Maybe it’s a modest seasonal goal that a compulsive cyclist could complete in a week, but set 5 conditions that must be met by bicycle: 1) Cover entire length in either direction of each dedicated bike path exclusive of on-street sections, short entrances, or spurs, not necessarily all segments in a single outing. 2) Explore any bikeable portion of every state park, if not the hundreds of also interesting city and town beaches, management areas, playgrounds, preserves, public land, and refuges. c) Arrive at ride start by any means, bus or car, or ride from home, if practical. d) For your hard to route park or segment, you may substitute a bonus suggestion. e) Challenge, once begun, extends for 1 year, though winter might affect access. Summer is 90 days; despite weather deterrents, most bicyclists can complete 10 rides over 13 weekends.
For bikeways, challenge specifies Blackstone River Bikeway, East Bay Bike Path, Fed Lippitt Woonasquatucket River (aka Northwest Trail) Greenway, Gano Bike Path, Quonset Bike Path, South County (aka William O’Neill) Bike Path, Ten Mile River Greenway, Warren Bike Path, and Washington Secondary (aka West Bay) Bike Path. Not specified by RIDOT website but nevertheless under state jurisdiction are Central Falls Boardwalk, Charlie Hawkins Memorial Path in Colt Park, Henderson Bridge, and Sakonnet Bridge, 2 of 3 such parallel facilities with George Redman Linear Park alongside I-195’s controversially failed Washington Bridge. Though signed streets connecting facilities are exempt, they might prove useful while planning routes to these 14 facilities, 70 miles total.
Must also visit 20 official state lands and parks including Beavertail (shown above), Blackstone Visitor Center, Brenton Point, Burlingame, Chafee Preserve in Narragansett, Cocumcossoc (undeveloped) and Smith Grove, Colt, Curran (undeveloped), Eisenhower House, Fisherman’s Memorial, Fort Adams, Fort Wetherill, Goddard Park, Goddard Golf Course, Haines, Lincoln Woods, Pulaski, Rocky Point, Snake Den, and World War II Memorial in Woonsocket. State’s beaches, except Beach Pond, occupy southern shoreline, often widely separated (e.g., by land, Galilee beach is 14 miles from directly adjacent Jerusalem); none support bicycling, so don’t meet visit criteria, but kudos for including any en route.
Optional but worth a bonus point or requirement substitution are Arcadia in Exeter (forsaken gravel roads and hiking trails, passing by on RI-165 counts), Blackstone Boulevard bike lanes and Swan Point Cemetery (amazing arboretum) in Providence’s northeast corner, Burrillville Bike Path between Harrisville and Pascoag, Crescent Park (Looff Carousel) in East Providence, DelGiudice Memorial (aka Meadow View Avenue) Bike Path on Warwick Neck, Diamond Hill Park in Cumberland, Ninigret Park in Charlestown, Roger Williams Park in Providence, Salter’s Grove Memorial in Warwick, Slater Park in Pawtucket, Warwick City Park, Wilcox Park on High Street in Westerly, and Wilson Park in Wickford. Don’t forget Rhode Island’s National Parks, in particular, Roger Williams Memorial on North Main Street in Providence. Score 34 points, one per complete path or park visit, to complete this odyssey.
Bristol: Certain parks and paths can be tackled together. Assuming a Providence start, own route began at India Point, climbed over George Redman Linear Park (√), and headed south on East Bay Bike Path (√) through East Providence's Crescent Park (1 bonus), Barrington’s Haines Park (√), then Bristol’s Colt Park (√). Done in May, did loop through Colt on Charlie Hawkins Memorial Path (√), enjoyed promenade alongside Narragansett Bay, then exited past Coggeshall Farm onto Poppasquash Road, one of the finest scenery segments in entire series. Saw stately old rhodedendrons in full bloom, stunning bayside views, and swampy wooded lanes. Spent an entire morning on this 35 mile roundtrip; rode from home to India Point and back for an additional 10 miles. Ignored near mile Warren Bike Path, deemed a disconnected exit spur, traded for bonus. Score 6 or 7.
Coventry: Conversely, passing through no state parks, Washington Secondary (aka West Bay) Bike Path (√), is state’s longest at 19 miles, comprised of Cranston, Warwick, West Warwick, and Coventry Greenways in line from Parkade, excluding dangerous quarter mile Tongue Pond Loop, on Providence line, stretching southwest to Summit Station, gradually rising to highest point of rail right-of-way upon which it was built. Most improved of all, newly restored and resurfaced to Coventry line, WSBP is now a pleasure compared to what it had become: an eroded, frost heaved, root buckled course for disgruntled commuters dodging dog walkers. Olde Summit Village is a perfect example of fading glory of yesteryear, when living in a hamlet at a rail hub implied prosperity. However, should you choose an off-path return, you can pass undeveloped Curran Park (√) on Cranston-Scituate line, Seven Mile Road, across from Henry’s Christmas Tree Farm, though actually exploring it would mean hiking its narrow trails on foot. For thrills, head north from Summit to Maple Valley Road and ride east down miles of rollercoaster ridges through Hope to get to Curran, in other words, real road cycling. Round trip on this route adds 7 miles, so another 45 mile day trip. Score 1 or 2.
Glocester: Nothing to prove, you can simply drive to Casimir Pulaski State Park (√) on Connecticut border, then pedal around a bit; not much to see anyway, or skip altogether by substituting a bonus spot. Club rides in area originate from West Glocester Elementary School, all but deserted during summer. You could park at CVS on corner of RI-102 and RI-44, pursue Chestnut Hill and Pine Orchard Roads, then carefully cross and ride shoulder of RI-44 to Pulaski. Roads surrounding park are either cul-de-sacs or dirt, though Glocester otherwise boasts some of the best maintained and least trafficked pavement in state. About 10 miles away following Reservoir Road, to South Main Street, optional Burrillville Bike Path (√) runs 1.2 miles between Pascoag and Harrisville. Then return south on Steere Farm Road through Chepacet to CVS. Score 1 or 2.
Johnston: Snake Den State Park (√) features Dame Farm’s harvest vegetable stand, but little by way of bicycling infrastructure. From Providence, one might take Promenade Street bike lanes to Eagle Square, Fred Lippitt Woonasquatucket River (aka Northwest Trail) Greenway (√) from Olneyville to Lyman Street, with no guarantee of personal safety through scary environs, then the long uphill of Greenville Avenue. Turn left onto Brown Avenue, then return same way. Generally make this a side loop to a ride elsewhere. Instead, though climbs are brutal, went by way of Plainfield Street, over Neutaconkanut Hill, up Central Pike, then right on Reservoir Road. Though not recommended, this approach meant a mile long segment on US-6 with no shoulder alongside speeding motorists to Brown Avenue. Only advantage is a screaming plunge on narrow but smooth pavement to farm, from which returned home on suggested route for a 20 mile loop. Score 2.
Lincoln: Distance of Blackstone Bikeway would exceed West Bay Bike Path if you consider on-street segments from India Point, Massasoit circulator, Rumford signed streets, and Pawtucket shared lanes. Actually it’s just 13 miles of dedicated off-street paths from Central Falls to Woonsocket. Though not directly adjacent, Lincoln Woods (√) can be accessed en route to bike path start point. Found a rare shady parking spot near South Entrance of Twin River Casino, and from RI-246 descended a pedestrian underpass of RI-146 that puts you at beach in Woods, then climbed ring road to a thrilling downhill through a covered bridge onto Great Road. Straight ahead, Front Street leads to John Street and entrance to Central Falls Boardwalk (√). Most bumps and cracks on Blackstone Bikeway (√) are now repaved or scraped smooth. Old mills and rushing waterfalls punctuate its shady passages along tow paths by leafy bogs of “Nation’s Hardest Working River” during 1800’s. Watch for turtles sunning themselves on logs and rocks and unusual birds. Path goes past target Blackstone State Park (√), over bridge into Cumberland, parallel to railroad, and terminates in at soccer field on Hamlet Street, from which there’s an additional segment of path and sidewalk alongside Truman Drive that connects to River Island Art Park and World War II Memorial (√), state’s smallest park, next to Museum of Work and Culture. Having completed path and visited parks, slogged over hills of RI-126, took Old River Road, Anna Sayles to Limerock village, Wilbur Road overpass, and turned left onto RI-246 back to Twin River, 26 miles round trip. Great Road itself has a handful of historic 300 year old houses scattered along its length that mostly runs downhill from north to south, worth a trip some other time. Score 5.
Newport: A high speed ferry connects Newport with Providence. City by the Sea presents 3 targets: Brenton Point, Eisenhower House, which is on grounds of Fort Adams itself. All on a shore loop begun at King Park on Wellington Avenue, follow Harrison Avenue around corner to Fort Adams Drive (√), where Newport Jazz Festival is held. Return to Harrison via Lincoln Drive past Eisenhower House (√), follow onto Ridge Road, then Ocean Avenue, where spectacular ocean scenery begins, through Breton Point (√). Beware of distracted motorists. Finish by Bellevue and Narragansett Avenues back to origin for a 10 mile loop. Can be bundled with Jamestown or extended by going east on Memorial Drive to Sachuest National Refuge, returning on any of several roads. Rest of Newport’s touted bicycling infrastructure is dangerously congested and disappointingly overrated. Score 3.
North Kingstown: On opposite side of Greenwich Cove from Oakland Beach is another required spot, Goddard Memorial State Park (√). Rode directly there from Providence line on Pontiac Avenue, left on RI-5 through Apponaug onto Post Road, through East Greenwich, then left onto Ives Road, 13 miles. Too far to add to a Rocky Point spin, but short enough to include another required target, Quonset Bike Path (√). After completing circuit of Goddard Park and through Golf Course (√), turned south onto Forge Road, past Pojac Point and Quidnessett Country Club, then through Mount View neighborhood to start of path, which stretches through Allen Harbor and Quonset Point to Fletcher and Post Roads, an outstanding stretch of pavement and scenery. Went straight ahead onto Devils Foot Road intending to return through Coventry and West Warwick only to be turned back at closed overpass toward a detour on School Street. Adapted and took back roads to Love Lane, Hardig Road, Commonwealth Avenue, and College Hill Road en route to Washington Secondary Bike Path back to Providence, about 40 miles roundtrip. Wickford’s one mile Wilson Park Bikeway just happens to be adjacent to mostly undeveloped target Cocumcossoc Park and Smith Grove (√), which can be explored from Post Road and Stony Lane, checked off after Memorial Day on way to Veteran’s Cemetery in Exeter. Score 3 to 5.
South County: Drive south on RI-2 to RI-138, and park in north lot of West Kingston Train Station. Go west on RI-138 over train bridge and immediately turn south on Fairgrounds Road, which becomes Liberty Lane. Follow RI-2 south to Shannock Hill Road. Turn left on North Road; once in Shannock Village bear right and follow Old Shannock Road to RI-112, then Alton Carolina Road (RI-91) southwest. Just after Switch Road, turn south on Kings Factory Road. Turn left at tee to continue south in the high sanctuary. Bear right on Prosser, then right on Sanctuary Road, which leads through the part of Burlingame Park (√) public can visit; RV grounds requiring permits are on opposite side of Watchaug Pond. Carefully enter and U-turn on US-1 onto Old Post Road. Optionally, visit Ninigret Park (√) for a bonus. Return to Old Post Road and ride until it merges again with US-1. U-turn to switch back to Post Road, then Red House Road to Ministerial Road. Turn right on Tuckertown Road, then Main Street through Wakefield to intercept South County Bike Path just after Robinson Street. Follow Path to Mumford Road in Narragansett. Optionally, turn north on US-1A to touch Chafee Preserve, then reverse. Follow entire South County Path (√) back to Railroad Street and origin. Score 2 to 4.
Skipped Fisherman’s Memorial, Sakonnet Bridge Bikeway, Warren Path, and Wilson Park in Wickford, all visited prior to challenge. Substituted bonus spots Crescent Park, Harrisville-Pascoag Bike Path, Ninigret Park, Roger Williams Park, Salter’s Grove Memorial Park, Slater Park, and Warwick City Park, as well as Roger Williams Memorial National Park. Scored 39, 5 beyond required 34, and tanned up like a Caribbean accountant.
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