NEWPORT, R.I. (WPRI) — The city of Newport is taking steps to ensure that anyone planning to bike to next week’s Folk Festival will have a safe experience.

Bike Newport Executive Director Bari Freeman announced the city will be updating its traffic management and adding bike lanes to Spring Street and Harrison Avenue for this year’s event.

On Spring Street, there will be a dedicated bike lane on the left side where there’s room. Where there’s not room, it will be marked as a shared lane.

The Harrison Avenue bike lane, which is eastbound, will go from Beacon Hill Road to the Fort Adams entrance. Vehicles must stay on the westbound side and turn right when leaving Fort Adams. That change will be in effect from 8 a.m. through 8 p.m. on all three days of the festival.

There will be police officers and signage to help guide traffic, according to Bike Newport.

On one-way roads, bicyclists must be going in the same direction as traffic. Anyone going the opposite way needs to get off their bikes and walk with them.

Bike Newport also said that the recommended bike routes have changed this year. Visit their website to learn more.

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