On Friday, May 2nd, Bike Newport and RIPTA hosted a ‘Celebration Station’ to kick off National Bike Month. The festivities took place at the Newport Park & Ride– or, as we like to call it, Newport Park & BIKE! Right off the Pell Bridge, this is where you ditch your car, pop on your bike, and enjoy Newport car-free. No traffic, no parking search, no expense, and no carbon emissions!
The multimodal Park & Ride lot is also serviced by RIPTA lines 14 and 24L.
Adjacent to the lot is the short and scenic 3/4 mile shared use path to walk or ride into downtown Newport. Named by the community, the “Aquidneck Island Greenway” is awaiting UDOT name approval.
Following JT Connell Highway, Farewell Street, and America’s Cup, the shared use path provides scenic worry-free rides and walks, and is the first segment of what will ultimately be a connected bicycle and pedestrian network, creating better accessibility and improved bike safety.
Shar Dodson of Middletown was among the riders at the Bike Month Launch, “WOW! what a hidden gem – everyone should get out there and try it!”
For this ‘Celebration Station,’ visitors first gathered around coffee and breakfast treats from Munroe Dairy, as Cleverhood raffled off their award-winning anorak which has been voted BEST cycling rain jacket three years in a row (it proved useful in the misty morning drizzle!)
Before our group ride, RIPTA showed us how to use the new Drive Less RI app, which rewards participants for recording carless commuting experiences with discounts to local businesses. Be sure to sign up – it’s fast and easy. You win fun swag – and can find bike buddies for your bike destinations!
Newport City Councilor Xay Khamsyvoravong was also in attendance, advocating for funding the Newport Transportation Plan, Keep Newport Moving, and sustainable transportation modes in general. Want to learn more about how Bike Newport is connecting Aquidneck Islanders through shared-use paths? Check out the video below – and visit Ride Island!
Bike Newport