The Open Streets: Car-Free Belle Isle

May 19, 2025 — Transit Adventures

Summer is upon us, Metro Detroit, which means the Ford Fireworks are on the horizon. With them comes my favorite lesser-known biking opportunity: If the city follows precedent, Belle Isle will be open exclusively to people walking, riding bikes, and using mobility devices from 5:00am to 2:00pm on Monday, June 23rd. It's a crowd control measure which happens to offer the quietest possible park visit of the year.

In the past, I've gone it alone. This time around I want to share the fun!

Want to come?

Meet near the MoGo station on the mainland side of the MacArthur Bridge starting at 12:00 noon for a 12:30pm rollout. We'll take a leisurely lap around the island with a couple photo stops along the way and return to the MoGo station by 1:45pm, just before the island opens to car traffic at 2:00pm.

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 12:07pm. Unfortunately, Route 12 does not travel onto Belle Isle on fireworks day, so you'll need to be able to cross the bridge under your own power.

Accessibility and logistics

• Come as you are with the wheels you've got. E-bikes are encouraged but by no means required, and we'll ride at a speed everyone who attends is comfortable maintaining. We're here to have a good time!
• MoGo is an option , with three stations on the island in addition to the one at the end of the bridge. We'll pass each of them, so you'll be able to dock your bike and unlock it again if you want to avoid an extra charge for a trip longer than 60 minutes. I'll try to move a few Boost bikes over to the MacArthur Bridge ahead of our start time.
• Our route will follow a recently completed paved bike path which encircles the island. Portions are shared lanes with vehicle traffic and there may still be a few event setup vehicles and delivery trucks on the island with us. The four MoGo stations we'll travel near are positioned in grass a short distance from pavement.
• Note that the MacArthur Bridge poses a significant incline both to and from the island.
• Unfortunately, the Detroit Riverwalk will likely be closed all day Monday for crowd control reasons as in years past. 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.