Living without a car in Detroit is only new to me - millions do it (have done it) for the last 100+ years of the city's history and since mass production of automobiles began in earnest (and for First Nations and early European settlers, about 1,000 years before that!). Perhaps first due to lack of access (as previously stated, approximately 1/3 of driving age Detroiters do not own a vehicle and of those who do, approximately 60% drive without insurance - according to Vince Keenan!), but increasingly, by choice (a big and increasing percentage of 20-somethings are choosing to live in the city, but not to get a drivers license, or own a car, for numerous reasons: cost, health, personal, ethical, political, etc.). So in the last decade or so since I returned to Detroit, I have noticed that I am not alone on my bike, or walking, or on the bus. This is all anecdotal, of course, and I need to do my "homework" - pursue the hard data (next steps...), but since I began this experiment, I have observed a lot more citizens on bikes - diverse people of all ages, ethnicities, and socio-economic profiles - biking not only for fitness or pleasure, but to commute, to shop, and likely to complete many other "informal economy" transactions (!). I also regularly see lots of people walking (we do, in many parts of our city, have upgraded sidewalks and handicapped ramps already installed), and of course, many relying the bus (during the few times I have been at Rosa Parks Transit Center, my sense is that the majority of DDOT riders are not urban hipsters! One exception is one of my research colleagues, who lives in Royal Oak, works at the Federal Building, and regularly takes the Woodward bus to Rosa Parks - convenient, affordable, and stress free!).So, again, I need to get at the hard data, but for now, here is an incomplete and initial list of the growing New Movement Culture in Detroit including other people and initiatives related to (and supportive of) my 5x8 Project:
- Me: car free since 01 June 2013 (though, I must confess, I have accepted rides to social events beyond the original city limits, and rented a car to get "up north" and to a family wedding over the last three months).
- Bob at Simmons and Clark Jewelers, who moved to Corktown with his girlfriend and has been car free since!
- An Artist in Indian Village who is attempting to live car free with several children (a neighbor of mine told me this - wow!).
- Jeanette Pierce, of D-Hive, another neighbor of mine who I understand has been car free for 2 years!
- Other citizens, who make at least a few trips on bike every week!
- Transportation Riders United (TRU) the original, and still most effective advocacy group for non-motorized and effective regional transportation!
- ModeShift - the "Young Turk" advocates on the scene!
- Detroit Non Motorized Plan - and the experts at Giffels Webster and the City of Detroit who created it and are implementing the bike facilities in it - including dedicated bike lanes and bike racks- fancy ones, popping up all over town and near bus stops.
- Passionate people and groups and annual events: Tour de Troit (started in 2002 with a hand full of bikers and now over 5K participate! This fall marks LTU's 5th anniversary of participation!), Critical Mass, Grown Men on Bikes, DSG's Detroit Bikes, Detroit Bike City (Slow Roll - understand over 600 participate each week!), et. al.
- DDOT/SMART buses - 90% are equipped with front bike racks (!) and are, thanks to advocates above, improving their reliability and performance.
- WSU's Detroit Public Bike Share Study (for the entire city, not just the campus!).
- Zagster - okay, only for Quicken Loans types, but it is still a bike share program with seven locations downtown!
- Zip Car - similarly, only for Quicken Loans and WSU types, but still, it is a start!
- Investors: like Quicken, and Fontinalis Partners (Bill Ford's venture capital firm to fund the future of mobility)
- Lots of downtown bikes shops: Wheelhouse Detroit (the original!), The Hub (home of the outstanding Back Alley Bikes youth "build a bike program"), Third Avenue Hardware, Downtown Detroit Bike Shop, etc. making it easier to buy and maintain a bike!
- Bike Makers: Detroit Bikes (hiring and training locals!), Shinola, Detroit Bicycle Company, et al.
Please feel free to comment and add to this list!
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