No Bike Licenses Needed in Detroit!

As I posted a few weeks ago, the Detroit Police Department was going to start enforcing a 45-year-old ordinance requiring pedestrian bikers to have licenses. The purpose, said Detroit Police Chief Ella Bully-Cummings after a protest was scheduled, was to help retrieve stolen bikes.

However, at this time of economic tightness, many people thought that fining someone $55.00 because they didn't have a $1 license was just a money grab by the Detroit Police Department.

Today, however, the Detroit City Council voted to repeal that unpopular and controversial ordinance. So cyclists in Detroit are safe from being ticketed by the police, but probably shouldn't call them if their bike is stolen.

Shameless Plug: please read my husband's blog...The "D" Spot...

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Detroit Police Chief Says: "My Bad!" for Bike Licenses

As I wrote in my post: "Riding Your Bike in Detroit? Have Your License?", the Detroit Police Department will start enforcing the 44-year-old bike license ordinance on August 7: a $55.00 fine if you don't have a $1.00 license for your bike.

Detroit Police Chief Ella Bully-Cummings tried to explain at a recent Detroit Board of Police Commissioners meeting that her intent was not to punish bike riders, but to be better able to retrieve stolen bicycles.

Ron Scott, a member of the Detroit-based Bike Riders United, feels that the enforcement in unnecessary and problematic. Chief Bully-Cummings replied that she didn't want police officers standing around writing tickets to bikers; she is just trying to help bike-theft victims to get their bikes back.

Bike Riders United will hold a unity protest bike-a-thon in Detroit on Friday, August 1 from 1 to 3 p.m.; starting at Eastern Market and concluding at Hart Plaza. Meanwhile, just to be sure, you can visit any of the six Detroit Police Districts and get a 5-year license for your bike.

Update: as of Friday July 18 2008, the Detroit Police Department has no more bike licenses available! Stay tuned to see what happens with the ordinance enforcement...

Shameless Plug for my husband's blog: Read "The 'D' Spot"...

Riding Your Bike in Detroit? Have Your License?

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Just as we start thinking about hauling our bikes out of the garage to save money on gasoline like our Governor who has started "biking to work", the City has reminded us that we need a license for our bikes!

Detroit's bicycle license ordinance states:
"It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or use a bicycle propelled wholly or in part by muscular power upon any of the streets or sidewalks of the city without first obtaining a license therefore from the city."

The ordinance has been in place since 1964; but the Detroit Police are going to start to actually enforce the ordinance again. They say it is to help locate/recover stolen bicycles, but if you're caught without a license starting on August 7 2008, you'll get hit with a $55.00 fine!

The cost is actually minimal: $5.00 for a 5-year license; it's just something else to add to your "to-do" list! (I wonder if next they'll pass a "no talking on your cell with biking" law!)

The licenses can be obtained at any of the six Detroit Police Districts between 9 am and 5 pm Monday - Friday. For further information, you can call the Detroit Police Office of Public Information: 313.596.2200.

Once you get that license, though, you can enjoy riding along the Detroit Riverwalk and around Belle Isle...the beauty and serenity will be worth it...not to mention great exercise! Also explore Campus Martius, Palmer Park, and Chandler Park (Chandler Park is part of the Wayne County Parks and Recreation System)...let me know in the comments section about other great places to ride your bike in Detroit!

Also check out "Detroit Bikes", a group that promotes group riding tours around Detroit.

Happy Riding!