Response to Bicycle Accident on West Main Road in Middletown

A bicyclist was seriously injured yesterday on West Main Road. Our prayers are with the cyclist and his family.

Pedal-Powered Holiday Tree Comes to Bowen's Wharf

Bike Newport Bike Newport presents: JINGLE BIKES! The first annual pedal-powered holiday tree comes to Bowen's Wharf.

On Saturday, December 15, Bike Newport will open Jingle Bikes - the latest addition to the Newport holiday celebration scene. This pedal-powered holiday tree is a rare sighting this side of Copenhagen. All are invited to come to the opening at the Bowen’s Wharf Flag Mast on America’s Cup Avenue on Saturday, December 15 at 5p.m., when Mayor Harry Winthrop will officially set the wheels in motion.  Music and hot cocoa will be on hand while everyone gets a chance to hop in the saddle and light up the night!  The installation will then be open for everyone’s enjoyment daily from 5-9 p.m. through New Years Day. Bring your friends and family and see who lights the lights the fastest and brightest! The installation is made possible by numerous …

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Bike Trail May Come to Aquidneck Island

Carl Knoch, of the Rail Trail Conservancy led a public forum on the Shoreline Bikeway at CCRI Thursday night.

Dozens of Aquidneck Island residents and community representatives filled the CCRI auditorium, along with members of the Aquidneck Island Planning Commission and Bike Newport, to participate in a forum with Carl Knoch, of the Rails to Trails Conservancy. Thursday night's forum was the second in a series of events to educate and pique the interest of Aquidneck Islanders for the project. The Shoreline Bikeway is a proposed 10-mile recreational trail that would run alongside the existing Old Colony railway throughout Aquidneck Island. Newport is at a tipping point in the process, Knoch said, referring to the support given to the project by the AIPC, Bike Newport and a growing number of local residents.  “We are further along than you think,” …

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mike westman

8:06 am on Monday, December 10, 2012

Bill....same goes for all those exoskeletons that people ride around with.....getting in the way of people walking and using non-carbon vehicles that also provide healthy exercise. Actually.....maybe those bike paths and bikers should be given a tax credit for minimizing the effects of people on the environment and a tax should be place on non-commercial uses of those carbon belching exoskeltons…   more ›

Community Forum on Shoreline Bikeway this Thursday Night

There will be a public forum on the proposed creation of an island-wide multi-use bike trail at the CCRI Auditorium on Thursday, Dec. 6 at 6 p.m.

Aquidneck Island Planning Commission (AIPC) and Bike Newport will host a public forum on the proposed creation of an island-wide multi-use bike trail at the CCRI Auditorium on Thursday, Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. The presentation and discussion will be led by Carl Knoch, Manager of Trail Development for Rails-To-Trails Conservancy, the national voice for rail trails based in Washington, DC. Knoch is an expert on the creation and economic impact of multi-use rail trails across the country. The forum will focus on Rail With Trail, a potential recreational path alongside the rail currently used by the Old Colony Railway and the Newport Dinner Train. This forum is second in a series that engages the community in consideration of the proposed Shoreline …

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SOUND OFF: Bike Lanes on Memorial, Safer or Short Sighted?

The DOT installed new bike lanes on Memorial Boulevard last week. Residents have expressed mixed feelings about the project.

Last week, as part of several projects across the island, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) installed new bike lanes on Memorial Boulevard. Some residents said they were surprised that the project removed a lane of traffic on the westbound side of the road, starting at Aquidneck Avenue until Rhode Island Avenue. "The idea of the change was to make things safer for cyclists, but I fear the change may make it more dangerous for cars and bikes, " said resident Darcy Roland. "This will be especially true in the summer months." The project was influenced by local advocacy group, Bike Newport, after a car hit and killed Middletown resident Elliot Kaminitz last June.  Although the intention is to make the road safer for …

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Sheila

8:10 am on Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Yeah they will slow down to a complete halt when the summer arrives!! No telling how long that traffic jam will be.   more ›

Bike Newport Sees Major Progress

Bike Newport has made major strides in the last few months.

Major strides for Bike Newport – adding to steady progress in program, partnerships and participation, a series of collaborative achievements and generous financial support are increasing momentum for the young organization - and for bicycling in this scenic seaside city. Achievements include: Traction on bicycling issues in Newport has been significant as Bike Newport has worked over the past 18 months to promote the benefits of bicycling and to bring together like-minded stakeholders to advance the improvement and encouragement of bicycling in Newport. Now Bike Newport is pleased to announce its newest partner. The van Beuren Charitable Foundation has recognized Bike Newport’s successes and expressed its support of further advance with a…

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Bike Safety Class Rescheduled for Aug. 7

Bike Newport's bike safety class has been rescheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 7 from 6-9 p.m.

Looking to increase your bicycling confidence on the road? Thinking about how to avoid obstacles, hazards and distracted tourists? Wondering if the guy yelling at you to get on thesidewalk is right? Not sure what to do when there's no shoulder? If you’re riding in traffic, you want to be knowledgeable, predictable and visible. This three-hour class, provided by Bike Newport for Aquidneck Island residents, is designed to give cyclists the confidence needed to ride safely and legallyin traffic. The class will teach lane positioning, how to conduct bike safety checks and practiceon-bike skills, crash avoidance techniques and night-time visibility. Know the rules, knowhow to protect yourself, and get out there and ride! The class was …

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Bike Newport to Help City Be More Bike Friendly

The council commended Bike Newport's education efforts and invited the group to help the city accommodate bicyclists.

The Newport City Council passed a resolution Wednesday night commending Bike Newport for its initiatives and achievements, and inviting the organization to assist the city in making Newport more bikeable. The resolution requested Bike Newport to assist in educating motorists and cyclists on how to share the road, and helping Newport achieve recognition as a bicycle friendly community. Rhode Island is one of only two states in the country without a certified "Bicycle Friendly Community," defined by the League of American Bicyclists, as a community that "welcomes cyclists by providing safe accommodation for cycling and encouraging people to bike for transportation and recreation."  The Bicycle Friendly Community Program provides incentives…

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Marc Mathis

1:31 pm on Thursday, May 17, 2012

I was crossing America's Cup Ave. on foot two summers ago, at the crosswalk by Bannister's Wharf. Traffic was gridlocked, as summer would typically have it, and so the long line of vehicles stopped on my right obstructed my view of the bike lane behind them. Naturally, as I reached the end of the crosswalk, there was a man who appeared to be attempting to break the land speed record on his …   more ›

Your Guide for Bike to Work Day

The second annual Bike to Work Day has been set for May 18.

After much success during last year's first Bike to Work Day event, Bike Newport has scheduled the event again for May 18. Residents can join the effort to make Newport a more bikeable city but leaving their cars at home and riding to the office for one day. Bikers can leave their bikes at one of the many bike racks donated by several businesses around the city. For people who want to participate in Bike to Work Day, but live out of town, there will be a park and bike service at Newport Grand. SCHEDULE OF EVENTS All activities at Washington Square (unless otherwise noted) All activities are free (unless otherwise noted) 6:00am - 9:30am: Commuter Breakfast 10:30am: Special Event: Bicycle tour to Newport Mansions with Mansion historian John …

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Photos: Bike Newport and Donors Dedicate 14 Inaugural Bike Racks

Bike Newport and its supported rode through Newport for the ribbon cuttings on each rack.

Thanks to several donations for local residents and businesses, Newport is becoming a more bikeable city, one rack at a time. The Bike Newport team spearheaded the initiative to increase places to park bicycles, as well as to encourage the community to travel on two wheels instead of four. The Bike Newport Committee lead other bikers on a tour of the bike rack sites for their individual ribbon cuttings. The follow donors dedicated a bike rack yesterday afternoon afternoon: 1. Historic Hill Neighborhood Association 2. City Councilor Kate Leonard 3. Salve Regina University 4. Newport Fed 5. NEWPORT HOSPITAL 6. RE/MAX Professionals of Newport 7. Newport Shipyard 8. Cabbage Rose 9. People’s Credit Union 10. Segway of Newport 11. Newport …

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