chris_aug18

Hey everyone,

I'm planning a tour around Lake Erie starting at the very end of August.

I will most likely be leaving near Hamilton, Ontario(Or possibly Waterloo, Ontario).

To avoid the hassle of the Windsor-Detroit border crossings I've decided to head north of Lake St Clair but, that puts me going straight through Detroit. Any advice on Routes through Detroit? How safe is it? The only big city I've biked through is Toronto which was mostly on paved cycling paths.

Once I'm through Detroit there is Toledo and Cleveland which both look like fairly large cities any advice for going through them?

After Cleveland it looks straighforward and I'll be able to snake along the south side of the lake no problem.

Thanks in advance!

Edit: I also would prefer not to take the Leamington-Sandusky ferry, as I wouldn't feel right saying I've biked around Lake Erie if I cut off such a big corner of it , that and its rather expensive.

Speedskater

A decade or two ago, some of the Cleveland guys would circumnavigate the lake on US Labor Day Weekend. It was the Westgate Wheelers club, wonder if I can find any of the details.

Speedskater

No luck finding the old stuff. The club web-page is history and nothing in the few printed newsletters.

spry

Mandatory stop in Huron for a beer,shot of rum,extra tube

spry

Some of Mr. Linke's old group perhaps?

Geo Cruise

I was going to say you should time it to be going through Port Dover on Friday 13th LOL It is my hometown, I don't live there anymore but I am related to have the people there, if you are looking for a place to cam in the area send me a PM and I can set something up for you where you can have a great place to stay and pitch a tent.

Speedskater

Yep, but a decade or more later.

detroitjim

Word is that the Detroit-Windsor Truck ferry operator sometimes will allow a bicyclist to cross on it.

Here is the url https://www.truckferry.com/index.html . Since you will be passing by, it may be worth a try.

If the truck ferry is a no go , as long as you are peddling through Detroit in the daytime there shouldn't be

any problems. I just mapped a route through the city and the distance within the city limits is only about

12 miles.https://www.mapmyride.com/route/us/mi...28069145629577


You should be through the DMZ in an hour or less.

Geo Cruise

I did a car show in Detroit years ago and we were asked the first night of the show to lave out the back door under police protection because there were gangs facing off in front of the centre. Last show I ever did in Detroit LOL

referee54

On the west side of Cleveland, there is a Century Cycle LBS shop right next to a pretty decent bar called Herb's Tavern...and combine the stop into one nice rest/refueling stop. I would recommend cycling across US 20/US 6, which is called "Lake Road"---right next to Lake Erie. For most of the west side of town, it is a 35-mph 4-lane road. There are parts of Cleveland that are rough---i will think about how to get around them with the easiest route.

Tim C.

MTG

Check out this web site for possible routes through Cleveland: https://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us/bike/index.php
MTG

dewaday

Cleveland has a northern tier route and a southern tier route . Use the link MTG provided for the norther tier, or you can circumnavigate the city using the Metroparks route. Lots longer, but much more scenic and country as opposed to the urban experience.

all_metroparks.gif

Most of the connections are pretty simple, use the maps here for details.
https://www.clemetparks.com/visit/index.asp

Either way, you'd be best to hit Cleveland on a weekend, preferably early Saturday or Sunday morning, but as long as you work around rush hour you'll be fine. PM if you'd like, I work downtown and could lend assistance if you needed anything.

Speedskater

Even at rush-hour it's not bad. I see people riding home from work, going West near the lake.

fishtoes2000

I ride a few thousand miles a year in the city of Detroit. After a decade of doing this, I feel far safer riding in the city than the suburbs. I think many cyclists think their biggest safety concerns involve a criminal element. I have found the biggest safety issue is aggressive, distracted, and drunk driving. Detroit drivers are some of the most courteous you'll find -- and you won't find many because there are few cars on most of the roads. You'll miss those wide open and uncrowded roads once you leave the city.

spry

Plus you can use the oil residue from your Herb-Burger to lube your chain

Speedskater

From an other Cleveland thread, I did a search and found this (pfd) map on the near shore route through Cleveland.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sourc...GjkadlsPFdPZSQ

The Cleveland Lakefront Bikeway
https://planning.city.cleveland.oh.us...lakefront.html

referee54

LOL! How very true...but the grease tastes sooooo very good!

Speedskater

Friday afternoon I saw someone who must be doing much of the ride. He was riding East past Lakewood Park. Fully loaded front and rear Panniers, 3 water bottles and a one gallon water jug tied on the back.

freedomrider1

I would just go around Toledo. A little south then head east. Very nice roads and scenic.

finelargeaxe

If you're planning on going around the lake, I would strongly suggest taking a roll through Monroe, MI. We're literally RIGHT ON the lake, and getting into the local state park is free for cyclists if you ride in. Just a friendly reminder, though: avoid downtown as much as you can. For some reason, the local cops always seem to be trawling whenever I go through there, and some of the ordinances are rather crossed over and/or backwards. Keep speed down to a slow idle (first gear only, if possible) on the sidewalks, and come by during the weekday when they're not as annoying.

On the plus side, we also are home to Jack's Cycle Shop, probably one of the only ones in the entire county. I've never seen another one, at least. It's right on Monroe St. down the way from the local stage theater.

Hope to see you come through.

MK313

I realize this is too late for the original poster's needs, but I just found the thread & figured it might be a good link for people who search it out in the future.. There's a website I check out every now & then (tailwinds.org) from a guy in Michigan who rode his bike from Alaska to Key West several years ago. He also did a trip around lake erie in 2004 & has some pictures & details about it online. He seems like a really friendly guy & I'm sure that he would give you some pointers/tips if you emailed him.

JerriAnn44

Did you ever get the ride in around Lake Erie? Just wondered if you toured Toledo, Ohio. I sure wouldn't be caught
on any of the bike trails in down town. Too many gangs . Out side of Toledo is safe.