Funding approved for hike/bike path along Van **** from Detroit into Warren
As a cyclist that travels around 8 Mile and Van**** I cannot imagine why anyone would plan such a perilous route(On Van****) .
Clearly those choosing the proposed area to be used for the pathway are not physically active, and thusly will not be utilizing it.
It makes infinitely more sense to make the pathway on the first block east..
Those traveling northbound on Van**** crossing at 8 Mile would be directed east on Rivard ,then north on Ascension until its end at Toepfer.
A short jog west to Automobile ave continuing north until Stephens.
(Centerline could easily extend the route to 10Mile from there)
Reducing traffic on Ascension and Automobile can be accomplished easily by installing simple landscaped barricades that span nearly (to allow drainage)from curb to curb with a 6 foot opening in the middle.
The barricades should be constructed at the
rear property lines of the east-west streets that intersect Ascension and Automobile,every three or four blocks.
Between 8 Mile and Stephens there are 26 side streets intersections on the east side of Van****. In that same distance (on the east side of VD) there are 24 driveways that are associated with businesses. That's double the number of the path crossings that a user must contend with versus an Ascension/Automobile route.
On the west side of VD ,27 side streets and 34 driveways!!!
It seems likely that the lane(s) confiscated on Van**** for the bike/jog path will be returned for vehicular use after surveys/polls show that no one is using it.