July 2024: Ann Arbor's Bicycle Rating Jumps 31%
Saddle up! It's time for the Tour de France, the Olympics, open houses about road safety, and great news about Ann Arbor's national rating for bike-friendliness.
It’s our third issue of Wheelie Good News!, published by the Bicycle Alliance of Washtenaw! Below, you’ll find a list of bike-related events throughout the month of July in Washtenaw County. If we’ve missed something, you can email us at bikewashtenaw [at] gmail, or just leave the information (with a link, please) as a comment below. We’ll add them here and post them to our Instagram feed. (And don’t forget to redeem our Summer Game code at the Malletts Creek branch!)
Top stories this month:
In its 2024 ratings of Best Places to Bike, People For Bikes named Ann Arbor as one of six “cities on the rise”! Thanks to new bike infrastructure, adjustments to speed limits, and a commitment to Vision Zero, Ann Arbor’s rating surged from 35 last year to 46, which puts the city in the top 16% of the country. (Next goal: reach Chelsea’s rating of 51). Michigan was well-rated overall, placing 11 cities in the top 100—including the best biking city in America, Mackinac Island!
All month long, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is assessing road safety for vulnerable road users (VRUs) by hosting several public open houses throughout the state. See below for dates in Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor!
New format!
Starting this month, we’ve sorted these entries into two categories: we begin with all the timely cycling events that are Happening This Month; then we list the recurring (mostly weekly) rides, races, and repair sessions that happen On the Regular.
Happening This Month
Sat 7/1 - Sun 7/21
The world’s most prestigious bike race launches from Florence, Italy, on June 29, and for the first time ever—because of the Olympics (see below)—will not end in Paris. You can follow all the stages here and watch on NBC and Peacock.
Sat 7/6 | 11am - 4pm
The City of Detroit Office of Mobility Innovation is partnering with the Joe Louis Greenway Partnership to host the 2024 Detroit Bike Summit at the West Warren Gateway in Detroit. The Summit will include a bike tour of the JLG route led by the North End Bandits, activities, food trucks, and prize raffles.
Free Ride Weekends on TheRide!
Sat 7/6 - Sun 7/7
Looking to get into downtown Ann Arbor without a car? With a valid library card from either the Ann Arbor District Library or the Ypsilanti District Library, strap your bike to the bus bike rack and ride any of TheRide local fixed-route buses for free! (Note: This repeats every weekend during the Summer Game, until August 27.)
Sat 7/6 | various times
Meet at Jolly Pumpkin in Dexter for a free, self-supported, mixed-terrain ride of 50K, 100K, or 100 miles. Registration is required for one of these distances, but you can switch when you arrive. The guide for the open-road route will be sent out on June 29 to all who have registered, and it will contain all you need to have a great time.
MDOT Open Houses on Road Safety
Tue 7/9, 5 - 8pm | Ypsilanti District Library
Fri 7/19, 11am - 3pm | Ann Arbor Art Fair
MDOT is soliciting feedback from vulnerable road users (VRUs) about road safety, with a 15-question survey and several statewide open houses, to improve understanding of the conditions and behaviors present in serious crashes. Show up and sound off!
One Day Ride Across Michigan (ODRAM)
Registration discount ends 7/10
The annual 150-mile ODRAM ride from Rothbury to Bay City will take place on Saturday, August 10, and registration is $110 until July 10. After that, the cost goes to $130 until the field limit of 500 is reached. All riders will receive breakfast, lunch, and a celebration cookout dinner. Medals will be awarded at the finish line.
Walk Bike Washtenaw Board Meeting
Wed 7/10 | 6:30 - 8:30pm
Anyone interested in making Washtenaw County a leader in bicycling and walking is encouraged to attend on the second Wednesday every month. All meetings are virtual and open to the public.
Sat 7/13 | 6:30am
Meet at the Chelsea Community Fairgrounds for a day of scenic bicycle touring over paved and gravel roads in Washtenaw, Ingham, Jackson, and Livingston Counties. The routes, ranging from 21 to 101 miles, wind through rural and recreation areas on beautiful rolling terrain and vary enough to appeal to a broad range of bicyclists.
Tue 7/16 - Sat 7/20
Because the fair spans 30 city blocks in downtown Ann Arbor and attracts nearly half a million visitors, it’s the perfect event to visit by bike. Renowned as the largest juried art fair nationwide, it showcases the talents of nearly 1,000 artists. (And don’t forget the MDOT open house about road safety on July 19!)
Common Cycle Steering Committee Meeting
Sun 7/21 | 4 - 5:30pm
The Steering Committee meets monthly online on the third Sunday of the month. Membership in the committee is not required to attend the meetings where a variety of organization business is discussed. All are welcome! Please email us at info@commoncycle.org for the Zoom link and meeting details.
Fri 7/26 | 7 - 9pm
Join us at Ann Arbor Farmers Market for a slow, guided, 8- to 10-mile bike ride through Ann Arbor neighborhoods. Helmet, lights, and themed costumes (check the FB page for details) are encouraged, and hang around for post-ride fun with friends, neighbors, and visitors around the community!
Fri 7/26 | 1:30pm
Since the Games are in Europe, we can watch all sorts of live events throughout the day. Follow along with all the cycling events here.
Bicycle Alliance of Washtenaw Meeting
Wed 7/31 | 7 - 8:30pm
Come to HOMES Brewery—Campus and meet your local bike enthusiasts, hear about our ongoing efforts, and get involved!
Sat 8/10 | 6:11am
The Watermoo is a challenging, 111-mile cycling race on mostly gravel, some tarmac, and “a road that is no longer a road.” The dirt roads can be hilly, and some of the pavement is very fast. The unmarked route will start and end at The Jolly Pumpkin in Dexter and be open to traffic, so follow your maps and observe the rules of the road!
On the Regular
Rides
Monday Gravel Ride — Mondays, 9am - 12:30pm.
Ride from Old St. Patrick Church in Ann Arbor to Independence Lake and back.
Dexter Monday Bike Rides — Mondays, 2 - 4pm.
Meet in the Forest Lawn Cemetery and bike as far as you want, up to 22 miles.
Dog and Suds Ride — Tuesdays, 6 - 8pm.
Meet at Aberdeen Bike and ride 20-30 miles west and north of Chelsea.
Tour de Dirt — Tuesdays, 6:15pm.
Meet at Aberdeen Bike for a 20- to 35-mile ride, over various routes.
Wednesday Night West Side Ride — Wednesdays, 5:30pm.
Meet at Dexter Forest Lawn Cemetery for a C-class ride of 10-30 miles.
North Hills of Ann Arbor — Thursdays, 6 - 8pm.
Meet at Washtenaw Community College for a class B ride of 25-60 miles.
Friday Gravel Ride — Fridays, 9am - noon
Meet at Olson Park in Ann Arbor for a gravel road ride of 18 miles.
Joe's Breakfast Club — Fridays, 9am - 2pm
Meet at Barton Park and ride to Dexter or Hudson Mills Metro Park, 20-33 miles.
Dexter/Chelsea Breakfast Ride — Saturdays, 8am - noon.
Meet in Barton Park parking lot to ride to Dexter (16 miles) or Chelsea (32 miles).
Repairs
Ypsi Bike Coop Repair Booth — Saturdays, 9am - 1pm.
Bring your bike to the Ypsilanti Farmers Market in Depot Town.
Common Cycle Community Workspace — Sundays, 11am - 3pm.
Volunteers at Common Cycle will help repair your bike.
Bike Park Work Days — Sundays, 12:30 - 2:30pm.
Volunteer for trail maintenance work at Tuebingen and Bandemer Bike Parks.
Other Event Calendars we love:
Thanks for reading, and feedback is always welcome. Here’s to a beautiful month on the streets, paths, trails, and jumps all over Washtenaw County, and be sure to follow these tips for happy summer cycling!
The Bicycle Alliance of Washtenaw