Preserve bike funding in Rhode Island

Andrew Gook/Unsplash

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation has proposed cutting funding for walking and biking projects in Rhode Island by 33 percent — the state plans to instead use these funds for bridges and road maintenance.

But cutting into bike and pedestrian funding is not the answer: In the last decade, 127 people have been killed while walking in Rhode Island and 10 were killed while biking. More than a quarter of roadway fatalities in Rhode Island between 2014 and 2016 were pedestrians and cyclists, making it the sixth-worst state in the nation for road safety.*

Tell your elected official that you oppose Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) Major Amendment #11 and that you benefit from projects that support the development of our bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure for years to come.

Contact your state legislators today.

We’ve made things easy by drafting a letter you can send by completing the form on this page. Personalized letters are more effective when it comes to writing your legislators — for some ideas on talking points you can use to customize this message, check out the resources compiled by the Rhode Island Bicycle Coalition.

All comments must be submitted by Thursday, Feb. 28.

Thanks for taking action for better bicycling!

*Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting Data, FHWA