Getting Around Detroit: Your Comprehensive Guide to Transportation

The car is king in the Motor City, as you might expect in the USA’s auto-making hub. Back in the day, everyone in Detroit worked in the motor industry and cars were famously cheap, leading to the city never developing an integrated public transportation system.

Modern Detroit is quite spread out; therefore, you’ll appreciate having your own wheels if you want to buzz between neighborhoods. However, new transport options are making the city easier to navigate. Detroit recently rolled out a handy streetcar route, a convenient bike share program, and enhanced bus services.

Here’s the lowdown on driving, public transport options, and the other top ways to get around the city.

Tips for Driving in Detroit

Driving is how most people explore the Motor City, as it remains the quickest and easiest way to cover Detroit’s vast expanse. Traffic flows fairly smoothly, especially if you avoid I-94 and I-75, the major highways slicing through town. Five major avenues spread out from downtown to the suburbs: Gratiot, Michigan, Grand River, Jefferson, and Woodward. If you ever get lost, hopping on one of these thoroughfares will guide you back downtown.

The rush hours every morning (7 am to 9 am) and evening (4 pm to 6 pm) can be busy, but the roads rarely grind to a halt. Parking is widely available and cheap ($2 to $5 per hour) compared to other big cities, both on the street and in parking lots.

If you plan to hire a car, the usual international hire firms are represented at Detroit Metro Airport.

Ride the QLine Streetcar to Detroit’s Top Sights

For those who do not drive, you can easily zip around downtown Detroit without a car. Launched in 2017, the QLine streetcar runs along Woodward Ave, connecting downtown, Midtown, New City, and the North End neighborhoods, providing access to many of the main attractions.

Top draws such as Campus Martius Park, the theater district, and the Detroit Institute of Arts all lie along the 3.3 mile-long, 12-station route. While you may have to walk a bit from the stops, the QLine is a great way to hit the highlights without a vehicle.

The clean, wifi-enabled streetcars run every 15 minutes from 8 am to 8 pm (until 10 pm Friday and Saturday), and rides are free until April 2022. Following that, fares will cost $2 for a four-hour pass or $5 for a 24-hour pass, available via the Dart app or at station kiosks.

Hop on a Bus to Travel to Detroit’s Suburbs

The Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) buses operate within the central part of the city, while buses run by SMART (Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation) connect the city to surrounding suburbs. The central station for both is downtown’s Rosa Parks Transit Center.

While locals often complain that Detroit’s buses are slow and infrequent, there are exceptions. You can get around efficiently on the city’s FAST buses — buses on the SMART network that travel along three main avenues: Gratiot, Woodward, and Michigan. These services run more frequently than other buses (usually every 15 to 30 minutes) and have fewer stops.

A useful route is the FAST Michigan bus, which goes to Dearborn and onward to Detroit Metro Airport (a one-hour ride with stops at both terminals).

Public Transport Passes

On Detroit’s buses and streetcars, the Dart Pass operates as a public transport pass. It’s valid on all buses and the QLine streetcar, and you can purchase a physical pass at transport stations or pay via their app. It costs $2 for a four-hour pass and $5 for a 24-hour pass that allows unlimited rides during that time.

Pedal Around Detroit on a MoGo Bicycle

MoGo is Detroit’s bike share program, featuring 620 bikes at 75 stations scattered around downtown, Midtown, and nearby suburbs. A pay-as-you-go pass costs $1 to unlock the bike and 25 cents for each minute you ride. A prepaid pass costs $18, covering two hours of ride time that you can use all at once or split into multiple trips.

Detroit is enjoyable to explore on two wheels. The city is flat and experiences minimal traffic outside of rush hours. Notable leisure rides include the Detroit Riverwalk and Belle Isle trail, which take you around some of the most enticing parts of town, avoiding roads.

Enjoy the View from the People Mover Light Rail

Detroit’s People Mover completes a 3-mile loop on elevated tracks around downtown. This unique ride provides spectacular views of the city and riverfront, making it an attractive tourist attraction.

Why do people love the People Mover? It’s nostalgic. Although it doesn’t cover extensive distances, it floats 45 feet above street level and swings close enough to downtown skyscrapers that you can almost touch them. The short journey costs just 75 cents—definitely worth it for the views!

Ridesharing and Taxis in Detroit

Lyft and Uber are readily available in downtown, Midtown, Corktown, and other popular neighborhoods. Conventional taxis are often lined up outside downtown hotels and the Huntington Place convention center. Some companies may be hesitant to take longer trips across town; therefore, Checker Cab is a generally reliable choice.

Accessible Transportation in Detroit

Detroit’s buses, QLine streetcar, and People Mover train are all ADA-accessible. They include features such as wheelchair lifts or ramps, and stops announced via both audio and digital displays. Service animals are allowed on all forms of transport. MoGo also offers adaptive bicycles through its adaptive bike share program.

For further information, visit Detroit’s Office of Disability Affairs.