Week 3

Week 3 experiences were a bit bizarre.  Tuesday I was involved in my first bike accident and I am pretty banged up. Wednesday I was headed to a professional networking event at Seva, so decided to ride without my helmet (Note: don't do this!) so was, of course, hit in the head with bird poop while riding under trees near Eastern Market (big yuck!). I was also riding without my backpack, so no wet wipes - grass had to suffice until I arrived at the event. Finally, I made an ill-advised wardrobe choice for the DAM Garden Party. Note to self: pencil skirts do not work well on a bike!  Even with all that, I was able to add more destinations and needs (DPL for books, etc.), and my miles were up over Week 1 levels:

Week 3

Walk Miles: 5.75

Bike Miles: 39

Other: PT x 2; Planting x 1

Week 2

Week 2 proved a bit more challenging. Three days straight of rain kept my numbers low. I remain committed, so I suppose I need to talk about motivation for the '5x8 project' in this post. I have three primary motivations:

Walk the Talk: my teaching and design research have become increasingly focused on human scale, perception and physiology, how they should shape the form and experience of the city, and the role of non motorized movement and supportive infrastructure in creating sustainable place in the city. Movement Ecosystem (see Origins post) was the latest in that trajectory, but in the last four years, I have integrated non-motorized transportation experiences and techniques into my design studios, engaging students and colleagues in the annual Tour de Troit and other outing.  Personal experience and expertise provides additional legitimacy to my pedagogic role.

City Love: I am a Detroiter, and have an intimate understanding the importance of the automobile in our region's cultural, economic and physical legacy. Even so, I grew up walking to school and did not own my first car until I received my undergraduate degree. I completed my Masters degrees in Boston, and became a happy "T" rider and urban pedestrian, rarely driving.  Last year, I was fortunate to spend the summer in Milano, Italy and took advantage of the compacts scale of the city, walking and using their comprehensive train, Metro, trolley and bus system. The only car I was in all summer was the taxi to and from Linate airport! This was a profound experience, one which clarified issues of equity, choice and public investment in infrastructure. I realized how  poorly served we, the citizens of Detroit. are by the uninspired transportation decisions of our elected and appointed leaders.

Health: the human body was designed to move - not sit in a car and/or chair all day! I have always been an active individual. But in the last 5 years, I have become even more committed to a healthy lifestyle through diet (Paleo) and exercise (pretty much daily). I was always an avid biker but, in the last four years, have become a runner, thanks to my own stubborn will and an amazingly talented trainer! When the diagnosis of the torn meniscus and no running was delivered, I realized I needed to do something to keep myself fit and moving.

Week 2

Walk Miles: 1

Bike Miles: 16.95

Other: PT x3

There must be an interface which allows me to link Google Earth to blogger so I may better illustrate my movement miles! Ideas?

Week 1

I have completed Week 1 and am happy to report that I have been able to meet all my needs on foot and bike! I did have to go beyond the Boulevard for softball league in Maheras-Gentry park, but other than that, so far so good! I am tracking my mileage in three "modes of movement": walking, biking, other (i.e. PT - might not have yet mentioned that I have a torn meniscus and am in PT. Docs said no running, but biking will help me strengthen my leg muscles and recover so I can run again!). This week, I accomplished a variety of activities - grocery shopping, a benefit in Corktown, a conference in Tech Town, even a date in Midtown (so a variety of wardrobe choices, as well!) on bike and foot. I realized that I am not fully equipped to do what I am doing. I have a 10 year old Gary Fisher Tassajara GS mountain bike (blog cover photo) that I love to ride and have been everywhere on. I know some urban bikers think a MB in the city is overkill, but I think the heavy frame and thick tires are ideal for Detroit's often uneven and potholed roads. Add to that a back pack, a water bottle, a helmet, and a lock. Those items - bike, lock, helmet, water bottle, and backpack  - are really all you need to do what I am doing. Oh, and a sturdy pair of walking shoes are essential (I sound like my Tante Lotte getting ready to go spaziergangen!).

There are many other accessories that would make a car free life easier - fenders (it has been raining a lot this summer - a good rain slicker comes in handy, too!), a back rack and panniers would allow me to buy and carry more. But I am (as many other Detroiters do!) making it work with the basics. I simply buy more frequently, buying only what I can carry each trip.
Week 1
Walk Miles: 3.65
Bike Miles: 35.88
Other: PT Daily; 1 Planting in the garden

Analysis

Before I began my experiment, I did a bit of analysis. I asked myself: why do I need a car? For each answer, I documented alternatives and actions  (see chart).  I was committed to altering my routine and to challenge long accepted norms of consumption, convenience, mobility, safety and independence. 

Why do I need a car?	Alternate
To get to work	Bus? Rides from Colleagues? GRAs? Moped? Rental?
To shop Groceries – Holiday Market Clothing, Household and H+BA – Northland, Somerset, Oakland, Fairlane, Eastland; Other specialty shops (T Mobile, Universal Plumbing, et.al.)	Eastern Market, Lafayette Foods, CVS, Busy Bee on foot or bike; Trusted source for Meat and fish (EM, Ye Olde Butcher Shop); Whole Foods opening soon)? Shop for clothing/shoes less frequently Amazon!
To see family and friends who live further than a bike ride – Eastside, Dearborn, Southfield, Bloomfield	They come here; Get a ride; Make friends who live closer!
To Bank	Detroit branches or online
To recycle paper	Neighbors
To lug big + heavy stuff (bike, paint, plants, etc.)	rental
To get to the airport	Taxi or ride
To get 'Up North'	Bus or rental
To get to Drs/Hospitals	All medical care in Detroit?
To get groomed	Find local Hairdresser and mani/pedi.
To get around in the dark or rain	Dress appropriately or stay in!

Origins

The 5x8 project has its origins in a 2012 design installation by studio[Ci]:
Movement Ecosystem. Go to this weblink for the full story:
http://studio-ci.net/4-square-exhibit-2012-movement-ecosystem/

As an urbanist, I have focused my design and research on density, infrastructure/mobility and net zero energy, and the role of each in sustainable urbanism. As you read on the above link, we had a number of objectives with Movement Ecosystem, primarily to highlight the impact of innovation in technology and modes of transportation on the exponential growth and dispersion of density in Regional Detroit.  I had a hunch: that the original urban core of Detroit, within East+West Grand Boulevard – the city limits until 1927 – was exactly 5 x 8km.  Yes, 5 x 8 km, the exact scale of the 10,000 year old walking city. I was correct!  You can see it inscribed in green on each of the three "urban plates" in our Diagram (right).  That day we measured Detroit in Google Earth, it was a revelation for the installation, and became for

me, the inspiration for the '5x8' project.

Movement Ecosystem Diagram by Haibin Tan for studio[Ci], c 2012, all rights reserved

So, if Detroit within the Boulevard is "walkable", then why not set up an experiment?  My question is: it possible to live (and meet all of one's needs) within that walkable (and bikable)

5 x 8 km boundary?  We shall see...