If you like to walk or ride a bicycle, the Gordie Howe International Bridge has a path for you.
Starting Wednesday, Aug. 5, the bridge’s multiuse path is set to open, meaning you can leave the car behind and still get to Canada.
The 1.5-mile path gives pedestrians and cyclists a border crossing option not available at either the Ambassador Bridge or the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel.
And it’s free to use.
The new option comes a little over a week after the bridge opened to car and truck traffic.
The first days open are expected to be busy, so it’s probably best to leave yourself some extra time. The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority says the number of people allowed on the path at any one
time will be limited in the initial days to support “smooth operation.”
Manny Paiva, a spokesman for the authority, said in an email that "while we expect demand to be especially high on opening day, our goal is to accommodate as many users as possible while maintaining a safe and positive experience for everyone."
Here are a few things to know about the multiuse path if you intend to use it, according to the bridge website:
- Carry appropriate travel documents, such as a passport or passport card, even if you don’t plan to cross the entire bridge. You’ll need to present them.
- The path’s regular hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. from April 1 through Oct. 31 and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 1 through March 31. Access to the path ends an hour before closing.
- Walking, jogging and running are OK, and cyclists can bring bicycles, cargo bikes and trikes.
- No e-bikes will be permitted during the initial weeks. When they are allowed, they will be restricted to “models where the electric motor provides power only when the rider is actively pedaling,” where the assist cuts off at 19 mph and where there is no throttle.
- Skateboards and electric scooters won’t be allowed, but wheelchairs and mobility devices for those with disabilities are OK.
- Stopping to take photos is allowed, but you’re advised to step or pull to the side so you don’t block the path. "Given the anticipated high level of interest, particularly during the early days of operation, users are asked to be mindful of others who are also looking to enjoy the experience, spend limited time on the bridge deck and keep moving so that all users can enjoy the crossing," Paiva said.
- Path entrances are at 6366 W. Jefferson Ave., Detroit, and 4389 Sandwich St., Windsor, but there is no on-site parking (Clark Park in Detroit and the Malden Park Trailhead in Windsor are suggested parking options).
- We’re told to anticipate a 20-minute crossing by bike or 45-minutes on foot one way, not counting border processing or time to reach the path entrance and exit.
- The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority has a full list of suggestions, restrictions and things to know, including links to make sure you have the appropriate travel documents at https://gordiehoweinternationalbridge.com/toll/multi-use-path/
For those who want to connect to additional routes, the Detroit Greenways Coalition has put together an interactive map to help cyclists and pedestrians plan rides that cross the border at https://map.detroitgreenways.org.
“We created this map so riders — from first-time visitors to experienced cyclists − can easily discover the best routes and destinations on both sides of the border,” Todd Scott, executive director of the Detroit Greenways Coalition, said in a release.
Eric D. Lawrence is the senior car culture reporter at the Detroit Free Press, and he also writes about recreational vehicles, boats and bikes. Send your tips and suggestions to elawrence@freepress.com. Become a subscriber. Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Gordie Howe bridge path for pedestrians, cyclists set to open
