Stronger ties between Detroit and Windsor? (ferry, boat)

[usroute10]

Ditch the car!
There is a tunnel bus run by Transit Windsor that comes every 1/2 hour until midnight. It is 4 dollars each way. You still get questioned thoroughly by the authorities on both sides, but it is less of a hassle.

I am in total agreement Detroit and Windsor need more interaction. Windsor is part of the Metro Detroit experience, and vice versa. Our cities are very unique, in that they are two relatively large downtowns right across the river from each other. The only other instance in the United States or Canada that I can think of is the Kansas City, Missouri/Kansas City, Kansas border.

I am saddened by North 42's

[Republic of Michigan]

Originally Posted by usroute10

Ditch the car!
There is a tunnel bus run by Transit Windsor that comes every 1/2 hour until midnight. It is 4 dollars each way. You still get questioned thoroughly by the authorities on both sides, but it is less of a hassle.

I am in total agreement Detroit and Windsor need more interaction. Windsor is part of the Metro Detroit experience, and vice versa. Our cities are very unique, in that they are two relatively large downtowns right across the river from each other. The only other instance in the United States or Canada that I can think of is the Kansas City, Missouri/Kansas City, Kansas border.

I am saddened by North 42's

Actually there is a Sault Sainte Marie Michigan and a Sault Sainte Marie Ontario. And then there is Cincinnati, OH and Covington KY..

[detwahDJ]

Originally Posted by adams_aj

Well, it looks to me like it's cut both ways. EVERY TIME I go to Ontario for the day for a meal or to see some sights, I get sent to the inspection lane, where they rip my car and belongings apart. EVERY TIME. I have no criminal record, and I'm not on any do-not-fly list: anything.

Last time, I had not completely taken everything out of my car, and had my toiletries and a suitbag still with me. I got the third-degree about "why if you're just coming for the day, do you have these items and a change of clothes?". No explanation was good enough. Then, after ripping everything apart and answering all of their questions, I got sent into the office and the questioning started all over. Did I mention this is EVERY TIME?

This, contrasted to the past where "Everyone a US citizen?". "Yes". "Well, you folks enjoy your visit and glad you came."

I can't help but feel that this is retribution for the reverse. Visiting Ontario has become such a drag. . .

Do you think it could be orders from above due to changing world events and new profiling guidelines? Not saying I know, but I sort of doubt that they have a file on you - or maybe they do keep such files on people they detain - I mean the computer age and all.

[Monty870]

9/11 has really hurt the relationship. Crossing the border used to be so easy but it's completely different now. That said, nobody in Windsor wants an open border because we worry about the riff-raff spilling over from Detroit. Windsor actually has one of the highest population densities in the area - it is urban, diverse, and compact yet has a very low crime rate.

Windsorites root for Detroit sports teams and are much more connected to Detroit than say Toronto (the shared history around the auto industry may partly explain this). However, just like Detroit media doesn't really pay attention to Windsor, our media doesn't really pay attention to Detroit. We are two cities side by side that each have their own issues, culture, and suburbs.

As for the weather thing you mentioned, there is only one weather station in the entire county and that's at Windsor Airport (which the Detroit tv stations do show the temperature of).

[Retroit]

From my experience, the only difference difference between crossing the border pre- and post-911 is that before you only needed a birth certificate, now you need a passport or enhanced drivers license. The interrogation is about the same and takes the same amount of time. The worst I've had is to pop the trunk open so they could peek inside and see nothing. That happened pre-911 as well.

(I go to Windsor about 3-4 times a year.)

[North 42]

Originally Posted by Republic of Michigan

I am wondering if the enhanced driver's license makes it easier to cross or is it merely a substitute for a passport? Since 911, I have only went once to Canada to visit a friend in Toronto. When I returned to the US, it was a disgusting process. I had a car registered to my name, my passport, my driver's license, and even a US Federal Employee ID. And I had to get out, have my car searched, wait in line inside...etc.

Pre 911, I used to hang out in Windsor, go to Devonshire Mall, go the Little Italy...etc. Now, I just don't want to deal with the border. It's a shame. Two cities next to each other, and it seems that we have our backs against each other. But not only that, I am also referring to the Media here. There seems to be absolutely no coverage of events taking place in a city that is touching downtown Detroit.

I find that the only mentions of events in Windsor that are reported in the Detroit news stations are some of the big acts that come to the Colosseum at Caesars Windsor!

[actinic]

Originally Posted by Huckleberry3911948

i dont think quebec is standing on tipy toe to be part of detroit. i know that that will change when things get better in detroit.

Exactly, it's like asking San Diegans to open the door to Tijuana. Canada doesn't need the riff raff of a 2nd world country like the US invading their well managed, 1st world country.

[Retroit]

Originally Posted by actinic

Exactly, it's like asking San Diegans to open the door to Tijuana. Canada doesn't need the riff raff of a 2nd world country like the US invading their well managed, 1st world country.

Then why did they build the casino and why do they want to build a new bridge?

(Yeah, I know, you were joking. )

[actinic]

Originally Posted by Retroit

Then why did they build the casino and why do they want to build a new bridge?)

No joke, Canadians love to take American's $ so long as they don't stick around.

[detwahDJ]

Originally Posted by actinic

Exactly, it's like asking San Diegans to open the door to Tijuana. Canada doesn't need the riff raff of a 2nd world country like the US invading their well managed, 1st world country.

You have a point there. Windsor was getting some Detroit money.
Windsor's casino opened in 1994, and Detroit later attempted to stop the outflow of money, especially convention-related business, by opening its own. At that time there was a lot of discussion in cash-strapped Detroit about the relative financial and moral ramifications of legalized casino gambling, but Windsor's action pushed it into reality.
MGCB - History of Gaming in Michigan