tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post1169901442612874405..comments2024-03-18T23:52:31.939-04:00Comments on The Invisible Visible Man: Some strolls in Detroit, a warning about safety - and how cars are keeping people apartInvisible Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15942359504874275065noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-6031119235338066752017-01-13T11:14:11.334-05:002017-01-13T11:14:11.334-05:00Thank you. I'm glad too.Thank you. I'm glad too.Invisible Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15942359504874275065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-81915120655626873272015-02-04T19:00:16.413-05:002015-02-04T19:00:16.413-05:00Thx for post on Detroit from walking perspective. ...Thx for post on Detroit from walking perspective. Glad you did the walk..Jeanhttp://cyclewriteblog.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-8343952113543704502015-01-29T18:56:44.977-05:002015-01-29T18:56:44.977-05:00Tal,
Thanks for the comment.
I think statistics ...Tal,<br /><br />Thanks for the comment.<br /><br />I think statistics would suggest that life was markedly more dangerous back in the 1970s. I even wrote recently about how I was knocked down in 1980 and how the site has been improved since ( http://invisiblevisibleman.blogspot.com/2014/11/a-1980-crash-rushed-hearing-and-why.html ). General crime - including abductions - was worse then. The roads were also more dangerous.<br /><br />The point is that people's willingness to put up with the risks of freedom has declined, even as the risks have grown smaller.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />Invisible.Invisible Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15942359504874275065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-11798952156114723322015-01-27T14:52:07.781-05:002015-01-27T14:52:07.781-05:00Back in the 1960s and 1970s kids were always routi...Back in the 1960s and 1970s kids were always routinely walking around their neighborhoods either by themselves or with their friends, going by themselves to the zoo, or the park, or to a friend's house.<br />The biggest dangers usually came either from the neighborhood bullies or from the occasional car-pedestrian accidents. Such were norms even back then.Tal Hartsfeldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05077424958233740898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-81471392510750189062015-01-23T18:42:07.732-05:002015-01-23T18:42:07.732-05:00QMacrocarpa,
That's a really unpleasant story...QMacrocarpa,<br /><br />That's a really unpleasant story. People really don't understand that one can have thought about the risks and rewards of a set of behaviour and have reached a different conclusion from them.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />Invisible.Invisible Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15942359504874275065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-14046190620417914492015-01-23T18:40:40.633-05:002015-01-23T18:40:40.633-05:00You are right, Anonymous, that I sympathise hearti...You are right, Anonymous, that I sympathise heartily with rabbit's determination to miss none of the details along the way.<br /><br />Invisible.Invisible Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15942359504874275065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-32050743157216236542015-01-23T18:39:55.667-05:002015-01-23T18:39:55.667-05:00I can see, Todd, why the drivers might be concerne...I can see, Todd, why the drivers might be concerned. The bends at the US end of the tunnel are tight. I imagine anything that lengthens the bus at those points could be unwelcome.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />Invisible.Invisible Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15942359504874275065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-12318108693292858592015-01-23T18:39:05.939-05:002015-01-23T18:39:05.939-05:00I think the different densities of Detroit and New...I think the different densities of Detroit and New Orleans' French quarter probably make a big difference to how motor vehicles shape the two places, Steve.<br /><br />As for outdoor musicians, no, there aren't any in Detroit in January. There was, as there often is, a group of women miming to classic Motown inside the CoBo Center. One just had to suspend disbelief a little that one of them was white.Invisible Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15942359504874275065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-43878138791864708502015-01-21T22:37:00.366-05:002015-01-21T22:37:00.366-05:00I can really relate to this: "... the driver ...I can really relate to this: "... the driver was implying my behaviour was so foolish I should be given no choice about persisting in it."<br /><br />Several years ago, I had ridden my bike to a weekly evening class at a community center about 6 miles from home. At the end of the class it was pouring rain, and a couple of people informed me that I couldn't possibly ride my bike home in this weather and would have to accept a ride in someone's car. I explained that I planned to wait inside for half an hour and give the weather a chance to improve, and if it remained horrible I would get in touch with my husband to come get me on his way home from another event with our car. It seemed reasonable enough to me, but when I didn't instantly agree to their plan, the stakes were raised-- while I made a phone call, the most alarmed person hid my purse to prevent me from being able to leave. An unpleasant scene or two later, I had my bag back and everyone else left. A few minutes after that, I noticed the rain had stopped and had a quiet ride home. True, it did start raining again along the way, but that wasn't a disaster, just a mild inconvenience.<br /><br />When I thought about it afterwards it seemed to me that in the eyes of these well-meaning people, I had given up being a responsible adult when I opted to use my bike for transportation, and so it was up to them to protect me from the consequences of my foolish and dangerous choices.QMacrocarpanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-88486848396517002762015-01-21T16:49:26.102-05:002015-01-21T16:49:26.102-05:00Oddly, in my post later tonight, it seems that car...Oddly, in my post later tonight, it seems that cars are keeping people "together" in New Orleans. It may take parking garages to get them back apart as an arterial bypass analog. As for the traditions, I don't think you'll find many street musicians outside in Detroit in January. To experience that, you'd have to fly into Louis Armstrong Airport.Steve Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13650405341304401203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-85241641328177627312015-01-20T16:03:56.147-05:002015-01-20T16:03:56.147-05:00It's a children's book, but one is never t...It's a children's book, but one is never too old for a good story! :-) I have a copy of it since I was a child, and now I've read it to my children.<br /><br />One of Rabbit's main reasons to prefer to walk is that he doesn't want to miss the nice little details along the way. That's why I thought you'd empathize with the character.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-3982248653011620072015-01-20T15:51:32.035-05:002015-01-20T15:51:32.035-05:00It didn't have anything to do with security. T...It didn't have anything to do with security. Transit Windsor told us that their drivers are already concerned making some of the tighter curves on the U.S. side of the tunnel. Extending the bike rack makes the bus longer and the curves trickier. Right or wrong, we took their word for that. At a bus driver's discretion, you may be able to bring a bike on board so long as it doesn't roll around.Todd Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13579612957591882907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-1800987601078097142015-01-20T15:03:05.096-05:002015-01-20T15:03:05.096-05:00That book does sound good, Anonymous. But is it ai...That book does sound good, Anonymous. But is it aimed at men in their mid-40s?<br /><br />Having said that, I fear the book wouldn't be a good influence on me. I'm forever insisting I'll get somewhere just as fast or faster than others when I go by bike. And then the other people get fed up waiting for me when their taxi/subway train/ pretty much anything gets them there faster.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />Invisible.Invisible Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15942359504874275065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-87990538709158446262015-01-20T13:33:04.590-05:002015-01-20T13:33:04.590-05:00Sounds like you'd like "Walk Rabbit Walk&...Sounds like you'd like "Walk Rabbit Walk" by Colin McNaughton and Elizabeth Attenborough. It's the story of a rabbit who likes to walk, so he goes on a walk to visit his friend Eagle who has invited all of his friends to a party. Along the way, Rabbit's friends offer him a ride in their car/motorcycle/helicopter/balloon, but Rabbit politely refuses each time. In the end, the friends get into a pile-up and Rabbit ends up being the first to arrive at the party!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-79606660524099609692015-01-20T13:13:00.387-05:002015-01-20T13:13:00.387-05:00Alternatively, I'm not crystal clear why they&...Alternatively, I'm not crystal clear why they're not allowed to carry bikes on the front of buses through the tunnel. I know it's possible to hide a bomb in a bike - but there must be some way of making security checks.<br /><br />Invisible.Invisible Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15942359504874275065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-65045772209361279842015-01-20T13:05:48.411-05:002015-01-20T13:05:48.411-05:00Got it! That's all the more reason for us to c...Got it! That's all the more reason for us to continue the push for ferry service between Detroit and Windsor. That would make it easier to walk and bike between both cities. The last we heard there were dock infrastructure issues on the Windsor side.<br /><br />Todd Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13579612957591882907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-30586198957768974632015-01-20T12:17:28.043-05:002015-01-20T12:17:28.043-05:00Todd,
Thank you for that. I had wondered if some ...Todd,<br /><br />Thank you for that. I had wondered if some of those freeways were going to get removed. I also look forward to using bikeshare on future visits.<br /><br />Unfortunately, however, on this trip, I was staying in Windsor for cost reasons, so a hotel bike wouldn't have been much good.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />Invisible.Invisible Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15942359504874275065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-75578658317845367082015-01-20T12:14:30.318-05:002015-01-20T12:14:30.318-05:00Thanks for your article. There is planning underwa...Thanks for your article. There is planning underway that may remove some or all of I-375 and improve the walkability/bikeability of that I-75 interchange. Also, some Detroit hotels offer bicycles for their guests, including Greektown. We expect to roll out a public bike share program next spring.Todd Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13579612957591882907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-22268948091971139802015-01-20T10:57:22.051-05:002015-01-20T10:57:22.051-05:00Steve,
From what I understand about New Orleans (...Steve,<br /><br />From what I understand about New Orleans (and, hey, I've watched several seasons of Treme) I think New Orleans and Detroit probably have many points in common, including being highly segregated.<br /><br />On the plus side, both have fine musical traditions. And New Orleans has a rather better food tradition than Detroit.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />Invisible.Invisible Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15942359504874275065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-70933490130078721182015-01-20T10:55:15.271-05:002015-01-20T10:55:15.271-05:00Sadly, it sounds a lot like New Orleans...Sadly, it sounds a lot like New Orleans...Steve Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13650405341304401203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-75660703356615252012015-01-20T09:42:36.409-05:002015-01-20T09:42:36.409-05:00Sara,
Thank you for the comment.
I imagine the p...Sara,<br /><br />Thank you for the comment.<br /><br />I imagine the position varies from suburb to suburb. In the last year, I've stayed in Troy, MI, and Warren, MI. Those are pretty bleak places - but I've seen runners in other places. The big problem, I suppose, is how substantial the distances are out in those areas. The nearest hotel to the General Motors Technical Center in Warren is about five miles away. That's the big problem with trying to improve public transit too - with so little density and such great distances, it's a real challenge.<br /><br />I've seen cycling in parts of Detroit proper. I notice it more in midtown, where it feels a little less forbidding. But I did on my walk along Gratiot Avenue spot a few cyclists, including, if I recall correctly, one braving the snow.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />Invisible.Invisible Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15942359504874275065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3002171964909690430.post-23011497658837146612015-01-20T06:33:04.467-05:002015-01-20T06:33:04.467-05:00When we walk in the detroit suburbs I'm often ...When we walk in the detroit suburbs I'm often struck by how many people there are on the sidewalks, but they're mostly 'exercising', not actually going anywhere. ...with a few exceptions. <br /><br />But last time I was downtown, i was amazed at how many bikes we saw - and that was 4 years ago, before the current 'boom'.Sara Dormanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11062772751850705696noreply@blogger.com