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Open Call
Updated: November 17, 2021
The Accessible Streets Studio, a collaboration between Ford’s Michigan Central and Newlab, is working toward making everyday life easier to navigate and creating opportunities for Detroit residents by delivering innovative technologies, products, and services to address transportation and accessibility challenges.
This year, seven companies are either planning to or actively testing their products and services for a limited time in collaboration with Detroit’s neighborhoods:
Providing people with access to real-time information including transportation resources, updates from Detroit’s local businesses and community groups and tips to help residents and visitors find their way around, presented on solar-powered digital signs with an e-ink display. The first two signs are planned to go live in Corktown near 1907 Michigan Avenue, with additional locations in Mexicantown in development.
If you’re a local business or community group who has a message to share with the neighborhood, get in touch to share content that can be displayed on the signs. Reach out to Eleonore Evans: eleonore@soofadigital.com
Offering people an affordable and reliable way to get local goods delivered, such as groceries, using a self-controlled robot.
Kiwibot has partnered with local restaurant Bobcat Bonnie’s in Corktown to provide robot-powered food delivery service in Southwest Detroit. Weekday delivery service from Bobcat Bonnie’s is available from 11 am - 4 pm from October-December. Visit this page to learn more and place an order: https://bobcatbonnies-detroit.myshopify.com/
Electric vehicles offered to Detroiters at affordable rates through a car share program that is designed to expand neighborhood-based transportation options.
The ride share vehicle will be available to the public for use, and more information on accessibility and timing can be found on Sway's Corktown Carshare website.
Navigation assistance for blind and visually impaired people provided through an app available for download on smartphones that uses audio assistance.
Lazarillo has officially launched its app mapping the neighborhood of Corktown, including integration with local transit options and profiles for over 100 local businesses. Download the app on Android or iOS and if you’re interested in having your business featured on the Lazarillo app visit: http://lazarillo.app/detroit.
E-scooters offered to Detroiters through a network of secure and accessible universal micromobility charging hubs.
KUHMUTE has partnered with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) to deploy its first Detroit based charging hub on the Local Union 58 property located at 1358 Abbott Street in Detroit. The charging hub features Boaz Bikes' scooters which are currently available for public use. The bikes and KUHMUTE station may be accessed through the Boaz and KUHMUTE mobile applications.
Making streets and sidewalks safer and more accessible for people by collecting completely anonymized curb-level activity via light pole-mounted sensors, to support urban planning that accounts for everyone, not just cars.
Numina is installing three sensors to overlook the Michigan Central and Rosa Parks Blvd intersection.
Solar-powered smart poles that provide access to WiFi and improve street visibility through additional lighting.
Solartonic is in discussion with several local stakeholders to determine where the first Solartonic solar-powered smart pole will be deployed with the Detroit community.
Detroit communities and residents are invited to interact with these new products and services for a limited time and provide feedback for the companies to understand how helpful their offerings are for Detroiters. Based on feedback and thoughts from the community and traction with the City and local businesses, some of the products and services may become a permanent option.
Interested in trying one of the products or services below, have a question, or want to share feedback?
Mural created by Demaiiico and Dayana Juarez.
