Our MI Healthy Climate Corps member, Joanie Towarnicky, has been hard at work conducting bike audits across Michigan with the help of 55 volunteers, using the AARP Bike Audit Tool Kit to identify areas for improvement to make our roads safer for cyclists. 

Last month, we shared a ‘win’ in Saginaw Township, where MDOT responded to audit findings by repainting crossing markings at a worn intersection. Now, we have even more positive results to share! The City of Lansing has also responded to the Lansing audit by repainting road markings on Chavez St., significantly improving bike lane visibility. Check out the impressive before and after photos below.

Before:

After:

Additionally, the City of Kalamazoo and the Brighton School District addressed safety concerns by cleaning bike lanes (on Michigan Ave in Kalamazoo) and trimming back tree branches at audit locations, greatly improving sight lines for both cyclists and motorists. Two standout examples are the trimming done in Brighton and Kalamazoo—see the dramatic difference in the photos below.

Tree trimming in Brighton

Before:

After:

Tree trimming in Kalamazoo

Before:

After:

Thank you to MDOT, the City of Lansing, and the City of Kalamazoo for their efforts. Additional thanks to the dedication of Joanie and the bike audit teams and volunteers, we’re seeing real improvements that make biking safer for everyone!

Categorised in: Advocacy, Uncategorized