The East Coast Greenway Alliance (ECGA) has received some comments over the last few years about part of the ECG route through Providence. Issues include tough intersections, steep-angle railroad track crossings, and more. We aim to improve that routing by mid-March, and thanks to bikemap.com, ECGA now has a great online “wiki-mapping” tool allowing anyone… read more
News Archive
Providence Bike and Pedestrian Avisory Commission Meeting, Feb 20, 4:30
The February meeting of the Providence Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Commission will be held at 4:30PM on Wednesday February 20. Meeting will be held in the 1st floor conference room of 400 Westminster Street, Providence. Agenda: Bike Plan update (Bill DeSantis) Approval of 2 sets of minutes Road Bond/Bike lanes/sharrow follow-up Snowstorm recap/issues Communication update… read more
South Coast Bikeway Summit announced for Mar 28.
Join the South Coast Bikeway Committee and its partners for the third annual South Coast Bikeway Summit. This year’s topic will be the Economic Impact of Rail-Trails and will be held on March 28, 6-8pm at UMass Dartmouth Law School (333 Faunce Corner Rd). Registration is available online, for free. Sign up now. Presenters will… read more
Detour Signs Likely
It’s only taken six months, but thanks in a large part to the efforts of James Toomey of the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, it looks like we are going to be allowed to post a sanctioned detour guiding people around the closed Washington Bridge. James received a letter from Kazem Farhourmand (Chief Engineer with RIDOT),… read more
Reveal the Path, Tonight @ Columbus Theater, 7PM
You can still get tickets for tonight’s showing of Reveal the Path. Tickets are $10 if pre-purchased online, $15 at the door, cash only. Show starts @ 7PM and a portion of the proceeds will go to the Rhode Island Bicycle Coalition to fund statewide bicycle advocacy efforts. Columbus Theater 270 Broadway Providence, RI… read more
Sec. LaHood Stepping Down
Earlier this week, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced he would be stepping down from the Obama Administration. If you haven’t heard Sec. LaHood speak on the topic of active transportation, you’ve missed out. Rails-to-Trails is mounting a campaign to encourage people to speak up and let the Obama Administration know that they need to find… read more
AASHTO Bike Guide Webinar
If you are involved in bicycle advocacy, then you likely know that AASHTO released the fourth edition of their guide for developing bicycle facilities last year. Many groups around the country, including here in RI, are advocating to have their local DOT groups adopt these recommendations as their guiding principle over the more traditional DOT… read more
Providence Using Smartphones to Help Plan Bicycle Routes
According to an article on RI NPR, Providence is planning to use a smartphone app to help planners determine the best routes for the new bicycle master plan. The article references the CycleTrack App, which I can only presume is the same one used by the San Francisco County Transportation Authority (SFCTA) to develop their… read more
US Bike Commuter Map
A recent post on governing.com provided an interactive map of US bike commuting activity. It’s worth a few minutes of your time to take a quick look. A few things to note: Date is based on the 2011 census numbers Bike commuting numbers do not necessarily reflect everyone who uses a bike for at least… read more
Providence Bike/Ped Advisory Commission Meeting, Wed Jan 23rd, 4:30
The January meeting of the Providence Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission will be held on Wednesday, January 23, 2013, 4:30 PM, 444 Westminster Street, First Floor. This meeting is open to the public. Agenda 4:30 – Nate Urso, Providence Department of Public Works: Crosswalks, Street Repaving, Policy, and Safety (Nate will also give a brief update on… read more
Reveal the Path to be shown Feb. 6, 7:00
“Reveal The Path,” a visually stunning adventure documentary that will ignite the dreamer in everyone, will be coming to the newly reopened Columbus Theatre in Providence on Wednesday, Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. “Reveal The Path” is the followup film from the creators of the wildly popular and award-winning film “Ride The Divide.” The film is… read more
Advancing an Interim Bikeway Plan
News from AIPC:
Advancing an Interim Bikeway Plan
While support is gathering for the planning, funding and building of a Shoreline Bikeway on Aquidneck Island, the Aquidneck Island Planning Commission (AIPC) is advancing an interim plan that addresses roads and routes to carry cyclists more safely the full length of the Island – as an immediate step in advance of the Bikeway.
Based on recommendations made in the 2011 Aquidneck Island Transportation Study, the interim Island bike route is a combination of bike lanes and off-road bike paths comprising 18 miles of safer cycling from Portsmouth to Easton’s Beach in Newport.
Read the AIPC announcement HERE. See the map and read about the proposed plan in this weekend’s Newport Daily News, or click HERE.
The benefits of the proposed Shoreline Bikeway are numerous and convincing – bringing more people to enjoy the magnificent coastline and all that Aquidneck Island has to offer along a safe and beautiful bike route that connects with the rest of the state’s miles of bike paths. The interim plan is a first step toward the ultimate goal of a “Rail with Trail” Bikeway along the existing rail corridor.
Working to improve conditions for cycling on roads island-wide and creating safer routes for both transportation and recreation are priorities for Bike Newport. We celebrate the steps that AIPC is taking to advance this interim plan. We’re excited and motivated to work with AIPC to make it happen. We also see this Interim Bikeway route as an added incentive to improve a network of marked roads and routes island-wide that will contribute to the ability for more of our residents and visitors to confidently traverse and explore the island on bicycle.
THANK YOU to AIPC Executive Director Tina Dolen and the AIPC for advancing our shared goals: more and better cycling in the best interest of our residents, visitors, environment and economy.
And on that note – Wishing you health, happiness and safe and frequent cycling in the new year! Thanks to all for making 2012 a banner year for bicycling in Newport!
From your friends at Bike Newport