group

MoGo-a-GoGo

This first-ever community fundraiser for MoGo is being held on Tuesday, November 9th, from 6-9 pm. Presented by Bedrock.

Get Tickets

Semi-Trike?

A new style of heavy duty cargo bikes will be made in Detroit by Civilized Cycles. They are currently seeking Detroit partners to pilot.

Parks Summit

Detroit Parks Coalition's Annual Parks Summit is scheduled for December 6th at the Marygrove Conservancy.

View our updated Detroit Bike and Trail Map

Additional Reading

Forget the UAW strike, the real crisis may be a lack of demand for EVs, Free Press ($)
Study Finds Cyclists Are Better People Than Drivers, Jalopnik
Why Losing A Fight With Walmart Was The Best Thing To Happen To This E-Bike Start-Up, Forbes

Detroit Greenways Coalition - PO Box 32013, Detroit, Michigan 48232