Mac VanRenterghem

Special to the Free Press

A lack of sidewalks, paths and infrastructure is preventing many people from walking and biking, a Southeast Michigan Coalition of Governments survey of more than 3,000 metro Detroit residents found.

The survey “showed us that a diverse group of residents desired more facilities and better infrastructure to enable more walking and biking that we want to meet,” said Kevin Vettraino, manager of SEMCOG plan implementation. The group aims to help local governments solve regional problems with data and other resources like the survey.

Along with information from their survey, SEMCOG is using electronic pins dropped by residents to identify areas across Detroit that need infrastructure or safety improvements.

“We want to hear firsthand from our residents where we need to install improvements. Living in the Motor City, people do need to drive. We want to target areas where even these drivers wish to see things like paths for recreational or short commuting walking,” Vettraino said.

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SEMCOG plans to use both the survey and pin information to help inform their own Bicycle and Pedestrian task force on how to best pave the future for non-motor activities in the Motor City.

In the survey, a majority of respondents said they want to walk and bike more. Detroit's addition of protected bike lanes that narrowed East Jefferson last year, and the city of Ferndale’s new bike lanes and pedestrian infrastructure, and new bike lanes along a stretch of Coolidge Highway in Berkley, are a few attempts to address these wants.

Sixty-three percent of respondents say the weather is preventing them from both biking and walking. Fifty-two percent of walkers say they face too many distance or time constraints.

SEMCOG’s survey reached 3,075 people through social media, email, and SEMCOG’s website.