Agency’s Cycling Initiative Rolls on With 2012 Bike Plan

The Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study (AMATS) continues to build on the momentum of its ongoing cycling initiative in the Greater Akron area with the release of its 2012 Bike Plan.  The plan presents an analysis of the region’s existing bike facilities and offers recommendations to improve the area’s developing bike network.

“Providing well-defined routes and better facilities for on-road biking will improve safety and encourage more residents to consider cycling as an option.”

- Krista Beniston, AMATS Planning Coordinator -

In crafting the plan, the agency actively sought the insights of those who use the area’s existing bike network the most - cyclists.  Planning Coordinator Krista Beniston says that two of the biggest concerns identified by the cycling community were the needs for on-road bike facilities and safety improvements. 

“People are less likely to bike to work, school or other destinations if there are not safe, convenient routes to get them there,” Beniston continues, “Providing well-defined routes and better facilities for on-road biking will improve safety and encourage more residents to consider cycling as an option.” 

The plan identifies 63 priority investment corridors for on-road bike improvement projects, such as bike lanes, signage and “sharrows.”  These corridors create connections between communities and major attractions, such as retail centers, downtowns, parks and schools, many of which are clustered along busy highway corridors.  Beniston explains that specific roadways, such as Akron’s Exchange Street and state Route 59, were selected with commuters and recreational cyclists in mind based on input - not only from cyclists – but local communities and regional park districts.

The agency and project sponsors will ultimately have to strike a balance between safety and accessibility as they pursue projects along these corridors, many of which follow high-traffic volume and high-speed roadways, she adds.  Those issues are to be expected as the area transitions from completing its recreational bike trails to focusing on developing a bike network for commuters as well, she explains.   

“With this plan, we’re also making a greater effort to tie-in cycling with public transit.  Sometimes cyclists can only travel part of their routes by bike.  That’s where Summit County’s METRO and the Portage Area Regional Transportation Authority come in,” she continues, “Both transit authorities have been adding bike amenities to their facilities and vehicles in recent years.  Something as simple as a bike rack on a bus makes a big difference and we want to build on those efforts.”

Completing the 2012 Bike Plan is just one leg of the journey that the area is taking to develop a comprehensive bike network in Portage and Summit counties, Beniston observes.  The plan will be a key part of the agency’s upcoming Regional Transportation Plan, which looks ahead to 2035.

The 2012 Bike Plan is available on the AMATS web site’s Biking in the Region page.  The release of the plan follows the recent debuts of the agency’s new cycle advocacy web site – Switching-Gears.org – and a new free resource – a Bike User Map. 

Through Switching-Gears.org, people can learn about cycling and help shape public policy by sharing their insights with AMATS as to what the agency can do to improve the region’s roads and trails to make them more bike and pedestrian friendly.  The new site features Cycling News, Upcoming Events, Trails and forum pages. 

The map rates major roads in Portage and Summit counties by level of difficulty from “Easy/Beginner” to “Very Difficult/Expert” and includes useful information such as bike shop and trailhead locations.  Anyone interested in receiving a free Bike User Map should complete the online order form available by clicking here. 

To find out more about AMATS planning activities and initiatives, please visit us on Twitter and Facebook and view us on YouTube.

AMATS is the regional transportation planning agency serving the Greater Akron area of Summit County, Portage County, and Chippewa Township in Wayne County.  Please feel free to visit our agency’s web site at www.amatsplanning.org.