May 7, 2018

In recognition of National Bike Month, the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA)’s Commuter Resource RI (CRRI) team is launching its second annual “Bike to Work Week” with five days of special events, beginning on Monday, May 14, and ending on Bike to Work Day, Friday, May 18, 2018.  This fun, weeklong celebration encourages commuters to bike to work as much as possible and there will be prizes and refreshments for cyclists as our team sets up “pop up” locations along commuting routes. The week will culminate Friday evening with a party hosted by the Black Duck Tavern in East Providence.

Our commuter team and the RI Bicycle Coalition will kick off the week with a free Smart Cycling Basics Workshop on Saturday, May 12 from 9am to 2pm at the main office of the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council, 45 Eagle Street, Suite 202, Providence, RI. 

Join bicycle enthusiasts and learn all the things you will need to know about safe cycling. This fun and interactive workshop is great for beginners, or seasoned riders looking for a refresher. CRRI staff will be on-site to show you how you can to bring your bike when you ride the bus and help you plan your routes to work. Click here to register for this free workshop.

“As a public transit agency, we are committed to multiple modes of travel that help reduce the number of single occupancy vehicles on our roads, so we’re really excited about the week of events we have planned,” said Barbara Polichetti, Director of Public Affairs for RIPTA.  “Also, RIPTA helps many bicyclists with their commutes.  All of our fixed-route buses are equipped with bike racks, and a lot of riders use us for the first or last miles of their trips.”  For example, she said, someone who lives in a more rural area might enjoy their ride to a bus stop and then let RIPTA take them into the city.

Bike to Work Week is a fun and engaging way to encourage commuters to use alternatives instead of driving alone to work. Choosing to ride a bicycle to work offers many benefits including: saving money, boosting morale and health, reducing traffic congestion and reducing harmful automobile emissions. Commuters who bike to work, should look for our CRRI team at the following locations.

Bike to Work Week Commuter Resource RI Outreach Schedule: 6am-9:30am

Monday, May 14: Amtrak Station Downtown Side

Tuesday, May 15: Jewelry District – intersection of Ship & Richmond Streets, Providence

Wednesday, May 16:  Memorial Park – South Main Street, Providence

Thursday, May 17: Base of the George Washington Bridge, East Providence

On National Bike to Work Day, Friday, May 18, RIPTA will have representatives at various community activities planned for Burnside Park in Providence, Eisenhower Park at Washington Square in Newport and in South Kingstown at the Railroad Street parking lot in Peace Dale (south of All in Acupuncture).

Friday, May 18: Bike to Work Week Closing Party at Black Duck Tavern

Black Duck Tavern, located along the East Bay Bike Path at the base of the George Washington Bridge in East Providence, will be hosting a Bike to Work Week Closing Party from 4:30pm to 6:30pm.  Stop by on your bike and enjoy one complimentary drink to wrap up your Bike to Work Day! Commuter Resource RI staff will be on hand with promotional giveaways and a bike rack so you can learn how to bring your bike on a bus.

Commuter Resource RI works year round to educate the public about riding RIPTA and other modes of public transportation while also supporting alternatives such as carpools, vanpools, and biking.  Bike to Work Week is also made possible by community sponsors including NBX, Newport Bicycle, Velofix, Black Duck Tavern, Whole Foods, Devine City Cycle and Brewed Awakenings.

“We’re very grateful to all these great local sponsors that are supporting Bike to Work Week” Polichetti said.  “Without them these events would not be possible.  We really hope that people give bike commuting a try and have fun in the process.”

For more information on Bike to Work Week, please visit TryTransitRI.com.