LeBron James Bikeathon Saturday
More than 3,500 riders are expected to pedal their way through Akron Saturday in LeBron’s King for Kids Bikeathon. The fundraising event encourages physical fitness and rewards Akron-area children who have achieved academic success or made important contributions to the community. Proceeds from this year’s event will go to the Akron Urban League and the Akron Area YMCA.
The bikeathon is open to individuals and families offering an 8-mile and 3-mile route, which begin and end at Canal Park Stadium on South Main Street in Downtown Akron. The registration cost for the Bikeathon is $15 for individuals, $50 for teams and groups (up to a maximum of four) and $75 for families (up to a maximum of six in a family). Deadline for registration is Wednesday, August 19. All registered riders will receive a "King for Kids" T-shirt to be worn during the Bikeathon. Participants bring and ride their own bikes.
Participant check-in begins at 7:30 a.m. and the first riders begin the course at 9 a.m. This is not a race. Groups of riders begin the course every two to three minutes until all riders are on the course.
A Kids Invitational, by invitation only, rewards area children nominated by local youth agencies, with new bicycles and other awards and recognition.
Event sponsors include State Farm Insurance, American Express, NIKE, Coca-Cola, Upper Deck, Ripley’s Believe or Not, Value City Furniture, DSW, SMobile, JSSI, and Hitchcock, Fleming & Associates.
The following Downtown streets will be closed for the event:
--- The Y Bridge from 9:30 to 1:30 p.m. Motorists are advised to use Howard Street or Route 8 as an alternate route into town from the north.
--- Main Street from State Street to Exchange Street will close Friday 8/21* at 6 p.m. The closure will be extended to Cedar Street at 3 a.m. on 8/22.
--- Route 59 (The Innerbelt) from I-76 to the Main/Howard/MLK intersection in the eastbound direction only at 7 a.m. The westbound, main line of the innnerbelt will be closed at the Howard/Main/MLK intersection but motorists may use Rand Avenue to access the other entrance ramps.
--- Howard Street will be closed at Furnace Street. Traffic detoured via MLK to Summit Street.
--- Rhodes Avenue from Market Street to Copley Road.
--- Edgewood Avenue from Copley Road to Vernon Odom Boulevard.
The course will be set up by 8 a.m. on the 22nd with road closings to follow as the events begin. Police officers will be on duty at all intersections on the course.
Emergency access will be allowed and access to all trauma centers at the hospitals will be maintained. Expect delays and plan accordingly.
All roads will be reopened for traffic by 2:30 p.m.
*Note that Main St. from Exchange to State will close Friday, Aug. 21 at 6 p.m. All other closures are 8/22 only.
