Today’s morning ride was done without bikes, spandex, Helmets or shorts. Today’s ride was done in Suits or one’s Sunday best as we had our day in court from a previous bike ride. Today we were in the 36th district court so as to defend our Honor and good name as we defended ourselves against the Loitering tickets that Dan, Matt, and I received last August while out on one of Thursday night trail/exploration rides.

All men can be reasonable and honorable. As both sides stand at the table of discussion we all must be prepared and willing to give up something so that Peace and Harmony can be obtained. For Dan it was the questioning of the Rail Road Police mans authority as his Insignia was without the State of Michigan’s Crest. For me it was my passion about Heartfelt Intent and rock solid belief that men of honor do not commit crimes, especially when all we were doing was changing the flat on Dan’s bike. For our new friend, the Rail Road police officer it was forgiving us for the passionate tone, questioning or disbelief. For Matt, it was nothing for he was/is the example for all to follow. So, “for the sake of justice we recommend that the charges against these men be dismissed”.

I write this so that we all can be made aware that not all rail road service roads are open to the public. In fact most of them are not. There are numerous owners to the functional and abandoned rail lines throughout the city with private police forces and 500 yard easement that keep them safe from vandalism and harm. Please research the owners and the restrictions associated with each of the lines. Whether or not they are on the Rails to Trails plan/list offered up by Todd Scott, or they are part of the Greenways Pedestrian Master Plan that was commissioned by Ken Cockerel Jr. Everyone has a job to do including our new rail road police officer friend, (hope you join us on one of our Thursday night rides next year, maybe you can give us an escorted tour?) We ask from all of you to respect this fact and do your homework before you begin your ride on any of the rail road systems.

Bike Detroit! J. Meyers, Bike Explorer

Andrea was asking Dad when are you going to write another Blog about your rides, it has been over a month? Okay sorry for taking a break but as this is a part time passion, sometime work trumps the writing efforts that is seems my eldest daughter has come to enjoy..

October 15th: Was our first complete family bike down, we staged my vehicle at MCB and Jen came and picked all of us up as we headed back home and loaded up and road on down. We made a stop in Palmer Park and danced under the colors of a Sugar Maple tree as I chased Sephera around and around laughing.

October 21st: Dan loaded his bike up and met me on Hamilton. I road down to see him then we rode back down to midtown, then turned back and made our way back up to Palmer Park. Along the way we met no less than 14 bike rider traveling in the same direction. Dan stepped up his efforts and soon we had reeled in all three groups and made our way back to Hamilton. I continued on to Lathrup Village enjoying the release.

October 29th: Was a ride that Big Mike and I took which was the modified eastern section of the Emerald Necklace route. Mike was with us when we did the northwestern loop back in August. We staged one of our cars at MCB and drove up to Palmer Park to begin the ride. 26 miles later, 12 parks ridden through/toured, Mike became enthused about what it is we were trying to do and started talking about how we can really make this Emerald Necklace/Sustainable Park route a reality? It has started with Palmer Park and will branch out in both directions. More to come via formal announcements from the city soon!

November 3rd: Was dedicated to the Southfield trails that we originally re-opened some 4-5 years ago. I love it and missed the old route as we have committed most of our bike riding efforts to our beloved Detroit over the past 4 years. I promise to make all maps published on our site come January of 2012.

November 12th: Mike was inspired to hear about my recent tour through the old trails and asked to venture out again with me. Arriving @ 8:30 am we hit it and hit it hard. Trails hills climbs all in Southfield, out to Carpenter Lake, (where I had my first wipe out in 6 years) and back again. Seven forest sections, miles of trails that many people still believe do not exist. Mike was on me as well to complete the maps and get everything published in a down-load-able fashion so that we could share the all of the various trail routes we have helped re-define and or created.

Bike Detroit! J. Meyers, Bike Explorer