On Sunday, September 15, Mayor Angel Taveras and the City of Providence will host the last of three Cyclovía events in Providence this summer season. The event, scheduled from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., will open Hope Street exclusively for use by bicyclists, pedestrians, runners and skaters.
Cyclovía is a car-free event that opens the street for people of all ages to walk, skate, run, bicycle, exercise and socialize. A half-mile stretch of Hope Street, from Rochambeau Avenue to Ninth Street, will be closed to traffic during the event.
The event is sponsored by Mayor Taveras in collaboration with the City's Healthy Communities Office and the Providence Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission. Cyclovía will include bicycle workshops, Zumba, street vendors and more:
- NBX Bikes will sponsor bike rentals, bike clinics and Strider/kid races. Bike clinics will take place at 11 a.m., 12 noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Strider/kid races will take place at 12 noon.
- Recycle-A-Bike and the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council's Red Shed will sponsor bicycle tune-ups.
- Recycle-A-Bike Valet will sponsor valet bike parking.
- Vintage Bikes R.I. will sponsor vintage bike displays and vintage bike identification services.
- Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island will sponsor 'BeWell' informational sessions, including measuring blood pressure and body fat content. Sessions will take place at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. near Frog and Toad store.
- YMCA's 'Y on the Move' will sponsor an inflatable obstacle course, nutrition education and physical activities. Y on the Move's activities will take place in the Seven Stars Bakery parking lot from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Stock will sponsor healthy French cooking demos with Revol cookware. Demos will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Kreatelier will sponsor bike craft activities.
- Pippa's Papers will sponsor a bike messaging service.
- Chez Pascal's Wurst Window will sponsor a concert with Wade Devers and the DBC's at 12:30 p.m.
- Ruff'n Wranglers and Providence Animal Rescue League will sponsor pet-friendly activities. Activities will take place next to Studio Hop.
- Food trucks will be parked off of Hope Street on Lauriston Street, Fourth Street and Fifth Street.
- J-Fitness and the Jewish Alliance Greater of Rhode Island will sponsor a series of health and fitness activities in Lippitt Park, including:
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Yoga from 11 a.m. to 12 noon
- 30-minute circuit training workouts, scheduled for 12 noon, 12:30 p.m., 1 p.m., and 1:30 p.m.
- Kid-friendly activities from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., including a hula-hoop contest beginning at 12 noon, kid's yoga from 12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m., and a tug-of-war and obstacle course, scheduled at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
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The Hope Street Merchants Association and the Healthy Communities Office will sponsor a stage series of music and dance activities at Rochambeau Avenue and Hope Street, including:
- Belly dancing sponsored by the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, from 11 a.m. to 12 noon
- Kid's dancing and movements sponsored by Zum4Kids and the Rochambeau Library, from 12 to 12:30 p.m. and 2 to 2:30 p.m.
- Klezmer music by Fishel Bresler, from 12:30 to 1 p.m. and 2:30 to 3 p.m.
- Zumba sponsored by Rising Stars Dance Academy at 1 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Free bike helmets and fittings will be provided to children and adults, sponsored by the Rhode Island Department of Health, the YMCA of Greater Providence and the Injury Prevention Center at Rhode Island Hospital. The helmets will be distributed by Recycle-A-Bike on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.
Recycle-A-Bike will also sponsor a bike collection during Cyclovía located at NBX Bikes on Hope Street and Fourth Street. Donated bikes will be refurbished through programs such as Build-A-Bike, Wrenching Wednesdays and Open Shop, and distributed to newly arrived refugees, students, city youth and others. Recycle-A-Bike accepts all types of bicycles including cruisers, road, mountain and BMX bikes.
Other health activities will be offered by community partners, including the Rhode Island Bicycle Coalition, East Coast Greenway, RIPTA, Rochambeau Library, Red Cross of Rhode Island, United Way of Rhode Island, American Diabetes Association - Tour de Cure, Providence Cyclo-Cross Festival, and more.
Cyclovía is supported by the Hope Street Merchants Association, Whole Foods, Walgreens, REI, and the Providence Department of Parks and Recreation.
Providence held its first-ever Cyclovía in September 2012 on Broad Street. This year, the City of Providence has expanded Cyclovías to include three dates and locations. For more information, visit http://providenceri.com/healthy-communities/providence-cyclovia-2013-0