Blackstone Valley Leisurely Bike
Tours are featured in Five Top Things to Do in
RI Monthly.com
September 25, 2011 - Editorial by Donald Grebien,
Mayor of Pawtucket - Providence Journal
It was John F. Kennedy who refined the praise of
two-wheeled transportation down to its purest
terms when he said, “Nothing compares to the
simple pleasure of a bike ride.”
These days, bicycles have come to represent more
than a smooth, quiet ride down your favorite
road. Bicycling is justly touted as an
alternative form of transportation that
substitutes outdoor exercise at your own pace
for sitting in your car saying bad things about
stalled traffic.
More
August 1, 2011 -
Providence Journal - Bike path extensions at
opposite ends of state It’s a big
summer for bike paths in Rhode Island. The
popular South County bike path has now been
extended another eight-tenths of a mile to link
South Kingstown and Narragansett — falling on
the heels of a new 8.5-mile stretch of specially
marked roads that connect the East Bay Bike Path
with the Blackstone River Bikeway. That’s more
than nine new miles of scenic, newly paved paths
for cyclists, runners, walkers and those who
like to roller blade to take advantage of while
the weather is great.
More
July 14, 2011 - Rhode
Island Bicycling Coalition - Blackstone and East
Bay Bike Paths: Now Connected! This
past Monday, I rode along the East Bay and
Blackstone River bicycle paths and through a now
well-marked network of public roadways which
connect them. Bridging these two bike paths to
create one, near 35 mile stretch from Woonsocket
to Bristol is the vision of Bob Billington,
Executive Director of the Blackstone Valley
Tourism Council. Instead of waiting years for
funding to build a dedicated bike-way connecting
the existing paths, Bob and a collaborative team
of planners and engineers from RIDOT and the
municipalities involved laid out a route along
existing roads and marked it with pavement paint
and signage. It is a low-cost wonder with real
power in several ways...
More
July 12, 2011 - Providence
Journal - New connector links R.I.’s East Bay
and Blackstone bike paths An 8.5-mile
stretch of specially marked roads now connects
the East Bay Bike Path with the Blackstone River
Bikeway. The connecting route opened officially
Monday. It runs between East Providence and
Cumberland, passing through Providence,
Pawtucket and Central Falls. With the new
connection, a cyclist can ride 33.5 miles on
bike paths and designated bike lanes from
Woonsocket to Bristol, said Robert Billington,
executive director of the Blackstone Valley
Tourism Council. An avid cyclist and
bicycle-tour guide, Billington assembled a
coalition of federal and state government
officials, cycling groups and business leaders
to contribute to an effort to make the
connection.
More |
Dayton Daily News
July 12, 2011 - Woonsocket
Patch Biking To Bristol: Bikeway Connected,
Hamlet Street Eyed For Similar Plan The Blackstone
River Bikeway route to Bristol opened yesterday,
though Robert Billington of the Blackstone
Valley Tourism Council emphasizes it is only a
temporary fix. Woonsocket residents interested
in making the 33.5 mile trek from the city to
Bristol can now journey to the southern part of
the state without leaving a bike trail, though
supporters of the bikeway emphasize it is only a
temporary holdover for cyclists awaiting the
path's full off-road completion.
More
Officials plan inaugural
bike ride on route connecting East Providence
and Cumberland - Monday July 11 The Blackstone Valley Tourism Council is
co-sponsoring the inaugural bike ride of a route
linking East Providence with Cumberland. The
on-road route connects the Blackstone River
Bikeway with the East Bay Bike Path and forms a
continuous connection for cyclists all the way
from Woonsocket to Bristol. An opening ceremony
is scheduled for Monday morning at the East Bay
Bike Path parking lot in East Providence.
Participants will head to Lippitt Memorial Park
in Providence, then on to the Blackstone Valley
Visitor's Center in Pawtucket. A closing
ceremony is planned for the start of the
Blackstone River Bikeway in Cumberland.
Officials from Providence, surrounding
communities and the state are expected to
participate.
The Republic-Indiana |
KATV-Arkansas |
Palm Beach Post Living
Leisurely Bicycle Tours
Expanded to August 13 and October 15.
Special tours
present cultural heritage, urban and village
landscapes.
Bicycling in
Blackstone River Valley is more than recreation;
it’s discovering the convergence of hidden
history, captivating culture and learning about
the people and places making up the region.
Based on
popular demand, two new Blackstone Valley
Leisurely Bicycle Tours are being set this
summer for August 13 and October 15, 2011. These
tours will traverse along 8 miles of the
Blackstone River bikeway and 2 miles of roadway
from the Blackstone River State Park Visitor
Center, located off Interstate 295 north,
Lincoln, RI to Woonsocket, RI.
More
Blackstone River Bikeway Letterbox
More
June 5, 2011 - Providence
Journal
4 bike paths will be blocked as RIDOT takes
video inventory (Blackstone Valley Bikeway on
June 6)
More
May 27, 2011 -Rhode Island Bicycle Coalition
Sharrows are Coming
Word comes
from the Bike-to-Brown mailing list that
sharrows have started to appear along the
on-road portion of the Blackstone Bike Way
connector. This shot was taken by John Pezza on
High Street in Central Falls. To my knowledge,
this is the first use of sharrows in Rhode
Island and marks a big step forward in conveying
the message to motorists that bicycles have a
place on the road.
More
May 13, 2011 - Providence Journal
Fun Things to Do this Weekend (May 14, 15) -
Bike Tours
Take a slow ride through parts of the Blackstone
Valley on the first Behind the Scenes Leisurely
Bicycle Tours, led by Blackstone Valley Tourism
Council head Bob Billington. A typical tour
covers about 13 miles, takes three hours and
includes stops at historic sites and savory
spots (think Portuguese pastries and Polish
pierogi). Tours, $20, begin this Saturday, 9
a.m. to noon, leaving from the Blackstone Valley
Visitor Center in Pawtucket. For reservations or
more info, call (401) 724-2200 or visit
cycleblackstone.com.
More
May, 2011 - Providence Journal
Slow Ride -
Take it Easy with These Bicycle Tours
(Providence Journal)
Bob
Billington’s bike tours don’t attract a lot of
people in Spandex. A typical tour covers about
13 miles, but it takes three hours. “We do more
talking than riding,” says Billington, executive
director of the Blackstone Valley Tourism
Council and leader of Behind the Scenes
Leisurely Bicycle Tours, scheduled to start
Saturday, May 14. Two rides a month are
scheduled through Oct. 22.
More
February, 2011 - Rhody
Passport
Explore Rhode Island's Bike Paths using the
Rhody Bike Path Passport!
What amazing summer! We had dozens of
people who turned in passports representing
hundreds of trips. We hope you really enjoyed
the beauty of Rhode Island, and found some great
local businesses to support. Thanks are due to
everyone who participated, congratulations on a
great effort.
More
January 27, 2011 -
Providence Journal
Robert Billington: Get Blackstone Valley Bikeway
done!
Rhode Island’s bikeways bring lots of enjoyment
to its residents. From South County to the
Blackstone Valley, these paths connect our
neighborhoods, improve our economy and draw
visitors to explore our communities. They are
safe, enjoyable and provide a stress-free place
to relax and exercise. Everyone who experiences
them wants to see not only more paths but
improved connectivity between them. We have the
opportunity to do this. What makes the
Blackstone River Bikeway special is the
industrious American story it tells. Over 30
years ago, planning began on the Blackstone
River Bikeway — a bold idea for its time.
Restoring dirty land along one of the oldest
polluted rivers in the Western Hemisphere, the
river that helped launch America to super-power
status, took great imagination and guts.
More
January 26, 2011 -
Greater City - Providence
Connecting the Blackstone and East Bay bike
paths
Last month Matthew wrote about the proposed
on-road connection between the Blackstone and
East Bay bike paths. Now we have the draft plan
from the city of Pawtucket detailing part of
that connection. There are some caveats right
now to these plans. The section between Pitman
Street in Providence and the Town Landing in
Pawtucket is not included in this document, that
is a separate RIDOT funded project. The current
plan shows the route running along Taft and
Pleasant Streets in Pawtucket which are both
closed (or will be closed at various dates in
the future) due to the Pawtucket River Bridge
replacement. The engineer is working on
identifying a temporary route which will be open
throughout the bridge construction.
More
January, 2011 - US Senator
Jack Reed
Biking in Rhode Island
Blackstone River Bikeway
Completed six-mile section of proposed seventeen
mile path through the John H. Chafee Blackstone
River Valley National Heritage Corridor between
Providence and Worcester, MA. Paralleling the
river, and industrial revolution canal tow path,
the trail affords spectacular views of New
England foliage in the autumn. Accessible off
Front St., to Manville Rd. in Lincoln.
Additional segments leading south to Pawtucket
and north to Woonsocket are in design stages.
More
January 10, 2011 - Providence
Business News
Completing Blackstone Valley
Bikeway is overdue- Guest Column: Robert Billington
Let’s face it; Rhode Island’s bikeways
bring lots of enjoyment to our residents. From South
County to the Blackstone Valley, these paths connect
our neighborhoods, improve our economy and draw
visitors to explore our communities. They are safe,
enjoyable and provide a stress-free place to relax
and exercise. Everyone who experiences them wants to
see not only more paths but improved connectivity
between paths. We have the opportunity to do this.
More
December 15, 2010 - Greater City Providence
Blackstone
and East Bay Bike Paths to Connect
We have some spectacular bike paths here in Rhode
Island, and two of them are about to get connected,
maybe as soon as this spring. Officials from the Broad
Street Regeneration Initiative (BSRI) and the Blackstone
Valley Tourism Council (BVTC) have announced that the
City of Pawtucket, RI has been awarded $38 thousand in
Federal funds to create a temporary on road connection
linking the Blackstone Valley Bike Path and the East Bay
Bike Path. The funds come from the American Reinvestment
and Recovery Act (ARRA) through the RI Office of Energy
Resources and awarded to the City of Pawtucket.
More
September 22, 2010 - Sun Chronicle
Wheeling in the Years
Blackstone Valley bike tour lets you leisurely soak up
northern RI history, nature
Toward the southern tip of Blackstone River Valley, a
group of cities nestle together, their important role in
history diminished or glossed over in classrooms.
More
August 16, 2010 -
Providence Journal
Bike passport makes a game of R.I. trails
There’s a new
reason to explore Rhode Island’s bike paths.
It’s called the Rhody Bike Passport, and it’s
produced by Leadership Rhode Island. Get it
stamped along three of four paths (choose from
East Bay Bike Path, Blackstone River Bikeway,
West Bay Bike Path and Fred Lippitt
Woonasquatucket River Greenway), and you can win
prizes worth up to $250.
More
Bikeway Guide - Blackstone River Bikeway Patrol
More
June 18, 2009 - Providence Journal
It’s a busy time of year for paddlers and pedalers
Paddlers and pedalers are celebrating the arrival of
summer with guided kayak and bike trips organized by
Rhode Island conservation groups.
More
August
17, 2009 - Providence Business News
Paths to recreational prosperity - Rhode Island’s bike paths
provide limited economic boost
The smallest state in the nation – just 37 miles wide, east to
west – is home to eight separate bike paths, from Quonset to
Woonsocket, totaling 54 miles of paved trails. Plans are in the
works for two more in Newport and Pawtucket, although
construction could be some years away.
More
August
20, 2009 - Examiner.com
6 New England
Vacation Getaway Ideas
Rhode Island may be the
smallest state in the union, yet it offers as varied an
experience as any other New England state. If you want to get
outdoors and enjoy some of the best bike paths in the nation,
you need to plan your getaway along the Blackstone Valley
Bikeway. This path winds from the southern part of Massachusetts
all the way down through Providence, RI as part of the 3000 mile
East Coast Greenway.
More
RhodeIslandBeautiful.com
Blackstone River
Bikeway - Providence, Rhode Island
If you are someone that enjoys seeing the natural beauty of a
place then you will certainly want to visit the bike paths of
Rhode Island. Here, beginning in Providence, you will ride for
10 miles in Central Fall, Lincoln, & Cumberland. The ultimate
end will be a 48 mile path leading from Providence to
Worchester, MA. Currently there are just the 10 miles open but
it's still worth the trip.
More
April 29, 2008 - Providence
Journal
Boardwalk Extends Bikeway through Cumberland Marsh (Providence
Journal)
CUMBERLAND — The wooden boardwalk runs along the
upper edge of the Lonsdale Marsh, offering
pedestrians and bicyclists an up-close view of what
officials call a tremendous turnaround in one of the
largest marshlands in Providence County.
More