Ypsilanti to consider non-motorized transportation plan

Natalie Holbrook hopes her commute to and from work will become easier in the next couple years.

Holbrook, an Ypsilanti resident, bikes to and from her job in Ann Arbor every day, and she's supporting the city of Ypsilanti’s efforts to develop a non-motorized transportation plan.

#8220;This is a four-square-mile community. A plan for safe places for people to walk and ride only makes sense,” she said.

Staff members from the Planning and Development Department and Downtown Development Authority were at the Downtown Farmers’ Market today to discuss options with the public. They were also spreading the word about a public meeting about the same subject from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday in the City Council Chambers, 1 South Huron St.

Bonnie Wessler, an intern hired to work on the project, said she received a large response at the market.

“We’re looking for ways to improve non-motorized transportation,” she said. “That could be anything from sidewalks, intersections, bike lanes…even little things such as sidewalk maintenance.”

The plan Wessler's working on would be presented as an amendment to the city’s master plan. It does not include Eastern Michigan University, but does include the area around the university.

“We want to help the overall traffic flow of pedestrians and bikers, which definitely includes students,” she said.

The plan is also looking to help permanent residents of the city. Holbrook, who is involved with the bicycle safety awareness group Bike Ypsilanti, mentioned she has a problem getting to the library.

“To get to the big, new library, you have to pass over (I-94),” she said. “The long way is 16 miles…A lot of things need to be done.”