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If you build it, they will come (Detroit)

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If you build it, they will come (Detroit)

Old 04-04-19, 07:35 AM
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chas58
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If you build it, they will come (Detroit)

It doesn’t always work out that way without a lot of dedication, passion and volunteer work (which was apparently missing in Chicago, but present in Cleveland). The Detroit Gang is determined to bring it up a notch, model things after Europe’s successes and inspire a new track racing league.

Interesting article about the developments in the last year in bicycling magazine: https://www.bicycling.com/news/a2688...drome-detroit/

Interesting tidbits: In addition to developing Detroit's native urban talent in its children, the plan is to create a track cycling league - American Cycling League. There is also a live stream of the "pro" races that gets a lot of views.

Last edited by chas58; 04-04-19 at 07:40 AM.
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Old 04-04-19, 08:30 AM
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Cool read, thanks for sharing.

*A big budget is also a key difference that Detroit doesn't share with almost any other velodrome in the USA.
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Old 04-04-19, 09:17 AM
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True (for the initial start up at least). I think the Chicago and Cleveland velodromes were about $100K to build (just for the track).
Detroit didn't quite break even last year. Its being used as a multi purpose facility - Corporations can rent it out for special events. Its used by multiple sports (aerobics, schools, rollerblading, Frisbee golf), and seems to put on a decent show on race nights. Anything to keep it viable. The trick is to make/keep it self funding.
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Old 04-04-19, 07:05 PM
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Originally Posted by chas58
True (for the initial start up at least). I think the Chicago and Cleveland velodromes were about $100K to build (just for the track).
Detroit didn't quite break even last year. Its being used as a multi purpose facility - Corporations can rent it out for special events. Its used by multiple sports (aerobics, schools, rollerblading, Frisbee golf), and seems to put on a decent show on race nights. Anything to keep it viable. The trick is to make/keep it self funding.
What is sad is that the city of Seattle spent more than that for a couple of miles of bike lanes
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Old 04-05-19, 06:02 AM
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Originally Posted by colnago62


What is sad is that the city of Seattle spent more than that for a couple of miles of bike lanes
Why is that sad?
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Old 04-05-19, 08:53 PM
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colnago62
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Originally Posted by topflightpro
Why is that sad?
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle...gh-in-seattle/

If Seattle would have spent more thought into implemation, the money they saved could have been used for other cycling projects, like a velodrome. The bike lanes are dangerous. They funnel you down a shute, some of them being two way. If somebody steps into one while not looking, you have few options.

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Old 04-06-19, 05:17 AM
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A velodrome is a recreational amenity that appeals to a very small subset of people - as Carleton likes to note, we are a niche within a niche sport.

Bike lanes, and protected bike lanes, are transportation amenities. They appeal to a much larger group of bicycle commuters, many of whom do not bike recreationally. This is a the fallacy that many competitive cyclists fall into thinking that all bicyclists look like them. But the spandex set is not the majority of bicyclists. Not only will many of the people who use those bike lanes not wear spandex, they may not own a car.

Your complaint is like complaining that the city added another lane to the highway instead of building a NASCAR track.
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Old 04-06-19, 08:13 AM
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that
Originally Posted by chas58
True (for the initial start up at least). I think the Chicago and Cleveland velodromes were about $100K to build (just for the track).
Detroit didn't quite break even last year. Its being used as a multi purpose facility - Corporations can rent it out for special events. Its used by multiple sports (aerobics, schools, rollerblading, Frisbee golf), and seems to put on a decent show on race nights. Anything to keep it viable. The trick is to make/keep it self funding.
I am a little suspect of the $100k number. The article notes the startup cost was $4.5 million.
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Old 04-06-19, 03:59 PM
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Originally Posted by colnago62
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle...gh-in-seattle/

If Seattle would have spent more thought into implemation, the money they saved could have been used for other cycling projects, like a velodrome. The bike lanes are dangerous. They funnel you down a shute, some of them being two way. If somebody steps into one while not looking, you have few options.
If you read the article, you'll learn that the funding for the bike paths was part of a huge transportation levy including roads, bike paths, and sidewalks which was paid for by an increase in property tax. It would be illegal to use transportation funds to build recreational facilities.
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Old 04-07-19, 02:35 AM
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Originally Posted by gl98115
If you read the article, you'll learn that the funding for the bike paths was part of a huge transportation levy including roads, bike paths, and sidewalks which was paid for by an increase in property tax. It would be illegal to use transportation funds to build recreational facilities.
Read it, I am living it. When you use up current revenue streams with mismanagement, it makes voters less encouraged to vote for other important infrastructure. Which is why Seattle struggles with road repair and crumbling bridges.
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Old 04-07-19, 01:36 PM
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Originally Posted by 700wheel
that

I am a little suspect of the $100k number. The article notes the startup cost was $4.5 million.
The 4.5 million was the total cost of the Detroit velodrome. It's a very nice indoor facility.
I don't know about Chicago, but Cleveland's track is an outdoor facility. The 100k stated was for just the track.
PI
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Old 04-07-19, 09:36 PM
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Wood 250m official built by one of the best = $ 1 mi only the track - Plus cover, with 700 seated places and complete, I said complete infra it reached $ 4 mi at Rio de Janeiro Pan Games 2007.
Concrete - serious steady and reliable well shaped track is more expensive than $1 mi, if you want it to last, no cracks and moves etc. Can be from $ 2 to 3 mi, only the track, few infra around, no cover, of course.
Ok, you can just shape a piece of land and cover with 2" of "thin wire structured concrete" = it won't last, I believe. Many examples.

And about Detroit... great iniciative, but.. many many hopes, for a non-official footage track, without seats, etc.
https://www.crainsdetroit.com/sports...sustainability
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Old 04-08-19, 07:46 AM
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A velodrome is a recreational amenity that appeals to a very small subset of people - as Carleton likes to note, we are a niche within a niche sport.
True, and the key to making something like this a success in the Detroit model is to make it useful to a broad range of people, whether it be school children using it for recess, or seniors using the outside as a walking track, doing special events for local businesses, or putting on a show for race night – broad appeal is key.

Originally Posted by 700wheel
I am a little suspect of the $100k number. The article notes the startup cost was $4.5 million.
.

Sorry if It wasn’t clear, but the 100K number is the basic start up cost for the 166m outdoor tracks for Chicago or Cleveland (built by one of the best, lol). That is the cost for the track only. Everything else was volunteer and use of available land from the city (at least for Detroit’s northern outdoor track).​​​​​​​ The indoor track is obviously a whole different can of worms.

Detroit has seats, the infield has “suites” (roped off couch areas) and an open area with seating rather like a bar (including the beer) in the infield. Personally I think it is inspirational that someone had such a dream and the moxy and the vision to make it come true. I read about more track closings than success stories like this lately.
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