Bike Shaker Aims For Safer Bike Routes In Shaker Heights

When Rick Smith bikes his 12-mile trek to work at Progressive in Mayfield Village, he notices the lack of safe routes to take.

“People have a tough time getting from one place to another, especially with children,” Smith said.

In order to make his town a more bike-friendly neighborhood, Smith created Bike Shaker, which will host its first meeting Tuesday June 11 at 7 p.m. at the Shaker Historical Society. Smith, who hosts bike tours at the society, invites anyone who has an interest in biking and improving the current routes in Shaker Heights.

For Smith, it’s all about safety.

“I’d like to see bike lanes for families so they can get around in a safe manner,” Smith said, noting that he would like to extend bike lanes on Lee and South Woodland roads.

Smith, 40, who got into biking after wanting to combine traveling and working out, is a member of Bike Cleveland, a bicycle advocacy organization, which he intends on modeling Bike Shaker after.

Ultimately, Smith’s goal is to get Shaker Heights recognized as a bicycle-friendly city by the League of American Bicyclists.

Key speakers at the first meeting will include Jacob VanSickle, executive director of Bike Cleveland and Ann Klavora, principal planner for Shaker Heights Planning Department, Smith said.

Plan on going? Bike there.