The League of American Bicyclists has renewed Newport’s status as a Bronze Bicycle Friendly Community. The renewal of Newport’s Bronze designation, first awarded in 2013, is an affirmation of the City’s efforts to become safer and more accessible for people to ride bicycles.
Bike Newport and the City of Newport collaborated to submit the application for this national certification which is based on direct community reports and feedback. In all 299* residents, visitors, policymakers, business owners, and advocates reported on the current conditions in Newport – including bicycle education programs, bicycle infrastructure, equitable access, and bike friendly policies.
*Fun fact: Newport’s 299 survey participants represent one of the highest participation rates in the country. This high level of engagement confirms the deep commitment of this community to embrace and improve bicycling for transportation and recreation.
A national team of evaluators reviewed Newport’s application and the community feedback for markers in five areas: equity and accessibility, engineering, education, encouragement, and evaluation and planning. Along with the designation, the Bike League provided a detailed report card with recommendations on how the City can continue to improve as a Bicycle Friendly Community. Here are some highlights from that report:
“Establish a dedicated annual budget for implementation of the “Keep Newport Moving” Transportation Plan’s recommended Bike Network and Ocean Loop, in addition to increased funding for ongoing bicycle programming and infrastructure development/maintenance”
“Increase the amount of City staff time spent on improving conditions for people who bike and walk, either by creating a new dedicated position or expanding the responsibility of current staff.”
“Work with your Chamber of Commerce to encourage more local businesses, agencies, and organizations to join Bike Newport in promoting cycling to their employees and customers and to seek recognition through the Bicycle Friendly Business program”
We are happy to report that progress has been made in several areas of the featured recommendations since the application was submitted, including:
- Newport City Council included a line item in the 2026 Budget for implementation of an element of the “Keep Newport Moving” Master Transportation Plan – sidewalks and bike lanes on Narragansett Avenue.
- Responding favorably to requests from the Bike Newport Board of Directors, the City put new review and reporting practices into effect in 2025, resulting in the first Green & Complete Streets Annual Report.
- In 2025 Bike Newport launched the “Get There By Bike” program, supported by 11th Hour Racing and the de Ramel Foundation. Through the program, participating events and destinations invite and encourage patrons to arrive by bicycle. Early adopters who are modeling the methods to reduce traffic congestion by riding bicycles include: Newport Folk and Jazz Festivals, the International Tennis Hall of Fame, newportFILM, the Preservation Society of Newport County, and, Bowen’s Wharf, among many others.
We have a lot to work with here! The continued Bicycle Friendly Community designation at the Bronze level is very confirming. We are holding ground on education, outreach, and planning – and we have a way to go on implementation. The Bike League provided a very valuable road map with recommendations to help us get there. It is promising and reassuring to know that the very strides that the City has made – even since submitting the application last June – match the recommendations of the League. There are good signs in place that our progress as a city is gaining momentum.
-Bari Freeman, Executive Director, Bike Newport
From planning to engineering to public safety, our City staff were all happy to participate in the Bicycle Friendly Community review and application process, which is an exceptional opportunity to work cooperatively with our community partners. We look forward to implementing more of the League’s recommendations, which are so well-aligned with Newport’s Safety Action Plan and our master transportation plan “Keep Newport Moving.”
– Trish Reynolds, Director of Planning and Development, City of Newport
With Thanks
Bike Newport thanks the Newport City Council for passing the resolution directing the completion of this application. Thanks to the City of Newport’s Planning, Police, and Public Works Departments for supporting this robust process. Thanks to the 299 residents and visitors who completed the survey that informed the ranking. Finally, thanks to the League of American Bicyclists for making the Bicycle Friendly America program available to Newport and cities across the nation – helping to create safer, more accessible places for bicycling.
Bike Newport