For what they pay to hold this event, they could’ve painted bike lanes on Broadway (a day’s work promised 5 years ago), or put up signs that direct riders coming off real bikeways in adjacent cities (notably Cranston and East Providence) through that dangerous labyrinth called “down city” to important points, like the Henderson Bridge, the only way to cross the Seekonk River except for an intolerably long detour through Pawtucket. But you’ll have to be agile to cross on sidewalks after they otherwise close Henderson, highway to nowhere, to cycling forever.

In 2012 (maybe later), when they finish the Geo Washington/Redman Bikeway/Bridge, there still won’t be any safe route between it and the lowly but reliable Point St Bridge. They let a golden opportunity to connect Allens Avenue’s bike lanes and East Bay Bike Path slip through their fingers when the I-way was designed. What were they thinking? With newly opened Exit 2 dumping traffic into Wickenden snarl, bikes will get further deselected. Does anyone but me notice that Providence is losing all its limited charm to highway construction? Capitol city is becoming an ugly tangle of cycling banned throughways while state’s deficit edges toward a half billion. As it stands, the only thing cyclists are sure to get is hollow recognition. Sure, bike to work, save the city, but where’s the welcome mat?