Saddle up for Third Annual Bike Newport Night

The third-annual Bike Newport Night is just around the corner.

This year’s Bike Newport Night, “RACK ‘EM UP!” will raise funds for high-capacity bike racks. With up to 900 cyclists per day at the 2013 Folk Festival, "we know that there is great potential to move festivalgoers from cars to bikes," Bike Newport said in a release. 

"With bikes, Newport’s summer traffic congestion and parking challenges are reduced. But bikes need parking, too! So racks have become this year’s fundraising focus. The high-capacity event racks will be portable, stackable, and available for events throughout the season."

Bike Newport Night is March 19 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Midtown Oyster Bar at 345 Thames Street.

Bike Newport Night 2014 will be hosted by Midtown Oyster Bar with help from Common Fence Music and entertainment by Pier Jump and Los Duderinos.  Midtown’s manager, Charlie Holder, is getting ready for the fun, “We’ve been watching Bike Newport as they get more people on bikes for the benefit of the city and the Newport experience. We want to be part of this bike wave, and hosting 'Rack ‘em Up' is what we can do best! We hope lots of folks will come out, eat oysters, and share the bike love!”

Adding to the fun is VeloSprint Racing with the RI Bicycle Coalition. What is VeloSprints? A racing simulator that’s super fun, spirited, and competitive.  Hop on a bike and see if you can beat your best friend in a fired-up 30-second sprint. Projected times pitch the excitement while the bands play on. You won’t want to miss this one.

Dozens of area businesses are providing raffle and silent auction items to help raise the needed funds for bike racks. The Grand Prize will be a sparkling new bike donated by Ten Speed Spokes – a Specialized Crossroads, sized to fit the winner.  Ten Speed owner, Tom Kearns, is enthusiastic about the event and the bike parking effort, “We’re with Bike Newport – it’s all about getting more people on bikes, and supporting them with real bike racks. Come on down – and good luck winning the Specialized!” Everyone attending will have a chance to win the Grand Prize bike.

“We want Bike Newport Night is to be the best winter party in Newport,” says Bike Newport’s director Bari Freeman George. “With Dave Passafiume bringing in two great bands, Common Fence Music keeping it smooth, Charlie Holder and the Midtown team bringing out the best food, and dozens of businesses contributing fabulous prizes and auction items – it’s going to be a night to remember.”

The party starts at 6pm on Wednesday, March 19. Admission is $10. Raffles and Silent Auction items are listed at www.BikeNewportRI.org. For more information, contact Bike Newport at (401) 619-4900 or info@bikenewportri.org.