Royal Oak OKs Non-Motorized Transportation Plan - YESS!!

New language in the city’s Master Plan is intended to make it safer and more convenient to walk, bike and use transit around town.

The City Commission on Monday moved to make Royal Oak a safer city in which walking and biking are incorporated into the city’s transportation plans.

Commissioners approved the Planning Commission’s recommendation to amend Royal Oak’s Master Plan to incorporate three new sections: the Non-Motorized Transportation Plan, the Woodward Avenue Transit-Oriented Development Corridor Study and the Rochester Road Access Management Plan.

Mayor Jim Ellison, who is also a member of the Planning Commission, said the goal is to incorporate three elements: a walkable community aspect, a transient-oriented aspect and Rochester Road access.

The Non-Motorized Transportation Plan received support from residents during the public comment period at Monday’s City Commission meeting. The plan is composed of recommendations for infrastructure improvements, policies and programs that are intended to make it safer and more convenient to walk, bike and use transit in Royal Oak.

This calls for a celebration!!

A group of bicyclists is going to celebrate the passing of the non-motorized plan.
Members of the community are invited to participate in a local celebration ride.

The organizer of the Non-Motorized Transportation Plan, Tom Regan noted, “If anyone wants to join in the celebration they can meet us at Lily’s Seafood, May 24th. We’re going to gather between 5 and 6 p.m. and head out from there.”

Read Full Article @ The Royal Oak Patch

Federal funding for bike routes pays off in Twin Cities

Four areas that shared $100 million saw growth in biking and walking,
with less pollution & less spent on health care

If you build it, they will bike. A lot.

That, in essence, is the conclusion of a four-year, $100 million pilot project in four communities, including the Twin Cities, on whether investing in bike and pedestrian infrastructure pays off.

It does, the U.S. Department of Transportation said in a report submitted to Congress this week. Not only did biking increase by nearly 50 percent over the three-year life of the four projects, but there were 7,700 fewer tons of carbon dioxide emitted, 1.2 million fewer gallons of gas burned and a $6.9 million a year reduction in health care costs.

“This is something that people want,” said Marianne Fowler, vice president of federal relations for the Bike-to-Trails Conservancy, a national advocacy group. “It is clearly one of the best, most cost-effective investments possible.”

Continue Reading @ startribune.com

African Photobook - What Do Bikes Say About A Culture?

Last year a couple a guys, Stan Engelbrecht and Nic Grobler set out to create a photo book highlighting every day South Africans and their bikes. They used the grassroot funding power of Kickstarter to raise funds. Within a few months they were ready for production. 

This is their story:

We recently started a project investigating South African bicycle culture, and the lack of cycling commuters on our roads. We want to raise the funds to turn this project into a self-published full-color hard-cover photographic book. We’ll be shooting the entire project from our own bicycles while traveling Africa.

Nic and I both love bicycles, but we really believe that it’s a simple and affordable tool that can really liberate and empower South Africans. By celebrating the few who do ride everyday, and telling the stories of their lives, we hope to inspire more people to commute by bicycle. 

You can see the online version of the stories at their website
dayonepublications.com also visit the kickstarter page for more info.

Huffington Post - Critical Mass Bringing Detroiters Together

During Critical Mass cyclists take to the streets, filling lanes
and for a short time making motorists rethink their notions of traffic.

Critical Mass Detroit meets the last Friday of every month on the corner of Warren and Trumbull - mostly cyclists, but sometimes skateboarders, rollerbladers and others. They come from all over Southeast Michigan to take part in a unique event.

Critical Mass rides started in San Francisco in 1992 as a way for cyclists to increase their visibility on the road. The biking get-together has spread to hundreds of cities around the world. It’s a decentralized movement, and some in its ranks use the ride as a way to critique modern society’s over-dependence on motor vehicles. To others, though, it’s just chance to go on a fun bike ride.

Detroit’s Critical Mass started with a very small crew around the turn of the millenium. Detroiter Steve Weller, 36, joined several these early rides.

“We did a few rides on Fridays, and at the time there wasn’t much support like there is now,” Weller said. “It was mostly the bike messengers who wanted to do it - to get together and ride - just to be part of the process of becoming part of traffic.”

These early rides attracted an average of just 10 to 15 people - hardly “massive.” In the last few years though, the numbers have surged. During warm months Critical Mass Detroit attracts more than 600 people! Seriously a lot a fun!

Read Full Article @ The Huffington Post

Lansing Legislatures Might Remove Bike Funding - Act Now!

(via m-bike.org, Todd Scott)

A group of bills were introduced in Lansing earlier this year that change how Michigan distributes transportation funding. One of these bills would transfer funding from the current Michigan Transportation Fund (MTF) to the Commercial Corridor Fund (CCF) 

The MTF Requires 1% of the funding to be spent on non-motorized options like bike lanes, sidewalks, etc. The CCF requires no such thing. Note: it has been a long standing goal of some Michigan Legislators in removing that funding.

What This Means:

The current road funding is generally distributed based on the miles of roads. This Bill would change that to distribute funding based on how many miles motor vehicles travel. 

Cities and counties that require people to drive longer distances will be rewarded. That means outlining suburban areas will receive more funding than downtown areas. The Bill will introduce financial disincentives for urban cities promoting public transit, biking, etc.

Recommended Action: 

It’s recommend that you contact your state representative and state senator to let them know your interest in cycling. Removing the MTF requirement and distributing road funds according to motor-vehicle miles traveled is not a progressive ideal.

These bills have been out for more than a couple months now.
Local Cyclists cannot afford to sit on Michigan’s political sidelines.

With continuing rise fuel prices, the public outcry for better urban areas and the increasing public interest in Public Transit, as well as Complete Street Initiatives, it is unacceptable that a bill pass that takes us back to 1970s suburban sprawl mindsets. Show Your Support!

Study: Bicycling Can Save Cities Billions of Dollars

Bicycling is good for your health. Check.
Bicycling is better for the environment than driving a car. Check.
Bicycling can save cities billions in health expenses per year. Say what? Say check.

Environmental Health Perspectives published findings from a study by scientists at the University of Wisconsin that reveal shocking relief for wallets from simply switching to pedal power. Focusing on eleven metropolitan cities in the upper Midwest, the study surveyed the economic and health benefits of swapping a car for a bicycle for trips less than five miles. 

Scientists factored in data on air pollution, medical costs, mortality rates, car accidents and physical fitness and “found that if inhabitants of the sample region switched to bikes for half of their short trips, they’d create a net societal health benefit of $3.5 billion per year from the increase in air quality and $3.8 billion in savings from smaller health care costs associated with better fitness.” WOW!

Full Article @ LAist.com also see This!

Milwaukee Indoor Park Attracts MTB BMX $$ During Winter

This is what we want to see Downtown Detroit. An indoor MTB, BMX Freestyle Tourist Attraction + a Velodrome. Everything Bikes in one Giant sized building.

Milwaukee’s Rays is built in the shell of a defunct 110,000-square-foot Menards home and lumber store here, the park is a facsimile of the original Ray’s in Cleveland, which occupies the hulk of a World War II-era rayon and parachute factory…

Read The Full New York Times Article

We’ll be riding Rays March 5th!
RSVP if you want to go 

Adventure Cycling Presentation Troy Feb.22nd

Adventure Cycling Association’s Jim Sayer presenting
One of the biggest single-day REI Presentations to date WOW

Area Cyclists gathered at Troy REI’s first Adventure Cycling Talk. Jim Sayer Presented the Talk titled, “The Joy of Bicycle Travel”. At first, the Presentation was set in REI’s back store room - the store room is where typical REI talks are presented. But it became obvious that this wasn’t a typical REI Talk. The back store room quickly filled to a point where attendees found room only for standing, there was even a bunch of people standing outside in the hallway hoping only to get in on a listen. Eventually the REI staff came in and said that the group should move to the main floor.. sweet!

All kinds of riders were at the there; casual weekend riders, century tourers, centennial guides! All of whom were interested in gaining new perspectives on regional touring and commuting. Jim Sayer, Adventure Cycling’s Executive Director complimented south-east Michigan’s up and coming cycling movement stating that it was one of the Biggest REI Talks he’s ever presented!

The presentation highlighted some of Adventure Cycling’s key plans including nationwide cycle path networks, trail directories, extensive mapping efforts, group rides, guided tours - these services all available to participating Adventure Cycling Members. The presentation also highlighted America’s underground railroad tours, the people and places behind them, as well as the organizations that were helping formulate that network. Jim also stated that the cycling industry is the most profitable sporting activity on the planet, trumping hunting, fishing, etc..

Adventure Cycling Association’s mission is to inspire people of all ages to travel by bicycle. They’re helping illuminate a future when cycling is the preferred transportation and pass-time. Adventure Cycling is a non-profit organization meaning that all proceeds go directly back into improving their mission.

Check out Adventure Cycling Website for more information - their blog is updated daily!
It’s packed with a ton of useful information, maps, networks, etc.
They also have a Facebook Page if anyone’s interested.