Where Bikes Belong

Last evening was the second to last Lock Bottom Blues & Jazz Club concert of the year at Lock 4 in downtown Akron.  The Mr. and a friend of ours had a commitment out in Portage County earlier in the evening so I decided to meet them at Lock 4 with the Schwinn.  For me, that's the perfect arrangement because when its time to go home, I can throw the bike on the Jeep and avoid the long slog up Market St. all the way home.  Here's the route I took, straight down Market St.  FYI, I started recording at Twin Oaks, so its not the full trip.

For the most part, it was an uneventful ride.  As usual, someone told me to get on the sidewalk and I nearly ran into a car that pulled out in front of me, but, you know, nothing crazy.  The trickiest part was when I arrived at Lock 3 park.  Originally, I planned to ride down Bowery to get down to Lock 4, but due to some blocked lanes I was forced to continue straight on Main St.  As I approached Lock 3, I discovered to my dismay that the City had wiped out the right lane to create more angle parking spots.  There weren't any signs indicating the need to merge, just a bunch of parked cars in my way.  Of course, the left lane was backed up from the confusion the lane disappearance created, so my only course of action was to hop on the sidewalk.  Thankfully, it was clear of pedestrians and my faux pas turned out to be no big deal.

However, it was worth it to ride to Lock 4.  I was overjoyed to discover an ample selection of bicycle racks.  Not only did they provide racks, but they are by far the most bike friendly design I've seen.  Unlike the usual corrals you see around the city, these actually allow you to place your bike in a manner that maximizes stability and security.  Instead of the usual 5mins it takes to get everything in the right place to attach the U-Lock, I was on my way in a minute.

Another plus to this venue is that it actually encourages people to ride their bikes to it.  Besides having plenty of racks, they constructed a bike ramp that runs along the stairway from Bowery St. so you can take your bike down to the park instead of locking it on the fence above.  So, you can walk down the stairs while the bike rolls down the ramp along side.  Brilliant!

Large plaque indicating what the ramp is for.

The bike ramp running along the left side of the stairs which lead down to Lock 4 from
Bowery St.

Is that cool or what?  I mean, we are no where near Cleveland's level of bike friendliness, but for little old Akron, this is quite the step!  And, for the first time, I wasn't the only person with a bike in downtown!  I think that is due in part to the mood Lock 4 presents and the venue's design encourages you to ride your bike there.

I'm not the only one!

Besides, the bike friendly mood Lock 4 offers, it provides a unique atmosphere that the other facilities do not.  The ambiance that exists at this unique urban location is eclectic and relaxed.

Lock 4 is tucked along the O & E Canal below Bowery St. and
behind the abandoned buildings of Main St.

The staircase of the Civic Theater crosses the canal.  The theater itself  sits on the other side.

The remnants of the O & E Canal flow alongside the Lock 4 venue.

 So, if you live locally and are free next Wednesday evening, I highly recommend riding out to catch the last concert of the year.  This is the only place in the city that offers local and original musical performances, a bike friendly facility, a food truck, and a beer garden.  What more do you need?  The only down side is that it closes September 7.

Don't miss out!