Rhode Island's Primary Bike Paths
* = denotes part of the East Coast GreenwayBlackstone River Bikeway*
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Blackstone River Bikeway
The Blackstone River Bikeway some day will be about 20 miles long, stretching from the Massachusetts border to Providence. This is being built in stages, with 9.5 miles of path open now. About 2.3 miles of path are under construction, possibly opening in 2008. Other segments are in design and construction phase.
East Bay Bike Path*
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for East Bay Bike Path
The East Bay Bike Path is considered a designated alternate trail to the East Coast Greenway. It is the first major bike path built in Rhode Island and remains the most popular. Eventually this path could provide connections to paths leading to Boston and Cape Cod. The only section planned for the area that is not complete is a 2-mile stretch in Warren leading to the Mass. border. The path begins on the Providence waterfront and crosses I-195 on a very narrow path (a new bridge crossing is coming with a major highway job). The path passes through four East Bay communities and ends 14.5 miles later in Bristol. A great boardwalk that bisects the path in Bristol was built in the past couple of years and is not to be missed.
South County Bike Path
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South County Bike Path
The South County Bike Path, formally called the William C. O'Neil Bike Path, is like many bike paths in Rhode Island that make use of an inactive rail line. The original vision was to have a path run the entire length of the rail line, which was a spur from the main line at Kingston village to the Narragansett Pier area. Right now there is 5.5 miles of bikeway open, with plans for another mile into Narragansett. From there cyclists need to make use of on-road routes to reach the shoreline as development has encroached on the old rail corridor. Additionally, paths that would connect to the University of Rhode Island are being studied by the DOT.
Ten Mile River Greenway
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Ten Mile River Greenway
This short, yet highly scenic path, connects Pawtucket and East Providence. The path is different than other bike paths in that it does not follow a former rail line. This left designers free to develop a path that rises and falls with the landscape. The result is an exhillarating ride through some very scenic forested areas. Another 1-mile section to the north is being considered by DOT. One thought is that the path could someday extend to the East Providence waterfront and connect to the East Bay Bike Path.
Washington Secondary Bike Path*
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Technical data
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Washington Secondary
bike paths
Technical data & directions for Coventry Greenway
Technical data & directions for Trestle Trail
There are five distinct paths in this area, all that travel along the former Washington Secondary rail line. The first of these built was the Cranston Bike Path, a 5.5-mile path from the Brewery Parkade, near the Providence line, to West Natick Road on the Warwick line. In 2002, workers paved a 1.5-mile segment in Warwick and a 3-mile segment in West Warwick and a short distance into Coventry. This makes a 10-mile continuous path from the Coventry border to Providence. Work is planned for 2008 to connect 1.6 miles of existing gravel (mountain bikes and fatter tire hybrids only) to an existing 3-mile section called the Coventry Greenway. Construction planned in the next few years on two phases of the Trestle Trail, picking up where the Coventry Greenway ends in Central Coventry. Completion of the Coventry paving will make for a 15-mile path and completion of all work will result in a 25-mile path, which would be the state's longest.
Woonasquatucket River Greenway/Northwest Bike Trail
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Woonasquatucket River Greenway
The Woonasquatucket River Greenway is a 5.4-mile network of bike routes and off-road paths from Providence Place Mall to Lyman Avenue in Johnston. It could eventually connect to the northwestern part of Rhode Island, but current plans for extending the path only to the Smithfield line. Off-road segment of about 3.5 miles (including all spurs) begins at Aleppo Street in Providence. Note: This path is located in a urban area, and the same precautions one might exercise walking or cycling in an urban neighborhood should be followed when using this path.
General orientation map
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GARI Committee Chairwoman Sue Barker
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