Michigan Bicyclist Magazine - Fall 2012
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Transcript of Michigan Bicyclist Magazine - Fall 2012
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7/28/2019 Michigan Bicyclist Magazine - Fall 2012
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Law Enforcement Training Recap
UM-Flints Bike Facilities Course
Bicycle Friendly Midland
Ann Arbor Bike Sharing
Bike Summit Reections
And More
Governor Snyder Pedals
Detroits Dequindre Cut
In This Issue:
Buffered Bike Lanes
Come to Michigan See page 5
BicyclistMICH IGAN
PROMOTING BICYCLING AND THE SAFETY OF
BICYCLISTS ON MICHIGAN ROADWAYS
November 2012
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1 MICHIGAN BICYCLIST | November 2012
Small Revolutions Create Change
Winter always lls me
with optimism and
anticipation optimism
that I will regain my
orm on the trainer
and anticipation or
spring and new cycling
adventures. Your LMB is
in training or its spring adventure, which will
certainly urther strengthen the organization.
Earlier this year, I reported on the invigorated
standing committees. The board continued
its reorms through bylaw amendments
that set board term length at three years
and provided or annual election o our
seats. This will provide greater continuity on
the board, as only one third o the seats will
change in any given year, rather than the prior
system where up to hal potentially changed.
We replaced regional board seats with all
statewide seats. We also eliminated the at
large appointed board members. All L
members now have a say on all board mat
Voting will be at the annual member meet
allowing members direct input. The ann
meeting will occur in conjunction with
Lucinda Means Advocacy Day in May.
The board also beeed up the nominat
committee to nominate our poten
candidates or the membersh
consideration. The board instructed
nominating committee to give considerat
to specic talents needed on the bo
geographic hubs o member concentrat
and to the diversity that makes our state g
Your LMB is excited with these changes, a
we believe that they will result in a vibr
representative, and energetic board.
I hope to see you in the spring at the ann
meeting, i not beore. Until then, please
me in spirit, riding on the trainer and think
o spring adventures on the road.
STEVEN ROACH, LMB Board Chair
Michigan Bicyclist Copyright 2012On the Cover: LMB member Lyndon Babcockduring the Coast with Your Community BikeRide on October 14th which celebrated the newlyinstalled buered bike lane along Saginaw Street inLansing See page 5. Photo by John Lindenmayer.
Editor, Art & Design:JOHN LINDENMAYER
Letters/Comments/Advertisements may be
directed to:[email protected]
LMB Directors
DAVE BOURGEAULT
ERICA BRIGGS
COLLEEN BROWN
JIM CARPENTER
DAVID JONES
VIC LUKASAVITZ, Treasurer
RORY NEUNER
STEVEN ROACH, Chair
BARBARA SCHMID, Secretary
MICHAEL SHEEAN
MICHAEL SPROUL
LMB ToursJIM DOUGHERTY, Ride Leader Shoreline West
MARY DOUGHERTY, Ride Leader Shoreline West
StaRICH MOELLERExecutive Director
JOHN LINDENMAYERAdvocacy & Policy Director,
JENNY JENSEN
Associate [email protected]
The League o Michigan Bicyclists (LMB)is a 501(c)(3) non-proit organizationdevoted exclusively to the advancemento bicycling. Our mission is to promotebicycl ing and increase the saety o bicyclists on the roadways in Michigan.
M i c h i g a n B i c y c l i s t M a g a z i n e i s abeneit o membership in LMB, and is
published three times a year as part othe Leagues ongoing eorts to inormMichigan cyclists, law enorcement, policymakers, and the engineering and planningcommunity on issues afecting bicycling inMichigan.
416 S. Cedar St. Suite A Lansing, MI 48912(888) 642-4537 | (517) 334-9100www.LMB.org
League of Michigan Bicyclists
Printed on
100% Post Consumer Waste
Socialize with LMB - Find us at www.LMB.org
What Every Young Michigan
Bicyclist Must Know Options to CustomizeIn the rst year o distribution, our What Every Young
Michigan Bicyclist Must Know booklet has proven to
be a huge hit! Through the generous donations o
LMB supporters, we have already circulated over
51,000 copies to countless bicycle rodeos and other
bicycle saety events geared towards children.
Ater receiving numerous requests about customizing the booklet, LMB is pleased
to announce that starting in 2013, your organization will have the option to addyour own logo and contact inormation to the back cover.
The deadline to order customized booklets is January 1st, 2013, and a minimum
order o 900 booklets is required. I you do not plan to distribute 900 or more
booklets in 2013, please consider your booklet needs over the next ew years.
Please let us know ASAP i your club, shop, organization or law enorcement
agency is interested in ordering customized booklets. Contact Jenny by email at
[email protected] or more inormation and a pricing sheet.
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I hope that you had a antastic year o
bicycling. This summer was a bicyclists dream
with the long stretches o dry weather.
LMBs Education Committee has been
working closely with Kathy Vonk, an Ann
Arbor Police ocer and LMB member, todevelop a Community Bicycle Saety or Law
Enorcement training. We held our rst training this October. Our
goal was to use this rst training as a pilot and then tweak it beore
making the training available across the state. The attendance
exceeded our expectations, so I am condent that we are on the
right track. In 2013 we plan to conduct three additional trainings.
An article about the training, along with the 2013 schedule can be
ound on page our.
Our annual year-end appeal began on November 1st. You should
have already received inormation about our campaign in the mail.
I hope that you will consider a git to LMB to help us continue to bea strong advocate and voice or bicyclists in Michigan, to expand
our educational training or law enorcement, and to launch a
comprehensive Share the Road campaign. But just as important,
I hope that you will encourage at least one riend to also become
a supporter o LMB and our eorts to make Michigan a saer place
to bicycle. See page three or more on our annual year-end appeal.
In 2013 we also plan to launch an Ambassador program to work
with cyclists in various ways to promote bicycling and LMB locally in
their communities. I you are interested in learning more about this
new eort, please contact Jenny Jensen at [email protected].
This issue o the Michigan Bicyclist is ull o exciting inormation
about what is happening around the state to advance bicycling.
Ater you read it, please pass it along to a riend.
Remember, cold and snow is no reason to stop riding just an
opportunity to acquire new gear and experience bicycling in a
whole new way.
LMBs Advocacy & Policy Director Receives RecognitionWe are extremely pleased
to announce that John
Lindenmayer, LMBs Advocacy
& Policy Director, was recently
recognized with a 10 Over
the Next 10 award rom the
Lansing Regional Chamber
o Commerce. The award
recognizes the Lansing
regions top young proessionals
who are expected to contribute
signicantly to our community
over the next ten years.
Recipients are judged based on
their proessional achievement,
community involvement and
personal success. To be eligible,
applicants are required to
be 35 years old or younger;
proessionally centered in Ingham,
Eaton or Clinton counties; and
have spent a minimum o two
years working in the mid-Michigan
community. Lindenmayers role
in advancing Complete Streets in
Lansing and across Michigan was
noted during the award ceremony
From the Big WheelRICH MOELLER, LMB Executive Director
By ALI HARRIS UM-Flint Walk & Bike Program Intern,GREG RYBARCZYK, PH.D., & VICTOR LUKASAVITZ,PS/CZA LMB Board Member
To encourage more walking and biking onthe campus o the University o Michigan-
Flint (UM-Flint) and its host city, many groups
including aculty, students, and sta have been
working closely together on innovative non-motorized transportation
projects. At the center o these eorts is the UM-Flint Walk and Bik
Work Group, which was ormed to oster the support o sae, non-
motorized transportation initiatives, policies, and inrastructure acros
the campus and the greater Flint area. Increased walking and bicycling
will lead to reduced congestion on campus; enhance local and regiona
transportation options or current students, sta, and aculty; aid in
attracting uture students; and ultimately lead to a saer and healthie
community or everyone in Flint.
Although the University and the Walk and Bike Work Group have
been creating a saer pedestrian and bicycling environment on
campus by installing various walking and bicycling acilities, oering
sustainable transportation courses, and initiating progressive
marketing campaigns such as the Take the Stairs initiative, imprope
use o existing bicycle acilities and reckless driver behavior remain
evident on and near campus. This issue prompted the question
How can we create a saer transportation environment on ou
campus most eectively? It was concluded that education migh
be an answer to this question, and that the installation o a physica
bicycle skills training area on university grounds could create a saeenvironment to educate the campus community and general public
on proper bicycling, pedestrian, and driver behavior.
Ater conducting research on how other campuses use training
courses to teach proper bicycle handling skills, it was determined
that ew campuses in the U.S., i any, have such courses on-site.
Promoting Active Living ThroughBicycle Road Skills Course at U of M-Flint
See BICYCLE FACILITIES COURSE, page 10
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3 MICHIGAN BICYCLIST | November 2012
We hope that 2012 has been a great year
or you to enjoy your bicycle. It certainly has
been a great year or LMB. We welcomed
Jenny Jensen to our sta, had a successul
tour season, along with a phenomenal
response to our newly released What Every Young Michigan Bicyclist Must
Knowbooklet, while continuing to make inroads on the advocacy ront.
As great as 2012 was, we have big plans to make 2013 even better! Hereswhat we have in store:
Launching a statewide Share the Road" campaign. We are extremely
excited about the impact a comprehensive Share the Road campaign
will have on reducing bicycle/automobile crashes, and encouraging
more people to ride bicycles more oten throughout the state.
LMB recognizes that inrastructure improvements alone, such as
Complete Streets, do not create bicycle-riendly communities. Michigan
also needs a major public education campaign to address the dangers
that careless drivers create or cyclists. Thats why LMB has been working
closely with the Secretary o States (SOS) oce over this past year on
opportunities to develop a Share the Road campaign.
With your help, LMB plans to work with our partners to create various
materials about sharing the road saely, including brochures and
posters or SOS branch oces and other locations, short PSA messages,
educational materials or drivers education instructors and students, as
well as a new dedicated Share the Road website that will house these
materials. The website will also include a driver/bicyclist saety pled
inormation on common collision scenarios and other saety tips.
While this campaign will primarily address driver behavior, it will
ocus on the rights and responsibilities o bicyclists. By emphasi
responsible cycling behavior, our campaign will combat misconcept
and prejudices that many drivers have against bicyclists and will o
on ostering goodwill between all roadway users.
Providing education for law enforcement personnel. The Mich
Vehicle Code in respect to bicyclists is oten applied unevenly across
state. We have developed a training program, which oers educati
credits or ocers, to help educate law enorcement (and citizens
Michigan law pertaining to cyclists and urther their understandin
the concerns o road cyclists. In 2013, we plan to conduct three traini
We also have a test case o the inamous Impeding Trac citation
are working through judicial and legislative channels to resolve
misapplication o the law.
Advancing bicycle related legislation currently in front of
Michigan Legislature. Currently, our Vulnerable Roadway
legislation and a bill to update the hand turn signals or bicyclists ar
ront o the Legislature. We hope to advance these bills still this ses
and are currently nalizing our 2013 policy priorities which will inclu
number o new issues that we plan to advance with your support.
Continuing to be a voice for bicyclists on issues like bikes on tra
and Complete Streets. We continue to advocate or roll-on bic
service on Michigan trains. Through a successul petition drive, we h
received a commitment rom Amtrak to make this happen. In a sepa
petition eort this year, LMB successully lobbied MDOT to ado
stronger, more bicycle-riendly Complete Streets policy.
In order to advance these initiatives and to be at the oreront o
issues aecting bicyclists, we need your help! Tours and dues cont
to cover LMBs general operating expenses, but we need your hel
und these exciting initiatives to make Michigan a saer place to bicy
Please consider how these eorts will make you saer on the r
Whatever you can give, LMB deeply appreciates your support!
Looking Ahead to Great Things
Big Water Bike Riders Complete Journey Around Great Lakes
In May, we posted an article on our blogabout two cyclists rom Minnesota, Kris
McNeal and Zach Chase, who planned to ride
~5,500 miles around all o the Great Lakes.
During their ride they recorded ootage or
a documentary about lie on the lakes. We
are happy to report that these two inspiring
cyclists have arrived back home in Duluth
ater 97 days o riding the Great Lakes.
According to an article by Peter Passi romthe Duluth News Tribune, Kris and Zach are
the rst cyclists to ride around all ve Great
Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway in one
season. Visit www.bigwaterbike.blogspot.
comto read about their adventure rom start
to nish. LMB looks orward to the release
o their documentary and congratulates Kris
and Zach on their accomplishment.
LMBs Year-End AppealBy now, you have probably received your year-
end appeal in the mail and we would like to thank
you profusely if you have already made your tax-
deductible gift. If you have not received your appeal
request, or donated just yet, please do consider
supporting the exciting projects that we have linedup for 2013. Donations can be made online at LMB.
org or by mail using the donation form on page 14.
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On Friday, October 19, LMB held our inaugural law enorcement
training in conjunction with LouKa Tactical Training (LTT) at Lansing
Police Departments North Precinct. 30 law enorcement ocers
rom over 20 agencies across Michigan (and one rom Ohio) attended
the training, along with private security ocers, and a handul o
civilians (bicyclists).
Kathy Vonk instructed the Michigan Commission on Law EnorcementStandards (MCOLES) certied training that LMB and LTT developed to
help educate law enorcement on Michigan law pertaining to cyclists
and to urther their understanding o the concerns o road cyclists.
Vonk has served as an Ann Arbor police ocer since 1988. She is
the co-owner o LTT, and serves on many proessional and bicycling
boards and committees, holding instructor certications through
the International Police Mountain Bike Association, Law Enorcement
Bicycle Association, League o American Bicyclists (LAB), and the U.S.
Department o Transportation (Community Oriented Bicycle Saety
Instructor or Law Enorcement).
Upon arrival, each attendee received LTT and LMB literature, includinga small booklet listing the various Michigan Vehicle Code (MVC) statutes
applicable to bicyclists. The new LMB booklet was specially designed to
t into the ticket books carried by many police ocers.
The morning
session kicked
o with a round
o introductions,
ollowed by a
viewing o Enjoy
the Ride, a LAB
produced videoocused on sae
cycling and proper
lane positioning.
Questions about
the MVC were
then passed out to
participants with
instructions to
research the answers
using LMBs What
Every Michigan Bicyclist Must Knowbooklet, or other available resources.
The research done during the break enhanced everyones knowledge obicycle law and spurred an excellent discussion, which revealed a ew
misinterpretations o the law. One such misinterpretation included the
common misnomer that a cyclist can be cited with impeding trac. Vonk
quickly debunked the notion, clariying that bicyclists are considered a
part o trac according to the MVC. Since most non-interstate roadways
in Michigan do not have minimum speed limits, a cyclist cannot impede
trac simply because o their speed or the act that they are riding a
bicycle in the roadway despite the presence o other trac.
Ater the Q & A wrap
up, Todd Briggs and S
Colegrove rom B
Colegrove, P.C. u
discussed the MVC
a civil law point o
and took questions
attendees. They stre
the importance o
enorcement doing
thorough job at the s
o bicycle crashes, espec
in cases where a cycl
unconscious or unabl
speak or themselves.
LMB would like to thank Kathy Vonk or teaching the course, Lan
Police Department or hosting, and Briggs Colegrove, P.C.
participating in the training. Thank you also to all who attended ma
LMBs pilot law enorcement training a great success.
LMBs Inaugural Law Enforcement Training a Success!
2013 Law Enforcement Training Schedule
April 4 Auburn Hills
April 11 Berrien Springs
April 12 Harbor Springs
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5 MICHIGAN BICYCLIST | November 2012
A group o 30 cyclists celebrated the opening o the Saginaw Street
(M-43) bike lane in Lansing with a group ride on October 14th. The
cyclists were joined by a group o pedestrians rom the neighborhood,
community leaders, and state and local engineers, who all came out on
the unusually warm all day to participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremonyor the Saginaw Street bridge opening.
The two-mile bike lane is not just any ordinary bike lane. As a result o
years o engagement between the City o Lansing, Michigan Department
o Transportation (MDOT), and community advocates, an agreement
was reached to provide
saer accommodations or
bicyclists along Saginaw
Street by putting the road
on a road diet, where an
under-utilized travel lane
was replaced with whatis known as a buered
bicycle lane.
A variant o a conventional
bicycle lane, a buered
bicycle lane is accompanied
by a designated buer
space, separating the
bicycle lane rom the
adjacent travel lane. The
ve oot bike lane along
Saginaw Street includesan additional six eet o
pavement markings, or
buer, giving cyclists
plenty o space or
comortable riding on this heavily traveled road.
The redesign o Saginaw Street also incorporates shared lane markings,
or sharrows, near designated right-turn lanes where there was
insucient room or the buered bike lane
or a keyhole bike lane to continue all the
way up to the intersections. These markings,
accompanied by dashed lines and signageare used to help the bicyclist and motorist
navigate the transition area between the
bike lane and turn lane. While drivers are
always required to share the road, sharrows
alert drivers that they are much more likely to
encounter cyclists in this location. Sharrows
also indicate proper lane position or bicyclists
to help make them more visible to drivers.
Once bicyc
pass through
intersections use these sha
lane markings,
buered bike
picks back up.
The buered
lane on Sagi
Street was insta
the same wee
a similar bue
bike lane al
N o r t h w e s t eHighway (M-10
Oakland Cou
(see next pa
making them
rst o their kind in the state. Until now, buered lanes have b
conned to progressive cities like New York, Chicago, Portland, Sea
Minneapolis and Boulder, said Josh DeBruyn, MDOT Bicycle
Pedestrian Coordinator.
Many credit Complete Streets as the motive or the new buered b
lanes and see the projects in Lansing and Oakland County as the m
dramatic evidence yet o Complete Streets implementation.
In 2010, the state adopted a Complete Streets law, calling or
accessible, interconnected and multi-modal transportation netw
that saely and eciently moves goods and people o all ages
abilities. MDOT nalized and adopted their internal Complete Str
policy in July as required by this law.
The law is by no means a mandate or bike lanes everywhere, but it
made multimodal thinking the new normal, putting the burden o
1st Buffered Bike Lanes Come to Michigan Cyclists Celebrate in Lansing
Ribbon cutting or newly replaced M-43 Saginaw Highway bridge over the Grand River in Lansing. L to R:
Andy Kilpatrick - City o Lansing Transportation Engineer, Lisa Benck - Westside Commercial Association Chair,Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero, Jessica Yorko - 4 th Ward Councilwomen, Stephen Palmer - Lansing Transportation
Service Center Manager, MDOT, and Greg Losch - Construction Engineer, Lansing Transportation Service
Center, MDOT. State of Michigan - Department of Transportation, Photography Services . See additional photos
o the M-43 buered bike lane on our Flickr page at lickr.com/leagueomichiganbicyclists
Sharrow roadway marking
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New M-10 Buffered Bicycle Lane: EnhancingMobility for Oakland County BicyclistsM-10 (or Northwestern Highway) stretches through Oakland County between
Southeld and Farmington Hills. The highway was constructed originally as a
our lane road with two 12 shoulders. Following a recent resuracing, a thremile section o M-10 has received
a new treatment: Michigans rst
buered bicycle lane.
Tradi ti ona l bic ycl e la ne s ar e
becoming more common around
the country and here in Michigan.
Bicycle lanes help create order in
the roadway by clearly delineating
a space or bicyclists and motorists.
The bu ered bic ycle lane is an
innovative new acility oten usedon roadways with higher speeds
(>45 mph) and/or high traic
volumes. The M-10 bicycle lane
consists o the standard 5 wide
bicycle lane adjacent to the curb,
with a 7 painted buer between
the bicycle lane and motor vehicle
traic. The buered bicycle lane
provides greater separation
between bicyclists and motorists
improving the saety and comort
o both.
To bring attention to the cross over
locations at designated right turn
lanes, the bicycle lane includes a special green pavement marking treatment
The green pavement markings are the width o the bike lane outlined with whit
lines. These areas are designed to alert motorists and bicyclists that they are at
potential confict area. In these areas, all road users should exercise heightened
awareness. M-10 is the rst state roadway to use the green pavement markings
Motorists traveling on M-10 are permitted to cross the bicycle lane to ente
driveways. However, motorists must yield to bicyclists when turning right.
Michigan Department o Transportation (MDOT) is excited to be a leader in
implementing this innovative design on Northwestern Highway along with
similar buered bicycle lane on M-43/West Saginaw highway in Lansing. Saet
o all users o the roadway is always the goal.
Bicyclists are reminded to ollow all rules o the road and obey all trac contro
devices including trac signals.
Prepared by: Tom Pozolo, MDOT Operations Engineer, Oakland TSC; Josh DeBruyn, MDOT Bicycle an
Pedestrian Coordinator; and Deirdre Thompson, MDOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Engineer.
the state to show a lack o need, exorbitant cost,
or inability to obtain a maintenance agreement
with local road agencies as reasons to be exempt
rom compliance.
Complete Streets are also being embraced locally
all across the state. Michigan boasts over 80
municipalities the most in the country whohave adopted Complete Streets ordinances or
resolutions. Lansing passed their ordinance in
August 2009, ollowed by a non-motorized plan
both driving actors behind the Saginaw Street
bike lane and other enhancements the city is
making to their bicycle network.
Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero said that the bike lane
marks a big moment in public transportation in
Michigan. Complete Streets commands the city
to always consider sidewalks and bike lanes when
we are doing any restoration work or new workon roads.
Stephen Palmer, Lansing Transportation Service
Center Manager or MDOT, reinorced the
Mayors comments with his own in an interview
with the Lansing State Journal. We ound
that once you provide sae walking and biking
transportation, people will use it. It opens up a lot
o opportunities or people to decide what type
o transportation they would like to use, Palmer
said. You no longer have to just select a car.
While MDOT and the City o Lansing are to be
commended or their successul collaboration on
this innovative project, a tip o the bike helmet
also goes to persistent Westside residents, who
started advocating or the bike lane back in 2005.
Neighbors and local businesses began asking or
changes to the roadway by attending countless
meetings with city and state leaders, organizing
letter-writing and phone campaigns to elected
ocials, and collecting petition signatures rom
bike lane supporters across the city.
As a state trunk line, Saginaw Street is under
the control o MDOT. Jessica Yorko, now 4th
Ward Councilmember, and other Westsiders
including the Westside Commercial Association,
demonstrated great persistence and
perseverance in their desire to improve the saety
and accessibility o Saginaw Street or all users.
Green pavement markings at right turn lanes along th
new buered bike lane on M-10 in Oakland County. Th
green paint is intended to help bicyclists and motorist
navigate the conict area between the bike lane and tur
lane. Photo taken during construction o M-10 buere
bike lane in Oakland County. Photos by Josh DeBruyn
See Buffered Bike Lane, page 7
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7 MICHIGAN BICYCLIST | November 2012
Bike Lanes So, Where are
Drivers Supposed to Turn From?
The State Police Uniorm Trac Code
prohibits parking in a marked bicycle
lane, except where parking is permitted
by ocial signs. Furthermore, it states,a person shall not operate a vehicle on
or across a bicycle lane, except to enter
or leave adjacent property, meaning
that drivers are to make turns rom the
travel lane and not use the bike lane as a
deceleration lane.
While buered bike lanes are new,
and will undoubtedly take a bit o
adjustment or drivers and bicyclists
alike, LMB reminds drivers that the 6-oot
buer is actually part o the bike laneand not the automobile lane. Motorists
should always make right turns rom
the automobile travel lane, not rom the buer zone or the bike
lane. Drivers should always yield to cyclists going straight at an
intersection, just as you would a pedestrian in a crosswalk or on
a sidewalk in ront o a driveway.Bike Lanes Dont Just Improve Safety
They Improve Our Economy Too!
A recent Universityo Massachusetts
study evaluated job
opportunities created
by 58 inrastructure
projects in 11 U.S.
states. The results
ound that cycling
projects create a
total o 11.4 local jobs
or each $1 million
spent. Pedestrian-
only projects create
a little less employment, with an average o 10 jobs or the
same amount o money. Multi-use trails create 9.6 jobs per $1
million but road-only projects generate only 7.8 jobs per $1
million. A similar study that examined inrastructure projects in
Baltimore, Maryland published similar results: pedestrian and
bike inrastructure projects create 11 to 14 jobs per $1 million o
spending while road-only inrastructure initiatives create just 7
jobs per $1 million o spending.
It went back and orth between the city and MDOT or years,
said Yorko. Bike lane supporters stuck it out through three MDOTtransportation service center managers. The newest manager, Steve
Palmer, embraced the idea o a bicycle lane along Saginaw Street and
worked to advance the project soon ater taking over the position. He
should get a gold medal, Yorko added.
The rst victory, however, came back in 2008 when the city agreed to
do a trac analysis to determine the easibility o a two-way conversion
or lane reduction. To the delight o Yorko and other cycling advocates,
the analysis showed that perorming a road diet would not cause any
congestion concerns.
Saginaw Street was designed or much higher trac volumes than itnow receives, said Andy Kilpatrick, Lansing Transportation Engineer.
The construction o I-496, suburbanization o the region, as well as the
closing o two automotive plants on the Westside o town contributed
to the under utilization o this route over the last several decades.
The decision to reduce the number o travel lanes rom our to three
reversed nearly 40 years o auto-centric transportation planning along
the corridor. In 1965, Saginaw Street was widened and converted
into a one-way, which many believe was a key actor contributing
to the decline o business and residential areas along the corridor,
culminating in a 70% vacancy rate or commercial property in 2005,
according to Yorko.
The new bike lane connects Lansings Westside into the River Trail
system, which also received extensive improvements. In conjunction
with the Saginaw Street bridge reconstruction, the River Trails
cramped underpass below the bridge was reengineered to address
fooding problems and to oer more head room or bicyclists. A new
path was also added on the Westside o the river, connecting Adado
Riverront Park to the northside o the river. The city plans to extend this
section o trail even urther next year, according to Kilpatrick.
Kata Rothhorn o Lansing pedals along the Lansing River Trail during the Coast with Your
Community Bike Ride on October 14th in celebration o the newly installed buered bike lane
along Saginaw St. (M-43) State of Michigan- Department of Transportation- Photography Services.
The buered bike lane along Saginaw St. (M-43)
being painted ater the road was put on a road diet .
Download MDOTs bicyclelane brochure to learn
more: LMB.org/bikelane
Buffered Bike Lane, cont. from page 6
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Governor Snyder Pedals Detroits Dequindre Cut
About the Dequindre Cut
The Dequindre Cut Greenway, an urban recreational path, ocially
opened to the public in May o 2009. The 1.35-mile greenway,
developed through a public, nonprot and private partnership, oers a
link between the Riverront, Eastern Market and many o the residential
neighborhoods in between.
Formerly a Grand Trunk Railroad line, the Dequindre Cut is a below-street
level path that runs parallel to St. Aubin Street, between Mack Avenue
and Woodbridge Street just north o the Riverront. Well-known or its
urban artwork and grati, the rst completed section o the Dequindre
Cut is between Woodbridge Street and Gratiot Avenue. The greenway
eatures a 20-oot-wide paved pathway, which includes separate lanes
or pedestrian and bicycle trac. Entrance ramps to the Cut are located
at Laayette Street, Gratiot Avenue and at Woodbridge Street.
The Dequindre Trail Extension, connects the rst section o the
Dequindre Cut rom Woodbridge Street south to Atwater Street
near Milliken State Park and the RiverWalk. Further north, beginning
conceptual plans are underway or phase II o the Dequindre Cut, which
would extend the pathway north rom Gratiot Avenue to Mack Avenue.
Source: Detroit RiverFront Conservancy www.detroitriverront.org
Photo courtesy the Governors oce.
On October 6th, Governor Snyder strapped
on his bike helmet beore riding Detroits
Dequindre Cut during his visit to announce
the Globe Outdoor Adventure & Discovery
Center project. Funded by the Natural
Resources Trust Fund, the project will
convert the derelict Globe Trading Co.
building on Detroits east riverront
into a center or taking part in outdoorexperiences, which will include a climbing
wall, kayaking simulator, zip-lining,
demonstrations on Michigans historic
lumber industry, and more. It is scheduled
to open in 2013 or early 2014.
As the Governor noted, today I will bike the
talk. Ater the announcement, Governor
Snyder biked with Department o Natural
Resources Director Keith Creagh and othersalong the greenway rom Milliken State Park
to Eastern Market, on rental bikes rom our
riends at Wheelhouse Detroit. He later
commented on Detroit being one o the
best cities in the country or biking.
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9 MICHIGAN BICYCLIST | November 2012
Detroit Bicycle Fest Steven RoachSeptember in Metro Detroit was a celebration o bikes and cycling, with
a particular emphasis during Bicycle Fest, which took place September
816. Festivities commenced with the Celebration o Cycling ride, a
undraiser or Programs to Educate All Cyclists (PEAC). The next day was
the Tour de Ford, a undraiser or the Tom Groth Medical Needs Fund.
The group rides culminated in the Tour de Troit on September 15, which
hosted 5,000 participants, and an amazing post ride celebration in
Roosevelt Park. The Tour de Troit celebrated its 11th annual ride this year.
Its purpose is to raise unds or greenways and links in Detroit, to raise
awareness o cycling, and to promote Detroit as a cyclists dream city.
The Detroit Film Theater joined the estivities with a showing oBicycle
Dreams, a documentary about RAAM (Race Across America). The Detroit
Institute o Arts hosted a bicycle tour o their own on September 16 to
witness the Inside/Out art exhibits around the city.
Exciting News x 4 in Grand Rapids! Barbara Schmid1. On August 28, Mayor Heartwell announced a plan or the City o
Grand Rapids to add 26 miles o bicycle lanes byJune 2013. The rst 16 miles were laid down this
all. The nal 10 miles will be painted in the spring.
The City and Greater Grand Rapids Bicycle Coalition (GGRBC)
worked together to identiy which streets were key to creating
a well-thought-out bicycle network and one that incorporates
consistent pavement markings.
2. GRs Downtown Development Authority has ooted the bill or
another 39 bike racks downtown, boosting bicycle parking by 12
percent, to about 730 spaces. These new racks were installed in time
or Art Prize, but ocials say they arent nished more to come!
3. In September, GGRBC completed its third Bike Count & Survey study.
A Grand Valley State University statistics class once again aided in
conducting the survey along with GGRBC volunteers. The class is
currently analyzing the data, including incorporating inormation
rom last years all count, the summer count and the 2012 all count.
4. GGRBC was awarded two signicant grants this summer. The group
received a $10,000 one-year grant rom the Fund or Community
Good, a und o the Grand Rapids Community Foundation. The
second grant, valued at $45,000, was rom the Frey Foundation
with payment over three years.
Engaging Decision Makers in Kalamazoo David JonesI once worked as a shit oreman in a plastics plant. Oten I would
give the workers a choice in what they did each day. Inevitably they
would respond I dont care. Many times they would sulk o and
perorm their assignment, obviously not happy with the assignment
I gave them. Finally, I told them When I am giving you a choice,
take advantage o it. So oten in lie you are not given a choice.
Now to tie this back to cycling; this summer we had many opportunities
in the Kalamazoo area to oer our opinion to policy makers and
implementers. Opportunities included MDOTs Training Wheels
program, public meetings regarding MDOTs long range plan,
TRANS4Ms community meetings on inrastructure investmen
Michigan. Just to mention one, Training Wheels was certainly
worth the time. The program is composed o both in-class and on-b
training or transportation planners and community members. Du
the ride portion, we evaluated the design o various intersections
acilities an eye opener or many!
The simple moral: When given the opportunity to provide input
transportation or cycling issues, always take advantage o it. Cyc
must participate in the conversation in order to help advance chang
Bike Shorts LMB Board Reports
A2 to Launch Bike Sharing in 2013Ann Arbor is preparing to launch Michigans rst advanced
technology bike share system in 2013. The successes o recently
developed bike share systems in DC, Boston, Minneapolis,
Denver, Boulder and Madison has generated excitement in cities
across the US interested in providing integrated multimodaltransportation options
or residents, commuters
and visitors. Bike sharing,
when integrated eectively
with public transit, can aid
in reducing congestion,
and improving air quality,
public health, and economic
activity. Ann Arbors
system will be designed to
service the downtown and
University o Michigans
central campus during the
initial system design. Erica
Briggs, LMB board member
and project manager or
Clean Energy Coalition which
will be serving as the system
operator, stated that the
system is likely to begin with
100+ bikes and 12 stations.
The Clean Energy Coalition, working in partnership with the
Ann Arbor Transportation Authority, Ann Arbor Downtown
Development Authority, City o Ann Arbor, and University o
Michigan, has secured ederal Congestion Mitigation and Air
Quality (CMAQ) unds to develop a bike share system. The
University o Michigan has committed unds or the rst three
years o operations. Program partners are working to identiy
additional sources o public and private unding and identiy
ideal sites or station placement. A RFP or the bike share vendor
will likely be released this all.
LMB board member Rory Neuner a
a B-Cycle bike share demonstration
in June o 2011. LMB collaborated
with Capitol Community Bike Share
to bring B-Cycle to Michigan or the
two day demonstration to generate
excitement around a potential bike
sharing system in the Lansing region
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This lent urther credence to our eorts to establish a skills course on UM-
Flints campus. Thereore, in the spirit o UM-Flints Go Blue, Live Green
program, and the mission o the LMB to support programs and projects
that acilitate sae bicycling, the walk/bike work group developed a
plan to install a Bicycle Road
Skills Course on a seldom
used private service road on
campus.
During the all o 2011,
the walk/bike work group
subsequently applied or
a grant through Genesee
Countys Sae and Active
Genesee or Everyone (SAGE).
The grant was awarded and
plans or implementation
ensued during the spring and
summer o 2012.
To ensure that the course
met Michigan Department o
Transportation (MDOT) and
American Association o Highway
and Transportation Ocials
(AASHTO) regulations, Fleis and
Vandenbrinks engineer and LMB
board member, Victor Lukasavitz,
PS/CZA was asked to design the
course.
The course includes several bicycle
eatures such as bicycle lanes,
sharrows, various trac symbols,
cross walks, a parallel parking lane,
a bike box, and more. Additionally,
inormational signs will soon be
installed that provide a title and brie
description or the various elements
within the course.
Most users are also motorists, so
during demonstrations, pedestrians
and a vehicle are on site to help motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists
understand how to share the road and look out or potential hazards.For reerence, participants, are given LMBs What Every Michigan Bicyclist
Must Knowand What Every Young Michigan Bicyclist Must Knowbooklets.
Currently, the course is open or use to the campus and public, and
plans are underway to oer ormal courses to the community during
the spring, summer, and all semesters o 2013. The group hopes youth,
amilies, college students, experienced and non-experienced riders, and
other organizations rom around the state will partake in the classes.
Its exciting to oer the opportunity to teach basic bicycling skills
saety to the campus and community, said Ali Harris, UM-Flints W
and Bike Program Intern. We are delighted to be one o the pionee
colleges in the nation that oers this type o opportunity. UM-Fli
always looking or exciting ways to encourage a Go Blue, Live Gre
liestyle and thanks to SAGE, Fleis & Vandenbrink Engineering, M
Engineering, and various members o our group, this course is a pe
way to do just that.
Lukasavitz noted, The next step is to educate communities
engineers on the economic benets these types o acilities prov
such as improved tourism, which promotes increased spending, red
health costs, obesity, carbon emissions, and improves a persons qu
o lie. I have communities tell me they cannot aord to build th
multiple modes o transportation but my reply is that commun
simply cant aord not t
In terms o the value
training course hold
academia, Dr. Rybar
rom the Earth and Reso
Science Department at
Flint stated, The bic
skills course is an i
educational and advo
tool that can easily
integrated throughou
variety o classrooms
campus. Incorporating
course has ar reac
benets in terms o trai
the next generation
transportation plan
while they are students
open-minded to alterna
transportation modes.
Providing an on-cam
bicyclist educational
allows students to learn
doing, which is at the ce
o the universitys missio
provide UM-Flint stude
comprehensive and valued education. The bicycle skills course has
potential to become a model or other universities that want to incrnon-motorized transportation modes on campus. It is hoped that
project will inspire other colleges and communities nationwide to in
educational acilities similar to this to help to create a healthy, active,
sustainable environment.
For more photos and inormation on the course, visit www.bl
umfint.edu/walkandbikegroup or email Ali Harris at amisner@um
edu or Dr. Greg Rybarczyk at [email protected].
TOP: Signage typically used on the back o other signs along roads with bicycle lanes alerting cyclists
to ride in the direction o trafc. A shared lane marking or sharrow can be seen in the background.Sharrows are road markings used to indicate a shared lane environment or bicycles and automobiles. While
motorists are always required to share the road, sharrows alert drivers that they are likely to encounter
cyclists in this partic ular area. Sharrows also indicate proper lane position or cyclists, making them more
visible to drivers and preventing them rom getting squeezed by drivers passing too close or cut o at
intersections. BOTTOM: Bike boxes are a new engineering treatment that create designated areas at
signalized intersections that provide bicyclists with a sae way to get ahead o queuing trafc during
the red signal phase. They are intended to improve awareness and visibility o cyclists and to help
prevent dangerous right-hook collisions. (NOTE: U o M-Flint did not paint this demo bike box in the
standard green and white [wonder why?] color scheme and instead opted or a more spirited maize
and blue. This photo was taken beore the white stop bar was painted just prior to the start o the bike
box.) Photos courtesy Greg Rybarczyk, Ph.D., & Victor Lukasavitz, PS/CZA.
BICYCLE FACILITIES COURSE, cont. from page 2
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11 MICHIGAN BICYCLIST | November 2012
When a bicyclist is hit by a motor
vehicle, there are two legal actions
that may arise: A civil action
and a criminal action. The civilaction enables the injured party
to recover nancial damages
incurred due to personal injuries
and property damages sustained in the collision. In a criminal action,
penalties or breaking the law are imposed. I motor vehicle or other
laws are violated, a trac ticket may be issued, or, i a more serious
oense is committed, the driver may be arrested and charged with a
elony. For the sake o this article, we will reer to the part o the case
where the trac ticket is issued as the criminal action.
In most cases, we rarely recommend that the bicyclist try to navigate
the civil legal system without the assistance o an experienced bicyclelaw attorney. (For a detailed discussion on this topic, see our article
The Pitalls o Representing Yoursel posted at LMB.org/legaldesk). In
addition to ensuring the best possible outcome in the civil action, that
attorney can assist the cyclist with the criminal aspects o their case.
Over the years though, even with competent legal representation, we
have ound that bicyclists oten become rustrated with the criminal
side o their case. Usually, they are either not pleased with the severity
o the inraction or penalty imposed against the motorist, or the
bicyclist is upset that no citation is issued at all. I you ever nd yoursel
in such a situation, here are some suggestions and tips to eectively
communicate with law enorcement and ensure that your rights are
being protected.
Day of Bicycle Crash Investigation by Police OcerI you are hit by an automobile, always call the police to report the
incident. The ocer will investigate and determine whether or
not a citation will be issued to the driver. In the case o a collision
that results in death or serious personal injuries to the bicyclist,
the driver may be arrested or charged with misdemeanor or
elony. As stated above, i you are injured or there is damage
to your bicycle, you may also have a civil action against the
driver or personal injuries, wage loss and property damage.
By calling the police to investigate, you will be documenting the
incident and preserving evidence or both the civil and criminalaction. Once the ocer arrives at the scene, he or she will investigate
by interviewing the parties and witnesses, inspecting the property
damage, and gathering other evidence. Otentimes, when ault is
clear, a trac ticket is issued to the at-ault party at the scene o the
collision. I the ocer is not persuaded that a law has been broken,
or, in the case o unclear liability, the ocer may decide not to issue
a ticket. In collisions where the cyclist is killed or seriously injured,
the ticket or ormal charge may not be issued until the ocer has had
enough time to properly analyze the evidence.
The Crash ReportShortly ater the collision, a written report should be issued by
police department. As a party to the collision, you have the righ
request a copy o that Crash Report. We always recommend get
a copy o the report to ensure that the acts are correctly stated. I
ocers summary o the acts is glaringly inaccurate or there are o
missing pieces o evidence, such as a witness statement or con
inormation, then we recommend contacting the investigating oas soon as possible to rectiy the discrepancies. Be a squeaky wh
but always be courteous and respectul. Keep a log o your c
messages and discussions with the ocer. I the ocer ails to ret
you calls, we suggest going up the chain o command by calling h
her supervisor. Explain clearly and concisely the errors in the rep
or the issues you have with the crash investigation. When ending y
telephone call with the supervisor, indicate that you will ollow-up
call with a letter. Mail the letter to the investigating ocer and c
the supervisor. Summarize the conversation in the letter and req
the relie you are seeking such as amending the crash report, issui
ticket, or changing the oense in a ticket already issued. Always k
copies o any correspondence.
In the case where you are dissatised with the ticket or charge iss
to the driver, you can also try to appeal to the ocer or prosecuto
reconsider their decision. In our experience, it is extremely di
to motivate an ocer or prosecutor to change a ticket or charge a
it has already been issued. However, in the case where no ticke
issued and you truly eel that the ocer has not properly assessed
evidence, then it would be advisable to take action. Following
some tips regarding the items most likely to cause an ocer to
evaluate his or her investigation or ticket.
New or additional evidence: Any time you have evidence that ass
law enorcement to properly evaluate a matter, we advise producin
to the investigating ocer. For example, i a witness suraces that
not interviewed on the day o the incident, provide the ocer with
witnesss name, address, telephone number, and summarize his or
anticipated testimony.
Tip: Dont rely on the police to gather all of the evidence: Otentim
witnesses do not wait or the police to arrive at the scene, especi
where response time might be longer. I you were involved in
collision, do your best to collect contact inormation o witnes
Better yet, ask your cycling buddy to do this or you. Keep a cop
any inormation supplied to the ocer. Also, i you have a hel
camera or camera phone, take video and photos o the scene all angles. Document the point o impact on the automobile. T
photos o the roadway to document potholes, debris, skid ma
damage to oliage and other items that may not remain the sa
over time. Potholes that have been there or months can be
by road crews the ollowing day or debris can be removed by st
sweepers. Photos and videos are especially important i tempo
weather conditions such as rain or snow played a role in the collis
Helmet camera ootage can also document how the crash occur
i you were knocked unconscious. For additional tips on preserv
Bicycle Crash Aftermath:
SARAH W. COLEGROVE & TODD E. BRIGGS
How To Assist Law Enforcement
with the Investigation
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evidence, read our Crash Checklistposted at LMB.org/legaldesk.
Misconstrued Facts: Read the police report careully. The report
might ail to list that there were passengers in the vehicle, a act that
could become important i the passengers were distracting the driver
and caused the collision. The police report could also incorrectly state
key descriptive data, such as how the crash occurred, the weather
or road conditions on the date o the incident or the time o day.Contact the investigating ocer, urnish the oce with the correct
data and request that the report be amended. Oer to orward any
corroborating documents or evidence to support your claim. For
example, i the ocer indicates on the report that the weather was
clear and dry when it was rainy on the day o the incident, provide a
copy o the weather report or that day. Again, be courteous to the
ocer. The key is to motivate the ocer to correct the report so that it
is as actually accurate as possible, and to cause the ocer to re-assess
the matter in light o the new inormation.
No Response From Police Ocer? Next Step:
Contact Prosecutor or City AttorneyAn ocer may still not issue a ticket in cases o unclear liability,even i you ollow the above steps. To prevent overloading the
criminal system, police ocers have discretion to issue tickets and
to determine what matters get orwarded to the prosecutor. There
may also be other reasons why you are not getting any response to
your queries. An ocer may be swamped with other cases, or they
could be on leave, or working on matters with higher priority. I you
truly eel that the ocer is not properly assessing your bicycle crash,
however, and you have exhausted all other options, then it is possible
that the ocer could be abusing his or her discretion. I you suspect
this, then we recommend approaching the prosecutor directly.
The prosecutor is the chie law enorcement ocer. More seriousoenses such as a misdemeanor or elony are usually orwarded by
the ocer to the prosecutor or review. The ocer will gather all o
the evidence and present a package to the prosecutor. The prosecutor
reviews the package and determines whether or not to issue a charge
that must then be authorized by a judge. Technically, the prosecutor
can order an ocer to orward inormation relating to an incident. In
practice, though, the prosecutor usually waits or inormation to be
orwarded rom the ocer.
Beore you can contact a prosecutor, you must determine the
appropriate entity to contact. I no ticket has been issued by the
police, then it will be more challenging to determine who to contact.Depending on the type o oense, the city attorney or the county
prosecutor would review the case. For example, a civil inraction
would be reviewed by a city attorney, while a elony would be
reviewed by the county prosecutor. You may have to contact both
entities to cover all o your bases. Due to the act that prosecutors
usually wait or inormation to be orwarded by the police, you will
have an uphill battle. First, it may be dicult, i not impossible, to
make contact with a prosecutor or city attorney by telephone,
especially in larger communities. Always leave messages and keep a
log o your attempted calls. I you do not make contact by teleph
we recommend writing a letter to the prosecutor or city attorney
explains clearly and concisely the relie you are seeking. Include co
o all supporting documentation such as photos and summarie
witness statements. Again, keep copies o all correspondence
documents.
I ater trying all o the above, you still do not receive a responserecommend taking a hard look at the acts and evidence in your c
Is there sucient evidence to impose the charge you are seeking?
may need to seek the advice o a criminal attorney to accurately as
the evidence and applicable law. I you determine you are sad
with a stubborn veteran or inexperienced rookie who made a mist
then it may be worthwhile to keep trying. At this point, you will n
to get creative. Utilize all resources and contacts and be persisten
our experience, though, i there is sucient evidence to go orw
with a criminal case, the police ocer or prosecutor will pursue
matter without being prodded. It is in the law enorcement o
best interest to switly and accurately handle and address matte
there is insucient evidence to support the alleged crime, then mocers and prosecutors will not proceed with the criminal action
that case, your only recourse may be a civil action.
It might make you eel better to know that most, i not all, cyclists
that the penalty imposed on the automobile driver is too light. W
a crime has been committed and the act is not intentional, then
ticket or charge will rarely measure up to your expectations. We
this to be most true when a bicyclist is killed by a motor vehicle. M
oenses involving motor vehicles do not carry signicant penaltie
result in lengthy jail sentence, because, even i the bicyclist is ki
the actions o the driver usually do not rise to a level where inten
gross negligence is ound. That is why it is important to ollow
rules o the road, wear a helmet (even though the law doesnt reqit), and always ride deensively in order to do your best to a
collisions. Should you be struck and injured by a motor vehicle
always recommend that you seek medical attention immediately
seek the advice and counsel o an attorney amiliar with the laws
apply to bicyclists.
In our next article, we will discuss a case in which a bicyclist
intentionally hit by an automobile driver, and the ocer investiga
the crash did not issue a ticket to the driver. With our assistance
months ater the crash, the ocer nally did issue a ticket or a e
elonious assault with a motor vehicle. We will also share a cop
our letter to the police ocer, so you can use it as a reerence shoyou ever nd yoursel in a similar situation.
2012. Todd E. Briggs and Sarah W. Colegrove. Todd and Sarah are lawyers in privatepractice. In addition to helping athletes injured in bicycle and sports-related accidentsthey concentrate in the areas of civil litigation, including personal injury, commercialitigation, probate and estate planning law. Todd and Sarah are competitive cycliststriathletes and adventure racers. Each has competed in many national and statrunning, biking and triathlon competitions, including the Hawaii Ironman. You canread past articles from Sarah and Todd on our web site at: www.LMB.org/legaldesk
Briggs Colegrove, P.C.660 Woodward Ave., Suite 1523 Detroit, MI 48226(313) 964-2077 | [email protected]
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13 MICHIGAN BICYCLIST | November 2012
When I attended my rst
National Bike Summit (NBS)
in 2011, it was mostly out o
curiosity. Did this gathering
have anything to oer me
in insight and inspiration
that I could put into action to enhance mycompanys commitment to this alternative
mode o transportation? The answer I ound
let me eagerly awaiting Summit 2012.
The most
exciting thing
about the
Summit is
that it brings
biking minds
together as
thought leaders.Leaders who
are infuential
as policy
makers. Leaders
who approach
Congress in its
own backyard.
Leaders who prepare and then provide our
legislators with inormation that helps them
understand why support or bicycling is critical
to our communities. More than 800 advocates
gather annually or that sole purpose. To me it
was important to be part o this.
The diversity o the sectors represented at
the NBS was impressive to me and to the
legislators we met. It was gratiying to see
governmental ocials respond to the hard-
working participants and their insight about the
economic impact bicycling is making. From bike
shop owners, non-prot groups, municipalities
and other enthusiastic advocates, the sharing
o experiences and perspectives was powerulto see.
My company, Duo-Gard Industries in Canton,
manuactures bike shelters. We were a
pioneer in recognizing that just parking a
bike wasnt going to satisy the needs o
this emerging movement. Riders wanted
protection and saety or themselves and their
bikes. Communities, however, also wanted
something that added to landscape appeal or
at least that didnt detract rom it. The problem
was that in the early stages, bike shelters were
either highly custom or looked like a woodshed
rom the barnyard. About 10 years ago, we
began working with two architectural rms
to design an exclusive line o standard bikeshelters. Inspired by European aesthetics, these
shelters add sophisticated architectural appeal
as well as saety and security options the biking
c o m m u n i t y
demands.
People were
pretty skeptical
when we
started with our
bike shelters.
Today, this line
accounts or
ve percent
o our total sales. And even the skeptics are
now convinced that the biking movement is a
orce to be reckoned with and supported or
economic, environmental and health reasons.
I was thus surprised that Duo-Gard was one
o only a ew manuacturers at the Summit.
Thats despite the obvious movement o
biking rom recreation to a recognized mode
o transportation with a lot o economic and
environmental ramications. The Summit
brought together all the sectors involved and
provided the opportunity to pick each oth
brains (even the competitions) to enhance
own ideas.
The Summit gave me a chance to talk w
others about the positive moves we
seeing. In Michigan, Im encouraged by implementation o Complete Streets.
Ann Arbor, or example, the bike acil
the city is adding are denitely being u
Educational institutions also continue to
leading advocates or biking. MSU does a g
job promoting cycling through leader
rom MSU Bikes Service Center, and
was recently ranked one o the top 35 m
bike-riendly universities by the League
American Bicyclists. And I couldnt help
smile when I learned that Ann Arbor Pion
High Schools Class o 2010 gave the schobike shelter as its traditional parting git.
Although its g
to see the increas
bike acilities across
state, I do have conc
that some commun
arent doing eno
on the education
yet. Bikes and
havent learned
coexist peaceullyall areas. Many dri
still consider bike la
as right-turn lane
see the education
drivers as one o
prime targets or
uture o the cyc
movement. I beli
over time, people will learn to saely share
road. The quicker this education can progr
the better or everybody, and Im extremexcited to help in this process.
I also want to be involved in urthering bic
commuting. Although this is a grow
segment, its still less visible than others, s
as recreational trail riding, or mountain bik
As a member o LMB, I hope to raise inte
and governmental support or commu
issues. By supporting and working with act
At the Summit: Bringing Biking Minds TogetherMICHAEL ARVIDSON, LMB Member & Executive Vice President o Duo-Gard Industries Inc.
TOP: Michael Arvidson (let) with other members o the Michigan delegation during the 2012
National Bike Summit in Washington D.C. BOTTOM: Parachute Bike Shelter by Duo-Gard Industries
Inc. at University o Michigans North Quad in Ann Arbor. See more bike shelters and parking by
Duo-Gard Industries Inc. at duo-gard.com.
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q Im interested in volunteering with LMB
Name on Card
Card #
Card Address (qSame as Above)
Expiration Date (mm/yy)
Signature
Donations(tax deductible)q . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$50
q . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 2 5
q . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $12
q . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $6
q Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $_ __ ___LMB is excited to again be organizing the
Michigan delegation at the 2013 National
Bike Summit to be held March 4-6. LMB
works diligently behind the scenes leading
up to the Summit to coordinate meetings
between cyclists and their Congressional
representatives. Weve seen some newMichigan aces attend over the last ew years
and are hoping to see even more in 2013!
The 2013 Summit is going to be a big one. This years theme is Bicycling Means
Business. For more than a decade now, your voice at the Summit has helped
dramatically increase investments in bicycling at the state and local level. But this
spring, Congress tried to write biking out o the new transportation bill. Funding
or bicycling was cut, but because o advocates like you it was not eliminated.
Register and Learn more at: bikeleague.org
Calling All Michigan Bike Shops: Come to the Summit for Free!The National Bicycle Dealers Association understands the close relationship
between ederal unding and the success o bicycle retailers. Thats why they are
oering 24 scholarships to rst-time Summit attendees who work at bike shops.
Not only will this scholarship pay or your registration or the 2013 Summit, but
it will also und your travel and lodging, too. What are you waiting or? Apply at:
bikeleague.org/conerences/summit13/nbda.php
Standard Road Merlin Bicycle
Mens 54cm titanium frame, dropbars, 27-speed. Mavic Classicswheels, Ultegra triple. Use your
pedals, saddle. $1,500, cash.
517-796-4990 (Jackson, MI) 9 am to 9 pmfor photo by email. If you buy, well meet(in Michigan LP), to avoid shipping.
oriented groups like LMB, Im condent that Michigan bicycling will continue to improve.
Finally, another great thing about the NBS is that anyone whos a bicyclist is welcomed
and encouraged to participate. Personally, I hope to see more manuacturers involved.
Yes, were all busy, and its sometimes hard to nd time or everything we know to be
worthwhile, but the Summit is an opportunity or us all to make a dierence. The 2013
Summit centers on Biking Means Business. No doubt about it, and I plan to be there.
Michael Arvidson is Executive Vice President o Duo-Gard Industries Inc. in Canton, MI. The company
is a leader in sustainable products and strategies or the architectural and design communities. The
company was named one o the Michigan 50 Companies to Watch in 2012.
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