Woonsocket residents interested in making the 33.5 mile trek from the city to Bristol can now journey to the southern part of the state without leaving a bike trail, though supporters of the bikeway emphasize it is only a temporary holdover for cyclists awaiting the path's full off-road completion.

A new 8.5 mile stretch connecting the Blackstone River Bikeway with the East Bay Bike Path runs along marked roads beginning in Cumberland and passing through Pawtucket, Providence and Central Falls, ending in East Providence. The addition makes nearly all of Rhode Island accessible to cyclists, ending at two of the state's most northern and southern regions.

"Our bikeway has been used as a recreational amenity for many years but it is designed to connect Woonsocket to Bristol and Woonsocket to Worcester for transportation," said Robert Billington, executive director of the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council. The project has been in the works since the 1980s, but deadlines for completion have continually been pushed back for lack of funding. The project will require an estimated seven years and $31 million to complete.

Billington is hopeful, however, that building the immediate connection will help to create a demand for a full off-road route.

"We hope to create a noisy constituency," said Billington. "This path has to be completed off road, but it isn't going to happen unless we lobby."

Although the new temporary 8.5 mile stretch utilizes public roadways, Billington said the route is well marked and safe for families. Street signs guide cyclers through city streets and "sharrows" (bicycles painted on the street) warn motorists to share the road.

"Parents should not be fearful of teaching children to use the rules of the road," Billinton said. "The path is a little more difficult, but we've tried to make it clear."

The most difficult stretch to navigate is an area under construction in Pawtucket. Kids, however might enjoy the Pawtucket area because it affords them the rare opportunity to see a bridge in the process of being built.

Billington hopes to create a similar short term solution in Woonsocket connecting Hamlet Avenue to the Massachusetts border. He has met with representatives from Main Street 2000 and area non-profits to gain support for the idea, which he says could be completed next year.

"I'd like to see Woonsocket get behind the idea of on road construction for now," he said. In addition to the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council's regular tours on the bikepath, Billington had added two tours in August and October on which visitors can travel from the Blackstone River State Park in Lincoln to the Museum of Work and Culture in Woonsocket.

Billington emphasizes that the new connections will be a nice holdover which will allow bikers to feel safe navigating the cities, but off-road completion of the path won't happen without support.

"It's so much better to have an off road path," he said. "This has been going on for decades so if you want an off road path, now is the time to speak up." A letter to the public regarding the current completion goal of 2017 can be viewed on the Cycle Blackstone website.  

A map of the current route can be viewed at  http://cycleblackstone.com/maps.htm