Getting Around Detroit: Walkability, Public Transit & Biking

Detroit's walkability is generally improving, with the downtown and Midtown areas offering a pleasant experience for travelers seeking out restaurants, cafes, and coworking spaces. These areas have a decent pedestrian infrastructure, but many neighborhoods remain heavily car-dependent, with sidewalks often in disrepair or suddenly ending. While some residential pockets offer a higher level of walkability, getting from one to the other still often requires a car or alternative transport.

Public transit in Detroit offers some useful options, especially for travelers planning to navigate between downtown, Midtown, and New Center using the QLINE streetcar. Bus services like DDOT and SMART provide decent connections to the suburbs, while the People Mover facilitates movement within downtown. However, the system does not cover the entire city comprehensively, and travelers might find some areas less accessible, which can make commuting on public transport time-consuming or inconvenient outside peak areas or times.

Detroit is making progress in bike-friendliness with initiatives like the Dequindre Cut and the MoGo bike-sharing program. These provide opportunities for travelers to efficiently explore certain areas by bike. However, the city still faces challenges such as inconsistent road quality and maintenance of bike lanes. Cyclists can enjoy biking for short trips or recreation, but the city's infrastructure is not fully reliable for day-to-day commuting across different areas, often requiring awareness of traffic and varying dedication of bike paths.