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Frequently Asked Questions
M-1, commonly known as Woodward Avenue, is a north–south state trunkline highway. It is one of the five principal avenues of Detroit, along with Michigan, Grand River, Gratiot, and Jefferson avenues. The name Woodward Avenue has become synonymous with Detroit, cruising culture and the automotive industry. There is no clear-cut date when casual driving turned into cruising, although it generally began in the years after World War II. The trunkline is the dividing line between Detroit's East and West sides, and connects to some of the city's major freeways like Interstate 94 (I-94, Edsel Ford Freeway) and M-8 (Davison Freeway).
The Woodward Dream Cruise began as a small fundraiser to raise money for a soccer field in Ferndale. In August 1995, Nelson House and a group of volunteers looked to relive and recreate the nostalgic heydays of the 50s and 60s, when youth, music and Motor City steel roamed Woodward Avenue, America’s first highway. That year, 250,000 people participated—nearly ten times the number expected. The rest, as they say, is history.
Today, the Woodward Dream Cruise is the world’s largest one-day automotive event, drawing 1.5 million people and 40,000 classic cars each year from around the globe—from as far away as New Zealand, Australia, Japan and the former Soviet Union. North American cruisers from California, Georgia, Canada and all points in between caravan to Metro Detroit to participate in what has become, for many, an annual rite of summer.
Today, the Woodward Dream Cruise is the world’s largest one-day automotive event, drawing 1.5 million people and 40,000 classic cars each year from around the globe—from as far away as New Zealand, Australia, Japan and the former Soviet Union. North American cruisers from California, Georgia, Canada and all points in between caravan to Metro Detroit to participate in what has become, for many, an annual rite of summer.
The Birmingham Police Department increases patrols on Woodward as traffic and noise levels increase each year. The department also coordinates enforcement activities with other law enforcement agencies along the Woodward Ave corridor. In some instances, the City may also request assistance from the Oakland County Sheriff's Office and/or the Michigan State Police.
Woodward Ave is a state highway, controlled by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). All signage, traffic signalization and speed limits are determined by MDOT, not the City. The issue of noise on Woodward Ave is enforced by the police department in accordance with the Michigan Motor Vehicle Code. Current motor vehicle codes make noise enforcement problematic for officers to enforce. To address this, the City is working with locally elected State representatives to clarify language in the motor vehicle code to allow officers to be able to enforce noise violations as well as address modified exhaust systems.
Officers will issue tickets to drivers engaging in illegal activities such as speeding, drag racing, equipment violations or any other violation of the Michigan Motor Vehicle Code.
No, MDOT will not permit closures or lane restrictions due to the traffic volumes Woodward is designed to service.