Steve Witkowski is bedeviled by potholes.

Witkowski, a bicycling enthusiast, works as a mechanic at Riverside Cycle, a bike shop in Haverhill that took over an iconic space where classic Schwinns were sold to generations of local families. He’s lived in this diversified city on the Merrimack River for a couple of years, and his wife, Kate, has owned a home in the Bradford neighborhood for about 10.

There are some great places to ride in Haverhill, Witkowski said, such as the Winnekenni Trail around Kenoza Lake, and Mayor James J. Fiorentini is “big on bikes.’’ Fiorentini vowed a downtown renaissance when he was first elected in 2003, and spearheaded efforts to construct the riverwalk and to redevelop abandoned factories.

Once known as Queen Slipper City for its shoemaking industry, Haverhill retains some of its urban grit (it has about 60,000 residents, according to the 2010 Census), while also featuring the sort of rolling hillsides associated with southern New Hampshire, with which the city shares a border. There’s still an old-school feel to this place, which is widely recognized as the inspiration for the “Archie’’ comic books. (Creator Bob Montana attended the old Haverhill High.)

Downtown Haverhill is undergoing significant renovation, however, and the city recently unveiled the mile-long Bradford Rail Trail.

“They’re improving the downtown little by little,’’ said Witkowski, 32. “They’re definitely investing money in the city.’’

And fixing those potholes.

James Sullivan can be reached at jamesgsullivan@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @sullivanjames.