Michigan Trails & Greenways Alliance

The Adventure Cycling web site has a good writeup on their recent visit to Detroit to discuss a new Underground Railroad bicycle route.

Now, at the urging of the National Park Service’s National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program (and with support from Adventure Cycling members), we’re pleased to say we’ll be expanding the Underground Railroad Route once more — to south eastern Michigan (including Detroit) and south western Ontario (including the Buxton Historic Site).

There is an intense amount of passion in Detroit for this history. I witnessed a small sampling during my visit. The Michigan Freedom Trails Commission and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History will play an important role in helping us incorporate the best sites and history into this route, and cycling advocates will help us ensure the route stays true to the Adventure Cycling standards of scenic and safe roads and trails.

Though there’s a lot of work to be done to get this route from concept to map, I am honored, once again, to be working with dedicated people on something that will bring economic and active transportation opportunities to a city once known as the Paris of the Midwest.

Read the entire Adventure Cycling article

MTGA is excited to “go live” with an on-line trailway toolkit, as the latest achievement from the Connecting Michigan State Trailways Vision Action Plan (released by MTGA in 2005). To take a peak, follow this link.

Trail advocates can now find 156 downloadable resources, gathered from MTGA and other trail experts across the state, as well as connections to other helpful website links and trail resource collections across the nation, to help in planning, building, operating, and maintaining their trail projects.

The toolkit is interactive in that it allow for comments to be posted upon review of each resource. There is even a star-rating system that allow the best resources to displayed at the top of the list. “The toolkit will evolve over time as we continue to gather new topics and informational pieces to add,” said Nancy Krupiarz, Executive Director of MTGA, “but this starting collection and the user-friendly format lays a good foundation for the future of this online resource.

Dear Trail Friend,

This past year has been tough for everyone in Michigan. But in the midst of all the bad news, here are some powerfully positive things to consider:

• Because of our collective work, Michigan has more than 2,000 miles of multi-use trails.

• These trails impact the health, prosperity and quality of life in unimaginable ways.

• These trails are an amazing asset as we move forward to build a better Michigan.

• We are on the brink a connected trail system that can have an even more profound impact on our state.

Please click here and read on. Whether you decide to contribute or not, I want to share a few stories that will change the way you look at trails – forever.

Celebrate Detroit’s Underground Railroad history with the Adventure Cycling Association, the Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance and the Michigan Freedom Trail Commission.

Learn about Adventure Cycling’s Underground Railroad Route, updates on greenways and trails in the Detroit hub, and the Freedom Trail Commission’s efforts to designate the Detroit River as an International Heritage Site. Join us as we celebrate Detroit’s cultural heritage!

Bring friends, family, and fellow cyclists.

October 29, 2009  5:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Historic Second Baptist Church
441 Monroe Street, Detroit

RSVP by October 23rd to Beth Petersen: 800.755.2453 x 211 or bpetersen [at] adventurecycling [dot] org.

State Senator Says Michigander is “Perfect for Families”
By Gretchen Mensing, Michigan Fitness Foundation

Senator George and his son Matt at the 2009 Michigander

Bicycling to work is one way that Senator Tom George works physical activity into his daily routine. He often rides to Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo where he is a physician, and once a year he bikes from his home district in Kalamazoo to the State Capitol in Lansing.
Senator George has reintroduced three bills to the Senate regarding bicycle safety.  It is important to him to ensure that there are safe opportunities for Michigan’s citizens to be active, and recognizes that health care costs can be reduced if each Michigander takes responsibility for his or her own health by being physically active.
For the second year, Senator George is riding the Michigander Bicycle Tour with his 15-year-old son, Matt.  He says the ride is a good way for them to spend time together.
“We aren’t taking a vacation this year, we are taking bike trips!” says Matt.
Senator George chose to ride the Michigander for many reasons, including its name.
“I really like the word ‘Michigander,’ there is quite a lot of history behind it,” he says. “The term was first used by Abraham Lincoln, who called Lewis Cass a Michigander. There is tradition behind the name.”
But Senator George also chose the Michigander Bicycle Tour because it supports and showcases Michigan’s trails.
“I enjoy riding the trailways – the trails are scenic and it is nice to be out of the traffic,” he says.

Rider Wants All Michiganders to Ride the Michigander
By Gretchen Mensing

Bethlynn Sanders relaxing after a day of riding the Michigander

I sat down with Bethlynn Sanders of Kalamazoo after dinner at the Bay City Recreation Area on Monday night.  She is famous on the ride for her outgoing, friendly personality.  She told me she thinks every Michigan citizen should try riding the Michigander at least once.
“People who say they could never do it should try the 2-day ride. They will wake up the second day ready to train for next year,” she says.
Sanders has been riding the Michigander for almost 10 years.  Her friend got her started on it, and they have made time for the 7-day ride every summer.
“I wouldn’t do anything else in July,” she says.
When I asked her what makes the ride so special to her, Sanders talked about the ride organizers and volunteers who dedicate their time to putting together the event. She also sited the friendships she has built over the years.
“It is wonderful to see these people every year, and see the kids grow up year after year,” Sanders says.
She also says the ride is a unique way to experience all that Michigan has to offer.  It provides a chance to respect nature and enjoy the outdoors, while visiting many small towns along the way.
“We stop at little towns that you wouldn’t see riding down the interstate in a car. We stop in to restaurants and shops and talk with the locals.  We ride through woods, farmland and small communities. From the seat of your bike it is a whole different view.”
Bethlynn Sanders has one more thing to say to readers of this story who have not participated in the Michigander yet: “See you on the trails next year!”

Southeast MI Family Enjoys Time on the Trails and Being Active
By Gretchen Mensing, Michigan Fitness Foundation

On my first day riding the Michigander Bicycle Tour, I had the pleasure of meeting Dick Blint of Shelby Township.   An avid biker and runner, he is a great role model for physical activity. Blint has participated in the Michigander for 15 of its 18 years. This year, he brought along his daughter and four of his nine grandchildren. 
You couldn’t miss Blint’s family on the trail today; they all wore matching blue t-shirts signifying that they are a team, “riding with Grandpa”. Even more special is the tradition Blint is building. As I talked with him, I could see his love for his family and how important this time is to him.  His daughter, Heather Kaminski of Troy, is riding her fifth Michigander this year.  She began riding the tour to have special time with her dad.  Last year, she brought along her daughter Noelle.  And according to Blint, when Noelle talked about riding the tour again this year, three of his other grandchildren said they wanted to come too.  So today was the first experience riding the Michigander for Benjamin, Aaron and Samantha Boven of Brown City.
It was Blint’s idea to order the matching t-shirts for his family, saying, “it’s a once in a lifetime ride.”  He enjoys sharing his passion for bicycling as well as his love of trails with his family – and he hopes to get more of his grandchildren involved next year.
“In Shelby Township, we have access to many trails. When the grandchildren come over I take them out riding.”
Blint’s daughter knows that she and her father are setting an important example for the children by being active.
“I hope that to my kids, being active is just a lifestyle, not a lifestyle change. I want it to be something they learn to do and will always love to do,” she says.
I asked Blint if he thought his grandkids had a good time today, riding the approximately 48-mile route.
“They are doing pretty well so far,” he said. “Some were kind of dragging toward the end. But they really loved the trails.”
However, there is no question in my mind whether this grandfather is enjoying the 2009 Michigander.
“We’re having a good time,” he said, with a big smile.