The World Is Out On Their Bicycles
Bike shops are busier than ever with inventories down and business thriving. It is exciting to see all ages getting healthy exercise, and enjoying nature in an environmentally healthy way. The Block Island Sound Bikeway Committee (BISB) is tasked with making this healthy activity safer here in Charlestown and ultimately connecting the shoreline communities from Westerly to North Kingstown.
Start with a dream and then take little bites to make it happen. That’s the approach the Block Island Sound Bikeway Committee has taken.
Our Mission Statement describes the dream:
Block Island Sound Bikeway Committee, an outgrowth of the Charlestown Parks and Recreation Commission, is committed to developing trail-bikeways connecting the shoreline communities of South County in keeping with Charlestown’s Comprehensive Plan, 2021, as well as the State of Rhode Island’s Bicycle Mobility Plan (BMP), 2020. Our mission is to develop a vision and plan with our neighboring communities to create a safe, welcoming trail system that celebrates our unique natural and cultural environment.”
Here is a list of “bites” the Committee is working on:
- Signage for Rt.1 A from the Village Center to Ninigret Park as a cycleway;
- Discussion with RIDOT for improvements to the intersection north of King Tom Pond;
- Supporting the Town’s efforts for improved safety of Charlestown Beach Rd;
- Working with RIDOT’s Pedestrian and Cycle Safety Coordinator;
- Collaborating with South Kingstown for the first leg of the Coastal Route.
This is very promising work. It substantially improves the quality and safety of life in Charlestown and beyond.
The Committee would like to invite you to attend a meeting and possibly join the Committee and share your ideas.
- The BISB Committee meets on the 3rd Thursday of the month at 3:00 pm at Charlestown Town Hall.
- Meetings are generally an hour long.
- For more information, please contact: Faith LaBossiere, Chair – faithlabossiere@verizon.net – 401 212-6782
October 11, 2023 @ 9:31 am
Thanks Faith for the update on this committee …. I hope that you all cycle to your committee meetings wearing high visibility clothing on bikes fitted with working flashing lights for drivers to see you, and horns or bells for you to warn pedestrians that you are approaching, lets all “share the roads” ;-)).
I frequently walk along the woodland(eastern) part of Buckeye Brook Rd and I can hear cars etc approaching but not cyclists. It would be nice to be warned of their approaching and shouting is not effecti ve.
October 18, 2023 @ 8:06 am
if you are walking on the correct side of the road (against vehicular traffic), and bikers are doing the same (following motor vehicle convention), you should be able to visually identify cyclists from a safe distance away.
on my daily South County Bike Path rides, it’s not infrequent to see people with their noses buried in a “smart” phone even though they are following the ‘walk on the left’ mandate.