getDowntown Blog » bikes

More Bike Lanes Coming to Ann Arbor

Nancy Shore — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 17:44:11 +0000

AnnArbor.Com reports that the City of Ann Arbor recently acquired some federal stimulus dollars that will allow for some new bike lanes near downtown Ann Arbor.

The locations of these new bike lanes will be along Catherine Street, North University Avenue, Ashley Street and First Street.

Since many people feel better about biking when bike lanes are present, these new additions should be a good move.

Click here to read the entire article.

Support Local Community Bike Group Common Cycle

Nancy Shore — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:56:46 +0000

A new community bike group known as Common Cycle is looking to raise some money via Kickstarter.

Common Cycle is “a community-based organization empowering Ann Arbor to ride bicycles by providing access to education, workspace, and resources.”

They regularly set up a Mobile Bike Repair Stand at the Ann Arbor Artisan’s Market on Sundays in the Summer and just conducted their first bike repair workshop.

Click here to read more about Common Cycle

Click here to donate to their fund raising campaign.

The Bike Shop Closest to Downtown Ann Arbor For Repairs–Sic Transit

Nancy Shore — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 21:20:50 +0000

If you are looking for a place to get your bike repaired that is close to downtown, you might want to check out Sic Transit. They are located a little under a mile from downtown Ann Arbor on Broadway.

Their specialty is fixing up vintage bikes, but they also do repairs of all sorts.

Check out their new website at sictransitcycles.com

For a complete listing of all of the Bike Shops in the Ann Arbor area that sell quality bikes and do quality repairs, check out our Guide to Bike Commuting in Downtown Ann Arbor.

10 Secrets of biking with traffic from Biking Toronto

Nancy Shore — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 19:22:37 +0000

While we might not be as big of a city as Toronto, we certainly have to deal with cycling with traffic. Biking Toronto is providing a series of 10 “secrets” (not really secrets but definitely great tips) for biking in traffic.

Click here for a rundown of all of the Secrets.

Read on and stay safe!

Why Bike and Walk? A Video from CTN’s Ecosense

Nancy Shore — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:47:01 +0000

I am going to be on CTN’s Ecosense program soon. As part of the topic of biking and walking, CTN created this short video. Check it out below.

Ride of Silence tonight at 7pm

Nancy Shore — Wed, 19 May 2010 18:20:44 +0000

FYI:

A local ride to remember those who have been killed on public roadways will be held tonight. Gather at Wheeler Park 6:30pm for a 7 mile ride.

For more information, click here.

Top 50 Bike Friendly Cities: A2 is number 14

Nancy Shore — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 15:49:54 +0000

Ann Arbor has once again made it on one of those lists. This time we were ranked #14 out of the 50 top Bike Friendly Cities by Bicycling Magazine.

Here’s the slide with a picture of Ann Arbor and some other info

So who are the cities that came in ahead of us? Here are the top 5 bike friendly cities, according the Bicycling Magazine:

Minneapolis, MN
Portland, OR
Boulder, CO
Seattle, OR
Eugene, OR

Spring is coming: Think about getting on your bike

Nancy Shore — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:36:59 +0000

The past two days in Ann Arbor have been a great reminder that the winter doesn’t last forever around here.

If you are a downtown employee, you might be considering dusting off your bike, filling up the tires and getting some exercise on your way to work.

If you like to bike to work, or are considering it for the first time, here are some resources from getDowntown (and others) that can help you on your way:

Guide to Bike Commuting in Ann Arbor: For a comprehensive overview of biking to work in downtown Ann Arbor, check out our Guide to Bike Commuting in Ann Arbor.
Have a question about bike commuting to downtown? Ask getDowntown your Commuting Question.
Bike info at getDowntown.org: Info on Bike Safety, Advocacy organizations and Bike Shops can be found on our website at getdowntown.org/bike.
Need a Bike Map? Contact getDowntown and we can get one to you.Â It’s $2 if you are not downtown, free if you work downtown.
Request Bike Parking: The DDA has a new Bike Parking Request Form that let’s you tell them where you’d like to see more bike parking.

And Don’t Forget! Follow us on Twitter and become a Fan on Facebook to stay up to date!

Donated Bikes and Bike Parts needed for Detroit Social Forum

Nancy Shore — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:02:46 +0000

FYI:

In June 2010, the second US Social Forum (USSF) will take place in Detroit MI. The purpose of this forum is to have an open space where folks who believe another world is possible can come together for political dialogue and relationship building â€“ and to see the transformation of that alternative world in action.

Another world is happening in Detroit â€“ new forms of collaborative organizing are occurring, and the people of Detroit are working on the development of practices for a community-centered society, not an auto-centered society. We want to promote bicycle awareness and easy, affordable transportation in a city where bus transportation is unreliable and only 25% of Detroit residents own cars.

We are asking for donations of bicycles, tools, and bike parts. Our goal is to collect a large quantity of bicycles for distribution around the city during and after the Social Forum June 22-26, 2010. Visitors and residents will use the bicycles to tour the city and transport themselves to workshops. We want to create an exciting bicycle presence in our city to show that another world is possible.

Detroit Bike Donation Wish List:

In addition to donations of bicycles of all sizes and styles we request:
Tools:
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â metric open/box end wrenches (sets)
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â individual open end/box end wrenches in 8, 10, 12, 15 mm
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â metric allen (hex) wrenches (sets)
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â individual allen/hex wrenches 4, 5, 6, 8, 10 mm
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â large and small adjustable (crescent) wrenches
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â screwdrivers, Phillips and flathead, of various sizes
Parts:
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â tubes
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â tires
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â lube/grease
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â brake cable
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â shifter cable
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â brake housing
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â shifter housing
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â brake pads mtn
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â brake pads canti
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â brake pads road
Accessories
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â helmet
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â bike lock
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â bike stand

What will we do with the bikes after the Social Forum is over? Your donated parts, tools, and bicycles will be used to help transform our city. We are in the process of targeting churches, community groups, youth groups, and potential businesses that have the capacity and desire to use bicycles for their programs. The bicycles and parts you donate to the Social Forum will be used by these groups after June 2010.

If you are in Michigan, we will be collecting bicycles in Michigan on February 17^th, 2010. Please email ussfbikes@gmail.com for details.

If you are in Lansing, please Contact Casey @ The Lansing Bike Co-op, 231-313-9111 mckeel.casey@gmail.com

Detroit contacts are either Joey Rodriguez-Tanner at joey@thehubofdetroit.org, or Andrew Plisner at aplis90@gmail.com.

If you are outside Michigan, please contact bikeit2010@gmail.com

Winter Warrior Discounts Revealed!

Nancy Shore — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 19:19:19 +0000

if you find yourself biking, busing or walking in the wintertime, congratulations!Â You, my friend, are a Winter Warrior.

Come celebrate your Winter Warrior-ness with other like-minded folks during Downtown Ann Arbor’s Winter Warrior event!

Winter Warrior will be happening on Saturday, Feb 6th from 12-6pm.

Restaurants and cafes will have outdoor seating and there will be discounts to downtown stores.Â Restaurants and cafes will be bringing out their sidewalk furniture, and those guests who sit outside will enjoy specials such as $2 draught beers and $1 hot drinks (tea, coffee, soda, etc.).Â Restaurants and cafes will be bringing out their sidewalk furniture, and those guests who sit outside will enjoy specials such as $2 draught beers and $1 hot drinks (tea, coffee, soda, etc.). All you have to do is grab a drink, get your receipt stickered and then visit one of the following stores for your discount.Â These stores should have balloons outside them to let you know they are participating.

Winter Warrior Discounts:

Here is a list of our participating retailers and the discounts they are offering:

Salon XL – 20% off products
Moosejaw – 20% off any one, regular priced item
Salon Vox – 20% off products
Schakolad – discounts on hot drinks and prebooked Valentine’s orders
Sole Sisters – an additional 10% off sale items, 15% off regularly priced items.
Cupcake Station – free regular coffee with a $2 purchase
Crazy Wisdom – 15% off one item
Acme Mercantile – 20% off regularly priced merchandise (Saturday Only)
Elmo’s T-Shirts – a FREE Michigan bumper sticker($4.95 value) with the purchase of any t-shirt at regular price (not already on sale) and a FREE tin lunch box ($9.95 value) with the purchase of a second t-shirt.Â 1 shirt, 1 sticker . 2 shirts, sticker and lunch box, a $14.90 value. Saturday and Sunday, Feb.6,7
Carillon Chocolates – BOGO ice cream cones or BOGO coffee (Saturday & Sunday)
Ann Arbor Art Center – 10% off in gift shop, 20% off for members

Also, there will be on-street bike parking in front of Mighty Good Coffee and Schakolad!