New Towpath development kicking off Akron Bike Week

Sept. 2, 2010 - West Side Leader 

By Kathleen Folkerth

GREATER AKRON — A new development with the Ohio & Erie Canalway Towpath Trail and a new local bicycle cooperative will be highlighted during the third annual Akron Bike Week, Sept. 3-12.

An announcement about the Towpath will kick off the week’s activities, according to organizers. City officials said Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic plans to make an announcement about a new Towpath Trail connector in Akron tomorrow, Sept. 3, at 11 a.m. at the Northside Station, 27 Ridge St.

Andy Davis, a traffic signal engineer with the city of Akron who serves on the city’s bike committee, said the mayor is expected to unveil plans for a new connector between the train station and the Towpath.

“It will be easier to get on or easier for people on the Towpath to get off and check out what’s going on at Northside,” Davis said. “It’s kind of cool that the Towpath is making its way into town and we’re seeing more and more cyclists in the downtown area.”

Bike Week was organized by the city of Akron, The University of Akron (UA), Downtown Akron Partnership, University Park Alliance, Cascade Locks Park Association, Akron Bicycle Club and Metro Parks, Serving Summit County.

Many events and activities are returning from last year, such as the Bike the Akron Marathon Blue Line Route, which will take place Sept. 6, Labor Day, starting at 8 a.m. at the Spaghetti Warehouse parking lot, 520 S. Main St. This event gives riders the chance to ride the entire 26-mile route around the city accompanied by other riders.

Also back again is the Crank UP! University Park Bicycle Scavenger Hunt, scheduled for Sept. 12 at 12:30 p.m. Part road race, part scavenger hunt, the event will see participants follow a map of the University Park neighborhood to find a list of checkpoints. There will be both long and short routes available for participating riders.

All participants must take part in a mandatory safety session at the beginning. A $5 donation is suggested to participate. The event will begin at UA’s Student Union, 303 Carroll St. To participate, send an e-mail to info@upakron.com.

One of highlights of this year’s Bike Week is the grand opening of the Summit Cycling Center, a bicycle co-op in Canal Place, Sept. 11 from 4 to 8 p.m. The center promotes the use of bicycles as alternates to other modes of transportation.

Baker, who is involved in the co-op, said organizers looked to the Ohio City Bicycle Co-op in Cleveland as a model.

“The bicycle co-op is member-run and meant to provide bicycle education and a place for members to learn how to repair their own bikes,” Davis said. “And we recycle bikes. We’ll take older bikes, refurbish them and get them back out into the community.”

At the open house, visitors can find out more about the co-op while enjoying music and food and trying out bicycle polo.

Events taking place at the center are a free bicycle maintenance workshop Sept. 4 from 6 to 8 p.m. and an introduction to traffic skills workshop Sept. 11 from noon to 1 p.m.

The center also will host a social bike ride around Akron Sept. 11 from 2 to 4 p.m., with participants meeting at the center, 530 S. Main St, Suite 1715. Use the last entrance to Canal Place before Bartges Street to get to the center. For more details, go to www.sum mitcycling.org.

Bike Week also includes the annual STOMP Bicycle Adventure, a fundraiser for Metro Parks, Sept. 4 as well as several rides organized by the Akron Bicycle Club. The monthly Critical Mass bike ride through Highland Square is also scheduled to take place during Bike Week. Participants will meet Sept. 10 at 5 p.m. at the Highland Square Branch Library, 807 W. Market St.

Davis said many of the Bike Week activities are things that take place already in the Akron area, but the week allows organizers to spread the word about them to others.

“In general, it’s meant to raise awareness of activities already available for people to do cycling-wise,” he said. “We publicize them for one week to raise awareness at this time of year, when students are coming back and the fall weather is wonderful for riding.”