More than 450 people took to Middle Road in Portsmouth for the first car-free Farm-to-Farm Bike Ride.
On Saturday, May 5th, Middle Road in Portsmouth was closed to traffic for two hours, and hundreds of bicyclists and walkers took to the streets. “It was stunning!,” shared Daniela Abbot, the event’s visionary and coordinator. “Clearly people want to ride and walk without cars!” Middle Road residents joined the fun on bikes and on lawn chairs. There were two lemonade stands along the two-mile route.
Bike Newport hosted the event and expects the popularity of the event will inspire more car-free rides on Aquidneck Island where, according to Executive Director Bari Freeman, “There are no places to ride separated from cars – yet!” Rhode Island boasts several beautiful bike paths, and Aquidneck Island is in planning stages for its first multi-use path, The First Mile.
The inaugural Farm-to-Farm Ride passed by six local farms and was sponsored by numerous local businesses, including: Newport Cosmetic and Family Dentistry, Bristol Marine, Countryside Children’s Center, YMCA of Newport County, EcoRI News, Aquidneck Island Planning Commission, Aquidneck Pediatrics, Clean Ocean Access, Rhody Fresh Milk, Rhode Island Farm Bureau, Standard Modern Company, Reynolds DeWalt, Escobar’s Farmhouse Inn, and the Rhode Island Nursery and Landscape Association.
For more information, visit http://bikenewportri.org/portsmouthfarmride/.