Bike it to Berkley

By Crystal A. Proxmire
Berkley Live Special Writer

“Biking is easy, especially when anything you need is within two square miles,”  Berkley City Councilwoman Lisa Platt-Auensen says.

That’s why Auensen can often be seen around town, peddling to and from the grocery store, the video store, the pharmacy, her job in downtown Royal Oak, and even city council meetings.

“Being on a bike helps you notice things you wouldn’t, like ‘Hey, there’s a new store opening up on the corner,’ or, ‘Oh, look, the neighbors did something nice to their yard,” Auensen says.  “It just adds so much to your day.”

Berkley was one of the first cities in Michigan to pass a Complete Streets Ordinance, meaning that Berkley’s Planning Commission must now consider multiple modes of transportation as part of the city’s Master Plan.

“Our roads were designed to be convenient for cars, but with a Complete Streets plan, it helps us think about how to make the city better for pedestrians, those with wheelchairs, people on skateboards, and, of course, bikes.”

Some potential improvements include adding bike lanes or bike paths, and changing signage.

The City of Berkley has already done things over the years to make the city more bike-friendly. Recently it teamed up with SMART to add bicycle racks along bike routes in the city, raising the total to over 20.

There is a designated bicycle route, with green signs showing the way, although the route does not connect with those in other cities.

“We did a study a couple years ago to see how we could connect Berkley’s bike route to bike routes in other cities that are nearby,” City Manager Jane Bias-DiSessa says.  “Unfortunately there are no direct easy ways to connect us.  Woodward is not as easy as it sounds for someone on a bike.”

The lack of direct routes does give riders some flexibility when planning bicycle trips.  Onsen, who bikes to Royal Oak for work, says she likes to take different routes by knowing where the mile road or main side streets are, and then going a block or two into the neighborhood and taking those less-traveled streets.  She says that 11 Mile no longer intimidates her, and adds, “But sometimes a quiet street like Catalpa or Vinsetta (in Royal Oak) can be nice, too. The surprising thing is that biking to work from Berkley to Royal Oak is that it only takes me six minutes longer when I ride the bike.”

For those who are not so adventurous on their own, there are plenty of bike groups that attract riders from Berkley and beyond.

Mike Brandstadter, sales manager D& D Bicycles & Hockey, sees plenty of casual peddlers and hard core bicycle enthusiasts, and says their bulletin boards are the perfect spots for finding out what groups are available and help lone riders find their perfect pack.

“The Slow Spokes are interested in enjoyment kind of riding; they are more of a social bike club,” Brandstadter says. “The Ann Arbor Bicycle’s Touring Society’s name is a little misleading because they really have chapters all over. They do long, leisurely rides. Then you have the Wolverines (Wolverine Sports Club), which are an extremely strong group of riders with multiple levels within the group who are interested in finding out who can get there first. It is not shocking to see ex-Olympians riding among them, and even Lance Armstrong has come up to ride in the cool Michigan weather with them.”

If there is anything that Brandstadter wants bicyclists in Berkley to know it’s to know the laws and to be safe.

“There is a great website called m-bike.org that outlines all the rules of the road for bicyclists,” Brandstadter says. “We have the right to be in the road, and though drivers may not like it, it is your right.”

The website outlines laws and gives suggestions for how bicyclists can remain safe.

D & D Bicycles & Hockey, 4141 W. 12 Mile; 248-547-0770