Jams Member Username: Jams
Post Number: 3509 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.38.24.195
| Posted on Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 1:36 am: | |
Personal observation or bitch, pick whichever. Traffic in the Greektown, Casino, Bricktown area was once again brought to a standstill by cars trying to turn right into Flood's valet or turning left to the Casino on one side of Lafayette or on the other side vice versa. I watched a traffic light go through five cycles while ONE carload held up traffic waiting to turn into Flood's valet which had no room. Just for the Hell of it, since a bus could not get through, I walked from the bus stop at St. Antoine and Lafayette back to Beaubien, south from there, traffic was blocked up almost to Jefferson, Congress was a parking lot past St. Antoine, Larned, as far as I could see, at least two blocks were backed up. This happens every weekend, where are the cops? I'm not bitching about the cars blocking a bus stop by parking in front of them (although I would not be adverse to a few of those cars being towed. 1 or 2 cars vs. 8-10 passengers per bus having to step into a traffic lane to flag and board). Buses were running 20-25 minutes behind schedule due those idiots needing to park close to their place to party. It took almost 20 minutes for the Chene bus to go from Beaubien & Fort to St. Antoine & Lafayette, 1 1/2 blocks and it was forced to travel in the far left lane, almost not making its stop to pickup 11 passengers due to people who thought, obviously, they were more important. (I don't take the Chene bus) |
Focusonthed Member Username: Focusonthed
Post Number: 365 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 24.192.25.47
| Posted on Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 1:41 am: | |
What time was this? When you say "every weekend" do you really mean "every weekend where a large Tigers crowd (many of whom park in Greektown) suddenly all get in their cars at the same second"? Because I'm guessing that's what you saw tonight. ALL of downtown was a parking lot tonight. |
Ron Member Username: Ron
Post Number: 225 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 66.174.93.98
| Posted on Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 2:16 am: | |
Add the AKA convention to that mix. 10,000 out-of-town guests, here to party. (Many of them quite fine, too) |
Jams Member Username: Jams
Post Number: 3510 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.21.35.226
| Posted on Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 10:54 am: | |
Last weekend was the same way. I work in SW Detroit. I take the bus to Downtown and transfer to a bus that takes me to my home on the Eastside. Last Friday, traffic in Downtown was so dense, as the bus inched its way through traffic I fell asleep (just came off a long shift), and missed my stop by several miles before I woke up. Luckily, the driver was very cool, when we reached the end of the line, she refused to allow me to pay for the return trip to get to my stop as her shift ended with that run back. I'm glad to see Downtown filled with people on weekend nights. But those inconsiderate drivers that block traffic flow because they need to park their cars close to their destinations and will sit in the lane 20 minutes, blocking traffic, so they don't have to walk 5 minutes to their destination make me a bit PO'd. My question is it is easy to see where the bottlenecks occur, why no cops to keep the traffic flowing in those areas? During the week I've often seen a group of 3 or 4 cops congregated in those same areas having a chat as they really have nothing else to do. |
Gary Member Username: Gary
Post Number: 157 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 71.144.119.194
| Posted on Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 11:23 am: | |
I was downtown last night. Mostly in Greektown, but also in Hart Plaza and over in Eastern Market at Bert's. The traffic was definitely thick in Greektown and along Jefferson, but I don't seee that as a bad thing. We got where we were going just fine, inspite of the traffic. No big deal, the whole area was really jumping the way a big city should be on a summer Friday night. |
Mbr Member Username: Mbr
Post Number: 74 Registered: 03-2005 Posted From: 69.246.40.224
| Posted on Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 2:45 pm: | |
Same problem in front of Blue on Woodward. A bus, car, or limo thinks that it can just stop in the middle of the street. |
Motorcitymayor2026 Member Username: Motorcitymayor2026
Post Number: 1040 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 70.227.65.77
| Posted on Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 2:48 pm: | |
Well, there were 38,000 Tiger fans, the crowd from AKA Boule, the crowd from the show at the Fox, the normal restuaran/bar/casino crowd, and workers/residents downtown last night. Even the People Mover was filling up... This (traffic) is the least important "problem" in Detroit right now.. |
E_hemingway Member Username: E_hemingway
Post Number: 829 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 69.242.215.8
| Posted on Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 2:53 pm: | |
I'm not sure whether the motivation of these people is they want to park within spitting distance of their destination or whether they do this because this is the only safe place they know to go. I have a feeling that if this type of traffic keeps up these suburbanites will start to look for, and discover, more viable parking options a little farther away from their normal destinations, say Compuware or Millender garages. I also wonder how much of an impact tearing down the old Greektown parking structure for the new casino hotel construction has to do with this? |
Trainman Member Username: Trainman
Post Number: 128 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 64.12.116.204
| Posted on Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 9:48 pm: | |
Downtown Detroit traffic can be greatly reduced. The best solution is to support my cause. Detroit once had an excellent good mass transit system. But thanks largely to crooked politicians and others, we now have one of the most tax subsidized and expensive bus systems in the world. Click on link below and sign my petition drive and I will personally coordinate all the buses and fill them up. I can promise you this because I know how to do this and did in the western suburbs. YES, I can fill the buses up all over metro Detroit and if I can't then please tell me. Who can? http://savethefueltax.tripod.c om/theplan.html |
Bibs Member Username: Bibs
Post Number: 521 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 152.163.96.177
| Posted on Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 11:06 pm: | |
What a wonderful problem to have. Too many people in Downtown Detroit. I drove through the Greektown area and walked along the new river walk. Yep, it was packed. The taxis we lined up behind the RenCen because of the AKA Boule convention. Happy to see all the action. |
Detroitej72 Member Username: Detroitej72
Post Number: 87 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 66.184.3.44
| Posted on Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 11:47 pm: | |
Just got back home after an evening in downtown Detroit. Man, I was telling my buddy that 10 years ago I could park in front of Nikki's in Greektown, now I park several blocks away and walk. That is a good problem for the city to have. There was so much foot traffic around Campas Martius, arond the theaters, Orchastra Hall, and all around Wayne State. Man the women were out in full force too!!!!! Love Summer in the D. |
Detroiternthemist Member Username: Detroiternthemist
Post Number: 72 Registered: 01-2006 Posted From: 68.249.238.137
| Posted on Saturday, July 15, 2006 - 11:53 pm: | |
Wow!!..How we have gone from ghost town...to there's too much traffic...until people park their cars and walk...things will always be like that. I have to apologize I'm sometimes that idoit in the Floods valet line. |
Skipp Member Username: Skipp
Post Number: 84 Registered: 06-2005 Posted From: 24.192.6.193
| Posted on Sunday, July 16, 2006 - 2:57 am: | |
People just need to start driving like they do in any other big city. One hand on the wheel, the other on the horn. |
Lilpup Member Username: Lilpup
Post Number: 1196 Registered: 06-2004 Posted From: 69.130.18.100
| Posted on Sunday, July 16, 2006 - 3:11 am: | |
people need to get smart and use the people mover plenty of parking just a $0.50 ride and a few blocks west |
Urban_shocker Member Username: Urban_shocker
Post Number: 268 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 68.73.0.15
| Posted on Sunday, July 16, 2006 - 3:58 am: | |
Problem solved, nobody will be downtown anymore after the shooting at Cheli's tonight. |
Lilpup Member Username: Lilpup
Post Number: 1197 Registered: 06-2004 Posted From: 69.130.18.100
| Posted on Sunday, July 16, 2006 - 12:12 pm: | |
details? Nothing's turned up on any of the news sites yet. |
Urban_shocker Member Username: Urban_shocker
Post Number: 269 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 68.73.0.15
| Posted on Sunday, July 16, 2006 - 11:35 pm: | |
Heard about four shots from my apartment, buddies told me they heard people on the street talking about it, went over to look and saw one of the windows with a hole in it and the glass completely shattered. |
Lowell Board Administrator Username: Lowell
Post Number: 2786 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.167.211.36
| Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 12:17 am: | |
I'm with Bibs. I hope the City of Detroit has more problems like this. Bring 'em on. This faintly reminds me of the "Heart of Detroit on a Roll?" thread but without the rancor. Problems, problems. Sigh. |
Gistok Member Username: Gistok
Post Number: 2448 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.72.34
| Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 1:46 am: | |
Talked with a buddy who is a Blackjack dealer at MotorCity.... with the near sellouts at Comerica Park, the casinos and restaurants have been getting lots of spillover business... Every game night at Comerica Park has meant big crowds at MotorCity Casino afterwards (and I'm sure the other 2 casinos as well). Bet Marion Ilitch is trying to think up new ways to keep more of the spillover from "her husband's business establishments" to afterwards go to "her business establishment". With 81 home games, a winning Detroit Tiger team can generate a greater impact on downtown than the Red Wings or Lions. And the traffic is a side effect. However, I do feel for folks that have to use DDOT buses and are having long waits downtown to get thru the traffic. |
Focusonthed Member Username: Focusonthed
Post Number: 367 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 209.220.229.254
| Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 2:33 pm: | |
Any more news about this shooting, or are these all uninformed rumors? |
Tarkus Member Username: Tarkus
Post Number: 62 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 68.43.115.231
| Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 3:09 pm: | |
News of the shooting is true. It started at the State where about 20 guys were chasing someone towards Chelis where they shot out the windows. The chasee ran into the Opera House Garage where his girlfriend drove into the exit lane breaking the gate. He opened up the door of the SUV grabbed his gun and ran back outside the garage and started firing towards Broadway. The chasers' took off running. Police did not arrive until 5am. The incident occured at around 140am. |
Urban_shocker Member Username: Urban_shocker
Post Number: 270 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 68.73.0.15
| Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 3:32 pm: | |
Weird night. Was the evacuation of the Kales around 3am unrelated? |
Wmuchris Member Username: Wmuchris
Post Number: 341 Registered: 06-2005 Posted From: 69.246.19.24
| Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 4:48 pm: | |
I'd like to hear more about this shooting at Chelli's. Anyone have any credible news sources? I checked all over the papers couldn't find anything. If it is true, then I guess I'm not surprised that nobody is making any big deal about it. Keeping it real like Supersport.... Living in Downtown Disneyland. (Message edited by wmuchris on July 17, 2006) |
Danindc Member Username: Danindc
Post Number: 1622 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.100.158.10
| Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 5:14 pm: | |
The congestion is a good problem to have--until people stop coming downtown because it's too much of a hassle. I think we can all agree that would not be a desirable outcome. |
E_hemingway Member Username: E_hemingway
Post Number: 835 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 69.242.215.8
| Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 5:39 pm: | |
Imagine what a little light rail could do. Say a little light rail line up Woodward and Michigan... |
Bibs Member Username: Bibs
Post Number: 523 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 205.188.116.137
| Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 7:17 pm: | |
Oh, they were just filming a movie! They were shooting blanks. |
Trainman Member Username: Trainman
Post Number: 133 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 152.163.100.8
| Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 10:23 pm: | |
When I go downtown, I park in Dearborn at work for free and use SMART for a buck fifty each way. I don't care how mass transit is funded but we do live in a world where we must compete to get good jobs back. So, we should all work together to lower the cost of mass transit. |
Adamjab19 Member Username: Adamjab19
Post Number: 697 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 24.192.148.148
| Posted on Monday, July 17, 2006 - 10:27 pm: | |
They need to close that State party on Saturday nights. A few nights last summer there were nothing but brawls afterwards with, literally, cops and ambulances waiting for it to happen. How stupid. |
Odessa Member Username: Odessa
Post Number: 10 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 69.216.117.124
| Posted on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 12:29 am: | |
Cmon...Police didn't arrive till 5AM when the shooting took place at 140AM..... It's downtown, there are numerous police officers walking beats, stationary traffic officers and numerous uniformed patrol units within a several block radius of the location. Shots ringing out would cause them to investigate, no doubt about that. |
Jams Member Username: Jams
Post Number: 3516 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.38.23.212
| Posted on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 1:29 am: | |
I and a couple of others waited for over 45 minutes sitting on the edge of the sidewalk in West Grand Circus Park, just after midnight. We watched and commented about the traffic at a standstill to pass the time. We saw one two-man police car in all that time, no stationary traffic officers to ensure an orderly traffic flow despite the snarl we watched (it took twenty minutes for the bus we wished to transfer to inch its way 4 blocks) and never saw a beat cop walk past us in those 45 minutes. I have no issue with a Downtown filled with people. Too many of you know how I've earned my income to bitch about that. My concern is where are the cops to move those idiots along so the streets are not blocked by someone too lazy to park a few blocks away and walk to where they want to go. If you want a bar in a strip mall where you can walk less than a 100 feet to the door, maybe Downtown is not where you want to be, especially on the weekends. |
Spaceboykelly Member Username: Spaceboykelly
Post Number: 162 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 69.246.28.145
| Posted on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 2:57 am: | |
I don't believe for a second that it would take the Detroit PD that long to investigate a shooting [if a shooting actually took place]. In my experiences the DPD have an amazingly quick response time when it comes to downtown. |
Bobj Member Username: Bobj
Post Number: 869 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.40.89.238
| Posted on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 6:21 am: | |
Never heard anything about the shoot out in the news, anyone else hear anything? |
Mind_field Member Username: Mind_field
Post Number: 599 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.248.81.243
| Posted on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 8:12 am: | |
This downtown shooting story just isn't adding up, I love people who think it's cute to embellish and overdramatize stories or just flat out lie to make themselves appear interesting or like they know something important. It's not cute, grow up. |
Tarkus Member Username: Tarkus
Post Number: 63 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 68.43.115.231
| Posted on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 8:46 am: | |
Believe it if you want to or not. Check with the security at Chelis or Opera House Parking. It wasn't the wind that shot out Chelis windows. |
E_hemingway Member Username: E_hemingway
Post Number: 837 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 69.242.215.8
| Posted on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 9:01 am: | |
If there had been a shooting, the TV stations would have been all over it. They crave that sort of story. I have a hard time believing all of them, not to mention all of the other various media outlets here, would have missed something like that at a popular bar filled with people next to one of the biggest draws this summer. This just isn't adding up. Also, just because there is broken glass doesn't mean bullets are responsible. Just ask Axel Foley. |
Bobj Member Username: Bobj
Post Number: 870 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 65.221.183.120
| Posted on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 9:07 am: | |
It is hard to believe that the story wouldn't appear somewhere, especially a juicy story like this. All those witnesses and police radio traffic, someone would have picked up on it. |
Urban_shocker Member Username: Urban_shocker
Post Number: 271 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 68.73.0.15
| Posted on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 9:32 am: | |
quote:Heard about four shots from my apartment, buddies told me they heard people on the street talking about it, went over to look and saw one of the windows with a hole in it and the glass completely shattered.
quote:I love people who think it's cute to embellish and overdramatize stories or just flat out lie to make themselves appear interesting or like they know something important. It's not cute, grow up.
Not sure how I could have been more direct, or less dramatic or inflammatory. And then another poster comes along and completely confirms it. Oh yeah, this whole thing is really taking on a life of it own. I'd love for there not to have been shots on my street that night, but I'm pretty sure there was. Sure, for lots of reasons the media like this kind of story. But for a lot of other reasons sometimes they don't get it, or decide to sweep it under the rug. Detroiters should know better than to conclude that if it didn't show up on clickondetroit, something terrible didn't happen. |
Detroitplanner Member Username: Detroitplanner
Post Number: 35 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 63.85.13.248
| Posted on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 10:00 am: | |
My Observations: More people need to take the PeopleMover on weekends. Detroit could take a page from Chicago, instead of using the police to direct traffic, they have part time workers from a traffic and transportation authority that mann the busy streetcorners at peak times. This would free up the police to do policing and put an extra set of eyes and ears on the streets for safety. |
E_hemingway Member Username: E_hemingway
Post Number: 838 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 69.242.215.8
| Posted on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 10:06 am: | |
During UofM football games the AAPD brings out Explorer cops, basically older teens in uniform getting a taste of what it's like to be a cop, to help direct traffic and crowds. They're usually assigned to help direct traffic and pedestrians at Main and Stadium with a couple of real cops there to supervise them. It works quite well. I wonder if Detroit could, or does, employ a system like that? |
Gistok Member Username: Gistok
Post Number: 2458 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.105.102
| Posted on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 1:42 pm: | |
Any of our Opera House forumers heard anything about this "incident"? Somehow it seems inconceivable... 20 guys with guns chasing 1 guy... that guy gets to his car at Opera House garage... gets his gun... shoots at the 20 guys... who then take off running... and the police didn't arrive until 5AM (3 hr. 20 min. later).... Hmmm, in the neighborhoods of Detroit I could believe the 3 hr. 20 min. response time. But in downtown... that type of response time would mean HEADS WILL ROLL at Police HQ! And still nothing in the media. Hell even the Superbowl shooting made it in the media. Things really don't add up here... This sounds like the stuff of urban legends.... |
Wmuchris Member Username: Wmuchris
Post Number: 344 Registered: 06-2005 Posted From: 69.212.45.228
| Posted on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 2:13 pm: | |
I hope it is an urban legend. |
E_hemingway Member Username: E_hemingway
Post Number: 839 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 69.242.215.8
| Posted on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 2:24 pm: | |
Urban legend until proven otherwise. |
Ndavies Member Username: Ndavies
Post Number: 2008 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 129.9.163.233
| Posted on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 2:30 pm: | |
Non-fatal Shootings downtown are routinely ignored by the local press. Someone has to die to have it reported. Even then it is relegated to a less visible place. |
Gistok Member Username: Gistok
Post Number: 2459 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.72.69
| Posted on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 4:41 pm: | |
Well if that's the case, then that certainly puts all that hype about how safe downtown is into question... especially if there's no police presence anywhere in that area to be found! Remember shootings and robberies is what emptied downtown office towers out in the 1970's and 1980's in the first place. If the city becomes complacent, then history will unfortunately repeat itself. If downtown is not safe at night for visitors, they will go elsewhere. (Message edited by Gistok on July 18, 2006) |
Danindc Member Username: Danindc
Post Number: 1626 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.100.158.10
| Posted on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 4:54 pm: | |
quote:Remember shootings and robberies is what emptied downtown office towers out in the 1970's and 1980's in the first place.
Funny. I thought it was all the relocations to the suburbs that emptied downtown. |
Focusonthed Member Username: Focusonthed
Post Number: 373 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 24.192.25.47
| Posted on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 - 11:17 pm: | |
Well, for what it's worth, Cheli's seemed to have all their windows intact tonight. |
Motorcitymayor2026 Member Username: Motorcitymayor2026
Post Number: 1046 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 24.231.189.137
| Posted on Tuesday, July 25, 2006 - 1:32 am: | |
the window was boarded up last week... |
Iheartthed Member Username: Iheartthed
Post Number: 147 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 64.131.176.232
| Posted on Tuesday, July 25, 2006 - 8:22 am: | |
Detroit had a Police Explorers program. I doubt it's still in operation because of the budget woes. |
Dabirch Member Username: Dabirch
Post Number: 1694 Registered: 06-2004 Posted From: 208.44.117.10
| Posted on Tuesday, July 25, 2006 - 10:49 am: | |
quote:Detroit had a Police Explorers program
Yeah, but I think the mayor's office used the funding for the Police Navigator's program... THank you, I'll be here all week. Don't forget to tip your waiters. |
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw
Post Number: 1904 Registered: 02-2005 Posted From: 69.221.77.129
| Posted on Tuesday, July 25, 2006 - 11:32 am: | |
I was in the Lafayette/Beaubien traffic snarl last weekend one night (over 2 hours after the ballgame ended)...It's really just an area of heavy traffic that is aggravated with people standing/double parking on E. Lafayette near the Metro Times, or doing aggressive moves trying to get into the Casino turnaround. It is aggravated when, around the corner, Congress St. is blocked off due to St. Andrews crowds. The Police, who were driving through right in front of me, allowed the double parking which effectively blocked the right lane between St. Antoine and Beaubien to continue, squeezing through the mess just like the rest of us. As others have said, a busy downtown late at night is not something to get worried about. My out of town guest who was with me went away thinking that Detroit must have popular destinations, not that Detroit is congested and dysfunctional. |
Danindc Member Username: Danindc
Post Number: 1654 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 67.100.158.10
| Posted on Tuesday, July 25, 2006 - 11:41 am: | |
I would say spending over 2 hours in a traffic jam is congested and dysfunctional. |
Jt1 Member Username: Jt1
Post Number: 7561 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 198.208.159.19
| Posted on Tuesday, July 25, 2006 - 11:42 am: | |
2 hours after the end of the ball game, not 2 hours in traffic. That is how I read it. I think Mackinaw was trying to illustrate that the ballgame traffic was mostly gone and downtown was still busy. |
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw
Post Number: 1907 Registered: 02-2005 Posted From: 69.221.77.129
| Posted on Tuesday, July 25, 2006 - 11:45 am: | |
Correct, Jt1. Sorry about that, I hate creating ambiguity. |