The Tour de Troit, an annual event that this year is expected to host more than 1,000 bicyclists, will be run on Sept. 18 and begin in Detroit’s Corktown district. A new 25-mile-route this year will take riders through several Detroit neighborhoods to Belle Isle.
Event organizers state this year they are making slight modifications to keep everyone safe from COVID-19, including a limit of 1,500 riders, boxed lunches, and no gathering with live music following the event (as has been done in previous years).
“Detroiters have been indoors for the past year and are excited to get back outside and involved with the community,” says Vittoria Katanski, director of Tour de Troit, now in its 20th year. “Tour de Troit offers a safe, inviting environment for friends and families to come together and celebrate this great city on two wheels.”
To date, the annual event has raised more than $360,000 to develop greenspaces, including support for the Southwest Detroit Greenlink; the Green Taskforce; park improvements in Hamtramck; and the implementation of a standardized wayfinding system in Detroit. The nonprofit organization also promotes bicycle safety in the city.
The starting location is Roosevelt Park in front of Michigan Central Station, 2001 15th St. and will begin at 9 a.m. Local cycling legend and former professional cyclist Frankie Andreu will kick this year’s event off.
There will be pre-ride snacks, coffee, and bottled water along the way. The $65 registration fee includes food and drink tickets and a limited-edition anniversary t-shirt. Packet pickup is the morning of the ride in the park from 7-8:45 a.m.
“We are excited to offer an inclusive ride for all skill levels of bikers to see new areas in Detroit,” says Katanski. “Our mission is to promote health and wellness through biking and running. We want to highlight how our city is still thriving even after a year of hardship. Detroiters still rise to the occasion.”
This year’s ride is being sponsored by Ford/Michigan Central Station, Giffels Webster, Miller Canfield, Robar PR, and Amiccis, which supports the organization year-round.
All volunteers will be vaccinated, and masks are mandatory on site. Guests should bring their own filled water bottles. No children under 12 will be allowed in Roosevelt Park.
For information and to register, click here.
In related news, last week, the city of Detroit announced efforts to unify Roosevelt Park, which is currently bisected by Vernor Highway and a small section of 15h Street. The new design, which will be completed over the next two years, will make it safer for residents to enjoy the public space without the interruption of vehicle traffic.
The 12-acre park is known for its greenspace next to Michigan Central Station and sits in the city’s Hubbard-Richard and Corktown neighborhoods. The unification will require the rerouting of Vernor Highway, including permanently closing the section that splits the park. The new section redesignated as Vernor Highway will be 16th Street from Michigan Avenue to Vernor.
For more information about the redesign of Roosevelt Park, named after President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt, visit here.
