Bike to Work Day 2026 Recap

Community, Progress, and Celebration

Bike Newport’s 2026 Bike to Work Day, sponsored by Southcoast Health, brought together commuters, community leaders, advocates, and local businesses for a day focused on celebrating bicycling and the growing momentum behind safer, more connected transportation options across Aquidneck Island.

From morning coffee with commuters at Newport City Hall to an evening ride along the new shared use path to Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling, this year’s event highlighted both the joy of riding and the important progress happening locally to make it easier and safer to Get There By Bike.

Commuter Breakfast at City Hall

Local bike commuters stopped by between 7:00-9:00 AM on their way to work. Our friends at RIPTA and Drive Less RI joined us in welcoming riders for coffee, snacks, giveaways and information.

The breakfast also provided a chance to talk about what’s working, where challenges exist, bike safety education, community events like Elliot’s Ride and the 10-Spot Ride, and infrastructure initiatives to make biking a more inviting, supported, and practical transportation choice.

Recognizing Progress in Newport

Newport City Manager Colin Kennedy provides the annual bike-friendly progress report.

“Bike Newport was introduced on Bike to Work Day in 2011 – right here on the steps of City Hall – and we have gathered here every year since to invite the City to share the progress that we are making together,”  said Bari Freeman, Bike Newport Executive Director, as opened the afternoon program by introducing Newport City Manager Colin Kennedy – who then provided the update. 

“We’ve had a really good year,” Kennedy shared. “The City is now thinking about cyclists and pedestrians in the way we always should have been.” 

Kennedy and Freeman went on to highlight accomplishments and more progress underway, including:

• The Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Council has renewed energy, thanks to the leadership of Tara Zambrotta. The BPAC is taking an active role in advising and informing the City Council on bicycle and pedestrian issues and opportunities for progress. 
• The City continues to strengthen the Green & Complete Streets ordinances, with more improvements underway. The principles are being integrated across projects citywide, reflecting strong institutional support. 
• Bike Newport and the Police Department have worked together to complete an assessment and review of all bicycle and pedestrian-related ordinances. The recommendations from the review will be presented to the City Council. 
• The City’s E-bike Safety Working Group, consisting of the City, BPAC, schools, police tourism, and businesses launched an education campaign to help keep both e-bike riders and motorists safe. 
• Aquidneck Island received a $19.2M Safe Streets for All grant, a portion of which will focus on sidewalk improvements and a bike lane on Narragansett Avenue from Spring Street to Forty Steps.
• We will continue to implement the pop-up bike lane on Harrison Avenue for the Festivals, refining communication with residents and festival attendees for continued improvements.
• City administration, Council, advocates, and residents made the case for restricting large trucks on Admiral Kalbfus to improve bicycle and pedestrian safety. Although the State Traffic Commission did not pass the motion, we are continuing to work with RIDOT and the State Traffic Commission to improve safety on Admiral Kalbfus.
• The League of American Bicyclists renewed Newport’s status as a Bronze Bicycle Friendly Community – an affirmation of the City’s efforts that comes with specific recommendations from the League for further improvements.

Chris Burich, Bike Newport’s Advocacy Associate, shared updates on the Get There By Bike initiative and the continued work to partner with events and destinations to encourage more people to choose biking for everyday transportation. Funded by 11th Hour Racing and the de Ramel Foundation, Get There By Bike is Bike Newport’s initiative to make biking a safe, fun, and inviting transportation choice to Aquidneck Island events and destinations.

People’s Credit Union : Bike Friendly Business of the Year 2026

(l-r) Sean Daly, Head of People’s , Bari Freeman of Bike Newport, and Courtney Hunter, Head of Community Development at People’s

As part of the afternoon celebration, Bike Newport presented the 2026 Bicycle Friendly Business of the Year award to People’s Credit Union. 

The annual award recognizes a business or organization that demonstrates leadership in supporting bicycling in the community. “This year, the selection was easy,” Bari shared at the presentation.

People’s Credit Union has supported Bike Newport since 2012, our inaugural year, when People’s  sponsored a bike rack and funded our participation in the local Chamber of Commerce.

People’s currently supports Bike Newport’s Community Bike Garage – a hub for learning bike repair, volunteerism, and providing bikes to anyone in our community who needs them. With support from People’s, the Bike Garage increased operation to five days each week, expanding access to bicycle repair, education, and restored bikes for the community. In 2025, the Community Bike Garage recorded 1,368 visits and restored and distributed 531 bicycles throughout the community.

People’s is also taking important steps to strengthen bicycle friendliness by applying for Bicycle Friendly Business recognition through the League of American Bicyclists, earning Honorable Mention status and beginning implementation of additional bike-friendly improvements at their locations.

“It’s harder to bike here than it ever was when I was a kid,” said Sean Daly, Head of People’s Credit Union. “This work is important to the community – helping kids learn to ride safely, getting fresh air, helping to make it easier to get around by bike. We really appreciate this award and are happy to contribute.”

Riding Together to Newport Craft

The celebration concluded with a community ride from City Hall to Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling along the new shared use path.

Riders got to experience one of Newport’s newest bicycle and pedestrian connections firsthand while celebrating the progress that has been made and the work still ahead to create a safer and more inviting transportation network across Aquidneck Island.

Thanks to everyone who rode, volunteered, partnered, and celebrated with us throughout the day. Events like Bike to Work Day are a reminder that when communities invest in safer streets, stronger partnerships, and transportation choices, everyone benefits.

Thanks to Bike to Work Day Sponsor Southcoast Health for supporting and encouraging active healthy bike commuting and integrating biking into our daily lives!