M-185, a car free highway in Michigan
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Just got back a few days ago from my wedding and honeymoon, and thought I’d share some bike pictures from Mackinac Island, Michigan where my husband and I spent a few days. This island is car free outside of a few emergency vehicles. State highway M-185, which runs around the island, claims to be the only car free highway in the country. Bikes and horses are the main methods of transportation on the island during the summer, and snowmobiles in the winter. Even our dock porter transported our bags to our hotel via bike. How he got 2 sets of golf clubs+3 duffle bags onto his standard-sized bike I still don’t understand–he did some creative bungee cording.
The island’s tourism is really centered around bikes–bikes are EVERYWHERE. They are parked all up and down the street, and almost all are left unlocked. The ride around the island is about 8 miles, and generally flat with some gorgeous views of the Mackinac Bridge and Lake Huron. We rented bikes while there since it was really more of a “comfort bike” environment, so we left our road bikes on the main land.
There is also fantastic and very scenic biking in Charlevoix and Harbor Springs, Michigan. These areas are very suited for comfort bikes or road bikes. I was really impressed with how Michigan is really becoming more bike friendly. I rarely saw them around as a kid, but now there are lots of trails, and many more people biking.
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Our road bikes didn’t fare too well on the wedding trip sadly. My Felt had its back tire blow out while on top of the car going through the mountains in PA, which was likely an air pressure issue as it occurred during a quick descent. My husbands carbon cervelo flew off the top of the car when our Thule rack snapped. We’re still waiting to see how Thule responds–one of the bolts that attaches the rack to the car failed causing the bike flying off the car at 70 MPH . If they don’t cover the damage, I’m hoping renters insurance comes through.
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@jrenaut 124018 wrote:
Whoa, I’m glad no one was hurt. Were you on the PA Turnpike? That place is just bad news all around. The biking in Michigan sounds awesome, though. My brother- and sister-in-law live in Ann Arbor and I think Mackinac is one of their favorite getaway spots.
Ohio turnpike for the bike flying off the car. We were VERY lucky–we were in the left lane with no one close behind us, and it was daytime. Bike flew off (still attached to the rack), and landed 80% in the median. It was scary running back and picking it up, but luckily my husband didn’t get hit doing it and we were able to get it into the back of the car.
The PA turnpike is where my bike blew out it’s tire though. That was scary since it sounded like a rock hit the top of the car when it happened, but luckily it wasn’t a major issue since all it required was a new set of tires to fix.
I love Ann Arbor–they also have great biking there. I biked alot in college until my brakes stopped working and I decided to give up
I’ve turned the engine off in a traffic jam maybe four times in my life, and two of those were the PA Turnpike.
By the side of the Pennsylvania Turnpike by Jon, on FlickrAlso a middle-of-the-night snowstorm while my wife was driving and we couldn’t drop below 45mph or the truckers would run us off the road. the Turnpike is one of the worst places on earth.
Yay! I am so thrilled to see this Michigan love! The photos from Mackinaw bring back really fond childhood memories. I think I was in middle school when my family visited and rented bikes to ride the circumference of the island. Leading the pack and finishing the loop in less than an hour was exhilarating and made me think “Wow! I’m good as bicycles!” (Horse droppings are a major road hazard though…”
My bike was my car at MSU and I could get anywhere I wanted to within East Lansing, but then you run into the problem of Michigan cities largely not being built bike friendly. Businesses and neighborhoods are spaced such that you need to take hi-speed arterial roads to reach them.
However! For all of you tourists the cool little towns along the Great Lakes would be great for leisurely cruising and exploring, especially since there are usual nice parks and beaches along the waterfronts. And depending on where you are, a few minutes of riding on the right state road (The “M” ones, such as M-185) tend to have palatial shoulders, making flatland farmland and wine country rides a snap! Even car-capital Detroit is installing bike lanes in some neighborhoods (though largely in self-contained pockets of the sprawling city).
The funny thing is, despite these nice bike-friendly benefits, the idea of cycling for more and a neighborhood ride is so foreign in many parts of the state that they aren’t used! In June I went home for a visit with my bike and did my childhood dream of riding from my hometown (Port Huron) to the next town up the coast (Lexington)-about 40 miles there and back, straight shot, on M-25. Well. My family and friends all thought: A) you’re nuts,
you’re gunna die, C) you’re serious aren’t you? Well call from Lexington and we’ll drive up and pick you up when your legs fall off… :rolleyes:Anyway, I digress.
Thank you so much for sharing these photos! Let’s get more folks riding in Michigan!
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