Ann Arbor continues to serve its bicycling community with infrastructure improvements geared towards cyclists, and by promoting awareness of cycling opportunities and resources in the Ann Arbor area. As a result of its dedication, the City of Ann Arbor has received the following acknowledgements:
Ann Arbor is ranked #14 of America's top 50 bike-friendly cities by Bicycling magazine, April 2010.
- In 2008, Ann Arbor received a Gold Level award in the Promoting Active Communities Assessment, a state initiative to promote active living in Michigan communities. A Gold award means that Ann Arbor “can document outstanding achievements in making it easy for people to be active.”
The City of Ann Arbor is adding over 10 miles of on-road bike lanes this summer, bringing the total to nearly 60 miles. With over 140 bike hoops, 32 secured bike lockers and new on-street bike parking in the city’s downtown area, Ann Arbor continues to provide cyclists with opportunities to make trips by bike. See the August 12, 2010 news release about these efforts by clicking here (PDF).
What's Happening Now
Friday September 10 at 6pm, Liberty Plaza: RAT! (Ride Around Town) Get a start on urban cycling or polish your skills in a small town with the Washtenaw Bicycling and Walking Coalition! Ride winds through Ann Arbor downtown streets for a 4 mile figure 8 route. Help demonstrate to motorists and pedestrians that bicyclists can interact safely and courteously with motorized traffic. Helmets and lights required; bright colors and safety vests recommended. Bring a bell to ring as we entertain diners along Main Street! After the ride we gather at a designated RAT! Hole. Click Here for more information.
The Ann Arbor Bicycle Touring Society is hosting multiple weekly road rides all summer. Click Here for a schedule.
Bike Safety
The number one rule of bicycle safety is to know and follow the rules of the road. Riding safely according to the rules is about prevention. If you ride in the road, follow the rules of the road; if you ride on the sidewalk, always yield to pedestrians, stop or dismount before proceeding through crosswalks, and watch for drivers who may not be watching for you!
The number two rule of bicycle safety is to always wear a helmet. Wearing a helmet is about protection, and it is believed to be the single most effective way to prevent head injury in the event of a crash. Wearing a helmet could save your life! However, you should keep in mind this advice from Robert Hurst: "Cyclists should wear helmets and ride like they don't."
The City of Ann Arbor requires that all cyclists use headlights and rear reflectors after sunset. By wearing lights, reflectors, and bright, retroreflective clothing, cyclists improve their visibility, allowing drivers and other cyclists to see them and avoid them.
The city also requires that all cyclists keep to the right of the road when driving in the roadway, which includes always driving in the direction of traffic flow. One notable exception to this rule is on one-way streets with two or more traffic lanes, in which case it is acceptable to ride "as near the left-hand curb or edge of that roadway as practicable" (Section 257.660a of the Michigan Vehicle Code). It is dangerous to ride against the flow of traffic, and may lead to a serious collision with a vehicle. Cyclists, however, should maintain a three-foot buffer between themselves and other obstacles, like parked cars, railings, and buildings. Also, if the lane is overly narrow or in unsafe condition, or the cyclist feels uncomfortable with the passable area that motorists have, a cyclist should consider cycling nearer to the center of the lane.
Several studies have shown that cyclists are safer on the road than on the sidewalk. This is primarily because cyclists are more easily visible to drivers in the roadway, where drivers typically scan for oncoming traffic. However, if a cyclist does not feel comfortable in the roadway, he or she should be especially careful in places where sidewalks and roads meet, like crosswalks, intersections, and driveways. Additionally, the City of Ann Arbor requires that all cyclists riding on sidewalks yield the right-of-way to pedestrians.
Riding with others is a good way to keep bicycle trips safe.
Whenever going on a bicycling trip, cyclists should always verify that their bike is safe by checking the brakes, ensuring that all parts are secure, and making sure that the tires are properly inflated, all of which should be explained in the bike’s owners manual. Also, it is always a good idea to carry water and snacks if the trip should be long, and a cell phone or bus fare in case plans change.
Please see this Road-Sharing Brochure (pdf) for more information on sharing the road with drivers.
Bike Maps
The City of Ann Arbor Bicycle Map (pdf) shows the various bike lanes, bike routes, and shared-use trails available for trips within the Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County area. Print copies of the maps are available for $2.
The Border-to-Border Trail Map is a more detailed map of the portion of the trail connecting eastern Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti to Wayne County.
Additionally, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) provides bicycle travel information maps of the Southeast Michigan area on its website, and the Michigan Department of Transportation provides bicycle maps for the area ("University Region") on the MDOT Regional Bike Maps website.
Bicycle Parking
The City of Ann Arbor requires that bicycle parking be included in all new construction projects. The requirements for parking can be found in Chapter 59 of the City's Codes.
There are several different types of bicycle parking, from protected storage lockers to simple bicycle racks. An explanation of each class of parking can be found in the bicycle parking guide, which is described below.
The guide "Bike Parking for Your Business" was designed to help businesses take advantage of the new interest in bicycling by providing useful guidelines and graphical illustrations for adding bicycle parking.
By providing bicycle parking, a business can increase overall parking capacity at a small cost, attract customers who ride bicycles, eliminate the clutter of unplanned bicycle parking and encourage customers that generally drive to try biking instead.
If you are interested in having bicycle parking installed in the downtown area, you can contact the getDowntown Program by email (info@getdowntown.org).
Downtown Ann Arbor currently offers a wide range of bicycle parking. Click here for a map.
To report an abandoned bicycle for removal, please call the non-emergency police number, which is kept up-to-date on the City of Ann Arbor Police website. This will allow a list of abandoned bikes to be compiled for removal by staff.
Ann Arbor Bicycle Lanes
The City of Ann Arbor is committed to establishing a bicycle lane network that residents and visitors can use to travel within the city. Every year, the city commits resources to expand, improve, and evaluate its bike lane system. To evaluate bicycle lanes, transportation program staff create an inventory of every bicycle lane in the city including photos and data tables on its condition (as shown below). Click Here to view a draft version of the 2009 Inventory Report.
Additional Resources
There are many resources for cyclists in Ann Arbor. For information on cycling in Washtenaw County, visit the Washtenaw Biking and Walking Coalition Website . For information on commuting to work by bike, visit the getDowntown Program Website for safety tips and additional resources.
Visit these websites for some more information for cyclists in Ann Arbor:
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Rules of the Road for cycling in Ann Arbor?
The State of Michigan recently updated parts of the Michigan Vehicle Code, redefining some of the rules of the road for cyclists. The City of Ann Arbor removed portions of the city ordinance Chapter 127: Bicycles relating to the operation of a bicycle to make local law more consistent with updated state laws. Click Here to see the changes.
In the meantime, cyclists should use the Michigan Vehicle Code as a guide. The rules for cyclists can be found at the Michigan Legislature website.
How do I report a bike lane maintenance issue?
If you encounter a pothole or similar maintenance issue in a bike lane during your ride, please use the online Citizen Request System. When you make the request, be sure the report it as a "pothole repair" issue in Step 2.
What happens to abandoned bikes?
In response to a complaint, the Ann Arbor Police Department downtown patrol officers place 48 hour notice tags on bicycles that appear to be abandoned. After 48 hours, the bikes are impounded by officers.
Why is bike parking important?
Bicycle parking is important for many reasons. Investing in safe and convenient bicycle parking can benefit your business, office, or residential complex. More and more people in Ann Arbor are taking advantage of the convenience, flexibility and cost-effectiveness of traveling by bicycle. One of the most crucial parts of that travel is a safe and secure place to park your bike. Having such a place in front of your business can increase your overall parking capacity at a small cost, attract customers who ride bicycles, eliminate the clutter and damage of unplanned bicycle parking and encourage customers that generally drive to try biking instead.
For more information, see: Bicycle Parking, above.
Where can I find information on bike lockers?
Bike locker information can be found on the getDowntown website.
If I have a question about bicycling in the City of Ann Arbor, who should I contact?
The City of Ann Arbor is dedicated to making bicycling an easy, dependable, and fun way to make trips. The Ann Arbor Transportation Program Manager is Eli Cooper (ecooper@a2gov.org), and any questions or comments about bicycling in Ann Arbor should be directed to him.
What is the Alternative Transportation Committee?
Ann Arbor's Alternative Transportation Committee is an internal committee of city staff, county staff, citizen advocates, the DDA, and many other organizations. The committee meets on a monthly or bi-monthly basis to discuss relevant issues in nonmotorized transportation, including bicycling. If you are interested in presenting, or if you have any questions, please contact the city's Transportation Program Manager, Eli Cooper.
How does the city plan for bike lanes and other bicycle facilities?
The City of Ann Arbor Non-motorized Plan 2007 guides the city as it continues to build and maintain more bike lanes, pedestrian crossings, and other non-motorized facilities. Information on the Plan can be found on the Transportation Program website.
What is the 2010 Campaign for Active Transportation?
The 2010 campaign is a coordinated effort to “elevate trails, walking, and biking nationally by doubling the federal investment in active transportation” (from the Rails-to-Trails website). For Ann Arbor and the surrounding communities, the campaign could result in significant federal investment in the active transportation infrastructure, resulting in a complete network of bike-lanes and sidewalks, in improved connections across highway and interstate overpasses, and in continued investment in the Allen Creek Greenway. More information on Ann Arbor's campaign can be found on the Transportation Program website.
Updated August 12, 2010
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