Youth (ages 5-15) involvement in bicycle crashes in Michigan is higher than national statistics: 32.4% compared to 26.8%.That means nearly one-third of all young people in Michigan are involved in a bicycle crash and one-forth of those (25.3%) are fatal/serious.Pretty interesting. Here are some of the proposed solutions for improving bicycle and pedestrian safety:In all other age classifications, Michigan’s rate is lower than the national data, except for those 65-74 years old.
Men are involved in 81% of all fatal bicycle crashes in Michigan. Bicycle crash locations are nearly evening spilt between intersections and non-intersections (49% to 51%).
Despite the perceived safety of a signalized intersection, almost half of all fatal and serious injury bicycle accidents (48.9%) took place at signalized intersections.
More than half of all fatal/serious injury bicycle accidents took place on two-lane roads (56.6%), followed by five-lane (13.8%); four-lane (12.9%) and three-lane (9.7%).
Together, 25 and 30 mph streets (neighborhood and downtown streets) accounted for 75.5% of all bicycle crashes, but the majority of fatal bicycle crashes took place on streets/roads with a speed limit of 45 mph or greater even though they comprised only 19% of the crashes.
Between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., 27.2% of fatal and serious bicycle crashes took place, followed by 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (21.8%); and 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (18.5%).
The day of the week made almost no difference for fatal and serious injury bicycle crashes in the 2005-2010 time frame, ranging between a low of 151 on Sundays to a high of 220 on Wednesdays. The average is 192 and the weekday average is 205.2.
More than two-thirds (71.2%) of all fatal and serious injury bicycle accidents took place during daylight hours and 89% where when the pavement was dry.
Alcohol was not involved for the motorist or bicyclist in 70% of the fatal and serious injury crashes.
This is how you navigate.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Sharing the Road: Optimizing Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety and Vehicle Mobility
Monday, July 30, 2012
Primary election time
First Ward:
Sumi KailasapathySecond Ward:
Eric Sturgis
Tony Derezinski (inc.)Third Ward:
Sally Hart Petersen
Christopher Taylor (inc.) is running unopposed in the Third Ward but may have challengers in the race to replace Carsten Hohnke as most handsome man on City Council this fall.Fourth Ward:
Margie Teall (inc.)Fifth Ward:
Jack Eaton
Vivienne ArmentroutOver on the Ann Arbor Chronicle, there is a great article breaking down campaign donations for the Ann Arbor City Council primary race. The article has tons of great maps plotting the address' of campaign contributors for each race on a map of the city's 5 Wards.
Chuck Warpehoski
Check out the above map (courtesy of the Chronicle). It's of campaign contributions for one of the city council races. Each dot represents a contributor's address. Based on the clustering of the contributions, can you guess which race is being mapped?
David Zinn and Sluggo
I finally met Sluggo creator, David Zinn, last Friday. "You're the guy from sluggoonthestreet.tumblr.com." I said attempting the most awkward introduction possible. "Wow, someone actually follows that?" David responded. "I'm one of the 10."
It was pretty cool to see David in action and to see my first drawing of Sluggo in real life.
Previously:
David Zinn, the man behind Sluggo
Sunday, July 29, 2012
U of M Solar Car in Ann Arbor
In case you missed it, here's a cool video of the U of M Solar Car team as they passed through Ann Arbor during the American Solar Challenge.
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Slick tandem bike
Anonymous food blogger, A2GastroBoy sent in this picture of a sweet tandem cruiser from vacation in Goodhart, MI. Little does he know, this could compromise his nom de plume. Has anyone in Goodhart seen a man riding this bike?
Friday, July 27, 2012
Ask and it shall be given you
Thankfully, Corner Brewery is responding to the requests of its patrons/bathroom vandalizers and installing an above urinal shelf so that people can safely stow their beer during urinal usage. Well done Corner Brewery!
Hat Tip: EJ
Swimsuit at Mark's Carts
Swimsuit, an indie band hailing from Ypsilanti is playing a free show tonight at Mark's Carts. The show runs from 7-9 pm. Here's a little preview of Swimsuit's music which I am really digging at the moment:
Take Notice
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Show me the way to the next whiskey bar
Ann Arbor finally has a whiskey bar. Mash, opens tonight in the basement of Blue Tractor. Anyone planning on hitting up the opening?
From the looks of the menu, it looks like Mash will be slinging standard priced upscale cocktails. But you don't have to take my word for it:
Great Lakes surface currents
It's just what you've always wanted: real time visualization of the surface currents on the Great Lakes. Check it out, it's pretty hypnotic.
Hat tip: Dan Katz
Sonic Lunch at the Michigan Theatre today
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Exploring Allen Creek
Allen Creek became quite polluted because of the industrial activity and open sewers located along its banks. In the 1920s, after floods sent filthy water into nearby neighborhoods, residents petitioned the city to inter the creek. Since 1926, the only place where you can see the Allen Creek is where its cement culvert empties into the Huron River.
One good thing about the drought we're in is that water levels in the Huron River and Allen Creek have been quite low. I took this as a sign from on high that I should go poking around inside Allen Creek. Here are some pictures:
The River is the lowest I have seen it in my life. This makes it easier to approach the mouth of Allen Creek. There are some pretty deep spots still, and reports of northern pike.
Inside the creek's culvert it's quite dark. The culvert starts out about 4m tall and about as wide. The water was about ankle deep but was flowing quite briskly.
A2 Non-moto
The city has a new tumblr highlighting non-motorized transportation in Ann Arbor. Check it out.
Mayer Hawthorne tomorrow at Sonic Lunch
Mayer Hawthorne with special guests Lightning Love. Does it get much better than that? I think not. Details here.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Is this a dragon?
Saw this thing hanging outside of Eastern Flame on Ashley--is it a doll?
Well Sam, we sent the image down to our forensic tech team. They just finished enhancing the image and this is what they found:
So it looks like a dragon, or more specifically a dragon-doll.
Supporting both Ward 5 candidates
I know much is made of Midwesterners being polite people, but I really got a kick out of seeing signs supporting both Ward 5 democratic candidates in the same yard. You can find out more about the candidates on their websites. Here's Vivienne's and here's Chuck's.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Stop mustaches
Could someone really be so opposed to mustaches? I doubt it. Maybe this is a prototype of a more hirsute stop sign for deployment in Ypsi.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Shadow Art Fair in pictures
So EJ and I made it to our first Shadow Art Fair yesterday. It was pretty freaking great. I finally got to meet a lot of people I've known from the internet in real life. Here's Vinnie Massimino at his Green Screen Improve Troupe booth.
Can't wait to see the final Green Screen Theater Troupe video. If EJ and I are lucky, hopefully, we'll make the final cut. Stay tuned.
I also got to meet the Patrick Elkins. Here he is right before taking the stage with the Rainbow Vomit Family Band.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Shadow Art Fair Today
Gentle readers, are you as excited for Shadow Art Fair as I am? I hope so. I also hope to see you there, at the Corner Brewery.
Potential Shadow Art Fair poster submission by Brian Walline.
Candid Art Fair photos
Local photographer, Philip Painter, has been posting some great candid shots of people at the Art Fair on the tumblr. Check it out.
Friday, July 20, 2012
Shadow Art Fair: Exquisite Motion Corpse
Here's another preview of some of the bizarre stuff you'll be able to find at Shadow Art Fair tomorrow: Exquisite Motion Corpse. The dudes behind it are also Kickstartin' to raise funds to make an app. Check that out here. Also, there rumors that Corner Brewery will unveil a special Shadow Brew tomorrow.
Previously:
Shadow Art Fair preview
Pretty Fire at Mix Studio Theater
Is Washtenaw County experiencing a golden age to theater? Seems like we are getting press releases from a different theater companies every few weeks. Anyway, if you are looking to take in a play this weekend, or get out of Ann Arbor, you can check out Threefold Production's Pretty Fire. The play, which was written by Tony nominee Charlayne Woodard, and follows a woman's struggle to find her voice in a small suburb of New York during the Civil Rights era. You can read more here. Pretty Fire runs from tonight through the 4th of August at Mix Studio Theater.
Texting for homeless
You can find out more about the program by checking out this interview on
My house!
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Banana peel stencils
Saw a lot of these banana peel stencils on State St and Hoover yesterday. I think someone thought Ann Arbor's sharrows were really booster pads from Mario Kart. This really takes street art to the next level. Sorry, that was a terrible pun.
Art Fair: Children in time-out
My favorite piece from the art fair so far has got to be this performance art instillation: "Children in time-out." Notice how the three artists sit separated in the lawn by Rackham, wistfully staring in different directions, contemplating their transgressions.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
David Zinn, the man behind Sluggo
This is a pretty sweet video of David Zinn--the guy that draws Sluggo all over Ann Arbor.
Art Fair: iSPY Magazine Stage
Updated
If you are prowling around the Art Fair, make sure you stop by the iSPY Magazine Stage at the corner of Liberty and Ashley. They'll be playing tunes all fair long.
Art Fair has arrived
Damn Arbor reader Dan Hirschman sent in this picture. Though all you GoT fans might appreciate it. Probably would have been more appropriate to run this picture last night, but it slipped through the cracks in the inbox. Gentle readers, are you panning on attending the Art Fair? What are your favorite Art Fair activities?
Bad news for everyone
But no, seriously, Detroit in the 1970s had problems, the market for law schools has problems--we get it.
Shadow Art Fair preview
Green Screen Improv Troupe from Vinnie Massimino on Vimeo.
From Vinnie:This video is hottt. It literally dropped minutes ago. My iMac just finished mixing it down and the people need to see it as soon as possible at your convenience.Thanks Vinnie. We always enjoy the weirdness. Check out MarkMaynard.com for more Shadow Art Fair coverage.And other italicized text!
The "Green Screen Improv Troupe" is a long gestating project; attendees of this year's Shadow Art Fair will have the option to pay $1 per minute to do whatever they want infront of a homemade green screen by Melissa Dettloff and yours truly. The user will have 30* background options that they can imagine they're actually interacting with! A compilation of all of the videos will appear online and via DVD in September. While at Shadow Art Fair, you can pre-order a DVD for $10, which will include other weird shit as I see fit.
* Or more, or less
Enjoy this latest piece of weirdness.
Ann Arbor travel poster
Spotted this awesome Ann Arbor travel poster yesterday on tumblr. It's by local artist, Brian Walline, who sells other awesome Michigan related prints at The Mighty Mitten.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Art Fair: the calm before the storm
With the temperature today, these cactus sculptures seemed very appropriate.
Does the State Street Art Fair have the legal authority to change a bike rack into a regular mundane U-shaped post? If they do, they clearly lack the moral ground to have cyclists respect their rules.
A truckload of stick-art ready to hit the streets of Ann Arbor.
Art Fair App
Whoa. I'm trying really hard not to state some question about the Art Fair (trying to find your favorite stick meat vendor?) and respond with "There's and app for that." I guess I failed.
In praise of smaller cities
After undergrad, I got my wish: I joined Teach for America and got placed as a high school biology teacher in Chicago. While I truly enjoyed my time in the Windy Apple, it made me realize I had taken some things about smaller cities for granted: the ease of being part of the community; the ability to really know the city; and most importantly, the ability get out of the city. In Chicago I realized that maybe I wasn't destined to be a Sophisticated, Big City Person. Maybe I was a bit more of a hayseed* than I had thought.
Jon Wilcox, a friend of Damn Arbor, sent us a tip that Ann Arbor was featured on the front page of The Atlantic Cities today. Micheline Maynard's article, In Praise of Smaller Cities, sums up many of my feelings about small city life quite well.
When I was growing up in Michigan, I couldn’t wait to get out. There was no view as thrilling as the map of a big city laid out from an airplane window at nightfall. Each time my parents took us on a trip, I plotted my escape. I poured over our weekly issue of The New Yorker, memorizing the places advertised in the back of the magazine.Gentle Readers, what do you think about small city life? Do you yearn for something bigger? Are smaller cities right for you? Do you yearn for something smaller? Please share your thoughts.On Sunday afternoons, my brother and I sat in my godmother’s car, playing the game we called “Driving to Chicago.” (Thankfully, her keys were safely put away.)
Eventually, I got my wish. I've lived in Chicago, New York, Washington, and Tokyo. And now, I’m back in Ann Arbor, the town where I was born. Only I’m not standing on our Main Street and despairing.
Turns out my years living in big cities have given me an unexpected education in getting the most out of small city life. They’ve helped me discover what’s most important to me: a lively, diverse community, with access to good food, the arts, the world around us, and a comfortable place to live that’s also affordable on a freelancer’s budget.
*Maybe we could call bumpkins from Michigan "appleseeds" as opposed to "hayseeds?"
Monday, July 16, 2012
Shadow Art Fair
Shadow Art Fair is this Saturday, July 21, noon to midnight, at the Corner Brewery in Ypsilanti. The event is will showcase 40 artists and crftspeople "with with an emphasis, as usual, on the unpredictable and weird." Parents, remember: just because the event is at a brewery, doesn't mean there won't be plenty of activities for the youngsters. For example "They can watch their parents drink."
Prickly Gooseberry
The prickly gooseberry (Ribes cynosbati) is a native fruit that is closely related to currants. They seem to be doing quite well with our extra dry weather this year and I have found several bushes that are were weighed down by numerous spiky berries. If you find any, give them a try. The flavor is crisp and light with a hint of starfruit. Just make sure you watch out for their prickles.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Townie Street Party
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Huron River Day Tomorrow
Friday, July 13, 2012
Place that photo: The sum of the rest
So if this place really thinks it's the sum of the rest, they've got some 'splainin' to do. What are they the rest of? Are they okay with just being thought of as "the rest?" I think that's a little reductive. Clearly there are bigger issues at hand if people just think of you as "the rest." You're sellin' yourself short, sign!
This is yet another chance for you to place where this photo was taken. If you are the first person to guess correctly by putting your guess in the comments below, we'll damn you on our Twitter feed. So be sure to include your Twitter handle! If you don't, we'll just damn your damn name.
The last PTP was taken on Division and Washington, right by the old run-down car rental place.
Imagine a park
Join the Library Green Conservancy as they take over S. Fifth Ave. and create a temporary part tomorrow from 12:00-5:00.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Best Damn Blog
Regular readers of Damn Arbor will know that I have whined, a lot, about not getting a framed award certificates from the Current for winning the "Best Local Blog" category of the annual readers choice poll. Fortunately, yesterday I received a mysterious package from The Ann Arbor Chronicle containing the above framed award certificate. Thanks Dave and Mary. No more whining.
Z World Detroit
An entrepreneur named Mark Siwak submitted a plan to mayor Dave Bing to convert some Detroit's abandoned industrial parks into a post-zombie apocalypse themed adventure camp. Z World Detroit seems to be targeted at those looking to prepare for the eventual end of the world.
Here’s the synopsis of this live-action theater: Participants arrive and park in the designated parking lot. They undergo a briefing in the staging area adjacent the Z headquarters where they learn the rules and the scenario for their overnight adventure. In brief, they search for shelter among the destroyed buildings, try to gather supplies, and attempt to survive the night without being eaten by the roving pack of zombies unleashed to find them.I think this is the coolest thing ever, but I'd be interested to know more about the types of zombies we're dealing with here. Are they the traditional shamblers, fast zombies, something else? Is zombification caused by a disease or some kind of supernatural curse?
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
British Band at Sonic Lunch tomorrow
Scars on 45, an indie rock band from Bradford in merry old England will be playing Sonic Lunch tomorrow. Sava's is serving food; lab is serving the drinks.
What does this mean
Via father fresh:
I found this in a tree on North Campus. WHAT DOES IT MEAN?Click through to see my theory.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Testing the Whiplash LP Mailer
Cool new promotional video from Whiplash a local merchandising company. Bottom line: those LP mailers don't look firework proof.
Via: Peter Baker
What to do with the Library Lot?
The above was posted by a group advocating for the space on top of the underground Library Lot structure to be developed into a central park for the city. The video does make a point, for a city with tons of parkland, green spaces are conspicuously lacking from downtown. The City only has one park, Liberty Plaza, in the DDA Assessment Area (well three really if you count the much loved Sculpture Plaza and Farmer's Market). Some would also argue that the University of Michigan's Diag serves some of the functions of a central park.
I could see the benefits of a park on the Library Lot. Especially if it became a Dolores Park-esque gathering place where all sorts of hipsters could gather and drink beer in public together. Then again, I can also see how the city might like to have something more lucrative on top of the lot. Gentle readers, what are your thoughts? Would you like to see a park on top of the Library Lot? How about more retail space, more parking, an obelisk, an office?