thanks for posting.
is it flat there like Chicago? Looks like it and seemed like there were lots of cruiser style bikes.
Intersting that the CM ride didn't seem to piss off drivers since the roads are so empty. With some funding, Detroit would be in really good shape to do protected bike lanes. Maybe no time soon, but eventually. There are precious few places, where the streets are consistenly undercapacity.
cool video. Interesting that there are few helmets being worn, even though some are wearing safety vests. Also, CM seemed to be mostly white folks too - not sure what to read into that.
I went on a CM ride there in June of 2010 (that's me at 2:30!).
It was totally flat. Politics of CM aside, it was a pretty amazing way to see parts of Detroit. Everyone who can should go visit Detroit. It's a pretty mind-blowing example of what happens when "the system fails." At the same time, there are some very moving examples of neighbors taking things back into their own hands with gardening &tc.
@Tabby: yes, a great time to rethink the infrastructure except that they are so broke the parks are closing because the city can't even afford to keep the grass mowed.
On the other hand, the volume of cyclists will go up due to the flatness and bad economy. In the areas in and around downtown & Dearborn there were huge many-laned boulevards with few cars.
The Heidelberg Project and the abandoned Michigan Central Train Station were very interesting to see.
I forgot to pack toothpaste on my trip and when I went to buy some at a small supermarket, it was all in a locked vitrine (even more secured than the expensive razor blades are in drug stores here).
There are a lot of hard-working and skilled people there - I hope the city finds its way back somehow. Meanwhile, there's a lot to learn from it.
"With some funding, Detroit would be in really good shape to do..."
A lot of things.
(Emphasis on the first three words of the above statement.)
Last year, 77 parks were set to close, but I don't think the mayor got that plan through.
