Making Downtown Clawson a safer, more vibrant place to visit and do business

image of 14 Mile road

With five lanes for car travel, 14 Mile Road in downtown Clawson is generally designed for the automobile.

In all of the City of Clawson’s recent planning documents, strengthening downtown and ensuring a safe transportation network for all residents rise to the top of long-range planning goals. Clawson was an early adopter of a Complete Streets policy, having passed a resolution supporting it in 2011. This policy is intended to “enable safe access for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders of all ages and abilities.”

In the 2024 Downtown Master Plan, the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) specifically addresses these goals, along with others related to improving parking opportunities, advancing sustainability and supporting public art, to name a few.

One important strategy that has been discussed in the past five years is the idea of reprioritizing travel lanes through downtown to focus more on pedestrians, rather than automobiles. A pedestrian-oriented street offers the following benefits to downtown:

  • Economic enhancement: People on foot tend to browse more throughout the downtown area, leading to increased spending at local businesses. Safer street crossings, wider sidewalks and attractive streetscapes make it easier and more pleasant to linger and explore.
  • Vibrant Atmosphere: A lively flow of pedestrians creates a sense of buzz and energy, attracting residents and visitors alike.
  • Safer and Healthier: Reduced car traffic translates to a safer and more enjoyable environment for pedestrians, cyclists, and children. This can also encourage walking and cycling, promoting a healthier community.
  • Community Hub: Pedestrian-friendly streets become a natural gathering point, fostering a stronger sense of community and encouraging interaction.

As the Master Plan explores, there is an opportunity to retrofit 14 Mile Road into a pedestrian-oriented street in the downtown area. The plan refers to this as a “road diet,” which is a traffic calming strategy that redistributes street space. The freed-up space can be used for wider sidewalks, protected bike lanes, or, as is suggested for Clawson, on-street parking.