The Green Cruise: A Different Spin on Cruising

Hundreds of cyclists are set to hit the streets of metro Detroit this weekend to exercise their own spin on cruising.

, coordinated by the Sierra Club with help from the city of Ferndale, is a series of three bike rides varying in difficulty that begin in downtown Ferndale.

“We want to remind people that there are different ways to go cruising,” co-coordinator Douglas Christie said of the event, which has taken place the weekend before the for the last six years.

The Woodward Dream Cruise events in Ferndale span Aug. 18-20.

The cycling will start at 8 a.m. Saturday with a brand new 40-mile trek through Detroit. The second bike ride, a 22-mile journey for those looking for something a little more lax on the knees, will take cyclists through Ferndale and its neighboring suburbs. The final cruise, The Ferndale Family Ride, is a quick four-mile trip that . (Check below for a detail of the events.)

All events meet in the "Green Alley," the alley north of West Nine Mile Road and Planavon.

“(The event attracts) both avid and casual cyclists,” said Christie. “Kids in training wheels can participate, as can an 86-year-old.”

Started by a Royal Oak woman as a simple bike ride among friends the weekend before the Dream Cruise, the Green Cruise grown since the Sierra Club became involved and moved it to Ferndale.

“The community is very forward thinking and ... so in tune with bicycling and walkability,” said Christie, who also chairs the Ferndale Environmental Sustainability Commission. “It was really kind of obvious to settle on Ferndale (as the event’s home).”

Ferndale and the Sierra Club will also offer some relief for cyclists during the Green Cruise: free refreshments, bike check ups and even massages will be provided, as will kid-friendly entertainment and bike rentals.

Christie hopes that as this year’s Green Cruise meanders through metro Detroit, it will demonstrate the benefits of bicycling.

“Riding your bike (instead of driving) isn’t a sacrifice, it’s a way to enhance your life,” said Christie. “You keep more money in your pocket, you get your blood circulating and you prevent pollutants from entering the atmosphere.”

There is no pre-registration required to participate in any of the bike rides, all you need to do to join is show up in downtown Ferndale or any of the neighborhood pit-stops along the way with a helmet and signed waiver.

For more information about the event and to download the waiver, visit the Michigan Sierra Club's website.

8 a.m.:

A forty mile Detroit ride starting at the Green Alley in downtown Ferndale will visit the River Walk (along the Detroit River), the Dequindre Cut, the Heldelberg Project, Belle Isle, Indian Village and a few other "surprises." Helmets and signed waivers are required. Please download, print, sign and bring the waiver to the ride.

9 a.m.:

A 22-mile progressive ride starting at the Green Alley in downtown Ferndale. Riders will make stops to pickup more riders in Huntington Woods, Southfield, Beverly Hills, Birmingham and Royal Oak. Helmets and signed waivers are required.

Noon:

A four-mile Family ride starts in the parade and finish at the Green Alley. Gather in the Green Alley at 11:30 a.m. Helmets and signed waivers are required, riders must obey all traffic laws, riders under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

(All events take place in the "Green Alley," the alley north of West Nine Mile Road and Planavon.)

Parade at noon is a half-mile parade to celebrate green forms of transit. Attendees are encouraged to dress up in costumes, decorate your bike and have fun. The parade will start to gather in the Green Alley at 11:30 a.m. to be in the parade.

Climb: Test your skills on the 25’ Rock Climbing Tower — closed toe shoes must be worn. 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Create: Crafts from scraps, face painting, sidewalk chalk and more. 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Rejuvenate: Free food, refreshments and massages in the Green Alley between 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Tune-up: Get a free bicycle check-up in the Green Alley 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m.