Spring Staycation: Tour Detroit by Bike With Our MoGo-Inspired Travel Guide
The weather is finally breaking after a long, cold winter, so it’s time to get outside and move! One of our favorite ways to see a city or get around is by bike. Thankfully, Detroit launched a bike share program called MoGo in May of last year to make that possible, and HAP is a proud title sponsor. Just look for the HAP logo on bikes around the city.
To help you make the most of MoGo, we’ve put together a little day trip to some of our favorite places in the city. All of the locations are easily accessible by MoGo bike with stations nearby and we’ve even plotted out station-to-station directions for you.¹
Start your day off at Hitsville, USA where Motown all began, and take in the sights and sounds of Detroit’s rich musical history. The museum opens at 10 a.m., and you’ll want to spend a few hours inside to get the full experience. Every local needs to visit at least once, and there’s enough to see that you won’t be bored if it’s your second or third visit to this historic location.
Ride 1: Henry Ford Hospital station to W. Willis Street & Cass Avenue station
After spending a few hours getting a world-class history lesson, you’ll probably have worked up an appetite. The good news: HopCat is just a few miles down the street.
Michigan is a craft beer mecca, and HopCat is the place to experience the best beers our state has to offer (and a bunch of others from across the country and around the globe). Even if you’re not into beer, it’s a great place to stop in for a quick bite. The menu is robust, so you’ll have plenty of options – even healthy ones. Everything in moderation. Even moderation.
Ride 2: W. Willis Street & Cass Avenue station to Wilkins Street & Russell Street station.
A quick 10-minute ride will bring you to Detroit’s fabulous Eastern Market.
Walk off your lunch while you check out offerings from the abundant selection of vendors. Grab a coffee. Stock up on fruits and veggies. Take home a new plant. Sample some sweets. The choice is yours. If you haven’t been in a while, you’ll be surprised by just how much the market has grown. If you’re a market veteran, you already know there’s something new to see or do every time you visit.
Ride 3: Wilkins Street & Russell Street station to Atwater Street & Orleans Street
Another short ride (11 minutes) will connect you with Detroit’s flourishing riverfront.
End your Mogo trip at the water. The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy maintains this ever-growing space and Rivard Plaza is home to several attractions. Read a book by the river. Ride the carousel. Or schedule a river tour and learn about Detroit’s history. We love walking or biking around this area and stopping along the way to relax and take it all in. Wave to our Canadian neighbors while you’re there.
Trip summary
Total time on bike: 35 minutes
Total distance: 6.1 miles
Cost: $8 for a day pass.
Getting back to your starting place
If you parked around Henry Ford Hospital or the Motown Museum, the bike ride back is around 30 minutes. If you’re tired from all of the pedaling around town, an Uber or Lyft can get you back in about 12-15 minutes. Or, walk west on Atwater street past the Renaissance Center and north through Hart Plaza to the Campus Martius QLine station. Ride north to the Grand Blvd QLine station. Exit here and you’ll be a few blocks from where you started.
To plan your own Detroit bike adventure, or to learn more about Mogo, visit mogodetroit.org.
HAP members save $20 off an annual MoGo pass. To get your promo code, log in to your account at hap.org, click on "HAP Member Discounts" under the Quick Links Menu and look for MoGo.
¹ We should point out that helmets are not provided as part of the MoGo service. Please bring a helmet with you. You will be riding on roadways when you travel from station to station. The League of Michigan Bicyclists has a great ebook called “What Every Michigan Bicyclist Must Know” that goes over bike law, rules of the road, safety and other key topics to keep you safe. Download the ebook here. We suggest reading this guide before your trip.
Categories: Get Moving