Obviously, snow, slush and ice are going to make it more difficult to ride. Luckily, MoGo bikes have fatter tires and a deeper tread for more traction on the road. Despite this added advantage, take these few precautions to stay safe in snowy conditions:

• Lower your seat slightly so you can put your feet down quickly if you need to.
• Avoid standing or rocking the bike back and forth while riding.
• Keep your weight back & front tire straight.
• Keep two fingers over the brakes at all times.
• Ride in a lower gear to make it easier to pedal.
• Don’t lean into turns. You never know where there might be black ice.

Need more winter-riding tips? Look no further:

• Winter Riding Tip: Layer Up!
• MoGo-ing in a Michigan Winter

Ditch the puffy down jacket. Your best chance at staying warm on a bike is to dress in multiple layers. Try this on your next ride.

• A sweat-wicking base layer
• A long-sleeve wool layer (add a sweater here if it’s below 30 degrees)
• A non-restrictive winter jacket

Remember, you’re going to warm up as you ride, so if you feel a little chilly when you first get outside, don’t panic. Riding to work? Pack your dress shirt and change when you get there.

Need more winter-riding tips? Look no further:

• Winter Riding Tip: Positioning is Everything!
• MoGo-ing in a Michigan Winter

Anthony l. Spencer (@aspencermi)

MoGo wrapped up this season’s promotion of their popular FrostBikes this week. The two specially-wrapped Winter themed bikes were placed in operation on November 16, 2018. The promotion ran until January 8, 2019. 

Riders could win select prizes by taking a picture of themselves on or riding one of the bikes then posting it to social media using #MoGoFrostBike.  The FrostBikes will return next winter. 

The New York Times recently featured MoGo’s Adaptive bike share pilot program. The program, which ran from May to October of 2018, provided 13 adaptive bikes for riders that normally can’t use a step-through two-wheeled bicycle. Read the article here: New York Times

MoGo FrostBike, the bike share system’s popular holiday bikes, are set to return to the city on Friday, November 16. The specially-wrapped bikes will debut during the city’s annual Tree Lighting ceremony at stations close to the event (happening in Campus Martius Park and Beacon Park).

Riders that find and ride the bike (riders MUST be riding the bike or have it outside of the dock) can post photos on social media (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) using the hashtag #MoGoFrostBike for a chance to win prizes including MoGo swag, gift cards and free passes. One winner will be selected every Wednesday through December 31, 2018. Last year, five lucky riders won amazing prizes!

The FrostBikes will be out until December 31. Let’s ride, Detroit!

Station Announcement: Rosa Parks Boulevard & Michigan Avenue

MoGo is excited to announce that a new bike share station is being installed at Rosa Parks Blvd. and Michigan Ave. Provided by generous support from the Ford Motor Company, the station is adjacent to The Factory, which is home to Ford’s autonomous vehicle and electric vehicle business and strategy teams.

This station is MoGo’s first “light” station, which operates without a payment kiosk. To access a bike at a light station, riders can download the Transit app to purchase a Daily pass or get a code to unlock a bike. Current members also can insert their key card or fob at any docking point to unlock a bike. The addition of this station brings MoGo’s total system size to 44 stations.

This newest station will help provide another connection point to Corktown, Downtown, and West Riverfront Park. As always, be sure to check the MoGo system map and Transit app for up-to-date station information.

Happy riding!

Join MoGo Ambassador & Live Cycle Delight owner Amina Daniels on Saturday, August 18th on a FREE MoGo ride to the 36th Annual African World Festival at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History! The ride will start at MoGo’s Atwater & Orleans station at the Dequindre Cut & the Riverwalk and make several stops along the way. Riders are welcome to join at any stop that works for them, but you MUST REGISTER AHEAD HERE. This ride is roughly 3.5 miles long and will go at a leisurely pace. We encourage all riders to bring/wear a helmet!

• START (arrive at 11:30am) – Atwater & Orleans MoGo station.

• STOP 1 (roughly 12pm): Russell & Wilkins MoGo station in Eastern Market.

• STOP 2 (roughly 12:20pm) – John R. & E. Canfield MoGo station.

• FINAL STOP (roughly 12:45pm) – Ride into African World Festival and stop at the John R. & Farnsworth MoGo station.

July 11, 2018 (DETROIT) – After more than one year of operations, MoGo announced plans to expand its service to more neighborhoods in Detroit, as well as to five different cities in the region. In addition to the City of Detroit, the regional expansion includes the cities of Berkley, Ferndale, Huntington Woods, Oak Park, and Royal Oak.

Planned for Spring 2019, the expansion will add approximately 30 new stations to MoGo’s current system, along with nearly 150 additional bikes. This expansion is made possible through a $495,380 Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant awarded by the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG).

“People’s transportation needs don’t stop at city borders,” said Lisa Nuszkowski, founder and executive director, MoGo. “Expansion of bike share sends an important message about our ability to work together to solve transportation challenges in the region while providing people with an affordable and convenient way to get where they need to go.”

Bike share is ideal for trips that are three miles or less and is often used as a first- or last-mile option in conjunction with other types of transit such as bus and light rail. In Metro Detroit, MoGo’s expansion will provide more opportunities to connect residents and visitors to services such as DDOT, SMART, and the QLine.

“MoGo is a low-cost, reliable transportation option for Metro Detroit residents, and we are excited to welcome MoGo’s service to Ferndale and others who have shown interest in the system,” said Justin Lyons, Planning Manager, City of Ferndale. “With this expansion, more people can count on riding a bike year-round for trips to work, school or recreational purposes.”

Specific station locations have not yet been determined. MoGo will work closely with each participating community to identify potential locations and secure necessary permits and approvals.

Through funding from the Better Bike Share Partnership, MoGo and its municipal partners will conduct extensive community outreach to engage residents in conversations about potential station locations and other considerations for bike share.

• DDOT and MoGo are working together to provide DDOT customers with free bike sharing passes
• DDOT customers who purchase weekly, biweekly or monthly bus passes will receive a free 30-day MoGo pass
• MoGo passes will only be available at DDOT Main Office, Rosa Parks Transit Center and Coleman Young Municipal Center, while supplies last

The Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) and MoGo, Detroit’s public bike share system, are partnering on a pilot program to offer free 30-day MoGo passes to all DDOT customers who purchase a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly DDOT bus pass.

While DDOT covers approximately 10.3 million miles annually with more than 5,000 bus stops across the city, there are some city corridors that are better accessible via bike than bus. DDOT and MoGo hope this partnership will help bus riders with first- and last-mile connections, helping people access jobs, school, health care, and other needs.

“This is an exciting partnership with MoGo,” said Angelica Jones, Interim Director for DDOT. “We realize that for some quick and shorter distance trips, DDOT’s fixed route service may not be the most efficient mode of transportation and launching a program such as this one gives our riders options to meet their diverse transit needs.”

Designed to serve a wide range of people and needs, MoGo has 430 bikes located at 43 stations and riders from every zip code in Detroit. Since its launch in May 2017, MoGo has sold more than 20,000 daily passes and 2,900 memberships, resulting in 156,000 trips.

“Bike share is a great option for short trips and is often used with other forms of transit,” said Lisa Nuszkowski, founder and executive director, MoGo. “We hope that this partnership will encourage DDOT riders to use MoGo along with the bus to get where they need to go.”

While DDOT has and continues to make significant service improvements to the City’s bus system, DDOT is exploring innovative ways to continue moving Detroiters around the city in the most convenient and efficient way.

“We are continuing to look for ways to make it easier to get around Detroit,” said Mark de la Vergne, the Mayor’s Chief of Mobility Innovation. “This is a first step to making the experience of taking DDOT and MoGo more seamless.”

The pilot program kicks off June 26 and will be limited to 2,000 free passes. Customers wanting to take advantage of the free MoGo passes must use a debit card, credit card, or prepaid card to activate the MoGo pass.

This partnership is the first of its kind in Detroit and provides an innovative approach to addressing the City’s growing transportation needs. For additional information, please visit www.ridedetroittransit.com or call 888-MoGo-123.

CITY OF DETROIT COOLING CENTERS OPEN DURING EXTREME SUMMER HEAT

When the summer heat reaches extreme temperatures, it is critical to take steps to keep cool and prevent heat illness. The Detroit Parks & Recreation Department and the Detroit Public Library have cooling centers available that provide air-conditioned comfort and protection from the heat. The cooling centers are open throughout the summer during excessively hot days. Please see the information below for the locations and hours of cooling centers, followed by tips on keeping cool in summer’s heat. 

 When temperatures rise above 90 degrees, everyone is at risk, but the elderly and the very young are most susceptible to heat and heat-related illness. Signs of heat-related illness include headache, dizziness, nausea, heavy sweating, confusion and pale or flushed skin. The American Red Cross recommends the following treatment for people suffering from heat-related illness:

• Move the victim to a cool place.
• Give him or her cool water to drink.
• Apply ice packs or cool wet cloths to the skin.
• If a victim refuses water, vomits, or loses consciousness, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Tips for preventing heat-related illness:

• Stay indoors if possible. Stay in an air-conditioned place. If your home does not have air-conditioning, go to a public place that does, including the City of Detroit cooling centers. If outside, stay in the shade.
• Drink water. Even if you do not feel thirsty. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which dehydrate the body.
• Wear light-colored clothing. (Avoid wearing black clothes, especially if you’re in direct sunlight.) Loose fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing reflects heat. Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses.
• Never leave a person, especially children or the elderly, or a pet in a closed, parked vehicle. The temperature inside the car can become 30 to 40 degrees hotter than the outside temperature.
• Slow down and avoid strenuous activity. If you must work outside, take frequent breaks.
• Visit at-risk people twice a day and watch them for signs of heat illness.
• Speak with your doctor about any medications you are taking to learn whether they may interfere with your body’s ability to regulate temperature.
• Do not use salt tablets unless directed to do so by a physician.

List of Detroit Cooling Centers:

Recreation Centers

Adam / Butzel Center 10500 Lyndon
Monday – Friday 6 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. 

Butzel Family 7737 Kercheval
Monday – Friday 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. 

Clemente Center 2631 Bagley
Monday – Friday 1 p.m. – 9 p.m. 

Crowell Recreation Center 16630 Lahser Road
Monday – Friday 1 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. 

Coleman A. Young Recreation Center 2751 Robert Bradby Dr.
Monday – Friday 6 a.m.- 9 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. 

Farwell Recreation Center 2711 E. Outer Drive
Monday – Friday 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. 

Heilmann Center 19601 Crusade
Monday – Friday 6 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. 

Lasky Center 13200 Fenelon
Monday – Friday 1 p.m. – 9 p.m. 

Northwest Activities Center 18100 Meyers
Monday – Friday 6 a.m. 10 p.m.
Saturday – Sunday 7 a.m. – 10 p.m. 

Patton Recreation Center 2301 Woodmere
Monday – Friday 6 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. 

Williams Center 8431 Rosa Parks
Monday – Friday 6 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. 

Call the Detroit Parks & Recreation Department at (313) 224 – 1100 for more information.

Libraries

Main Library – 5201 Woodward Avenue, near Warren | (313) 481-1300
T, W: Noon – 8 p.m. | Th, F, Sa: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. 

Campbell Branch – 8733 W. Vernor | (313) 481-1550
M, W: Noon – 8 p.m. | T, Th, F: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.  

Chaney Branch – 16101 Grand River, near Greenfield | (313) 481-1570
M, W, F: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. | T, Th: Noon – 8 p.m. 

Chase Branch – 17731 W. Seven Mile, near Southfield | (313) 481-1580
M, W, F: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. | T, Th: Noon – 8 p.m. 

Conely Branch – 4600 Martin, near Michigan | (313) 481-1590
M, W, F: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. | T, Th: Noon – 8 p.m. 

Franklin Branch – 13651 E. McNichols, near Gratiot | (313) 481-1740

M, W, F: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. | T, Th: Noon – 8 p.m. 

Hubbard Branch – 12929 W. McNichols, near James Couzens | (313) 481-1750
M, W: Noon – 8 p.m. | T, Th, F: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. 

Thomas Jefferson Branch – 12350 E. Outer Drive, near E. Warren | (313) 481-1760
M, W: Noon – 8 p.m. | T, Th, F: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. 

Knapp Branch – 13330 Conant, near E. Davison | (313) 481-1770
M, W: Noon – 8 p.m. | T, Th, F: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. 

Parkman Branch – 1766 Oakman Blvd., near Linwood | (313) 481-1810
M, W: Noon – 8 p.m. | T, Th, F: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. 

Redford Branch – 21200 Grand River, near W. McNichols | (313) 481-1820
M, W: Noon – 8 p.m. | T, Th, F: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. 

Sherwood Forest Branch – 7117 W. Seven Mile, near Livernois | (313) 481-1840
M, W, F: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. | T, Th: Noon – 8 p.m. 

Skillman Branch – 121 Gratiot, near Library Street | (313) 481-1850
M, T, W, Th, F: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m

*Post courtesy of City of Detroit