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The Greater Akron area will be the scene of many events marking National Bike Week starting May 14.  Among the events scheduled are:

Bicycle Commuting Workshop – May 14: Hosted by Akron Traffic Engineer Andy Davis, this free workshop is scheduled from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Summit Cycling Center located at 530 S. Main Street, Room #1715 in Akron.  Attendees may bring their bikes for safety checks as they prepare for Bike-to-Work Week under the guidance of a League of American Bicyclists Cycling Instructor.  The workshop will include advice on how to prepare for your commute, traffic skills, route planning and a practice ride of five miles.  Please note that helmets are required for the five-mile ride. If you are interested in this workshop, please click Summit Cycling Center.

The FirstMerit Towpath Century Ride – May 14 and May 15: Coordinated by the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition and sponsored by FirstMerit Corporation, this event is a fundraiser for the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail.  Approximately 50 cyclists will travel the 101 miles of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, from Cleveland to New Philadelphia.  Each cyclist will secure pledges that will sponsor them on a per-mile basis with all of the proceeds going to the continued development of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail.  If you are interested in this event, please click FirstMerit Towpath Century Ride.

Safe Routes Hudson’s Bike/Walk to School – May 18: Students from Evamere Elementary, East Woods Elementary, McDowell Elementary and Hudson Middle schools will be walking and cycling to school along with parents, teachers and community leaders.  Tables will be set up outside the schools to greet walkers and cyclists with water bottles and It’s Cool to Walk to School stickers.  The Hudson schools will be among the 5,000 schools expected to participate in this nationwide event.  This event is organized by Safe Routes Hudson, a community-initiated effort to improve walking and cycling conditions in the city.  If you are interested in this event or this organization, please click Safe Routes Hudson.

Commuter Challenge – May 14-May 20: AMATS is challenging city of Akron employees to get on their bikes during the week of May 14 in celebration of National Bike-to-Work Week.  Our agency invites you to participate in our Commuter Challenge to promote cycling as a sustainable form of transportation in our area.

We will be giving away prizes to commuters who log the most time commuting on their bikes.  Registrants will receive a free Switching-Gears water bottle from AMATS just for signing up.  To learn more about this event and to register, please click Commuter Challenge.

Energizer Stations – May: AMATS will also host Energizer Stations, which are informational booths at various locations during the month of May.  Cyclists can stop at these stations to learn about the initiatives that AMATS is undertaking to promote cycling in the Greater Akron area including the upcoming Switching-Gears web site.  Participants may request a list of station locations after registering for Commuter Challenge.

If you are aware of other events in celebration of National Bike Week that you want to share with us, please contact AMATS at 330-375-2436 or email us at amats@akronohio.gov.  Good cycling everybody!