Originally Posted by Road Fan

For those thinking about those "three Metroparks," they have been enhanced. SE Michigan has been connecting up disparate bike paths operated by different governmental organizations. In Washtenaw County (where Ann Arbor is) there is a project called the "Border to Border Trail" which tries to unify a path from the west edge of the County and the NW corner, to the SE corner to ultimately unify with a path which will cross Michigan. In Ann Arbor we are one of the problems, because one of the keys to riding from AA to western towns like Dexter or Chelsea (great coffee, bakery, and breakfast!) along picturesque Huron River Drive, is to cross a rail right of way and a stream bed which is not always dry. Biggest problem is that the rail right of way is trying to be re-classified to a higher speed class, I think > 60 mph, and this requires positive barriers to entering teh railway area. I'm not sure the (costly) solution (bridge, tunnel, or route away from thebeautiful road) has been decided upon, but my information is pretty old. Ultimately the Michigan Iron Belle Trail will, with the Border to Border, will enable crossing the state on bike paths, east-west and north-south. Not sure if a crossing into Canada is in the plans!

The three Metroparks, Lower Huron, Willow Springs (I think), and Oak Valley Metroparks have been upgraded with repaired path surfaces, addition of connector paths to external bikeways, better restrooms and water fountains, and bicycle repair/service facilities. A rail crossing in Willow works well when a train is not blocking it, but there is no reasonable detour when trains are present. However, this is a "traditional" problem not a new one. Where in the previous 2007 postings the cycle path petered out at a (very nice!) Nature Center, there is now a City/County path peeling off toward the west from a point north of the Nature Center, and this takes you through the center of Flat Rock down to Lake Erie Metropark. So there is no obvious loop to ride from the top of Lower Huron to have coffee on the shore of Lake Erie, but we (Mrs. Road Fan and I) just pedal down, turn around and come back for a 45 mile round trip. We haven't done this full route since COVID, considering our increasing ages, some additional ailments, and now the particulate matter contamination from the Canadian wildfires. But on good air days it will still be a pretty smooth, peaceful, and beautiful moderate distance ride. At least, Lower Huron is now better than it was back in '07! and is a 10 mile down and back. We have seen fast riders running repeats on that one.

One of the route concerns remains in Flat Rock, where the marked path passes by the Flat Rock automotive assembly plant. This behemoth was at times operated by Ford and other automakers, and the roads aroind it reflect pavement wear and tear due to the huge numbers of trucks supplying the plant. A large City park path takes some of the load, but not all of the route can be so diverted. Still, the Downriver Cycle Club ran and may still run a well-attended organized ride there. It used to be early in the cycling season - real nice ride, but chilly. Hot food was served at Lake Erie Metropark! Check the League of Michigan Biicyclists site to see if and when they still run it. Not many local rides are announced in BF, anymore.

If you ride the AA to Chelsea round trip and add a loop to Stockton, Hell and a few other towns, you have your 75 or century day.