Ferndale Shows Its Green Cruise Side (video)
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Aug. 10, 2013)
The 9th Annual Green Cruise took place in Downtown Ferndale, with several bike rides, a green parade, and a slew of environmentally-friendly vendors and organizations lining E. 9 Mile Road. Bikes were a big part of the event, but so were other people-powered contraptions, such as skateboards and wheelchairs.
Matthew Faraday was named Green Cruiser of the Year by the Sierra Club, which puts on the event. As a bike commuter riding to Beaumont Hospital, he became involved with the Green Team and began working to promote bike commuting to the hospital. He spearheaded a mapping project that led to a cycling route map of South East Oakland County that the hospital printed and distributed.
The event is the community’s prelude to the Dream Cruise, which takes place the third weekend in August. The Dream Cruise attracts classic cars from around the world, and celebrates the Motor City. Ten years ago during the Dream Cruise, Royal Oak resident Shirley Bavonese became frustrated with the noise and pollution. She assembled her children and their friends in the neighborhood to ride their bikes up and down the street— the idea for the Green Cruise began.
For more on the Green Cruise go to http://michigan.sierraclub.org/semg/Green_Cruise.html.