Creative Clevelanders: Help Me with my Itinerary (Akron, Washington: coop, safe area)

[llowllevellowll]

Hola,

My buddies and I down here in Akron are getting ready for our 3rd Annual Bike to Lake Erie (85-mile round trip). Any avid bicyclists are welcome to join us, by the way.

At any rate, the Towpath ends 6 miles shy of Lake Erie in an industrial part of Harvard Avenue (just E. of the Jennings Freeway)

In previous years, we would venture through urbanized roads west of the Jennings Freeway and onto Dennison Road through residential and business and then hit a street north (Fulton Rd.) and take it on up through downtown.

Does anyone have any better advice here as to what we shall do when we reach Harvard? Is this a dangerous side of the Central-West Side that are are biking upon?

If anyone is willing, please take out a google map and find Harvard and Jennings Freeway, locate Denison and then Fulton Rd which we took north to get into the lake area. (We were riding past Metrohealth in previous years)

There are 4-5 of us typically, so we're not too worried about getting jacked, but then again, you never know. Should we be worried around 3pm and 5pm?

Seeing where I pointed on the map, do you see a good route for us to the beach so that we may have a nice picnic at Lake Erie (this is our victory picnic, hehe)

Thanks for all the help! I'm sure you creative minds will help me shape up a great end-itinerary for our trip!

Josh

[llowllevellowll]

Also - which is safer? Denison west to W.65th to Edgewater Park?

OR

Denison west to Fulton to Edgwater Park?

[tribecavsbrowns]

In my opinion, Fulton is slightly safer than 65th, which is slightly safer than 25th. None of these areas is that bad in the late afternoon. Denison is a lot nicer between the Jennings and Fulton than between Fulton and 65th. Fulton might also be the most pleasant ride. It's fairly urban and close together. It's one of those 1 1/2 lane roads we have in Cleveland where if you're a car you have to change lanes about once every couple blocks, so be aware of that. Enjoy your ride.

[llowllevellowll]

Thank you very much for your advice on that -- I'll stick to Fulton and won't touch W.65th

[Pgserge27]

The Fulton Road Bridge is out over the Metroparks, can't remember if that is south or north of Denison. 65th is still open and the bike tunnel to get to Edgewater is a continuation of West 65th.

[Clevelandgal]

I would direct this question to the Ohio City Bike Coop. Ohio City Bicycle Co-op - Home

they maybe be able to help. Now my thoughts. Fulton is no good b/c a bridge is out. nothing to see either. I have no technology skills to do the map you want ..hope someone can jump in. Here is a neat route. Head North on Jennings from Harvard. It turns into Steelyard dr.....you wind through a mall. When Steelyard rd ends you take a right and will be on Holmeden/Quigley heading north. You will be running through the flats and steel mill with great views of the city. You dead end and take a left on w3rd. Go over a bridge turn right on Canal. You are winding through the bowels of Cleveland and the Flats. Canal rd. eventually turns into Center St. Lots of bridges etc. But now you have to get up a hill out of the Flats...after you go over the red bridge , take a left up Washington. Careful..5 way scary intersection at the top of the hill. Take a left on W.25th. next rt. on Detroit Av. Where I am struggling is where the bike path is with access to Edgewater Park. SOMEONE ASSIST? it is in the w.70s I think.

good luck. I bet the bike coop has routes too. I have seen them on many of the streets above

[llowllevellowll]

Clevelandgirl> I can't thank you enough. I believe you've helped me create a much better route than I had before. Instead of going through Edgewater Park, we are going to go through downtown to Voinovich Park and have a relaxing lunch by the science center.

My friends are big into NYC messenger type biking and I think they'll enjoy going through the city.

I can't thank you enough for the idea!

I know Steelyard Commons is a safe area of course, and I'm assuming most of these areas will be safe during the day, but I'm unfamiliar with Holmdren, Quigly, W. 3rd, and Canal -- safe to be during the day and evening hours? Do you know the speed limits on these roads?

Thanks so much!

[Clevelandgal]

yup. All should be fine. Along the steel mills is pretty desolate, but that means anyone what would want to cause trouble doesnt even go there. Last time they had trouble down there was the Torso Murders back in the 1930's- the unsolved case broke Elliot Ness. There is some industry down there, so there are some people.

Google info on the torso murders and you may get some info to had to your tour. After you go by tower city/ Terminal Tower (you will be down low by the river) you can start veering up toward the city to get to Voinavich park. If you look at a map, I would try St. Clair. The east bank of the flats (ie down river road) is a little desolate b/c they are tearing everything down and rebuilding. That is not on the route I gave you, but you would know it when you came to it. It is along the river almost to the lake. I am not sure how you are heading back, but you could go back another way-over the Superior Bridge, down w.25th-hit the Westside Market (westsidemarket.com I think) if it is market day. Not to be missed. Have fun and do not forget the ohio city bike coop as a resource.

[Clevelandgal]

Here are some maps:
County Bicycle Maps