Ferndale Businesses Making Practical Parking Options For Bikes

Downtown Ferndale - Photo by DDA manager Christine Hughes

Following in the examples of larger bike friendly communities Ferndale citizen’s along with the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and Ferndale Mayor’s Problem Solver Melanie Piana, helped put together what the DDA is calling urban Parklets or a small urban areas reserved for small parks or utility. They can be setup permanently, temporarily or seasonal.

These parklets are sort of one, or one and half car length space - usually in areas where the concrete is painted with yellow lines. The spaces are usually out of the way or in a slow moving traffic areas.

From the Shop’s perspective, its an awesome thing. A couple bars do this kind of thing in Detroit. During big critical mass rides, the bike parking fills, big groups everyone gets to have fun! It’s pretty cool. So Ferndale getting that sort of thing here is pretty sweet.

Just this May Ferndale in Celebration with ARTWN, Western Market installed permanent bike parking for 8 bikes near the front entrance. 

The owner of Western actually said something that he was interested in commuting via one of the commuters with a small, pedal assist motor.

Think with the Detroit riders riding from the Woodbridge Pub Thursdays

Going need a good place to lock a bunch of bikes.
During the Woodward Avenue Brewery’s 15th Anniversary Ferndale City we caught up with Melanie Piana and a Ferndale City Council woman, about bike parking at the WAB “parklet” the spot is just north of the WAB across the street.

One small step for pedestrians: Royal Oak

The Michigan Trails and Greenways Aliance [MTGA] have been hammering at their recent victory in Royal Oak for some time now -  Recently Royal Oak cyclists won a non-motorized transportation master plan approval by The Mayor in front Royal Oak’s City Comission. Bunch of regular citizens got up and talked at the meeting. It was pretty cool and exciting to be apart of the involvement taking place.

The Royal Oak Non-Motorized Transportation Plan has a Facebook Group Page Here. Royal Oak’s Mayor, Jim Ellison pointed out that it would be a staged process and that proper funding needs to be produced.

There are a ton of reasons to get out and bike, it makes you and your city stronger, healthier and more into and up with the surroundings - it certainty brings people together. Its just fun, just ride your bike. get involved :)

David Byrne Artist, Former Talking Heads Frontman Bikes & NYC

How it feels to ride the city? there is a exiliration, theres a kind of nicely paced perspective of the city that i think because because you’re gliding on wheels, it feels kind of dreamy and theres a sense of kind of floating through the landscape and watching it as it goes by. But you can stop at any moment.

The band I toured with had seven bikes on tour with us. they would fold up and go in the luggage compartment of the bus - usually a few of us would go out and explore during the day.

Artist, Designer, Bike Commuter David Byrne: video.nytimes.com
The former Talking Heads frontman discusses his passion for bicycles and
what he thinks New York City should do to become more bike friendly.

He wrote a book outlining his thoughts about cycling, his thoughts and views about New York cycling. Bicycle Daries by David Bryne

This is How We Ride - Sunday Review, David Byrnes NYTimes

By DAVID BYRNE, nytimes.com
Published: May 26, 2012

I’ve used a bike to get around New York for decades. There’s an exhilaration you get from self-propelled transportation — skateboarding, in-line skating and walking as well as biking; New York has good public transportation, but you just don’t get the kind of rush I’m talking about on a bus or subway train. I got hooked on biking because it’s a pleasure, not because biking lowers my carbon footprint, improves my health or brings me into contact with different parts of the city and new adventures. But it does all these things, too — and sometimes makes us a little self-satisfied for it; still, the reward is emotional gratification, which trumps reason, as it often does.

I just turned 60 and have no plans to retire to the suburbs. I love it here. For me, and lots of other people, the answer to the question “What would improve the quality of our urban life?” involves simple things like … um … bicycles, which make getting around — and being in — the city easier, more pleasant and more affordable.

New York is one of many cities that are creating all kinds of new green spaces, riverside parks and bike programs, all of which are symptomatic of our desire to make our cities into our homes.

Supposedly New York city has added something like 280 miles of bike lanes & paths since 2007; and how its cool that there’s sort of suggested flow for cyclists - describes the red lights in the city and how to play it safe. 60-year old inner city cyclists enjoying the outdoors with no plans at moving into the suburbs. 

Read Full Article Here

Waterford Hills Wednesday Night WHRLLs Tonight

See Map Here // 
Part of the summer series

This is the kind of stuff that should be on the news

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Bikes & Movies Bike-In Theater Sunday

@ The Woodbridge Pub Gardern Detroit
The guys from Bikes and Murder are doing it again, starting the season during Memorial Weekend. Chill alternative to The Electronic Music Fest. Hopefully we’ll have some good riding weather!? Get to the Woodbridge Pub.

Sunday @ 9 o’clock pm
and GIVEAWAYS and as usual FREE VITAMIN WATER!
Make sure you stop in and grab a pizza from the Pie Sci guys and bring whatever you like to drink or whatever. 

Gonna be watching Goonies and They Live
More Info on the Facebook Event Page