May 2, 2026 - Detroit is rapidly expanding its cycling infrastructure and ranks 18th nationally among cities with populations greater than 300,000, according to the pro-cycling non-profit PeopleForBikes.
With a cycling network of 176.8 miles, which includes about 45 miles of protected bike lanes and 60 miles of painted bike lanes, the City of Detroit has spent about $14 million since 2011 on installing bicycle infrastructure.
The crown jewel of Detroit’s network, named after the city’s legendary boxer, is the 27.5-mile Joe Louis Greenway that connects 23 neighbourhoods. In January 2025, the city received a $10.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration as part of the Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program (ATIIP) to help fund a section of the greenway.
Other key routes that are part of the Joe Louis Greenway include the Dequindre Cut, a 2.5-mile path converted from an abandoned railroad line, the Southwest Greenway, and the award-winning Detroit Riverwalk, a paved path along the Detroit River, extending toward Belle Isle, where there is a popular 5.5-mile loop around the island park.
Michigan’s renowned Iron Belle Trail, the longest state- sponsored hiking and biking trail in the USA, stretches from Belle Isle Park in Detroit to Ironwood in the Upper Peninsula. It includes an 828-mile (1,333km) bicycle route and a 1,273- mile (2,036km) hiking route.
The new Gordie Howe International Bridge, scheduled to open in 2026, features a 2.5-kilometre (1.5-mile), 12-foot-wide, toll-free path — for cyclists and pedestrians — that’s separated from vehicle traffic by concrete barriers. This novel infrastructure, a major initiative for cycling tourism, connects Detroit and Windsor, Ont. and links to local trail systems on both sides of the border.
To address safety issues, the city’s Department of Public Works focused on a Streets for People Transportation Plan to ensure that more neighbourhoods benefit from consistent street designs that are safe and comfortable for all users and are designed using Complete Streets principles and standards.
The city’s MoGo bike share system, launched in 2017, has approximately 620 bikes — including e-bikes — across 75 stations in Detroit.
In addition, the Detroit Greenways Coalition (DGC) works to promote and build a network of greenways, Complete Streets, and bike lanes that connect people and places, improve the quality of life, beautify neighbourhoods, and stimulate neighbourhood-level economic development.
Another cycling success story is Detroit’s Slow Roll, which started out as a ride between friends and grew into a weekly night ride that attracted upwards of 3,000 people. On hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s returning in 2026 to continue its mandate of creating a community for cycling where everyone is welcome.
