Biking To Work

I rode my bike to work. I actually made it a three county ride --- Wayne, Macomb and Oakland. The ride started at the Freedom Hill park in Macomb county and ended at the Riverwalk in Detroit. My brother Tom was a partner in crime on the ride.

I did it because I wanted to see what it would be like to ride to work and I wanted to see the region through a different perspective.

We met up at 6 am and began our journey touching the three counties. Macomb over to Oakland down to Ferndale with a straight shot down Woodward (200 years old) to the Riverfront --- then into the office. The ride amounted to a little over 31 miles. On our return home, we caught the SMART bus at Woodward/Grand River. We placed the bikes on the rack attached to the front of the bus, paid the $1.50 and headed home. The bus was full for the entire ride.

Some observations:

• We are more connected than we realize ---often we think of the divide and distance in the region. Riding my bike through the three counties in a single morning told me how much we are inter-dependent.


• Woodward could make the third lane a bike lane. We had by and large a clear shot from Royal Oak into Downtown.


• One might see despair and neglect along Woodward, but if you look more closely, you see community and activity. The morning walkers, the tennis camps going on, and residents getting ready to catch the bus to work.


• When you drive in a car ---- you don't always see people and the activity taking place. On a bike, people greet you along the way. The elderly men riding early morning in Macomb. The joggers sharing the path in Oakland. The bikers having breakfast in Ferndale. The walkers along Woodward. Residents catching a DDOT or SMART bus.


• It is liberating to peddle yourself to a destination. Makes me want to ride more.


• The Riverwalk will become one of the region's crown jewel.


• Gatorade and Oreo cookies (Thank you Tom!) make a perfect combination for a bike ride in 90 degree heat.

While I understand such a ride wouldn't be for everyone, I would encourage it. If you haven't ever peddled yourself to work, you'll be in for a treat as you get to experience the region in a different way. If you haven't taken our bus system, it gives you a perspective on a where this resource is available and the utilization of it for local residents.

If you want to see a video of riding the Riverwalk and Woodward, just click here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1Nx7Uht5xI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iB27ohy74sI

Thanks for reading. Pass it on. See the sunrise from Macomb County below!