Slow Roll Detroit (Redford, Highland Park, Colon: apartments, house, school district)

[MS313]

Originally Posted by usroute10

At one time, the Cass Corridor, Hamtramck (Motor), and even Royal Oak (Noir Leather), were all hippie/countercultural nodes, not as big as Ann Arbor though.

Palmer Park as the original gayborhood in the Detroit area (Menjos) also may have had that element back in the '70s and '80s. I read somewhere that Madonna used to hang out at the clubs in that neighborhood before she moved to New York.



-There are plenty of independent bookstores in the area, they are just spread out. Concerning parks in the Detroit Metro Area, have you heard of the Huron-Clinton Metroparks (Lower Huron, Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair, Kensington, Stoney Creek)? Have you heard of the large State Parks in Oakland County (Proud Lake, 4,700 acres; Pontiac Lake, 3,500 acres; Highland, 5,900 acres) or Maybury State Park in Northville? Have you ever heard of the 17-Mile long Hines Drive with parks every 1/2 mile along it? Have you ever heard of Elizabeth Park along the Detroit River in Trenton, the first county park in Michigan?

There are ethnic bakeries all over, they are just spread out. For example, there are Jewish bakeries and delis in Southfield, Oak Park, West Bloomfield, Farmington, Bloomfield Hills, etc. Italian bakeries in Livonia, Dearborn, Warren, etc. I think what makes Ann Arbor unique is that these amenities are concentrated in a much, much smaller area.

Concerning Ann Arborites not viewing Detroit as THE CITY, I understand, it is its own distinct town, but if you wanna see big-time music acts from Bieber to AC/DC or see professional sports or see famous comedians, or do high-end shopping at places like Nordstroms, you're going to have to go to the Detroit area.

I'M DONE WITH THE THREADJACK

Yeah Ann Arbor does a good job of being a compact city for amenities. It probably offers more amenities than any single suburb but suburban Detroit as a whole... no.

Also... there are plenty of festivals in the suburbs.

[brodie734]

Originally Posted by usroute10

At one time, the Cass Corridor, Hamtramck (Motor), and even Royal Oak (Noir Leather), were all hippie/countercultural nodes, not as big as Ann Arbor though.

Palmer Park as the original gayborhood in the Detroit area (Menjos) also may have had that element back in the '70s and '80s. I read somewhere that Madonna used to hang out at the clubs in that neighborhood before she moved to New York.



-There are plenty of independent bookstores in the area, they are just spread out. Concerning parks in the Detroit Metro Area, have you heard of the Huron-Clinton Metroparks (Lower Huron, Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair, Kensington, Stoney Creek)? Have you heard of the large State Parks in Oakland County (Proud Lake, 4,700 acres; Pontiac Lake, 3,500 acres; Highland, 5,900 acres) or Maybury State Park in Northville? Have you ever heard of the 17-Mile long Hines Drive with parks every 1/2 mile along it? Have you ever heard of Elizabeth Park along the Detroit River in Trenton, the first county park in Michigan?

There are ethnic bakeries all over, they are just spread out. For example, there are Jewish bakeries and delis in Southfield, Oak Park, West Bloomfield, Farmington, Bloomfield Hills, etc. Italian bakeries in Livonia, Dearborn, Warren, etc. I think what makes Ann Arbor unique is that these amenities are concentrated in a much, much smaller area.

Concerning Ann Arborites not viewing Detroit as THE CITY, I understand, it is its own distinct town, but if you wanna see big-time music acts from Bieber to AC/DC or see professional sports or see famous comedians, or do high-end shopping at places like Nordstroms, you're going to have to go to the Detroit area.

I'M DONE WITH THE THREADJACK

Places being spread out is exactly the problem, though. People from Livonia don't go to Elizabeth Park, most probably have never heard of it. And people from St Clair Shores are unlikely to trek out to Novi for Asian food. Someone from Commerce Township is probably not going to visit John King Books on the reg. There are festivals in the suburbs but most don't have anywhere near the frequency or the civic engagement in my experience. Detroit has everything you'd expect from a metro area, that much is true, but Ann Arbor offers something much more unique. I also think the stereotypical Ann Arborite whose ivory tower attitude started this tangent is more likely to take pride in the fact that they buy their $80 throw pillows and $40 coffee mugs at local boutique shops like Heavenly Metal than at Nordstrom, they're more likely to want to meander around the Water Hill Festival than trek out to see Paul McCartney at the Joe because the musicians performing are Real Artists. That's just who those people are.

Last two points on this threadjack:

1. A lot of people who live in Ann Arbor are from elsewhere, especially bigger coastal cities. This is probably a big contributor to the smug factor. They see Ann Arbor as being an idyllic small town mixed with a globalist, big city mindset and are more apt to view suburbia negatively or have a patronizing view of cities like Detroit.

2. Other cities of Ann Arbor's ilk are either big in their own right (Madison, Austin), more obviously suburban and therefore integrated with the metro (Boulder, Berkeley) or more isolated and independent (Eugene, Asheville). Ann Arbor is betwixt and between. It is too distinct to be a suburb but too small to command any kind of major amenities. It is adjacent to a metro area that offers those amenities but simultaneously distinct from it. In other words, it's close enough that people commute between the two but far enough that people look at them funny for doing so and that's what makes it so strange.

[usroute10]

Originally Posted by brodie734

Places being spread out is exactly the problem, though. People from Livonia don't go to Elizabeth Park, most probably have never heard of it. And people from St Clair Shores are unlikely to trek out to Novi for Asian food. Someone from Commerce Township is probably not going to visit John King Books on the reg. There are festivals in the suburbs but most don't have anywhere near the frequency or the civic engagement in my experience. Detroit has everything you'd expect from a metro area, that much is true, but Ann Arbor offers something much more unique. I also think the stereotypical Ann Arborite whose ivory tower attitude started this tangent is more likely to take pride in the fact that they buy their $80 throw pillows and $40 coffee mugs at local boutique shops like Heavenly Metal than at Nordstrom, they're more likely to want to meander around the Water Hill Festival than trek out to see Paul McCartney at the Joe because the musicians performing are Real Artists. That's just who those people are.

Last two points on this threadjack:

1. A lot of people who live in Ann Arbor are from elsewhere, especially bigger coastal cities. This is probably a big contributor to the smug factor. They see Ann Arbor as being an idyllic small town mixed with a globalist, big city mindset and are more apt to view suburbia negatively or have a patronizing view of cities like Detroit.

2. Other cities of Ann Arbor's ilk are either big in their own right (Madison, Austin), more obviously suburban and therefore integrated with the metro (Boulder, Berkeley) or more isolated and independent (Eugene, Asheville). Ann Arbor is betwixt and between. It is too distinct to be a suburb but too small to command any kind of major amenities. It is adjacent to a metro area that offers those amenities but simultaneously distinct from it. In other words, it's close enough that people commute between the two but far enough that people look at them funny for doing so and that's what makes it so strange.

Thanks for the insight! Very interesting indeed! Ann Arbor is just a different animal altogether. We need it in Michigan, not enough interesting/thriving bigger cities in the state besides Grand Rapids. Flint and Lansing are just, meh.

[Coldjensens]

Slow Rolls again tonight. Get you bike out. You do not have to be in shape for this. I am proof of that.

[drro]

Originally Posted by Coldjensens

Slow Rolls again tonight. Get you bike out. You do not have to be in shape for this. I am proof of that.

As someone from a country with a cycling culture, I find this slow roll very interesting. How often do you have these slow rolls? Are tourists welcome to join? I would especially be interested in seeing the neighborhoods you mentioned earlier.

[MS313]

Originally Posted by drro

As someone from a country with a cycling culture, I find this slow roll very interesting. How often do you have these slow rolls? Are tourists welcome to join? I would especially be interested in seeing the neighborhoods you mentioned earlier.

I believe anybody can join if they come to the meet up. As a tourist you would probably be even more welcome.

[Coldjensens]

Anyone can join in. The people who go range from 6 year olds to 80 year olds. Every kind of person, every kind of bike imaginable. From athletes to fat people drinking beer and smoking cigarettes as they ride.

You need to register online and if you are able pay a $10 per year registration fee. If you cannot pay the $10 fee that is ok they will waive it. It pays for insurance and the police escort. Then when you arrive, they have signs with a number and a check in password. You text the password to the number, enter your membership number, and you are good to go. They have people who will randomly check whether you signed in and have a membership, because they have to make certain they have liability waivers form everyone. It is really not as complex as it sounds. Just google Slow Roll Detroit and follow the instructions. Their website was a lot better last year than it is this year, but it is still not too hard to find the information you need. It is nice. People look out for each other, point out potholes or other hazards. If someone's bike breaks, random people will usually stay with hem until the assistance truck arrives. If it gets dark and you do nto have a light, people with lights will gather around you so you can see the potholes.

[brodie734]

The one time I did slow roll, there was a middle aged couple dressed in matching green and gold leisure suites riding old 70's green bikes listening to classic soul on a boombox in the basket of one

[mgkeith]

It does sound like a lot of fun and a great idea! Uh...I am told that the residents don't appreciate the garbage that accumulates, and that it has become a problem. Does anyone know if trash cans are placed along the routes?

[Coldjensens]

Originally Posted by mgkeith

It does sound like a lot of fun and a great idea! Uh...I am told that the residents don't appreciate the garbage that accumulates, and that it has become a problem. Does anyone know if trash cans are placed along the routes?

I have not seen trash cans, but I have not seen anyone throw garbage while riding. I expect other riders would yell at them if they did. No one carries much with them anyway. There are a few people who have coolers of beer mounted on their bikes, but I have never seen any cans dropped along the way (they are worth a dime!).

In a lot of the areas we ride through, I am not sure how they would know if someone threw more garbage along the road.

The main complaints I have heard about is that some residents get annoyed about intersections being blocked for ten minutes or more.