Submitted by PleasurePunch t3_105gu0a in providence
Is Providence a bikable city? I have an electric scooter but I'm still a little new and good bike paths make me feel better.
Bonus points for good gluten free spots my husband had celiac disease!
Comments
RandomChurn t1_j3bmxsb wrote
Celiac 👋 .. along with the others already mentioned, we have a few good Indian restaurants and many items on the menus are gluten-free.
hand_truck_ham t1_j3bag0j wrote
Providence is bikeable in that it’s small and you can get from one side to another relatively quickly. It is not very bike friendly. Not a ton of bike lanes downtown or surrounding neighborhoods. I would recommend the east bay bike bath to get a nice bay view and look back at the city, there is a hearty hill to climb to get there. There is also a nice walkway down by the canal that is bike friendly. Rhode island drivers are.. a special bunch.
As for no gluten, wildflour is great for breakfast. There are lots of great modern restaurants with seafood options due to it being so coastal. most of who have other GF items on the menu.
Over_Art_921 t1_j3bgiyb wrote
I don't think there's many places you cant go on bike. Bike lanes are popping up all over. I'd argue it's very bike friendly along with the rest of RI. But I don't bike the city often. What am I missing? What would improve it? I guess you would answer more bike lanes. I guess I see the ones we have as being enough. We should be able to bike without a bike lane present. But it certainly is better with one.
I agree with your statement about RI drivers. We hate driving. Bc we have to deal with other drivers.
MarlKarx-1818 t1_j3bw9gb wrote
It's not just more bike lanes, but protected ones. Given how little drivers care for people on bikes, a faded painted line provides no protection. And I say this as someone who mostly drives.
Over_Art_921 t1_j3d89k6 wrote
Gotcha. I guess seeing them pop up around the city makes me feel like it's moving in that direction. But the drivers don't help and it's mostly a thing for people to complain about
JCappy t1_j3atv1k wrote
Definitely. Wildflour and Garden Grille are right off the East Bay Bike Path - vegetarian/gluten free spots
hand_truck_ham t1_j3b9yy2 wrote
not sure if “right off the bike bath” applies to wildflour
JCappy t1_j3bkz52 wrote
Ha true fair enough. I was thinking off the Blackstone River Bikeway but yeah still
Status_Silver_5114 t1_j3bnncs wrote
It’s basically the next intersection down from Where the boulevard bike path splits so I think that counts.
briancar93 t1_j3cfews wrote
Considering it’s only about 1200 feet from the bike path on the boulevard across from India I would say it applies. What’s a quarter mile to you? Depends on you’re perception/drive/ how lazy you are. If you can see something on a bike path I would say it’s right off it
LateIdeal9114 t1_j3b2tmw wrote
If I'm not mistaken..definitely in the East Bay, pretty much can travel, sometimes more efficiently than the Wompanoug Trail in times of rush hour, immaculate and well patrolled, bike path. From Providence to Tiverton, RI. It's not a platitude or half measured ecological deal.. it's a well integrated and organized system. People use it for legitimate exercise, socialization and common thoroughfare to work. Take particular notice of the town of Warren, RI as it turns into Bristol, RI. Baggy Wrinkle Cove (8th grade me, would have a hoot of a time, all delinquent shenanigans aside, name wise) there is a game preserve, not sure how permits were pulled for triple tiered 3000sqft : 9000sqft, pristine condos in such a protected area but the views and diversity of wildlife is better and far more ubiquitous in abundance, than anything I witnessed in 5 years at the University of Maine at Presque Isle..
EColli93 t1_j3c1cpy wrote
We have an awesome bike path
Jerkeyjoe t1_j3ciucg wrote
The best parts of Providence are all close and is definitely bikeable and walkable. The east bay bike path was mentioned and I agree , a great suggestion. For great gf indian food , ride up Blackstone boulevard and hit up rasoi. Last thing I'll mention is if you're using a scooter on the bike path do your best to be considerate and please try to avoid the sidewalk.
biddeford1 t1_j3d5r4x wrote
Gluten free:
Los Andes for amazing Peruvian/Bolivian food Plant City for a variety of vegan food Tallulah’s for casual Mexican Chomp for burgers Flatbread for pizza Gourmet House for classic American Chinese food (not traditional but the kind you usually can’t eat when you’re GF because of soy sauce and breading) - nearly everything is GF and their breading is too!
zebrawithflowers t1_j3c1rgr wrote
It's bikeable, with a few tips in mind:
- Going up College Hill (heading east on Waterman, for example, or any of the east-west streets between Olney and Wickenden) is steep. Some people can do it, but I end up walking my bike up or by riding along the river on South Water Street to Wickenden and then taking Benefit, Hope, or Brook north if I have the time.
- Drivers will not look out their side view mirror before they open their doors, so be alert if you see someone in a car. You run the risk of getting doored.
Since you mention a scooter, I'll also note that some of our sidewalks are made of brick (around our beautiful statehouse, and along Benefit Street, for example). They are not fun on a scooter. The Benefit Street sidewalks are also quite bumpy due to tree roots and missing some bricks, so proceed with caution. That said, you can ride on the street there fairly comfortably.
Finally, GF: Some have mentioned Indian restaurants. I also recommend Wildflour and the Garden Grille, but next door to them is Rasoi, which is very GF-friendly. Their sibling restaurant, Kabob and Curry, is on Thayer Street, so if you want to shake things up location-wise, that's a good rec.
To be honest, though, Providence is pretty small, so walking actually works even better, with the exception of heading to Garden Grille, which is further from downtown. (RIPTA services the area fairly frequently, and is another option.) For example, walking from Providence Public Library (the western edge of downtown) to Thayer Street takes about 23 minutes. Starting from Federal Hill adds another 10 minutes.
Happy travels!
Anonymike7 t1_j3c9rqr wrote
Plant City can easily accommodate GF requests.
jrprov1 t1_j3cbl6p wrote
I have a colleague whose family has gluten issues. He raves about Box Seats Restaurant in North Attleborough, MA which is just over the border from RI.
listen_youse t1_j3hj7s3 wrote
You have to be on the ballsy side to be able to go anywhere you choose in this city. If you can limit your travels to certain neighborhoods, quiet streets and recreational bike paths like East Bay, Blackstone, Washington Secondary, it's great. Otherwise, if you pick a random destination you find there is no way to bike there without going through chaotic multilane intersections or down very stressful streets.
The few protected bike lanes on city streets that they tend to brag way too much about always end abruptly just when you get to the gnarliest part.
tbsynaptic t1_j3ojakh wrote
I have a car and still love to rent those electric bikes and just spend a day cruising around the city. You can most likely get anywhere safely on a bike provided it’s light or you have reflective vest and lights…
Stay out of bad neighborhoods though.
BingBong022 t1_j3cp0dr wrote
Get 3 hot weiners all the way, best gluten free shiz be bussin bussin on God!
Diligent-Pizza8128 t1_j3bwmf5 wrote
Providence is def bikeable and you can get just about anywhere on bike. The touristy things are a bit more concentrated so you wouldn’t have to go far. However, it’s not possible using only bike lanes. You’d have to bike with traffic at certain points.
I bike in Providence regularly and this isn’t a problem for me and lots of others. But it could be potentially nerve wracking in some spots if you’re not very comfortable around cars.
If you happen to be here on a Friday when PVD Bike Jam is happening, it’s a ton of fun! https://instagram.com/pvdbikejam