Welcome to Cycle Tracks, RIBike’s somewhat-biweekly bike advocacy email newsletter.
May is National Bike Month, so here’s your rundown of how to participate here in RI!
May 2016 is now officially Bike Month in Rhode Island! Governor Raimondo issued a proclamation at our Sunday kick-off event at the site of the forthcoming Blackstone Bikeway Section 1A near Gano Street in Providence. Her whole family then joined us for a ride up to Lippitt Park. See more here.
Did you see Bike Month in the ProJo??We’re pretty excited that Rhode Island’s Paper of Record is spreading the good word about all the fantastic events going on around the state this month.
Do you nerd out over good and bad bike infrastructure? Do you wonder what some of those weird street markings about bikes are and how they get there? Come to our BikeTalk this Wednesday night, called “What the Paint?” Pre-eminent expert on how bike markings become engineering standards, Bill DeSantis, will tell us about how new & innovative street designs become acceptable to the engineering establishment. 6:00pm at AS220. Free, but we suggest a $5 donation.
This Wednesday (rain-dated from Tuesday) join the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council for a Bike to Breakfast event! Meet at Eagle Square in Providence at 7:30am. The event is free, but bring cash to get your own breakfast.
Your favorite monthly slow ride is back for a special Bike Month edition this Thursday 5/5! Bike the Night, RIBike’s collaboration with Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza begins at 6:00pm at Providence City Hall and will take you on a leisurely fun ride around the city. We finish around 8:00, and all abilities welcome!
There are still a few tickets left for “Jane’s Bike: a tour of Providence’s Most Endangered Properties” this coming Saturday 5/7 at 9am. Our collaboration with the Providence Preservation Society & Jane’s Walk(citizen-led tours inspired by Jane Jacobs). The event is free, but space is limited.
Next Sunday 5/8, go on a Cyclofemmeride on Mother’s Day to support women bicycling! There are two Rhode Island rides on Sunday morning as part of this international celebration, one in Providence & one in Newport. More details here.
Every week of Bike Month, our fantastic partners on Aquidneck Island, Bike Newport, are putting on multiple events. They’ve got classes, rides, and open shops. Check it all out on their website.
Don’t look now, but the National Bike Challenge, the summer-long friendly competition to encourage ourselves to bike more, started on Sunday! Colby Jenkins is smoking us all at time of writing.
The Governor’s budget included a proposal for a $35 million Green Economy bond referendum, including $10 million for bike paths! This is what the Paths to Progress coalition has been fighting for. Now we need the House to keep that $35 million in there despite powerful voices calling to reduce it. Contact your State Rep or write a letter to the Projo telling them how important this bond is!
The Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council is hiring two interns! Check out the postings here.
RIBike is going to hold a training in Rhode Island this summer to certify participants as bicycling instructors via the League of American Bicyclists Smart Cycling curriculum. Interested in getting certified? Let us know! We also have two full scholarships available specifically for women of color. Interested? Know anyone? Email us!