Bicyclists and Other Supporters Gather for Bike Lanes and Shared Lanes in Newport

MEDIA ALERT:
Contact: Bari Freeman (401) 924-3222
 
Bicyclists and Other Supporters Rally for Bike Lanes and Shared Lanes
Outside City Hall While Council Considers Resolution
 
Wednesday, June 9th beginning at 6:30pm in front of City Hall (43 Broadway) and across the street at Bike Newport HQ (62 Broadway)
 
(Newport, RI) Members of the Newport City Council will consider a resolution to improve bicycle safety on Newport city streets at its regularly scheduled virtual meeting on Wednesday, June 9th. The revised resolution states the city's commitment to safety for all road users, recognizes there are more people riding bicycles, and encourages pavement markings to improve safety. It does not, however, call for a plan or a timeline to implement the improvements.
 
Local bike advocates and community leaders have asked the City Council to improve the resolution with a request for a plan and timeline for bike lanes and shared lanes on priority streets as soon as possible, and not to wait for the upcoming Transportation Plan which is several years away from completion and implementation.
 
Streets prioritized for bike lanes and shared lanes have been identified and mapped by the local bicycle advocacy organization, Bike Newport, and are confirmed in the statewide Rhode Island Bicycle Mobility Plan, adopted by Statewide Planning in December, 2020.
 
Those gathering on Wednesday will be able to watch the Council meeting on a large screen in Bike Newport's front office and to call in from their phones to testify from their own personal experience during the public forum.
 
Respondents to the gathering include people who ride for both transportation and recreation, people of various ages, professions, cultures, and lifestyles. 
 
"Bicycling is the great equalizer," commented Glenn Bradfield, Bike Newport's Board Chair, "Everyone riding experiences all the benefits to health, happiness, and finances. And everyone riding experiences the same risks due to poor infrastructure and distracted drivers. If we require people to ride on the roads with cars, we have an obligation to improve awareness and communication for all road users. A little paint goes a long way to make folks safer until we advance to more sophisticated and separated improvements."  
 
Anyone interested is invited to gather together in front of City Hall, 43 Broadway, and across the street at Bike Newport, 62 Broadway, beginning at 630pm.
 
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