Hamtramck pushes for 25 miles of bike lanes by this fall

Hamtramck’s non-motorized transit plan — think pedestrians and cyclists — has been seven years in the making but city officials expect to see some tangible rubber hit the road later this year.

Hamtramck is working with collaborative-design-studio livingLAB to finish the plan this year. The end result will be designs for more and better pedestrian paths, the groundwork for connecting Hamtramck to the Dequindre Cut and 25 miles of bike lanes.

“This would be all new bike lanes installed throughout the entire city,” says Jason Friedmann, community & economic development director for Hamtramck. “The goal is to be done by next fall.”

Hamtramck’s new bike lanes would be along its major commercial corridors, such as Conant, Gallagher, Holbrook and St. Aubin streets, along with Hamtramck Drive, which circles the General Motors Assembly Plant. City officials are still debating the feasibility of putting bike lanes on Jos Campau because of already tight space for vehicles and pedestrians.

Friedmann says the non-motorized plan will make the city eligible for funding for the installation through the State of Michigan. He also hopes it will open Hamtramck up to more funding to extend the Dequindre Cut north from Eastern Market to the city, a stretch of about 3.5 miles.

Source: Jason Friedmann, community & economic development director for Hamtramck
Writer: Jon Zemke

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