The Open Streets: Car-Free Belle Isle

May 19, 2025 — Transit Adventures

With the Ford Fireworks in Detroit every summer comes my favorite lesser-known biking opportunity: Belle Isle will be open exclusively to people walking, riding bikes, and using mobility devices from 5:00am to 2:00pm on the Monday of the event. It's a crowd control measure which happens to offer the quietest possible park visit of the year.

Want to give this local adventure a try? Here’s your guide!

Getting to the bridge

Given the nature of this event, it goes without saying that parking anywhere near the island will be difficult. Every DDOT bus has a front rack which can carry two bikes; alternatively, you may want to look for parking along residential streets in Islandview. (Just be mindful of the usual rules: Follow posted signage, keep 30 feet away from intersections, and don't block any fire hydrants, crosswalks, driveways, or bus stops!)

DDOT Route 9 runs approximately every 10 minutes along Jefferson between the Rosa Parks Transit Center downtown and Grosse Pointe with a stop directly in front of the bridge.

If you're coming from the north, DDOT Route 12 runs hourly from the Jason Hargrove Transit Center to the bridge. A southbound 12 arrives at Jefferson and Grand at 10:07am, then continues onto the island.

Accessibility and logistics

• MoGo is an option , with three stations on the island in addition to the one at the end of the bridge. You can dock your bike and unlock it again if you want to avoid an extra charge for a trip longer than 60 minutes.
• A recently completed paved bike path encircles the island. Portions are shared lanes with vehicle traffic.
• Note that the MacArthur Bridge poses a significant incline both to and from the island.
• Unfortunately, the Detroit Riverwalk is typically closed all day Monday for crowd control reasons. The connection from the Jefferson bike lanes to the sidewalk leading onto the bridge can be challenging with certain mobility devices.
• Food, restroom, and bike repair stand access will be very limited, so plan accordingly. Bring your own snacks and supplies.
• Note that cell signal can get spotty on the island, especially on the south side close to Canada.