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Summit Cycling Center's "How We Roll" program is funded through a $10,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Health. The 4- to 6-mile tours are designed for groups of 2-5 riders and prepare them to use their bikes for daily transportation, such as work, school or shopping.

(Summit Cycling Center)

AKRON, Ohio - Summit Cycling Center's "How We Roll" program is gearing up to prepare Akronites to ride their bikes safely and comfortably.

Partnering with Summit County Public Health, the center's program offers free, fun and informative bike tours around Summit County that prepare riders to use their bikes for daily transportation, such as work, school or shopping.

Summit Cycling is a nonprofit co-operative that promotes bicycling and bike safety and education programs in Akron and Summit County. The How We Roll program is funded through a $10,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Health.

The 4- to 6-mile tours are designed for groups of 2 to 5 riders and can be scheduled at any time during the day or on weekends, said Summit Cycling Executive Director Andy Davis, a retired engineer from Akron's traffic engineering division.

"What we're trying to do is get people comfortable with riding so maybe they want to ride to work or do more than the Towpath" he said. "We try to make it fun and help people get to know different things to do around town."

The How We Roll program also aims to make traveling equitable so those who can't afford cars have safe access to the roadways, organizers said.

Davis will co-lead the tours with Renee Whittenberger, a civil engineer with expertise in multimodal transportation.

The program also aims to make traveling equitable, so those who can't afford cars have safe access to the roadways, said Whittenberger, who trained with the program Yay! Bikes in Columbus, which promotes biking for transportation and enrichment.

Whittenberger wants to help bike riders understand they have a right to be part of the city and become more confident sharing the road with drivers.

About 20 tours will take place over the spring and summer. Riders can use their own bikes or biking equipment will be provided. Groups that would like to schedule tours should contact Davis at 330-715-1368.

Summit Cycling participates in numerous Akron initiatives, including building bikes for the LeBron James Family Foundation's Wheels for Education program.

The center offers ongoing workshops at its warehouse at 200 South Main Street, in the basement of the Barley House next to Lock 3. Parking is in the State Street deck. Hours are 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays and 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays.

For information about Summit Cycling Center programs visit its website, Facebook page or call 330-431-6698.

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