Pedestrians in downtown Detroit have stepped up how they travel. With transportation sharing culture expanding to the D, people now have the power to choose how they cruise through downtown with MoGo bikes, the QLine, and the latest Bird scooters. There are more options for transportation that are environmentally friendly in Detroit. The latest three forms of transportation in downtown are the MoGo Bikes, the QLine, and the Bird scooters. They can be seen throughout the area.

The latest option for public transportation in Detroit are the Bird scooters. These scooters came to the city in July of 2018.  According to the website, the Birds can be rented for an initial $1 and a $.15 charged will be applied per minute. The websites frequently asked question page states that “Birds can travel up to 15 miles per hour.” The page also states that “the only limit on how far you can ride is the Birds battery life. A fully charged Bird can travel up to 15 miles. There are no geographic restrictions for ending your ride.” The Bird CEO and founder has signed a Save Our Sidewalks (SOS) pledged. The pledge states that the company will “inspect vehicles for maintenance and repairs. Most importantly, the entire fleet will be repositioned to where the vehicles are wanted the next day, so they are not cluttering our neighborhoods.”  It is the responsibility of the Chargers to ensure that the Birds are available for riders at their nests early as 7am, according to a Bird representative Kym van der Weyde.  The bird mission statement says that these scooters were made “to help make transportation better and more environmentally friendly.” Riders can find more information on the official Bird website at www.bird.co.

A more localized form of transportation is the QLine. This trolley system became available for use in the summer of 2017. According to the QLine website, it was started by the nonprofit M-1 RAIL. The “nonprofit organization formed in 2007 to lead the design, construction, and future operation of a 3.3-mile circulating streetcar along Woodward Avenue between Congress Street and West Grand Boulevard in Detroit, Michigan.” The QLine prices vary, but according to the website, a 3-hour pass is $1.50. More information about tickets can be found at the QLine website at QLinedetroit.com.

The MoGo bikes are accessible throughout the downtown area. According to the MoGo website, “MoGo bikes are the first public bike sharing system to be introduced to Detroit.” The website also says that MoGo bikes were meant for “quick trips around town, to get to know the city better.” Riders can go to at any of the 43 stations to rent one of the 430 bikes. The bikes can only be checked out for 30 minutes before being charged for additional riding time. The MoGo website posts varying prices depending on the length of time the bike is rented. The cheapest option is $8 for 24 hours. Additional pricing information can be found on the official website MoGoDetroit.org.