This Thursday is another bike ride progressive beginning in Royal Oak. Here are the details:

Please join us for “Spring Rolls,” our Spring 2011 Progressive Dinner on Bikes, in Royal Oak, Clawson and Berkeley.

Thursday, March 31st.  The itinerary:

(Optional) Before-dinner drinks at Lily’s Seafood 5:30pm to 6:30pm.

• Leave from Lily’s to begin ride at 6:30pm sharp.
• Appetizers at Black Lotus, corner of 14 Mile and Main in Clawson.
• Entree at Pasquales, 3155 Woodward in Royal Oak.
• Dessert at Sugar Kisses Bakery, 2688 Coolidge in Berkley (they normally close at 6pm but are staying open late just for us).
• Free! After-glow courtesy of Urbane Apartments at their co-work room, 310 W. 6th in downtown Royal Oak.

The ride will end after dark, so please wear reflective clothing and put lights on your bike.  There is no fee to participate, you only pay for what you eat and drink.  Please bring small bills to ease paying the tabs.

Join us for a fun and productive evening.  We’ll get the latest updates about the non-motorized transportation plan in Royal Oak and the campaign for complete streets in Berkley.

RSVP requested but not required.  4 ways to RSVP:

• Join our Facebook group, and then RSVP to the event
• Visit our Facebook community page
• Respond to  RoyalOakBikes@hotmail.com.
• Call or text me at 248-797-1075.

Tom  Regan

Just when we thought it was safe to publish a collection of recent news stories on biking in southern Oakland County communities…

Today the Daily Tribune has an article, Royal Oak, Berkley work to make cities biker friendly.

The wheels of government are catching up to cyclists determined to use pedal power as their mode of transportation whenever possible.

Now that’s a lead in statement we need to read more often in Oakland County!

And we need more political leaders like Berkley councilmembers Steve Baker and Lisa Platt Auensen. The Tribune had this quote from Baker.

“To me, it’s about having a road system designed for everybody regardless of age and ability,” Berkley city Councilman Steven Baker said. “An incomplete street moves cars from Point A to B efficiently. A complete street moves people from point A to B. That’s a subtle but important difference for anybody riding a bike, pushing a stroller and using a walker, cane or wheelchair.”

Perhaps one point that was missed is Complete Streets are not just some local idea being pushed by those crazy cyclists. It’s a national movement which is backed but a large, diverse group. For instance, the National Association of REALTORS is a major sponsor. Health organizations, such as the American Heart Association, are supporters.

And AARP has been a huge advocate for Complete Streets. If you live in a community with incomplete streets (and sub-optimal transit options), driving becomes a requirement for mobility. A 2007 survey of seniors found that they feared losing their driver’s license much more than they feared dying.

The Tribune also mentioned last night’s Progressive Bike and Dine between Royal Oak and Berkley. Despite the chilly weather, there was a very decent turnout of spirited residents.

The ride started with drinks at Lily’s Seafood, then pizza at Amici’s, and a meal at the Royal Oak Brewery. Even though we passed on desserts, we likely consumed more calories than we burned.

No problem. It was a lot of fun.

Despite the downturn in the weather, there’s been an upturn in media coverage for bicycling news among communities in southern Oakland County.

And while we’ve already covered these stories, it’s great to see them in the media before a much larger audience.

Metromode has two new articles.

• Royal Oak non-motorized plan gets public jump start
• Berkley, Novi pass Complete Streets resolutions, other cities consider the same

The latter article includes a discussion of getting Complete Streets in Birmingham.

Jana Ecker, a planner with the city of Birmingham, said although that city is already a walkable community, there isn’t a resolution in place yet. For example, the city doesn’t have bike lanes. “It will require some changes from what we do now,” she says. She expects the city will take another look at the ordinance in November, after it’s reviewed.

The Detroit News published an article that covers both Royal Oak’s planning efforts and the local Complete Streets victories.

• Cities focus on cyclists’ safety

And even the Oakland Press provided some positive coverage of the recently passed Complete Streets legislation in Lansing.

• Michigan one step closer to more walkable and bikeable communities

All combined these articles reflect the significant (and relatively new) momentum behind making at least the lower portion of Oakland County a bike friendly environment.

Royal Oak Bike and Dine

Don’t forget that the Royal Oak Bike and Dine is tonight. Here’s the information:

Please join us for a Progressive Bike & Dine in Royal Oak and Berkley.  Royal Oak is conducting a non-motorized transporation plan, and Berkley recently adopted a “complete streets” policy, so this event will celebrate progress in both communities.

No RSVP is required but we would appreciate an RSVP so that we can alert each restaurant on how many guests to expect.  RSVP via the Facebook event (http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/BikeWalkRoyalOak), or reply to this email, tregan3@hotmail.com, or phone 248-797-1075, or mail to 3126 Glenview, Royal Oak 48073.  The event will begin:

• Thursday, October 21st
• Lily’s Seafood, 410 So. Washington, Royal Oak MI 48067.
• Join us in the bar any time between 5:30pm to 6:30pm to register.

The pace will be leisurely–new and occasional cyclists are welcome and encouraged.  Our schedule is approximate but the locations are confirmed:

• Optional drinks at Lily’s, 5:30pm to 6:30pm.  We leave from Lily’s to begin the ride at 6:30pm.
• Appetizers at Amici’s Pizza, 3249 W. 12 Mile, Berkley MI 48072, 6:45pm – 7:15pm.
• Entree at Royal Oak Brewery, 215 E. 4th, Royal Oak MI 48067, 7:45pm – 8:30pm
• Dessert at Pronto’s, 608 S. Washington, Royal Oak MI 48067, 8:35pm, 9:00pm
• Optional after-dinner drinks at Lily’s, 9:00pm – ?.

There is no fee outside of the bill at each restaurant.  Participants should:

• Bring cash in small bills (to make dividing up the tab easier).
• Wear reflective clothing, since we will be riding after dark.  Attach bicycle lights if you have them.
• We will NOT cancel in case of rain or cold weather.

Royal Oak Bike and Dine

A kickoff planning meeting for a progressive bike and dine event in Royal Oak is tomorrow, October 9th at 6pm.  The Bike and Dine itself would be held on Thursday, October 21st.

The brief 30-minute meeting is being held at the bar of Lily’s Seafood, 410 S. Washington in Downtown Royal Oak.

There is a Facebook event page set up for this meeting.

Livonia to look into planning

The city of Livonia is determining what is involved in creating a non-motorized transportation plan. From the Livonia City Council minutes of September 22nd.

On a motion by Brosnan, seconded by Toy, and unanimously adopted, it was:

#322-10 RESOLVED, that having considered the report and recommendation of the Infrastructure and Community Transit Committee, dated September 1, 2010, submitted pursuant to Council Resolution 20-10, regarding the City developing a connectivity plan for non-motorized transportation, the Council does hereby refer the subject of outlining the elements necessary to create a master plan for non-motorized transportation, including the estimated costs of engaging in the process, to the Administration for its report and recommendation.

This is very promising step for Livonia. Of course estimating the costs is perhaps an easier task than finding the funding.

Large cities like Livonia receive enough state road funding allocated to non-motorized transportation to pay for such plans. However, it’s fairly safe to assume that this allocated money is being spent on sidewalks and crosswalks.

Last week the Royal Oak Review attended the city’s initial meeting to discuss non-motorized planning — how to make it easy and safer for bicyclists and pedestrians in Royal Oak.

They’ve just published this article titled Pedal Power:

Mayor Jim Ellison said it was very encouraging to see all the people at the meeting and the ideas being tossed around. He said while funding is tight, having a plan is important.

Tom Regan, who helped start the movement for the city to develop a non-motorized plan, said he was happy to see the large turnout.

“What we’re demonstrating to the city officials and staff is that people in Royal Oak genuinely want these changes, and we’ll have an intelligent plan to make it happen,” he said.

If you want to stay on top of this planning effort, please “like” the non-motorized plan in Facebook.

Or if you were unable to attend and would like to submit comments, you can send them to Marissa Dolin at the Active Transportation Alliance.