Great Lakes - I 275 bike path

does anyone ride the I275 bike path? I was wondering who actually is responsible for the upkeep? it's been overgrown in some spots for quite a long time and there are many cracks and places where roots and plants are raising and cracking the pavement. it's in pretty bad shape where I ride. (I usually start at Hines drive and go south). I like stopping at the RR tracks and stripping parts off the Huffy's that have been hit by trains.
sorry for the randomness of some of this, and my other posts today. after the ride today my fiancee, my brother and I decided to explore a storm drain that opens up right by the water. it's a 6' cement pipe. we were walking through there and I hit my head where two tunnels meet and I may have a slight concussion. My ER copay is high so I'm waiting to see the Dr. tomorrow. anyway... I've stayed awake long enough since I hit my head so I can finally go to bed.

Ouch! That has to be fun! (The exploring part, not the whacking the head part!)

well, good news..I think. Ended up at the ER anyway, but that's ok..long story. no fractures and no internal bleeding. gotta take it easy for a few weeks. No drinking (not that I do), and a bunch of other restrictions. oh well. it's not gonna stop me from biking. so, about that path...anyone know who is supposed to maintain it?

Hey StrokerPoker,

I am glad that your head is harder than a cement pipe. So is mine. Are you also of German heritage by any chance? I have been looking at my Huron Valley Trail map and it looks to me like the HVT joins up with the I-275 bike path. Can you please give me some idea of where you have ridden on the I-275 BP, and where (how far) it goes? Thank you for your help Mr. Titanium cranium.
I know it goes north of 6 mile road and south of Cherry Hill road. I've seen signs for it or another path while driving further south. as far as my heritage, I don't think I have any german, but the Irish in me might be what saved my head. I also have scottish (lowlanders ie: Harris and McCloude <--unsure of spelling), french (at least enough to have a french last name) czech, not enough native american for the scholorships, and a bunch of other random crap.

Ouch! That has to be fun! (The exploring part, not the whacking the head part!)
lol...this is the first time I've read this post correctly. I kept reading it as "exploding" maybe I did do some severe damage...

The league of Michigan Bicyclists (lmb.org) is trying to restore the I-275 bike path. They had a volunteer work party last weekend to clean up the area by 10 mile and Haggerty. I have cycled the I-275 bike path from 10 mile and Haggerty down to the Will Carelton Road many years ago. Last year, I cycled from 8 Mile down to where they had it closed off Michigan or Van Born. You can connect to the 3 metro parks, I forget the names, Willow, ..... and .....located south on I-275 by the city of New Baltimore. The I-275 bike path also connects to Hines Park. The north ends after the turn from I-275 to West I-96 in Novi. Currently the I-275 bike path does not connect to Huron Valley. Huron Valley turns away from I-96 in Wixom. The path is overgrown and I personally don't feel safe on the path as a female. With all the roots, you really need a mountain bike.

yeah, if I had a rode bike I wouldn't torture it on that path. I've gotten some nice air on my heavily loaded Trek 800 on some of those bumps though. I suppose if more of us keep riding through the overgrowth it will eventually back off. I keep pushing my brother off into the weeds when we ride or play chicken with him coming up to the parts where it's only wide enough for one bike so maybe I am doing my part.....

MDOT built the pathway but wanted local communities to provide the maintenance. Anyone who's ridden the path know that that plan failed. MDOT is now taking over maintenance. However, more importantly they are awarding a contract to a planning team which will look at revitalizing, rebuilding, and extending the trail from Pontiac Trail in Oakland County to Monroe County. I expect this 12-month planning contract will be announced and started by next month. Once the planning is complete, I would expect MDOT to take a phased approached towards implementing the plan.

It's not going to be fixed overnight, but it seems headed in the right direction after decades of stagnation.

MDOT built the pathway but wanted local communities to provide the maintenance. Anyone who's ridden the path know that that plan failed. MDOT is now taking over maintenance. However, more importantly they are awarding a contract to a planning team which will look at revitalizing, rebuilding, and extending the trail from Pontiac Trail in Oakland County to Monroe County. I expect this 12-month planning contract will be announced and started by next month. Once the planning is complete, I would expect MDOT to take a phased approached towards implementing the plan.

It's not going to be fixed overnight, but it seems headed in the right direction after decades of stagnation.
well, I'm happy to hear there's at least a plan. I think a lot more people would use it if it was in better shape. maybe that's wishful thinking, but it could happen. I know I'd use it more if it wasn't so bad.