Bicycle Friendly Community

Lansing, MI | Bronze Level

Community Highlights:As Michigan’s capital city, Lansing is not only the headquarters of state government but also of the League of Michigan Bicyclists and other state-wide environmental, health, and like-minded organizations.  The Complete Streets and Non-Motorized Ordinance dictated a goal to spend 5 percent of transportation expenditures on making Lansing more walk- and bike-friendly. This goal is supported by the Mayor's Office and the Transportation and Parking Department. Lansing's most notable recreational cycling utilizes the paved interconnected River Trails.  The trails extend for 13 miles and pass through numerous parks, natural areas and downtown Lansing.  With a recent focus on a non-motorized system, a walking and bicycling task force called Walk and Bike Lansing (WBL) was initiated in 2007.  It is based on a campaign to engage and mobilize Lansing residents and businesses to make Lansing an accessible, walking and bicycle friendly city.  Over 80 officers are bicycle trained and the bikes are used regularly by Community Policing Officers in their neighborhoods. Bikes are also used by trained officers for problem solving details, public events, Common Ground, crowd control situations, etc.  Lansing hosts a number of community rides to festivals and other social events. They also started "Rides Around Town", otherwise known as RAT Rides, that focus on safe and responsible urban riding. The city sponsored bicycle commuting classes to encourage and educate more new riders to bike commute.  In 2009, they hosted a "Training Wheels" clinic in Lansing that included on- and off-bicycle sessions.

Most Significant Bicycle-Related Accomplishment: Lansing’s most notable accomplishment was securing passage of a Complete Streets Ordinance, the first such ordinance in Michigan. Over 100 volunteers obtained over 5000 signatures door to door. The City Council passed the ordinance unanimously in August 2009.   In addition, the draft of the Lansing Non-motorized Plan was unveiled and steps are being made toward implementation.