Hello All:

My daughter, moved to Grand Rapid, Mich, last year. And we miss
seeing the grand kids she having another in May this year. We have
decided to move up there, to help with the kids. I was wondering how
is the communting there? How is Public bus service? We will be probley
be buying in the SE part of town, they live on adaside se. area. We have been
there a few time, and know it snow a lot. I guess all my winter communting
stuff will be needed. I live near Dayton, Ohio now, on a good year we get about
10-12 inches a year. I have seen bike paths along the side of the roads, are they
cleaned in the winter? They ride a little, but don't know that much about the bikeways.
So any info anyone can give me will help.

Well I can't speak for Grand Rapids but here in Kalamazoo (about 50 miles south) 10-12 inches of snow in a day is just about what it takes to close schools and I think we average 60-70 inches a winter (this winter over three feet just in December, ouch). Bus service is OK here in Kzoo and I would guess better in GR. Is there anywhere that bike paths are cleaned in the winter? Wow. Not here that I've ever seen but maybe right in town, I live and work in a more rural area. I've known a few winter bike commuters here but none that did it full time or toughed it out during the real winter weather, but I'm sure some people do. You would definitely be wanting some studded tires (lots of ice) and some warm gear (supposed to have highs in the single digits next week).

Michigan is a nice place to ride most of the year and becoming more bike friendly all the time (the current governor is an avid cyclist) but if your moving here now I'd plan on non-bike transportation for another month at least.

Hey I almost forgot, welcome to our Winter Wonderland!

I can't speak to the condition of the trails, but I went to college in GR (20 years ago) and my sister lives in Ada.

GR, as I remember it, esp. on the SE side is rather car oriented. There's a lot of sprawl out that way. Things are pretty spread out and everyone is always in a hurry. There is a trail/extra-wide sidewalk near her house - I'll check with her about how well it is maintained.

And GR gets a lot of snow. I remember it snowing every day in the winter while I was out there. Do you also cross-county ski?

GR was a great place to live, even if it isn't the most bike friendly.

tuind13

Don't cross county ski, but have been, wanting to learn. We was up there last winter
and yes, I know it snows, almost every day. Was just wondering how the streets are
keep. I saw a small tractor with a big rotory brush on frt going down the, wide sidewalk.
The area my daughter lives in is off Rix road near a section of what appears to be town,
near the post office. Were not moving up there till the fall, of this year, so guess I better
be ready for lots of snow.

[I] have livied in Mi my entire 53 yr life ! There is nothing bike friendly IMHO about this state . Michigan BIKE FRIENDLY But it is sure a nice place to live 8 months out of the yr and up north as we call the north part of the state is just beautiful .

Pipes: depends on where you live. I'm over by the People's Republic of Ann Arbor, and I can ride a whole year without getting honked at or have anyone come closer than 10 feet to me. If anything people are too polite; yesterday one guy wouldn't pass me even though the entire road was open with no oncoming traffic.

Ann Arbor would be the one exception . I agree That city acts like its not part of Michigan should be called Berkely North IMO he rest a this state is no part of Bike friendly just my 2 cents after living a lifetime here .

Bikehead -

My sister lives right around the area where 28th St. runs into Cascade. She said they laugh because the pathways are always cleared long before the streets are. Cascade Twp clears the paths and Kent County does the roads. According to her, the paths are kept very clear. They just added some more pathways last year.

Now I'm jealous, but it would be a really long commute to where I work from GR.

I'm not sure what the situation is in the Ada/Cascade Twp area, but for what it's worth, most municpalities in Michigan are having serious budget issues. They've been cutting back on services, and in the case of Lansing they aren't plowing or salting as much. It's been very noticable this year. I've found a few times biking to work that the State had cleared the sidewalks around their buildings long before the city plows had touched the streets. I'm not a sidewalk riding type of gal, but I've done it a few times into work before 7am, simply because the streets were in such terrible shape (bonus, there's no one crazy enough to be walking on the sidewalks downtown that time of the morning).

So, in some ways, how the streets have been kept in the past is no indicator of how they'll be kept in the next couple of years. The State has cut back on funding for plowing and salting of state highways, the cities are cutting back on essential services. The State is also expeciting a serious budget shortfall in this fiscal year and worse next year, so it is possible that the State may cut the funds it gives to municipalities, making the situation even worse.

Now might be a good time to take up skiing. I've thought a few times this year that it was probably the most practical way to get to work (since I don't have studded tires on either bike). If it snows as much for the rest of the year as it has so far, I might just start doing that.

And welcome to Michigan!!

Bikehead

I missed your post last week. I commute in GR, though mostly on the North side (I live North of town) This is a fine area to commute -though probably not near as progressive as Ann Arbor or even Lansing. There isn't much in the way of trails on the north side-the Ada area might be better- but the one I do ride on is maintained. Most of my riding is done on the roads & unfortunately this year the right-of-way is but a memory. You really need studded tires here & the way they're plowing this year (or not) I recommend aggressive tires to get through that 3-5" road slop

Peace
SteveO