Detroit's street layout is truly unique, combining wheel-and-spoke, grid, and strip-farm near the River layouts. Six major spoke roads radiate out from downtown; they are, in clockwise order, Fort Street, Michigan Avenue, Grand River Avenue, Woodward Avenue, Gratiot Avenue, and Jefferson Avenue. Woodward Avenue runs northwest-southeast more or less and divides the northern half of Detroit into east and west; West Warren Street, for instance, becomes East Warren Street when it crosses Woodward. Smaller streets generally conform to a strict grid pattern, but the orientation of the grid and the size and shape of blocks frequently varies to fit better with the spoke roads. Downtown, the layout abandons the grid design, with the spoke roads converging in a confusing but oddly logical arrangement of diagonal, mostly one-way streets.
By car
Detroit spreads over a large area, it is difficult to be without a car. An extensive freeway system and ample parking make the region one of the most auto-friendly in North America. Detroit has one of America's most modern freeway systems. See the Michigan Department of Transportation (http://www.michigan.gov/mdot) website for a current listing of downtown road closures and construction projects. Downtown has parking garages in strategic locations.
Greektown Casino, located downtown, has a free 13 floor parking garage. Visitors are welcome to pay to park at the Renaissance Center garage. There are plenty of pay-to-park garages, lots, and valet near the Greektown/stadium areas. Premium parking right next to the stadium is well worth the extra price and usually available during a game. Downtown has an ease of entry from the freeways that may surprise new visitors. Valet parking is available at four Renaissance Center locations, the main Winter Garden entrance along the Riverfront, the Jefferson Avenue lobby, Marriott hotel entrance west, and Seldom Blues entrance west.
Detroit has an abundance of taxi, limo, and shuttle services. Car rental prices are reasonable.
While MDOT has since discontinued emphasis on the names of freeways, most locals still cling to their names. Make sure you have an atlas with the names as many road s change names as you go along them.
The Mixing Bowl is the confluence of the Lodge/Northwestern, the Reuther, Telegraph Rd, and Franklin Rd. The Spaghetti Bowl is the confluence of 96/275, the Reuther, the M-5, and the Haggerty Connector. The Junction is the confluence of the Jeffries, 275, and M-14 on the far west side suburbs. The Triangle is the beginning of the Jeffries at the Fisher Freeway. The Interchange is the interchange of the Reuther and the Chrysler Freeways. Many freeways bend and because of this many bends are called Curves:
9 Mile Curve, Gardenia Curve, Rochester Curve, Big Beaver Curve, Crooks Curve all on I-75
Dequindre Curve on I-696
Mound Curve on I-696
Wyoming Curve and Linwood Curve on the Lodge Freeway
Fisher/Chrysler Curve: Near downtown Detroit, I-75 makes one of the sharpest turns in the interstate system. It is also the change between the Fisher Freeway and Chrysler Freeway. So if you are going north on the curve it is the Chrysler Curve, if south, the Fisher Curve.
Unlike in most other US cities, traffic signals change to yellow while the pedestrian signal "hand" is still flashing. Exercise caution at intersections to avoid hitting pedestrians scrambling to cross the street when the signal is yellow.
By Elevated Rail
Detroit does not have a elevated/subway network that covers the entire city. In 1987, the People Mover (http://www.thepeoplemover.com/) was completed, an automated, elevated rail system that runs a three mile loop in the downtown area. It is the best way to get around the downtown area. A round trip excursion, covering 13 stations, takes approximately 20 min, and offers great views of the city's downtown landmarks. Signature stops include the Renaissance Center GM HQ & Retail Complex, Greektown, Joe Louis Arena Home of the Detroit Red Wings, Cobo Convention Center, and Cadillac Center Campus Martius Park. The stations feature original works by local artists. Standard fare $0.75 in cash, and a token can also be bought at the same price.
By bus
The Detroit Department of Transportation (http://www.detroitmi.gov/...) provides mass transit bus service within the city of Detroit. Downtown has a the new Rosa Parks Transit Center. DDOT buses are yellow and green. For safety, DDOT buses may be patrolled by the Wayne County sheriff's deputies. 17 routes serve the central bus terminal, which is downtown at Griswold and Shelby Streets. The standard fare $1.50; transfers are $0.25.
In addition, people traveling throughout Detroit and the suburbs may use the SMART bus system, which services most areas in metro Detroit. (http://www.smartbus.org/s...). Standard fare is $2.00 and a transfer is $0.25.
Note that the bus service is worse than in most other cities and should be used only as a last resort you have too little money for a taxi and cannot drive.