A parade of bicyclists on Thursday christened Akron’s new cycle track — a loop that runs along South Main Street and the Towpath Trail downtown.
The path is part of the city’s effort to become more bicycle friendly and to encourage people to leave the Towpath Trail and experience downtown.
“Downtowns that are attractive centers, especially for a young workforce, have amenities like cycle tracks and bike trails,” said Suzie Graham, president and chief executive officer of the Downtown Akron Partnership. “It positions us more as a forward-thinking community.”
About 100 people gathered for the official ribbon cutting and inaugural ride that started between the Spaghetti Warehouse and AES building.
The riders included Mayor Dan Horrigan, an enthusiastic bicyclist, who wore a dress shirt, tie and dress pants — along with a helmet. He said there wasn’t enough time to change into more comfortable clothes between appointments.
The loop, nearly a mile long, runs along South Main then dips onto the Diamond Boardwalk at Canal Park before returning to the Towpath Trail.
Along the street, the two-lane track is protected from motorists by large planters and is marked occasionally by large splashes of green paint.
The Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition, Downtown Akron Partnership, city of Akron and John S. and James L. Knight Foundation partnered on the project.
“It’s awesome,” said Carolyn Thompson, a bicyclist who works in the AES building and came to watch the dedication.
She appreciated that it will bring more visibility to the Towpath Trail downtown.
Dan Rice, president and chief executive officer of the Canalway Coalition, noted that Akron is joining progressive communities such as Portland, Ore., Chicago and Pittsburgh with a protected bike track.
City leaders say they would like to see the protected path extend the length of Main Street in the future.
“We need to keep dreaming bigger,” Horrigan said.
The path is part of the larger iTowpath effort funded by the Knight Foundation. It is one of more than 20 projects attempting to connect the Towpath to local attractions.
Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter at @armonrickABJ.