David Byrne, of Talking Heads fame, has written a book that, upon hearing the title, sounds like gold. It’s good, but if you’re looking for an enthusiast’s spin on the virtues of cycling to pump you up, you may be disappointed. If, however, you enjoy reading one intelligent, well-traveled man’s observations on how we humans live, and how we might live better, you’ll be happy.
Book Club: Bicycle Diaries
January 13th, 2010Blimp City Bike & Hike
December 1st, 2009A brand new bike shop is now open in Merriman Valley. Way to go, Andy!
Akron Bike Week 2009
August 25th, 2009
The schedule of events for the second annual Akron Bike Week has been finalized.
The week will start and end on the newest section of the Towpath Trail, the floating bridge across Summit Lake, with a dedication ceremony on Friday morning, September 4, and a group ride across the bridge Saturday morning, September 12.
Other don’t-miss events in the days between include the MetroParks Harvest Moon Ride, STOMP, the Tour of Akron, a bicycle scavenger hunt, Critical Mass, and a handful of excellent bike-related workshops.
For a complete list of times and events, visit akronbikeinfo.org.
Bike Akron will be covering the events in detail. Look for updates throughout the week.
East Mill Street Bridge Construction
August 12th, 2009East Mill Street between Broadway and College Streets was closed this Monday, August 10. The city will be completely replacing the bridge that spans the railroad tracks downtown. The project is planned for completion by the spring of 2010.
Book Club: Pedaling Revolution
August 10th, 2009
Welcome to the Bike Akron Book Club. Today’s selection is “Pedaling Revolution: How Cyclists Are Changing American Cities” by Jeff Mapes.
Mapes, a senior political reporter for The Oregonian, examines the growing bicycle culture and how it is effecting the look and feel of cities and small towns across America in this 274-page volume. Far more than a book of statistics, Mapes gives a thorough background on bicycle advocacy in North America, including the names, dates, key players, and political actions that have shaped the game thus far.
The Rights and Duties of Cyclists – Bicycle Safety
August 9th, 2009League of American Bicyclists certified traffic cycling instructors demonstrate the rights and duties of cyclists in the United States.
Akron Bicycle Plan, 2009
August 5th, 2009Below is a link to the Akron Bicycle Plan released in May of this year. The report was prepared by the city’s Departments of Public Service, Planning, and Economic Development. This is an update to the Bicycle and Pedestrian Needs Report released last year.
The report seeks to establish a vision for Akron’s cycling future. Within the 84 pages are background information on the current state of Akron’s cycling scene, thoughts on encouraging cycling within the city, engineering goals, and safety statistics.
Akron Critical Mass
August 2nd, 2009
Critical Mass, downtown Akron, July 31
Akron’s Critical Mass ride this past Friday saw about 30 cyclists take to the streets for a loop through downtown Akron. The fun continued with a picnic at Hardesty Park with the help of the Akron Cooking Coalition.
3-Foot Bill
July 31st, 2009On June 30, Senator Teresa Fedor (D-Toledo) introduced a bill to amend the Ohio Revised Code to establish a safe passing distance of three feet between motor vehicles and cyclists. The announcement of the bill came at the conclusion of her third annual “Bike to the Capitol” tour this past May.
WKSU interviewed Chuck Smith, chair of the Ohio Bicycle Federation, regarding the proposed law.
The Ohio Bicycle Federation also posted news of the bill’s announcement on their site as well as links to their proposal and the bill itself.
Unfortunately, passing of the bill has been postponed due to conflicts with the budget session.
Downtown to Montrose Sans Market
July 31st, 2009The most direct way to get from downtown Akron to the Montrose area is via West Market Street. If you’ve ever set foot in Akron, however, you know Market is not the most bike-friendly road.
Of course it is possible to ride down this main thoroughfare, and parts of Market are quite comfortable for cyclists (near Highland Square). Yet heavy traffic is almost always unavoidable, especially nearer to Montrose.
