East Bay Bike Path

East Bay Bike Path
Facing south near the path's southern terminus in Bristol
East Bay Bike Path
Established	1992
Length	14.5 miles (23.3 km)
Location	Bristol County, Rhode Island
Designation	East Coast Greenway
Trailheads	India Point Park Bristol, Rhode Island
Use	Hiking, Walking, Cycling
Hiking details
Trail difficulty	Easy
Season	All year
Months	12
Sights	Narragansett Bay
Website	East Bay Bike Path

The East Bay Bike Path is a 14.5-mile (23.3 km) paved rail trail in Rhode Island. The path begins at Providence and India Point Park, crosses the Seekonk River via the George Redman Linear Park (opened July 2015) and Washington Bridge and continues southeast to Bristol along the shoreline of Narragansett Bay. The path passes through the city of East Providence, the hamlet of Riverside, and the townships of Barrington and Warren. It is part of the East Coast Greenway and provides access to Haines State Park, Brickyard Pond (Barrington), and Colt State Park. It is used annually by 1.1 million people.

History

The plan for what would become Rhode Island's first major bike path was approved in April 1983 by Governor Edward DiPrete. It was built from 1987 to 1992, following the abandoned rail bed of the Providence, Warren and Bristol Railroad. The property was acquired and constructed in four phases:

1. Riverside Square to Barrington County Road (4.17 miles or 6.71 kilometres)
2. County Road, Barrington to Franklin Street, Warren (2.38 miles or 3.83 kilometres)
3. Franklin Street, Warren to Independence Park, Bristol (3.87 miles or 6.23 kilometres)
4. Riverside Square to India Point Park, Providence (3.98 miles or 6.41 kilometres)

The completed path was dedicated on May 31, 1992, by Governor Bruce Sundlun. An 8.5 mile on-road, via bike lane, was completed in 2011, linking the East Bay Bike Path with the south tip of the Blackstone River Bikeway, a 48-mile (77 km) trail, which will link Providence with Worcester, Massachusetts. Rhode Island's next project will be connecting the East Bay Bike Path with the Washington Secondary Rail Trail.

See also

• Greenways Alliance of Rhode Island

External links

• East Bay Bike Path Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Parks and Recreations Division
• East Bay Bike Path Rhode Island Department of Transportation
• East Coast Greenway Greenways Alliance of Rhode Island