December 13, 2024 The Bicycle Diaries, Part 1: Ford City to Downtown Windsor On June 8, 2024, inspired by David Byrne’s (from the Talking Heads) book the Bicycle Diaries and to celebrate Bike Month, OPPI Southwest District Planners organized an interactive bike tour entitled The Bicycle Diaries, Part 1: Ford City to Downtown Windsor. The tour was open to all OPPI Members, friends and family including children under 18 years of age. There were approximately 20 participants from the Windsor-Essex Region and from as far away as Kitchener-Waterloo. The 11-kilometer tour was held in the Windsor-Essex Region. It made multiple stops at historical landmarks and attractions and discussed key historic events and led participants to not only key historic places but also areas where Community Improvement Plans (CIPS) have helped to revitalize once autonomous border city’s that now form part of the City of Windsor. The tour began in Ford City, the birthplace of Ford Motor Company of Canada where the new vision created through the Ford City CIP and neighbourhood was discussed. Participants stopped at key locations where projects are beginning to have some success in revitalizing the neighbourhood by restoring older buildings, opening storefronts, creating good pedestrian connections with the Public Realm, and attracting new residents and businesses to the area. The tour continued through the planned historic “model company town” of Hiram Walker Distillery where we stopped at key Historic sites and discussed recent CIP Projects. Participants then cycled along Erie Street (Little Italy) stopping at the Roundabout and obelisk to discuss the Main Street and monument. The tour continued though Downtown Windsor where streets were closed for the farmers market. Participants stopped and talked to vendors and residents. A picnic lunch was provided on Windsor’s riverfront. Participants than biked east towards Walkerville where the tour ended at Chapter Two Brewery for beverages and appetizers. The event planning team is considering future bike tours based on the same theme. Stay tuned for The Bicycle Diaries, Part 2 . The views expressed in this blog post are those of the author(s), and may not reflect the position of the Ontario Professional Planners Institute. Post by Kevin Alexander Bikes, WDLT, Windsor Print FaceBook Share Link LinkedIn Share Link Twitter Share Link Email Share Link Back To Home Recent Posts Link to: Exciting New Educational Opportunities: OPPI’s 2025 Workshop Schedule Exciting New Educational Opportunities: OPPI’s 2025 Workshop Schedule December 23, 2024 Link to: Exciting New Educational Opportunities: OPPI’s 2025 Workshop Schedule Link to: The Bicycle Diaries, Part 1: Ford City to Downtown Windsor The Bicycle Diaries, Part 1: Ford City to Downtown Windsor December 13, 2024 Link to: The Bicycle Diaries, Part 1: Ford City to Downtown Windsor Link to: Reimagining Underutilized Urban Space: A Walk Through the Meadoway Reimagining Underutilized Urban Space: A Walk Through the Meadoway November 22, 2024 Link to: Reimagining Underutilized Urban Space: A Walk Through the Meadoway