| FIVE POINTS |
The Five Points bus line was a lesser known DSR route which
operated along the city's far west border — in the far northwest
corner of the city. Five Points actually serves as the boundary road
between the City of Detroit and Redford Township. The bus route
began on October 5, 1941, and continued on as a DSR bus line for
nearly twenty years.
The original Five Points route began at Grand River and Lahser,
and operated via Redford, Lahser, Seven Mile, Five Points, Eight
Mile, and then Lahser back to Grand River. Both service and
ridership on the line were light, with headways scheduled at 15
minutes during peak hours and 30 minutes during midday hours.
Effective on June 19, 1951, the Five Points line replaced a portion
of the Six Mile (McNichols) Shuttle, and was extended along
McNichols to the Glenhurst Golf Course (just past the western city
limits). Headways on the Five Points-Six Mile Shuttle averaged
20 minutes during peak hours and 40 minutes during off-peak
hours. However, beginning October 2, 1953, the Six Mile service was
discontinued and the route was cut back to McNichols and Lahser
Road. Effective May 1, 1955, the Sunday service on the Five
Points line, along with nine other bus routes, was discontinued due
to "little demand" on that day of the week.
On average, two to three coaches serviced the line during peak
hours, while only one coach operated during the base. During the
1950's, the 31-passenger Fords, Transits and Checkers assigned
out of the Coolidge Terminal serviced the line.
The Five Points line would continue in operation until the route was
discontinued on April 1, 1960. The Lahser and Eight Mile portions of
the route were replaced by the new Eight Mile West line. The
portion of the route which operated along Five Points was only
operated along the city's far west border — in the far northwest
corner of the city. Five Points actually serves as the boundary road
between the City of Detroit and Redford Township. The bus route
began on October 5, 1941, and continued on as a DSR bus line for
nearly twenty years.
The original Five Points route began at Grand River and Lahser,
and operated via Redford, Lahser, Seven Mile, Five Points, Eight
Mile, and then Lahser back to Grand River. Both service and
ridership on the line were light, with headways scheduled at 15
minutes during peak hours and 30 minutes during midday hours.
Effective on June 19, 1951, the Five Points line replaced a portion
of the Six Mile (McNichols) Shuttle, and was extended along
McNichols to the Glenhurst Golf Course (just past the western city
limits). Headways on the Five Points-Six Mile Shuttle averaged
20 minutes during peak hours and 40 minutes during off-peak
hours. However, beginning October 2, 1953, the Six Mile service was
discontinued and the route was cut back to McNichols and Lahser
Road. Effective May 1, 1955, the Sunday service on the Five
Points line, along with nine other bus routes, was discontinued due
to "little demand" on that day of the week.
On average, two to three coaches serviced the line during peak
hours, while only one coach operated during the base. During the
1950's, the 31-passenger Fords, Transits and Checkers assigned
out of the Coolidge Terminal serviced the line.
The Five Points line would continue in operation until the route was
discontinued on April 1, 1960. The Lahser and Eight Mile portions of
the route were replaced by the new Eight Mile West line. The
portion of the route which operated along Five Points was only
© 2007
serviced during the weekday morning and evening rush hours. A branch extension of the Grand
River Express line would begin at Eight Mile and Five Points, and operate via Five Points to Grand
River. From there coaches would continue along their express route into downtown.
Information for the above article compiled from data info supplied by Jack E. Schramm, courtesy of "DSR BUS ROUTES, 1932-1945"
("Detroit's DSR, Part 2" -- March-April 1992 edition of Motor Coach Age magazine), and "DSR BUS ROUTES, 1945-1975" ("Detroit's
DSR, Part 3" -- May-June 1993 edition of Motor Coach Age magazine), and also from the 1957-58 and 1963 DSR Service Maps in the
author's possession. The 1959 Five Points transfer is courtesy of the Stan Sycko transfer collection.
River Express line would begin at Eight Mile and Five Points, and operate via Five Points to Grand
River. From there coaches would continue along their express route into downtown.
Information for the above article compiled from data info supplied by Jack E. Schramm, courtesy of "DSR BUS ROUTES, 1932-1945"
("Detroit's DSR, Part 2" -- March-April 1992 edition of Motor Coach Age magazine), and "DSR BUS ROUTES, 1945-1975" ("Detroit's
DSR, Part 3" -- May-June 1993 edition of Motor Coach Age magazine), and also from the 1957-58 and 1963 DSR Service Maps in the
author's possession. The 1959 Five Points transfer is courtesy of the Stan Sycko transfer collection.