What's New

We’re hosting our first Bike-N-Brainstorm ride for 2013 in Kent on Saturday, April 20.  AMATS’ Bike-N-Brainstorms are an innovative way that the agency uses to gain public insight as to what should be done to improve biking in the Greater Akron area.

The Kent Bike-N-Brainstorm will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 20 at the new Kent Central Gateway located at 201 E. Erie Street in downtown Kent.  The city of Kent, Kent State University (KSU) and the Portage Area Regional Transportation Authority (PARTA) are partnering with AMATS in this event.

Attendees at the Kent Bike-N-Brainstorm will have a chance to share their ideas like attendees at last May's Market Street Bike-N-Brainstorm.

A Bike-N-Brainstorm begins with cyclists meeting at a designated area before embarking on a group bike ride along key corridors to experience firsthand what it’s like to bike there.  At the end of their ride, group members are invited to participate in a brainstorming session with agency personnel to share their ideas as to what can be done to improve bike travel within the corridor.

The agency hosted two well-attended rides in Akron in 2012 and a number of the ideas offered by cyclists during these events made their way into the 2012 Bike Plan, the agency’s long-term vision and priorities for bike transportation.

Participants may choose to travel on a 5.3-mile or a 10.3-mile route through various parts of Kent.  Short breaks are scheduled along the ride to highlight future bike projects in the city, such as the addition of new bike lanes, upcoming links between the city and the KSU campus, and connections to The PORTAGE Hike & Bike Trail.  To view a map of the 10.3-mile route, please click here.

Bikes will be available for rent through KSU by contacting Dave Herpy at dherpy@kent.edu or 330-672-2803.  Those interested in renting should contact the university by Wednesday, April 17.

The Kent Bike-N-Brainstorm coincides with the Main Street Block Party, which is part of the city’s Seventh Annual Who’s Your Mama? Earth Day and Environmental Film Festival.  The block party will begin at 11 a.m. on East Main Street, between Depeyster and Water streets, and will feature “green” vendors, alternative energy displays, music, children’s poetry and a parade.  To learn more about the festival and related events, please click here.