The
Woodward Dream Cruise is on August 16 this year, and while there are plenty of folks who can't wait, there are plenty of others already irritated by the whole event. Included on that list would be environmentalists.
At least green is being invited to the party at all this year. The
NextCruise, being held on Saturday in Pleasant Ridge, will feature 30 green vehicles from the top nine auto manufacturers around the globe. Visitors will be able to drive the vehicles -- including a Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, a 2009 Mercedes-Benz ML 320 BlueTEC, three Toyota hybrids, a hybrid Saturn Vue and a hybrid Ford Escape.
Back in March, Detroit-based
Carbon Credit Environmental Services announced they would be offsetting the carbon emissions from the Dream Cruise -- but apparently, the deal was never sealed and it is not happening this year. While offsetting has its critics, it certainly would have been a nice gesture from the event -- which, you'll note clogs the street on a hot summer day with hundreds of cars pre-dating any kind of emissions controls whatsoever.
As for protests and the like, the Sierra Club holds an annual "Green Cruise," which promotes walking and cycling, the weekend prior to the Dream Cruise -- but the organization chooses not to directly engage with the actual Dream Cruise.
Meanwhile, a less established group has decided to face the cruise head-on with an event being called "Disrupt Their Dream." The
Critical Mass-style bike ride will take place at 3 p.m. on the day of the Dream Cruise; riders are asked to meet at the corner of Nine Mile and Woodward.
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh
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