NBW and Advocacy
The Narragansett Bay Wheelmen (NBW) is an organization dedicated to the promotion and encouragement of safe recreational cycling by assisting local and national organizations to educate the public about safe cycling and the benefits cycling has on people and the environment.
Since 2009, NBW has donated $243,000, mostly to local cycling and community groups in Rhode Island and Southcoast Massachusetts. These programs include:
Workshops to educate youth and adults on safe bicycling practices.
Sponsor children in youth bicycle camps and other youth programs
Provide financial help with bikeway development to community groups developing trails, paths and marked routes.
Increasing access to local fresh foods through farmers markets and community gardens, and working with food retailers to offer healthy, affordable food and drink options
Building and expanding open spaces, safer parks, playgrounds and other places to be active
Creating safe neighborhoods with new sidewalks, bike lanes, walkable paths that make roads safe for all users
NBW has sponsored the purchase of helmets and bicycle rodeos for children in the Fall River, MA area. NBW has also help to sponsor a rally to save a portion of the Alfred J. Lima Quequechan River Rail Trail from a local business threatening to pave a road over and parallel to the wooded trail in the city of Fall River.
The South Coast Bikeway Alliance is a non-profit organization made up of community representatives and groups that work with local leaders and organizations to advocate for and build the networks of bikeways throughout the South Coast region.
NBW has sponsored annual Bike Summits to promote the building of a bicycle path and route from the Rhode Island border to Cape Cod. The bike summits include local politicians and bicycle advocates from Massachusetts and the in particular the Southcoast region of MA.
A group of small, public high schools located in Providence and Newport, Rhode Island, The MET empowers its students to take charge of their learning, to become responsible citizens and life-long learners.
NBW has sponsored programs for students to learn the skills of bicycle maintenance and repair.
Bike Newport’s mission is to create the conditions that lead to more people biking more often, and to ensure that bicycling is a viable, safe and comfortable primary choice for transportation and recreation.
NBW has assisted Bike Newport in the development of their programs promoting bicycling on Aquidneck Island, Rhode Island..
The East Coast Greenway is a walking and biking route stretching 3,000 miles from Maine to Florida, connecting our nation’s most populated corridor. The East Coast Greenway is designed to transform the 15 states and 450 communities it connects through active and healthy lifestyles, sustainable transportation, community engagement, climate resilience, tourism, and more. The Greenway offers a safe place for bicyclists, walkers, runners, and more — of all ages and abilities — to commute, exercise, and visit new destinations.
The nonprofit East Coast Greenway Alliance leads the development of the trail network. We work with hundreds of volunteers, partner organizations, and officials at the local, state, regional and national level to continue moving more of the route onto protected paths. Together, we are connecting people to nature and community via a safe, accessible greenway.
NBW has assisted East Coast Greenway in their work on identifying and marking the routes in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts.
We envision Rhode Island as a place that is safe & accessible for all, with safe and connected bike routes separated from traffic within easy reach of most families.
NBW has helped to sponsor RI Bicycle Coalition in the development of their programs in the state.
The Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council (WRWC) sparks economic development through our work restoring the Woonasquatucket River and communities around it, and by enhancing, extending and bringing people to the Woonasquatucket River Greenway.
The WRWC is a successful model of community revitalization that helps people discover this local American Heritage River and its natural resources, channeling life and economic development into neighborhoods.
NBW has routinely helped to sponsor WRWC’s annual summer bicycle camp for city youth
NBW has sponsored WRWC’s Fish on Bikes fundraising ride through Rhode Island.
We are committed to the fostering of better, safer bicycle/pedestrian pathways throughout our community and to encouraging everyone to live better.
NBW has assisted Bike Tiverton in developing plans for a proposed bike path from the Fall River, MA border through the town of Tiverton connecting Aquidneck Island by the Sakonnet River Bridge bicycle path.
MassBike is Massachusett's Statewide Bicycle Advocacy Group. Our Mission is to Improve Bicycling Across the State Through Legislation, Education & Outreach.
NBW has assisted MassBIke in developing their statewide programs especially those on the Southcoast of Massachusetts.
The NBW Advocacy chair and individuals attend local and national conferences to promote safer cycling. Our members continually support the maintenance and repair of community local use paths and the development of marked bicycle routes. The Advocacy Chair meets with our state representatives during the League of American Bicyclists annual conference
Amos House
Members of the NBW also contribute individually to AMOS House every year during an annual fund raiser for this organization. The Amos House is dedicated to helping people help themselves out of homelessness and poverty through vital services and results oriented programs.