Fall 2015 Michigan Bicyclist Magazine

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Fall 2015 issue of the Michigan Bicyclist Magazine, a publication of the League of Michigan Bicyclists.

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Bicyclist
MICHIGAN

Fall/Winter 2015

PROMOTING BICYCLING AND THE SAFETY OF
BICYCLISTS ON MICHIGAN ROADWAYS

In this issue:

•• Cycling the International
Velodrome at Bloomer Park
•• 5-foot Passing Standard in Grand Rapids
•• Congratulations to Josh DeBruyn of MDOT
•• Welcome Skye Felsing & Norm Cox to LMB
•• And More!

2015 LMB Bicycle
Tour Wrap Up
Page 3

George Moses: 29
Consecutive Years on
Shoreline Bicycle Tours
Page 5

Wayne State University’s
The Baroudeur
Page 9

“Small Revolutions” Create Change
The League of Michigan Bicyclists, or LMB, is
a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization devoted
exclusively to the advancement of bicycling.
Our mission is to promote bicycling and increase
the safety of bicyclists on Michigan roadways.
Michigan Bic yclist Magazine is a LMB
member benefit. It is published as part of our
ongoing educational efforts. It helps inform
Michigan cyclists, law enforcement, policy
makers, the engineering and planning
communities and others on issues affecting
bicycling in Michigan.

Michigan Bicyclist

Copyright © 2015
On the Cover: Yvonne Rucker, center, helps
inner-city Detroit youth learn how to cycle at
the International Velodrome at Bloomer Park in
Rochester Hills. Read the full story on page 7.
Photo courtesy: Jeana-Dee Allen
Editor, Art & Design: JEANA-DEE ALLEN
Letters/Comments/Advertisements may be
directed to: [email protected]

LMB Directors:

Fall weather brings many
wonderful days to ride.
As I cycle, I give thanks
for the color and the
bounty available. With
every rotation of my
pedals, I liberate myself
from the isolation of a
motor vehicle and become one with my
community—for which I always give thanks.
Fall also allows me another opportunity to
thank you.
LMB thanks its members, donors, the many
volunteers who allow us to present four
remarkable tours, and tour participants. We
also thank you for your interest in LMB, what
we do and what we plan to do.
LMB’s goal is to make cycling better in
Michigan. John Lindenmayer continues to
work both chambers, and both sides of the

aisle, to seek legislation needed to improve
conditions for cyclists. (The five-foot passing
law and vulnerable roadway user legislation
are at the top of our list.) We are delighted
to announce that Grand Rapids passed an
ordinance mandating a five-foot passing law
when a motor vehicle overtakes a bicyclist.
We ask for your help. Soon, LMB will kick
off our annual fundraising campaign. We
have created a matching fund to increase the
impact of your gift. Please watch your mailbox
for more details of our annual fundraiser. The
success of our fundraising campaign last year
gave LMB a solid financial footing for 2015. It
allowed us to increase LMB’s activity on issues
important to Michigan bicyclists. We again ask
you to support LMB. Your year-end gifts make
a difference and they are tax deductible.
Please donate to our annual campaign at
LMB.org/donate.

Letters to the Editor: Helmets and Social Rides

MEREDITH BEGIN
DAVE BOURGEAULT
ERICA BRIGGS
JIM CARPENTER
LINDSEY DESARMO, Secretary
AMY DUGGAN
NORMAN COX
DAVID JONES, Treasurer
ANNE READETT, Vice Chair
STEVEN ROACH, Chair
SARAH COLEGROVE
MICHAEL SHEEAN

Staff

Steven Roach – LMB Board Chair

Below are two sample letters LMB staff received
about the July 2015 Michigan Bicyclist cover
image. (Learn more on page 2):
“I found the July 2015 edition very informative
and well done—congratulations. I did have a
concern regarding the picture you chose for
the front cover regarding ‘Social Rides.’
Printed with
recycled content

JOHN LINDENMAYER
Executive Director
[email protected]
JEANA-DEE ALLEN
Communications & Development Coordinator
[email protected]
SKYE FELSING
Administrative Assistant
[email protected]

League of Michigan Bicyclists
416 S. Cedar St. Suite A, Lansing, MI 48912
(517) 334-9100
LMB.org
Socialize with LMB - Find us at LMB.org

1 MICHIGAN BICYCLIST | Fall/Winter 2015

I strongly believe that all cyclists should wear
a helmet every time they ride. I put a helmet
on even if I am taking a short test drive after
making an adjustment to my bike. I have a past
experience where wearing a helmet saved me
from injury and death. My neighbor and I were
hit by a drunk driver at 6:30 a.m. on a Sunday
morning. We were both wearing helmets. He
would have died and my injuries would have
been much worse.
All organized rides I ride, either with my bike
club or events put on by other bike clubs,
require helmets. I understand some social
rides may not. Regardless, I believe LMB
should strongly encourage safety and exclude
any pictures of people riding without helmets.
It would be easy for someone to look at the
cover of the July issue and say, ‘See helmets are
not necessary.’”
- LMB Member John Palmer

“Great editorial, John, and thanks for
supporting the progress that social bike rides
have been experiencing around the state and
country. In my work with the Ride of Silence
nationally—processing submissions to our
memorial is one of the toughest jobs I have—
and as the bike guy at MSU, I spend a great
deal of time thinking, talking and teaching
about bike safety topics. I feel the Lansing
Bike Party, as well as other groups mentioned
in the article, have demonstrated the huge
benefits social bike rides have on cyclists of all
levels. Improved safe behavior while cycling
is just one of these benefits. I prefer to focus
on these rather than simply focusing on one
small aspect of bike safety (wearing a helmet).
As we like to say, ‘It’s about the smiles, not the
miles!’ Many people—young and old, of all
shapes and sizes—are obviously enjoying it!
I hope more of your readers will get out and
try one of the many social rides around the
state. And, if they see something happening
that is dangerous, that they will take the
opportunity to (politely) talk with the less
experienced rider and help them learn!”

- LMB Member Tim Potter

Director’s Hub
John Lindenmayer – LMB Executive Director
We have received a few
letters about the July 2015
cover image on social rides,
pictured at right. LMB is
very fortunate to have an
engaged readership and we
want to say, “Thank you”
to all of our readers who have had encouraging
conversations about helmet use. I have written
this statement, with the support of our Board of
Directors, about our reasons behind selecting the
cover image:
I want to reaffirm that LMB strongly
encourages helmet use and supports helmet
giveaways hosted throughout the state.
Thank you for your support and for creating
an intriguing dialogue about helmet use and
safety. Our position remains firm that helmets
are required for all LMB bicycle events.
Most importantly, I want you to know that I
appreciate your dedication to safe bicycling
and that you are giving LMB the opportunity
to explain the reasons behind the cover image.
Even though helmet use is not required by
Michigan law, LMB strongly encourages
people to wear a helmet any time they bicycle.
The OHSP crash statistics show that in 2014
there were 21 bicyclists who were killed in
crashes. Out of those, five were wearing
helmets, 10 were not and six are unknown. We
agree with you. Helmets play an important role
in helping save lives and prevent life-changing
injuries. LMB also believes helmets are an
important part of the larger safety equation.
We advocate for better infrastructure through
Complete Streets design, bicycle-friendly laws
and policies, bicyclists’ and driver’s education
programs and stronger enforcement of laws
that relate to sharing the road. All of these
play a key role in keeping cyclists safe and
preventing crashes from occurring in the first
place.
LMB’s mission is to promote bicycling and
the safety of bicyclists on the roadways of
Michigan. While safety is at the core of our
mission, promotion is as well. We would
be remiss to ignore the growing social ride

trend that has emerged in Michigan. Social
rides are getting more people bicycling. They
are encouraging people to ride, including
people who are typically underrepresented in
bicycling. These rides grow in size every week.
As a result of participating in these larger
rides, many people subsequently become
comfortable at bicycle commuting on their
own.
Studies show that collision rates often decline
in locations where there is increased bicycle
use. “Safety in numbers” in and of itself can
help change behavior on the roads. This is just
another way that events such as social rides
can encourage new ridership and play a role in
improving overall safety.
There are social rides happening across the
state. These events attract cyclists young
and old­
—many who have stated they are
intimidated or uncomfortable participating in
other types of organized cycling such as tours,
races and club rides.
We selected this particular cover photo after
great deliberation. It is divergent from past
covers, which have always depicted bicyclists
wearing helmets. Ultimately, we found it
appropriate in this case for a variety of reasons.
The photo realistically captures the unique
diversity that social rides embody: age, gender,
race, bike type (road, fat tire and comfort bikes
are shown riding together) and, yes, even a
variety of safety measures (lights, helmets,
safety vests, etc). According to the Lansing Bike
Party (the group on the cover) approximately
half their riders typically wear helmets. As the
article points out the organizers “encourage
helmet use.” The image also shows two
bicyclists wearing fluorescent safety vests,
further showcasing the diversity of safety
measures at these events.
Social rides are bringing new people to
cycling. Jeff Potter states in the article, “These
rides attract many who are presently underserved in cycling: families, twenty-somethings,
women, and minorities.” Many of these riders
may otherwise not even identify themselves
as cyclists. LMB welcomes this growth and

sees it as a great opportunity to cultivate new
support and diversity to help make Michigan a
more bicycle-friendly state.
For many, these social rides serve as an
introduction to cycling. That is why LMB
distributes safety materials such as our “What
Every Michigan Bicyclist Must Know” booklets
and the Share MI Roads pledge to social ride
organizers around the state. Our Share MI
Roads campaign specifically encourages
helmet use and reviews other safety tips to
keep cyclists safe. We have also found that
there are plenty of safety advocates who
regularly attend these events and serve as
onsite models of safe riding behavior. In
time, many of these riders may recognize the
benefits of wearing helmets. Hopefully, many
of these events will also serve as steppingstones to participation in other events. We
hope their interest in bicycling and bicycle
safety increases and gets them involved in
events such as organized bicycle tours or even
our annual Advocacy Day.
We value your comments and feedback on the
magazine or any of our publications. Thank you
for being such an active voice in the cycling
community. Contact LMB Communications
and Development Coordinator Jeana-Dee
Allen, [email protected], if you have a personal
story to share about helmet safety. Thank
you again for your continued support and for
being a part of this great conversation.
Read the Social Rides story at LMB.org/mag.

2

Exploring Michigan
Jeana-Dee Allen – LMB

“[Shoreline West] makes me proud to be a
Michigander,” said tour participant Diane
Sherman. Every year, League of Michigan
Bicyclists encourages people to explore
Michigan and participate in four bicycle tours:
Sunrise, Michigan Upper Peninsula, or MUP,

Riders on Sunrise pedal toward the Presque Isle Lighthouse.
Image courtesy 2015 Sunrise file photo.
3 MICHIGAN BICYCLIST | Fall/Winter 2015

Shoreline West and Pedal & Paddle. We are in
awe of our beautiful state—with its charming
small towns, pleasant temperatures, friendly
people, spectacular scenery and handmade
goods. Each year we look forward to sharing
Michigan with cyclists from all over the U.S.
and the world.
The tour season began June 19–21 with
approximately 150 cyclists on SUNRISE.
Riders choose a variety of route options,
from 20–60 miles a day. Alpena is the perfect
location for this tour. “There’s local theater,
farm to table restaurants, local breweries,
birding, hiking, good museums … the whole
city is invested in showcasing all they have to
offer and making sure visitors have a good
time,” said Kyle Kirkby, LMB Membership
and Events Coordinator. Alpena is a remote
town, but it has lots of amenities and great
roads. “Over the last three years we have
listened to music in the amphitheater, seen
two live shows, visited the uptown shops and
restaurants, taken the shipwreck tour before
riding out to the lighthouses and spent time

The sunflower fields are a favorite location for pictures as riders
travel from Traverse City to Charlevoix on Shoreline West. Image
courtesy of Chris Torres.

in the marina and parks,” said tour rider Miriam
Holmes. Sunrise, like all LMB tours, gives tour
participants the opportunity to reminisce and
create new memories. “I used to vacation on Long
Lake as a kid. I haven’t been to Alpena in 30-plus
years—it was great to stay and explore the city
again,” said Bryan Ureel.
From July 12–18 more than 175 people cycled the
Eastern side of the U.P. on the MICHIGAN UPPER
PENINSULA Bicycle Tour. “You cross that bridge
and it’s raw—rock outcroppings, trees for miles.
It’s you, your bike and the road in a way that’s
really peaceful,” said Kirkby. The serenity and
hospitality of the Upper Peninsula is delightful.
Riders were welcomed by many local businesses,
including wood-fired brick oven cinnamon rolls
at North Star Bakery in Newberry, an off-thepower-grid local favorite. For many people, this
is their first trip to the U.P. and a great way to
have a short escape from the everyday. Official
MUP blogger Ralph Hennen said, “We’re in the

Participants camp near the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge
during the MUP Bicycle Tour. Image courtesy Bill Wilkes.

middle of ... nowhere-squared. But, hey, isn’t
that what this tour is about—getting away
from somewhere?” Participants experienced
some rain and cooler temperatures, but that
did not keep them from enjoying waterfalls,
Mackinaw Island or spectacular rural views on
a bicycle! Unfortunately, one rider had a crash
the last day of the tour, but is recovering well
and thanked staff and volunteers for their
attentiveness and follow-up communications.
This year was the 29th anniversary of
SHORELINE WEST. During August 2–8, more
than 450 bicyclists rode from Montague to
Mackinaw City. The tour has two options:
seven days to ride 386 miles and three days at
159 miles. It is punctuated with breathtaking
views of Lake Michigan, resort towns,
sunflower fields, historic homes and so much
more. “I love Michigan, I love to ride my bike,
and this tour was like a trip back in time to the
childhood places I knew and loved. It was the
most challenging of my (few) bike tours,” said
tour rider Beth Flannery, “And, I really enjoyed
meeting so many people from all over—that
might be the best part of the trip!” (Please
see page 5 for a feature on one of our favorite
riders, George Moses.)
Tour riders this year had the opportunity to
be documented by Mitten State Films. LMB
will release a short documentary about the

tour for the 30th
anniversary in 2016.
The film captures
Shoreline
West
highlights, people
who ride on the tour
and the sense of
accomplishment all
riders feel at the end.
“It takes a sustained
effort to ride 60-plus miles a day. And, people
cheer you through it … It’s like summer camp,
but with bikes. [The tours] are a great bonding
experience to go through together,” said Kirkby.
Please watch for film updates at LMB.org.
The tour wasn’t without surprises. Within the
first 24 hours, severe storms and a tornado
raked across the Traverse City area—making
the initial tour route impassable. LMB
staff, volunteers and former Shoreline SAG
coordinator Mary Dougherty worked to
reroute the cyclists. Participants had to forego
the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park for
a more inland pass through Interlochen. All
arrived safely in Traverse City.
From September 18–20 LMB held PEDAL &
PADDLE. There were more than 50 participants cycling and canoeing/kayaking through
Kalamazoo and St. Joseph Counties. “It’s a great
tour because of the ‘paddle’ aspect,” Kirkby
said. Participants float down the Portage River
(about 2.5 hours) and the Rocky River (about
1.5 hours). Pedal & Paddle is a great option
for people who want a more leisurely tour or
have never been on tour before. ”The tours
are diverse riding experiences—whether
you’re a beginner or seasoned rider. You
cycle through beautiful, remote, wild areas.
You visit scenic, tourist towns with lovely little
houses. There is also a variety of things to
enjoy—from cherry turnovers, festivals and
events, Michigan history, local museums and

more. There are all kinds of opportunities to
experience Michigan by bicycle,” she said.
Bicycle tours help support the mission of LMB:
to promote bicycling and the safety of bicyclists on Michigan roadways. When riders sign
up for tours, they support our advocacy and
education work at the State Capitol, throughout Michigan and nationwide. “We put in a
lot of background infrastructure to make sure
routes are safe. Our rides are symbols of what
safe looks like,” Kirkby said. The tours also
serve as an opportunity to educate cyclists by
providing them with our “What Every Michigan
Bicyclist Must Know” booklets. MUP participant David Lombardo said, “Even though I am
from Wisconsin, there is a lot of good information for all cyclists anywhere. It made me
take a look at what my state is doing for the
bicycle community. After all, we are all trying to
improve conditions for bicyclists.”
We would like to extend a special thank you
to all the volunteers and riders who make the
tours possible. Shoreline West rider Joy Dvorak
said, “One of the most incredible highlights of
the ride were the long-term volunteers who
were the backbone of the tour.” The tours
would not be possible without all of their hard
work and dedication to bicycling. We would
like to say a heartfelt, “Thank you!” to all of you.
Because, it is a priceless experience to view
Michigan on bicycle and you make it happen.
Shoreline West rider Bryan Ureel said it best: “I
like exploring the countryside on a bike. I can
see, feel and touch the land and sky. There is
no better way to see this country than on a
bike!” Thank you for making these memories
happen.
Cycle with us next year as we celebrate the 15th
anniversary of MUP and the 30th of Shoreline
West! Early registration begins December 1.
Watch LMB.org and your inbox for updates. ••

Participants kayak down the Rocky River during Pedal & Paddle. Image courtesy of Cynthia LeVine.

4

Moses Exultant After 29th Consecutive Shoreline Bicycle Tour
Ron Campbell – Veteran
Shoreline West Rider
In the beginning, the
tall, white-haired man
was a casual cyclist
who only rode his
mountain bike around
his neighborhood and
had never dreamed of
going on a bicycle tour.
But a friend convinced
Moses to accompany
him on a long ride
along the waters under
the heavens many,
many years ago.
And, behold, it was very
good.
The event League of
Michigan Bicyclists had
created—a 300-mile
bike tour up the Lake Michigan coast from
Three Oaks to Traverse City—was so good,
in fact, that George Moses, a 72-year-old
magazine publisher from Brighton, has ridden
a Shoreline Bike Tour every year since their
genesis with that inaugural edition in 1987.
With 29 consecutive Shorelines, you could
say he’s attained an exalted status among his
fellow cyclists.
Why does he ride LMB’s largest and longest
tour every summer?
“I like the charming towns we ride through
and camp in, Michigan’s beautiful western
shoreline and beaches, Bubba’s Pampered
Pedalers service and the simple rhythm of
riding up the coast with my friends,” Moses
said. “LMB staff members and volunteers really
care about bicycling and all of us on the tour.”
LMB Executive Director John Lindenmayer
presented George with a Certificate of
Appreciation that included a complimentary
registration for the 2016 West Tour during
Shoreline West 29.
“It’s a great pleasure to have George ride with
us year after year,” said Lindenmayer. “We have
many repeat riders, but none like George. He
always brings a genuine smile and is quick to
share interesting stories from the road.”

Moses was joined on the ride for the fifth
straight year by his daughter, Kim-Nora, a
52-year-old resident of New York City who
serves as a volunteer at the Central Park Zoo
and for environmental causes.
George and his wife Melanie—“my biggest
supporter”—have been married for 42 years
and are business partners as well. They publish
The Marketeer, a 100-page monthly shopping
magazine that covers Livingston County.
The proud Michigan State University alumnus
and avid photographer, who grew up in
Detroit and graduated from Grosse Pointe
High School in 1960, said he doesn’t mind
the inevitable Biblical Moses jokes. “At the
age of 72, I’ve heard them all,” he added,
and offered up a couple of his favorites:
• God to Moses: “Take these two tablets and
call me in the morning.”
• Don’t give up! Moses was once a basket
case.
After sharing these groaners, Moses—the
one who used to deliver more than “75 thick
copies” of The Detroit News on his Schwinn
Cruiser and now racks up 1,000 to 1,500 miles
every year on his navy blue Trek 5500 carbon
fiber road bike, “getting positive exercise
without being in a gym”—proposed an 11th
Commandment:


5 MICHIGAN BICYCLIST | Fall/Winter 2015

“Thou shalt not ride three abreast.”

From left, George Moses and his daughter Kim-Nora Moses ride
with Jodi and Howard Ring on the 29th annual Shoreline West.
All images courtesy of Melanie Moses.

Then the self-described optimist, whitehaired but still youthful, added one more bit
of wisdom that, not surprisingly, touched on
an activity close to his heart.
“I decided when I was a kid that I was never
going to grow up,” saith George Moses,
humble Shoreline West legend. “So I guess
I still have that childlike feeling of the joy of
living—and there’s nothing better to connect
you with your childhood than riding a bicycle.
I look forward to the West Tour all year.”
Wise man indeed, that Moses. Our Moses. After
all, riding your bike along a beautiful, blue
Great Lake for a week sure beats wandering
around a scorching desert for 40 years. ••

George Moses, right, and his daughter Kim-Nora after finishing
another Shoreline West.

Rules of Movement
with CyclingSavvy
Sue Kropscott - LMB Member and
CyclingSavvy Instructor
As drivers, cyclists are required by law to
follow the rules of the road. Traffic laws
are based on the rules of movement,
which establish right-of-way for vehicles
traveling at different speeds and trajectories.
Having been developed in 1903, rules of
movement are second nature to most
people. They create the predictability
and priorities that establish order on the
roadway.
Predictability is knowing what to expect
other people to do:
• Drive on the right.
• Pass on the left.
• Select a lane position that serves
your destination—as when using
left, through and right turn lanes.
Priorities designate how to solve the
conflicts that occur when the paths of
two people meet.
• First-come, first-served designates
the first person in position as having
right-of-way. When overtaking
someone, the lead person has rightof-way and the person approaching
from behind has to slow down and
wait to pass until it is safe to do so.
It doesn’t matter which vehicles
are involved—cars, motorcycles,
farm equipment, horse and buggy,
bicycles—all drivers are required to
abide by the first-come, first-served
rule.
• Yield to the right when conflicts occur,
such as four-way stops .
• Yield when making a lateral
move, as when changing lanes.
• Yield when entering a roadway from
a driveway, parking lot or from a
smaller road onto a busier one.
• Yield before crossing through traffic,
as when turning left. Traffic includes
all oncoming road traffic, as well as
sidewalk and side path traffic.

The rules of movement work without
any traffic controls—no signs, signals
or lane lines are necessary. When everyone follows the same system, everyone
travels safely. Crashes happen when the
rules of movement are violated. Failing to
follow a rule of movement increases your
risk of a crash.
As a cyclist, riding defensively includes
following the rules of movement. Ride
predictably. Ride on the right. Do not
ride facing traffic. Do not pass a line of
cars on the right. You have violated the
pass on the left rule and failed to yield to
the motorists’ right-of-way in being first
to arrive at the intersection. Get in line
with the other drivers and wait your turn.
(Position yourself on the left side of the
lane behind the drivers, where you can
see and be seen by oncoming traffic.) At
intersections, move to the left, center or
right of the lane to indicate your intended direction. If turn lanes are provided,
use the appropriate one. Do not ride
straight through an intersection in a right
turn only lane.
Yield as required. Obey traffic signals
and stop signs. At four way stops, yield to
the right. Be sure you are in the portion of
the roadway that allows you to navigate
an intersection without crossing in front
of moving traffic coming from behind.
To ride with comfort and confidence,
learn cycling strategies based on the
rules of movement. Everyone, no
matter how much or how little experience they have had, can benefit
from taking a traffic cycling course.
CyclingSavvy is an established, researchbased program utilizing the rules of
movement to provide a toolkit for cycling
wherever you want to go on existing
infrastructure.
Learn more about CyclingSavvy and class
offerings: cyclingsavvy.org or contact
Sue at [email protected].

For Community
Norman Cox - LMB’s Most Recent Board Member
Given a choice to drive, bicycle
or walk someplace, I would
choose to walk—all things
being equal. However, all things
are not equal. That is why I am
pleased to join LMB’s board.
Let me take a step back for a
moment. Walking, while an unequaled choice in
what it does for the individual and for society, will
only take you so far in so much time. Walking for
daily transportation demands a compact, mixeduse environment that, quite frankly, does not exist
much in Michigan. That is where my next favorite
mode of travel, bicycling, becomes invaluable.
The simple act of bicycling leads directly to a more
livable community. On a bike, the world shrinks
and relationships are built. Casual conversations
are struck up with fellow bicyclists. Your personal
neighborhood is greatly expanded as you develop
an acute awareness of your community’s rhythms
on your daily trips. You become an integral part of
the community because you are exposed in a very
vulnerable way to the environment. Gone is your
protective, sound deadening armor of steel and
glass. You have a greater understanding of your
world—its beauty, idiosyncrasies and failings. Your
bike spurs you into becoming an engaged citizen.
That is why the bicycling community has such
a peculiar reputation in the political world. We
don’t all agree on what to do, but we all agree that
we have to make things better. We see the need
and are willing to invest in making changes. Who
wouldn’t want to be a part of a group like that?
It has often been said that pedestrians are the key
indicator species used to determine a healthy,
vibrant community. I would like to offer another
diagnostic tool, one that predicts the future. Next
time you visit a community, take a look around
and see how many different types of bicycles you
can find. Do you see a lot of commuter bikes with
fenders and lights? That’s a good sign. Hey, look
over there—behind the trees, on the trail—is
that a tandem recumbent? When you see a fixie
with spoke covers and a polo mallet strapped to
the fame, you know a tall bike has to be around
the corner—just as you know the community is
turning a corner towards a brighter future. ••
Send Norm a welcome note at [email protected].
6

Velo-Dreaming
Jeana-Dee Allen – LMB

“Boom, boom, boom...” is what you hear in
repetition as 13 inner-city Detroit youth cycle
around the wood, resin and steel track at the
International Velodrome at Bloomer Park in
Rochester Hills. It is the resonating sound of
dedication, conquered fears, teamwork and
a community being built. Their interest in
cycling came from volunteers Yvonne Rucker
and Myrna Capela who take students to the
track four days a week, every week from May–
September.
“If you ask the students what they want, they
want to be ‘the world’s greatest cyclists,’”
Rucker said. “After that, they want a cycling
outfit.” The students arrive in street clothes
and sneakers to pedal around the track, but
this doesn’t dampen their determination to
succeed. They ride alongside adults at “the
blue line” and compete in races.
The Velodrome opened in 2002 and is an
outdoor, 1/8 mile oval track—with banking
from 13–44 degrees. There are four lines on
the track and an apron (a shallow, blue area—
where beginners start). The lines range from
least to most difficult: black, red, blue and
yellow. Cyclists can bring their own gear or
7 MICHIGAN BICYCLIST | Fall/Winter 2015

have everything provided for them. There is a
fee to use the track, but anyone 18-years-old
and younger can use it for free.
For Rucker, a full time cycling advocate, and
Capela, a substitute teacher and single mom
of two boys, it is about giving Detroit students
access to an elite level sport, and giving them
a space where they are treated as equals. “It’s
difficult with other sports because you can
spend so many hours sitting on the sidelines.
Cycling keeps them active and engaged
the entire time,” Capela said. “It’s amazing
watching them experience
cycling. It is a sport that is
all up to them: how well
they do, how fast they go.
I watch them on the bike
and I get a clear sense of
them overcoming their own
obstacles.”
LMB lifetime member
and regular velodrome
volunteer, Bruce Carlson
said he’s seen the students
develop confidence, learn
to look out for each other

All the students who ride the Velodrome want to be able to make
it to the top. All images courtesy of Jeana-Dee Allen.

and understand the importance of being
active. Students are expected to learn how
to use the equipment and tools at the track.
“The kids are mixed in with the adults, so they
are treated like adults here,” Carlson said. “It’s
fun to see those changes. When they first got
here, it was a lot of ‘I don’t have this… that…’
And, now they know what to use.” For as
often as Rucker and Capela are there for the
students, “Coach Carlson” and “Coach Dale”
(Dale Hughes—Velodrome designer, builder

Myrna Capela, left, and Yvonne Rucker at the track with 13 students, 9–15-years-old.

and weekly volunteer) are also there, teaching
them about cycling.
The greatest issue is that students have to
be transported to the track. “I drive 72 miles
[round-trip] to give kids in Detroit a chance to
cycle,” Rucker said. Both women know that if
they didn’t drive students, they wouldn’t have
the opportunity to ride the track. Capela said
the students have very little opportunities in
their neighborhoods. “There are no summer
camps, clubs or any other activities except
for television,” Capela said. They wanted to
provide an alternative. “Velodrome cycling is
an Olympic sport. There’s no brakes, no gears
—it’s an elite level of cycling. I want to remove
‘can’t’ from the sport and make it accessible,”
Rucker said.
Rucker and Capela teach the students to be
athletes and to make healthy decisions. Their
time at the track always begins with them
sharing a meal. “A lot of the students might not
have eaten for most of the day and I don’t even
want to think about that,” Capela said. Both
women work together to teach the students
about proper nutrition. “You can’t build muscle
off of crackers. You have to have protein. For
the work that this takes—riding sideways—
you need high quality food,” she said.
Once they are on the track, it’s all about
focus. Capela described one student’s first
experience on the velodrome: “His eyes were

wide as an owl and
he didn’t want to
stop. He’s really been
working hard to
conquer his own fear
and go fast. Swirling
around that track,
he’s really conquering
something in himself.”
All the students begin
on the “apron” and
look up to those
riders who get to the
top of the track. They
all help each other
and encourage fellow
riders from the infield.
Some students will spend the majority of the
season on the apron, but eventually it clicks.
It’s exciting to hear them fall into the rhythm of
the track and keep the same, booming pace as
velodrome regulars. “It’s like riding on a roller
coaster. But, this is something you can control.
It’s an adrenaline rush and they want to do it
again and again,” Capela said.
Both women encourage the students to never
be defeated. “If you are someone who can
make a commitment, you can go anywhere
—do anything. You just have to have the
commitment and the faith,” Capela said. “They
don’t want to miss out on anything,” she said.

LMB lifetime member Bruce Carlson supports students every
week as they get fitted with cycling gear. They learn about
bicycle maintenance and how to cycle safely.

“Cycling has translated into a reason to help
out and do better in school. They want to be
out there and they know this is it.”
Want to hear from the students? Visit LMB.org
to see a short video on their weekly visits to
the velodrome.
They are seeking donations for food, bottled
water and assistance with transportation.
Contact Yvonne Rucker at: bikevon.org or
[email protected]. ••

5-Foot Safe Passing Standard in Grand Rapids and Beyond
Jeana-Dee Allen – LMB
On September 22 Grand Rapids passed a
mandatory 5-foot safe passing distance
ordinance. This means that motorists must
keep at least five feet between the right side
of their vehicle and the cyclist they are passing.
Grand Rapids is the first city in Michigan to
have a mandatory safe passing distance.
The ordinance is just one recommendation
from a partnership between the City of
Grand Rapids, Michigan Department of
Transportation, Alta Planning and Design and
the Greater Grand Rapids Bicycle Coalition,
or GGRBC. It is part of a 3-year, grant funded

project to increase cycling safety and
education in Grand Rapids. The city is hoping
to achieve the status of the “most bicyclefriendly place in the U.S.” Their comprehensive
efforts to have laws that educate drivers and
cyclists are only the beginning.
“We placed the emphasis on safety and
mutual respect, including cyclists respecting
cars. A cyclist should be treated like any other
slow moving vehicle,” said GGRBC Interim
Executive Director Jay Fowler. He described
a recent situation where farm tractor was
driving downtown. “All the traffic slowed
down and moved to the other lane to pass,” he
said. Similar to farm vehicles, cyclists need five

feet because it creates an additional margin of
safety with minimal conflict, he said.
An original proposal requested a 3-foot
clearance, but GGRBC (at the recommendation
of LMB) increased the request to five feet.
LMB has been advocating for a statewide
five-foot safe passing distance since late
2014. We are currently working with State
Representative Mike Callton (R-District 87) to
collect cosponsors. We expect the bill to be
introduced this fall in conjunction with the
reintroduction of our vulnerable roadway user
legislation. Michigan law currently makes no
mention on how to pass bicyclists. At least 32
See Safe Passing, page 13
8

The Baroudeur (“baRudœR”)
Jeana-Dee Allen – LMB

One mountain biker, six staff, 300 volunteers,
four bike shops and the entire city of Detroit…
that’s what it took to create The Baroudeur. It
is a one day, road cycling event to raise funds
for scholarships at Wayne State University, or
WSU. The inaugural event held on August 22
was the invention of WSU president M. Roy
Wilson. A series of community partnerships
made the initial event a widespread success.
The ride had four options: 20 miles to Belle
Isle, 50 miles to Palmer Park, 62 miles (a
metric century) to Old Michigan Central
Station and 100 miles to Grosse Ile. It raised
approximately $10,000 to provide scholarships
to underrepresented students.
“It couldn’t have gone any better,” said Matt
Lockwood, Tour Director, mountain biker and
WSU Director of University Communications.
The event involved one year of planning
and drew more than double the anticipated
participants. “We thought about 500 would
result in a successful first year event, but were
all amazed to get so many [1,100] registered,”
Lockwood said.
For anyone interested in starting a ride,
Lockwood had a few suggestions to consider:
First, touch base with police departments
as soon as possible. “They all have different
ways of doing things and you want them to
be involved,” he said. Second, engage as many
bike shops as possible. Third, there are a lot
of start up costs, such as signage. Your future
9 MICHIGAN BICYCLIST | Fall/Winter 2015

events will be more economical because those
expenses have been incurred. Fourth, leave
registration open for the day of the event and
have a reliable system in place. “We had several
hundred people contact us about wanting
to register after the deadline. These were all
participants that could help with scholarship
funds,” he said. Lastly, spend a year dedicated
to planning. “Somehow it still felt like they
were ironing out details until the last minute. It
was not possible without a lot of people in the
University. We met every Tuesday morning at
9:00 a.m. Then, less than a month after the ride
was finished, we started planning the event for
next year,” he said.
The ride was created in the true spirit of a
baroudeur. It means “warrior” in French, but
also describes cyclists who break away from
the peloton and find success in creating their
own path. A group of “warriors” (the WSU
mascot and what students and alumni are
referred to) banded together to create the
fundraising event. Initially, “there were a few
naysayers, but I felt like it was a possibility. WSU
has a lot of resources. I wanted the ride to be in
the city of Detroit, so I volunteered to direct it,”
Lockwood said.
Creating The Baroudeur was a community
effort and would not have been possible
without lots of help. The ride was modeled
after other fundraisers such as the Michigan
State University Gran Fondo. They also had
300 volunteers and help from local bike shops,

Image courtesy of Wayne State University.

including: Metropolis Cycles, Motorless City
Bicycle Company, The Hub of Detroit and
Wheelhouse Detroit. The Baroudeur was also
mentored by LMB and participated in our $1 Per
Rider program—Learn more on page 10 or at
LMB.org/$1. Lockwood said it’s important
that The Baroudeur gives back to our state.
“We connect with the mission of LMB. As an
educational institution, WSU supports cycling
education in Michigan,” he said.
The Baroudeur has also added to the evergrowing bicycle network in Detroit. Starting
in June 2015, Rob MacGregor, WSU Senior
Director of Planned Giving, organized training
rides on Wednesday nights. The rides were so
popular that they have continued as a regular
event. “There is a real cycling culture taking
over in Detroit. I started working here in 2010.
It was rare to see someone riding a bike in
Midtown. Now, it is uncommon to NOT see
someone riding,” Lockwood said.
The Baroudeur has continued to build on
the momentum of Detroit as a cycling city.
“I met people from Ohio, Grand Rapids and
all over. They came to Detroit to experience
the city on bicycle and put some dollars into
the economy,” Lockwood said, “I wanted to
get people on campus and experience the
beautiful architecture and urban landscape.
Detroit is a comeback city and I wanted people
to see development and see Detroit as the
accomplished city it is.” ••

LMB $1 Per Rider Honoring Cyclists
What is it?
The $1 Per Rider Program is a way
for bicycle event organizers to
help create a more bicycle-friendly
Michigan. The program provides
essential funding to support LMB’s
mission to promote safe bicycling
in Michigan.
How do events participate?
When you submit your event to
the Ride Calendar, simply select
the $1 Per Rider category. Then,
LMB will follow up to confirm your
commitment to being part of the
program.
What kind of donation
is required to participate?
Just like it sounds, $1 per rider. (i.e
100 riders = $100…750 riders =
$750)

Mark Hagar – Ride of Silence Senior Outreach Director
On May 20th—the same day as the LMB’s Lucinda Means Bicycle Advocacy
Day—more than 1,000 cyclists across the state joined our brothers and sisters
worldwide, in the 2015 Ride of Silence, or RofS. It is an event to honor and
celebrate the lives of family and friends injured or killed when riding on public
roadways. It also raises awareness that cyclists have a legal right to share the road
with motorists, not only here in Michigan, but globally.
2015 was a banner year in Michigan, as well as worldwide. The past few years saw a decline in locations
statewide, but in 2015 we came roaring back, leading the world with 28 RofS sites. (MI–28, Quebec–24,
CA–23, IL-22, TX–18, FL-17.)
Where did we ride worldwide this year? In 340 confirmed locations, on all seven continents: Antarctica,
Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Cyprus, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Mexico,
the Philippines, Romania, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the Ukraine and the U.S.A.
Where did we ride in MI? Adrian, Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti, Battle Creek, Bay City, Boyne City, Cadillac, Detroit,
Lansing/East Lansing, East Tawas, Flint, Grand Rapids, Grayling, Grosse Pointe, Harbor Springs, Holland,
Ionia, Jackson, Lapeer, Manistee, Marshall, Menominee—the only RofS in the world that travels through
two states, crossing into Marinette, WI, Muskegon, Port Huron, Portage/Kalamazoo, Royal Oak, Spring
Lake/Grand Haven, Traverse City and Westland.
More information at rideofsilence.org or email [email protected]. ••

How does it work
with my event’s budget?
Most events simply add $1 to
the registration fees. (i.e. $25 >
$26). Since we do give additional
exposure to $1 Per Rider events,
some event organizers factor their
donation into their advertising
budgets.
Are there any
rewards for participating?
Events receive enhanced listings
in LMB’s website, e-news, Ride
Calendar and are eligible for free
website banner advertisements.
The $1 Per Rider events are also
printed on a stand-alone page
within the Ride Calendar.

Submit your event:

LMB.org/ridecal
Event submissions must be
received by 10/26/2015 in order
to appear in the print version of
the 2016 Ride Calendar. (Events
submitted after the 26th will be
included on the web version.)

More than 200 people participated in the 2015 East Lansing to Lansing Ride of Silence. Image courtesy of Ariniko O’Meara.

Share MI Roads: Thank You to Our Partners
LMB’s Share MI Roads campaign has had a great 2015. We have received financial support from the DALMAC
Fund, Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring Society and AAA Michigan. Their generous contributions are helping
extend the reach of our campaign to educate motorists and cyclists. These funds have helped us promote
our online safety pledge. We are in the process of developing an interactive, online education platform
that will test participants’ knowledge of how to safely share the roads. Learn more and take the pledge at:
ShareMIRoads.org.

10

Legal Decisions Affecting Bicyclists
found 35% at fault
and the jury award
was
reduced
to
$97,500.

that driver violated MCL 257.652 because
he failed to yield the right-of-way when he
“attempted to properly navigate the apron
area.”

Author’s Comment:
This is a bad outcome.
Contact Briggs Colegrove with your legal questions & concerns. No Michigan statute
requires bicycle riding
(or
walking),
in
a
certain
direction on a
Some important legal decisions that may
impact bicyclists have recently been decided sidewalk. Obviously, the driver did not look
by Michigan courts. A few could have long- both ways and only looked at traffic coming
term and significant impact on our rights as from the left when he was turning right. See
MCL 257.649; MCL 500.3135(2)(b).
two-wheel enthusiasts. Take a look.

Outcome: The appellate court agreed
with the driver’s position. The court noted
that the driver had come to a full stop and
waited for oncoming, one-way traffic to
clear before attempting to pull out onto
the road. The court also stated that even if
the driver violated the right-of-way statute,
he had an adequate excuse under the facts
and circumstances because “plaintiff darted
unexpectedly in front of the driver’s vehicle”
and the driver would not be expected to
anticipate that a cyclist was present, that
a cyclist would enter the exit area of the
parking lot from the right side, or that a
cyclist would ride his bicycle directly in front
of his vehicle. The court concluded that the
bicyclist was more than 50% at fault and
under MCL 500.3135(2)(b) damages were not
be assessed.

© 2015. Todd E. Briggs and Sarah W. Colegrove. Todd
and Sarah are lawyers in private practice. In addition
to helping athletes injured in bicycle and sportsrelated accidents, they concentrate in the areas of
civil litigation, including personal injury, commercial
litigation, probate and estate planning law. Todd
and Sarah are competitive cyclists, triathletes and
adventure racers. Sarah also serves on the LMB board.
660 Woodward Ave., Suite 1523 Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 964-2077 | [email protected]

BICYCLIST ON SIDEWALK HIT BY CAR

Issue: Comparable Negligence: Is riding a
bicycle on a sidewalk against the flow of
traffic considered negligent?
Facts: A bicyclist was riding on the sidewalk
on 12 Mile Road. At the intersection of
Bunker Hill, a subdivision street, the bicyclist
had the walk signal and hence the right of
way. The automobile driver was driving
southbound on Bunker Hill and turning right
onto 12 Mile. The driver pulled out past the
stop sign to see oncoming 12 Mile traffic
coming travelling westbound. In doing so,
he crashed into the bicyclist who was thrown
from his bike. He suffered three broken teeth
and a severe lip cut along with injuries to his
right hand, back, right arm and left knee.
The driver contended that he stopped
completely for 3–4 seconds and had his turn
signal on. The driver further argued that the
bicyclist was going against the flow of traffic
—eastbound—and that the cyclist should
have been going westbound. Because, the
12 mile sidewalk the bicyclist was riding
on was located on the north side of the
street. The driver also claimed that bicyclist
was riding in a negligent, distracted and
inattentive manner and that his comparable
negligence was more than 50 percent. (Note:
It is not reported how the bicyclist was riding
in an allegedly “negligent, distracted and
inattentive manner” other than “against the
flow of traffic.”)
Outcome: Although the jury awarded
bicyclist $150,000 for his injuries, he was
11 MICHIGAN BICYCLIST | Fall/Winter 2015

BICYCLIST RIDES IN
FRONT OF CAR AND IS INJURED

Issue: Comparable Negligence: Is a bicyclist
who rides in front of stationary car more
than 50% at fault for his injuries?
Facts: The automobile driver was in the
process of exiting a bank parking lot. When
he approached the sidewalk, he stopped his
vehicle. He then drove across the sidewalk,
stopped on the apron of the exit and waited
for oncoming traffic to clear on the one-way,
northbound traffic. The bicyclist was riding
his bike southbound on the sidewalk. The
bicyclist saw the driver stop on the apron
when he was 60 feet away, but continued
riding. At about the time the bicyclist
attempted to ride his bicycle around the
front of the motor vehicle from the passenger
side (south side), the oncoming northbound
traffic cleared. The driver attempted to pull
out onto the road and collided with the
bicyclist.
The driver argued that he was not negligent
and did not violate MCL 257.652 by failing
to yield the right-of-way and argued that
bicyclist was more than 50% at fault for the
crash. Driver also argued that the sidewalk
was “located behind the vehicle” and that
the bicyclist approached from the right
side while the driver was watching the
one-way traffic coming from the left side,
waiting for it to clear. The responding police
officer testified that it is not reasonable for
a bicyclist to travel in front of a vehicle that
is waiting to pull out onto the road when
oncoming traffic clears. The bicyclist argued

Author’s Comment: This is a questionable
outcome. Right-of-way rules apply regardless
of whether or not a one-way street is
involved. It is unknown whether the driver
was asked if he looked right at any time, or
if he saw the bicyclist approaching either
before or after he pulled out onto the apron.

NOTICE OF INTENT TO SUE A
GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY FOR INJURIES

Issue: Is strict compliance with all elements
of the statute, including notice rules,
required when suing governmental entities?
Facts: Plaintiffs were injured in an
automobile crash with a state-owned vehicle.
Shortly after the crash, plaintiff’s attorney
filed a notice of intent to sue the state with
the clerk of the Court of Claims. The filed
notice stated that “Attorney …, on behalf of
[Plaintiff’s], intends to file a claim against the
State of Michigan.” The notice was signed by
the attorney and notarized. Plaintiff’s filed
their complaint and the State of Michigan
moved for summary disposition asserting
that the notice was inadequate, because
MCL 600.6431(1) required the claimants to
personally sign the notice of intent.

Outcome: MCL 600.6431 requires the
claimant to personally sign a notice of intent
to sue. The notice provision provides that no
claim may be maintained against the state
unless the claimant, within one year after
such a claim has accrued, files in the office
of the Clerk of the Court of Claims either a
written claim or a written notice of intention
to file a claim against the state, which claim
or notice shall be signed and verified by the
claimant before a notary. Strict compliance
with governmental liability statutes is
required.
Author’s Comment: It is highly unlikely
that the State was prejudiced in any manner,
because claimant’s attorney signed the
intent to sue rather than the claimant. Be
that as it may, bicyclists beware. If you are
injured by a defective road condition, notice
rules apply and must be followed exactly.

PEDESTRIAN FALLS IN
PARKING AREA ON PUBLIC HIGHWAY

Issue: Can a pedestrian who is injured by a
fall that is caused by faulty condition of the
highway sue a governmental agency for
failing to maintain that highway?
Facts: The plaintiff, a pedestrian, fell and was
injured in a parallel parking lane of a public
highway. Plaintiff alleged that the State of
Michigan failed to maintain the highway in
reasonable repair and that the condition

that caused her injury was located within an
area of the improved portion of the highway
that was designed for vehicular travel.
The State of Michigan alleged that the
area where plaintiff fell was not designed
for vehicular travel. The State’s engineer
asserted that the portion of the highway
that was designed for “through traffic”
measures 11 feet on either side of the center
line of the highway, and that 11 feet meets
the federal and Michigan Department of
Transportation’s standards. The engineer
also testified that everything that falls
outside the 22 feet from the center of
the highway was either a buffer zone or a
parallel parking lane, and concluded that
parallel parking lanes are not “designed for
vehicular traffic.”
Outcome: The Court of Appeals disagreed
with the engineer’s conclusion that the
governmental liability statute regarding
defective highways (MCL 691.1402) applies
only to that portion of the roadway designed
to sustain the heaviest regular travel. The
court further stated that the statute does not
limit the state’s duty to repair and maintain
highways only to the improved portion of
the highway designed as a thoroughfare.
The statue limits the duty to the “improved
portion of the highway designed for
vehicular travel—any vehicular travel, not

just the heaviest, most continuous or fastest
vehicular travel.”
Importance to the Biking Community:
This decision was appealed by the Michigan
Department of Transportation and the
Michigan Supreme Court has granted leave
to hear and decide this case. The court will
likely decide whether governmental entities,
who have authority over roads, have any
duty to repair a defect in the surface of a
public roadway, when the defect is located
outside the “travel lanes” designated for
use by motor vehicles. If the answer is “no”
the duty to maintain roads in Michigan
may not apply to sections of public roads
designated for non-vehicular travel, such as
BIKE LANES. A person who sustains injury
due to a defect in a bike lane, even if the
governmental agency fails to keep that bike
lane “in reasonable repair and in a condition
reasonably safe and fit for travel” will have
no legal recourse.
We are anxiously awaiting the outcome of
this case, and we will report its outcome in
a future article. Until then, be safe and enjoy
the fall bicycle season. If you ever have any
questions about any of our articles or a legal
issue you are facing, do not hesitate to email
or call us. ••

Welcome Skye: LMB’s New Admin Assistant
Hi, I’m Skye Felsing! I grew up in the Lansing
area and have lived in and around Lansing
my whole life. I studied Social Studies and
History at Michigan State in the hopes of
becoming a social studies teacher. After I
graduated, I got married and my husband
and I spent seven months teaching English
in Thailand and traveling around Southeast
Asia. The experience was incredible and
helped fuel our love for travel. Over the
years, my husband and I have fallen in love
with bicycle touring and have biked more
than 6,000 miles. Our first tour was a 250 mile
loop around northern Michigan. We enjoyed
the feelings of freedom, accomplishment

and appreciation for nature. Since then, we
have bicycled around Lake Michigan, along
the west coast of the U.S. and along the
Natchez Trace Parkway. This past summer,
we biked across the U.S. from Everett, WA
to Washington, D.C. The cross-country
tour was, by far, the most difficult, but also
the most rewarding and eye-opening.
We encountered many obstacles on the
roadways and I am excited to be part of
a team that seeks to improve Michigan’s
roads for bicyclists. Biking has become one
of my biggest passions, and I hope to use
my experiences to bring the joy of biking to
others! ••

Skye on a 2012 West Coast tour. Image courtesy of Ethan Felsing.
12

Thank You 2015 Supporters*

Safe Passing, continued from page 8
other states have adopted laws that explicitly mention bicyclists. A
statewide 5-foot passing law will improve bicycle safety and provide
new opportunities to educate motorists and bicyclists.
Fowler said the opportunity for community education has been the
most important part of the process. “Without the law, what would you
teach people? It sets a standard and gives us something to educate
people from and integrate into the curriculum,” he said. “We hope
other cities follow our lead and adopt a similar requirement. Or, better
yet, that the state would pass a law.”
Contact Jay Fowler at [email protected]. Please watch
your email for updated action alerts on LMB’s efforts. ••

Congrats, Joshua DeBruyn!

Clinton River Riders Bicycle Club
Downriver Cycling Club
Karl Fava
Genesee Wanderers Bicycle Club
John Lindenmayer &
Sarah Schillio
Midwest Bike and Tandems
PALM
Michael Sproul
Ultimate Cycle Challenge
Steven Valenziano
Wayne State University,
The Baroudeur

Hands Extended Loving People - HELP
Heart Smart Events
Roger Hoffman
Huron Valley Athletic Club
Kerry Irons
JP Morgan Chase
Cynthia Krupp
Suzy McCain
Robert Monroe
North East Ride Developers
P & T Fitness (Pedal & Tour)
James Piana
James Pike
Gary Poore
Lenny Provencher
Luisa Resto
Karen Ridley
Kevin Schumacher
Grace Singleton
The Greenway Collaborative
Toni Thompson
Mary Underwood
John Waterman

$250-499, Rainbow Jersey

$50-99, Green Jersey

$1000 & Up, LMB Benefactors
Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring Society
Cherry Capital Cycling Club
Kisscross Events
Macatawa Cycling Club
Makulinski Family Foundation
The Mosaic Foundation

$500-999, Yellow Jersey

Peter Coles
Al’s Quick Release Bicycle
Sales & Service
Josh DeBruyn
Grayling Rotary Club
Joyce Halstead
Slow Spokes Bicycle Club
Alzheimer’s Association
Richard Lapinski
Rick Oberle
Kalamazoo Bicycle Club
Primal Wear
Image courtesy of Josh DeBruyn

LMB is pleased to share that Josh DeBruyn, Bicycle and Pedestrian
Coordinator for the Michigan Department of Transportation
recently received MDOT’s Director’s Award—the department’s
highest honor for outstanding service.
Josh is a long-time LMB member and a tireless advocate
for advancing bicycling across Michigan. He’s spearheaded
numerous efforts to promote Michigan bicycling during his
tenure at MDOT, including designating three US Bicycle Routes
in Michigan—USBR 10, 20 and 35.
“He’s been an invaluable resource to LMB over the years and a
wonderful asset to local communities, clubs and organizations
working to improve bicycling,” said LMB Executive Director John
Lindenmayer. “We are thrilled Josh received this honor and that
his peers appreciate the significant advancements Michigan
has made around non-motorized transportation under Josh’s
leadership.”
13 MICHIGAN BICYCLIST | Fall/Winter 2015

$100-249, Polka Dot Jersey
Debbie Bacal
David Baute
Meredith Begin
Benzie Sunrise Rotary Club
Big Bear Sportsmans Club
Bike Tour Vacations, LLC
John Blase
Brindley Byrd
Jim Carpenter
Christine Causley
Loose Spokes Bike Shop
Lindsey DesArmo
BikeMich
Edward Elliott
Fallasburg Historical Society
Fleis & Vandenbrink
Friends of the Pumpkinvine
Nature Trail, Inc.
Gannett Foundation
Jennie Gies
Habitat for Humanity
Montcalm County

Sandy Adams-Hernandez
Algonac Lions Club
Joan Bauer
Karen Beauregard
Mike Brinkmann
Dale Brokaw
Gerald Brouhard
Donna Buxton
Edward Caverly
Bob Childers
Teresa Ciesielski
Don Cunkle
Dansville Running Club
Margaret Dekoyer-Watson
Bill Duemling
Ferris State University
Friends of the Roscommon Library
Michael Gadola
11 Legged Lake Tour
Shannon Gleason
Bike More Edmore
Richard Helling
Michael Hinterman
Huron Music Association
James Kovacik
Ralph Krug
James Lee
Kelly Logan
Christopher Marold
Leonard Marszalek
Paul Medley
Bonnie Michalak
Timothy Oberle
Nancy Pomeraning
Port Austin Kayak & Bike
Steve Radecki

Membership/Donations

*Contributions as of 10/1/15
Robert Robertson
Karen Ross
Dawn Scheidt
Bill Shuman
Philip Tchou
Robert Thayer
Thomas Tisue
Randy Valko
Donald Van Suilichem
Dennis VanStee
Steven Vorenkamp
Gayle Wright Fickbohm

$1-49, White Jersey

Margaret Abbenante
Linda Ackerman
Jeana-Dee Allen
Auburn-Williams Lions Club
Alice Bagley
Terry Baker
Christopher Barnett
Tom Batchelor
Bicycle Village
Richard Beaujean
Travis Bell
Robert Berard
Hometown Bicycles
Soo Pro Sports & Cycle
Brick Wheels
Tim Broene
Steve Brostek
Rik Brown
Dennis Burke
Cadillac Area CVB
Brian Cahalan
Dennis Carlson
Ray Carpenter
Joyce Carr
Philip Caruso
Chuck Cigrand
Lawrence Claeson
Kim Clapham
Robert Clarke
Marilou Clary
Susan Cockerill
Irene Colman
Deborah Compeau
Teresa Cortez
Bill Davis
Sam Davis

Kent Davis
Russell Drown
Lawrence Dudek
Scott Edick
Michael Eliasohn
Gene Enderton
Perry Engstrom
Suzanne Erbes
Gayle Eubanks
Dennis Fasbinder
Robin Ferris
Jennifer Ferris
Cory Ford
Jay Fowler
Dennis Francisco
Caitlin Frederick
Tracey Goddeeris
Michigan Human Powered
Vehicle Assoc.
Gaston Gosselin
Jeramie Griffor
Hamilton Bicycles & Outfitters
Linda Hanna
Nazih Hijaouy
Michael Hogan
Jeanie Holoday
Kevin Huff
John Jerome
Stan Kaplowitz
Sue Karschnick
Paul Kelly
Michael Kiley
Stephanie Kiley
Kyle Kirkby
Gordon Knight
Michael LaCharite
Edward Lalonde
Elizabeth Ledyard
Robert Lemke
John Lombardi
Melissa Lott
Robert Lovell
Matt McClellan
William McKenzie
Stephanie McKire
Alec McPherson
Donald Millikin
Callista Milroy
Robert Moore
Kim-Nora Moses

Dennis Murphy
National Railroad Memorial, Inc
Rose Niemeyer
Wakefield Chamber of
Commerce
David Otzman
Jen Ozolins
Dwyne Patrick
Jim Penick
Randall Petersen
Pfizer Foundation Matching
Gifts Program
Melinda Pierce
Timothy Piontek
Gloria Pitsch
Gerrit Pols
Anne Readett
Christine Redmond
John Renkema
Sandra Robinson
Melissa Rokicki
Richard Schultz
Scott Senko
Helene Simon
Kiwanis Club of Ann Arbor Morning Edition
Amber Sitko
Stanton Rotary Club
Karen Stearns
Jerry Stick
Jeri Stroupe
The Bicycle Doctor
Gary Thompson
Laura Timmins
Diane Tuinstra
Barbara Underwood
Sarah Vetter
Sharon Wegmeyer
Kimberly White
Richard Williams
Jethro Wise
Jewell Wright
Diana Yount
Ron Zeeb
Joerg Zeller
Janet Zylstra

Annual Memberships

q  New

q Renewal

q Individual/Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $30
q Organization/Club/Shop/Industry . . . . . . . . . $60
q Lifetime-Individual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $450
(3-Pay Plan - $170/yr)

q Lifetime-Organization/
Club/Shop/Industry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1000
(3-Pay Plan - $350/yr)

Donations (tax deductible)
q . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $500
q . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $250
q . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $125
q . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $75
q Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $_______
Name
Contact (for Shop/Club/Org//Ind)
Address
City

State

Zip

Phone
E-mail
Website

Join, renew, or donate by check or credit card today!
q Visa
q MasterCard
q Discover
q  American Express

Please make checks
payable to:
League of Michigan Bicyclists

Name on Card
Card #
Card Address (q

Same as Above)

Expiration Date (mm/yy)
Signature

q I’m interested in volunteering with LMB
Membership Total

••





Additional Donation Total

Grand Total



$
14

MICHIGAN
BICYCLIST
416 S. Cedar St. Suite A, Lansing, MI 48912

NON-PROFIT ORG
US POSTAGE PAID
LANSING MI
PERMIT #979

LeagueOfMichiganBicyclists
@MIBicyclists
Dated Material: October 2015

LM
B

LMB logo on front/”Making Michigan Bicycling Better”
silk screened on back, between the shoulders

Lo
T- s n g S
hir lee
t s ! ve

Style:100% Preshrunk Cotton Jersey
Colors: Charcoal, Indigo, Maroon
Sizes: Small-XXL

Order: LMB.org/shirts

Prices: $25 LMB Members, $28 Non-Members
(S&H included)

Thank YOU for a triumphant 2015!
Make 2016 even better —
Help us reach our $32,000
Annual Campaign goal.

LMB.org/donate
Image courtesy of Jeremy Herliczek.

LMB: your voice for a more bicycle-friendly Michigan since 1981.15

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