William C. O’Neill Bike Path

A great path in beautiful surroundings! We have only walked it so far, as it is just now getting nice enough to take out the bikes and the rack. There are quite a few stops, but for walking it’s not a big hindrance at all. The path is clean and winds through such a beautiful area of the state. One of the tunnels is exquisitely tagged, I know some people see this as deformation, but if you stop to really look at the art and think that it was done with spray paint you can truly appreciate it. The colors used are awesome and just about all of it is respectful. The path is well paved and smooth and clearly marked. Plus it goes right through Wakefield near Brickley’s!

If you are new to bicycling like I am, this trail is probably not where you should start. It has quite a few uphill grades that for the inexperienced or beginner cyclist may be tough to pedal.
Also, they are doing some construction at one section of the trail where they recommend you dismount from the bike to navigate through.
Like some of the other comments, there are quite a bit of crossings where you have to assess the traffic before getting to the other side. In some of the other trails I’ve done, the motorists will yield to the bikers, but the signs at the crossings make it clear that the bikers need to yield to oncoming traffic.
Not sure why this was voted a good trail — I actually prefer the East Bay Bike Path to this one.
One upside is that at the end of the trail (starting in West Kingstown), you are at the beach!

A very scenic path with a few faults.
As others have said, once you have a good momentum going, you tend to have to stop at a crossing. It’s unfortunate for such a beautiful path. So many crossings. There are bathrooms at the Amtrak station and again not far from the Narraganset end (if you go closer to the beach).
It is a short ride from the end of the path to the beach on the Narraganset end, but you need to at least be somewhat comfortable with riding on the road. Just be prepared for a little bit of an uphill ride on the return ride to S. Kingston. I had a good day riding the path but with the uphill, road crossings, and headwind, it made for a little bit of a tough ride.
Not the worst path in RI, but I would say that some of the negatives outweighed the beauty of the path. It was one of the more scenic paths I’ve been on in the state.

Solid bike path in south county. Lots of room on both sides of the path and nicely paved. Good ride for hte afternoon or to get to Naragansett without having to deal with the beach traffic.

Nice choice in South County. Only downside is many stop signs and many crossing streets… that slows down the bike ride.

Love the bike path! Only real draw back is the Motorized occasional infringement. The natural beauty and access is great for what ever out door activity you choose. One day I hope to see stop stenciled on the pavement. The stop signs for hard pedaling enthusiasts are not easy to see. Once in a while they cross the street no looking no stopping always in great gear and on expensive bikes.
Starting at the Train Station and walking toward the beach you pass through the most beautiful woods with vernal ponds and rivers before climbing up a slight hill towards town. The path is truly a treasure.

Much improved with the new phase of the path from Wakefield to the Narragansett Elementary School so as to avoid the rotary! Some truly beautiful spots along the way — I use it almost daily as a fitness trail, and it’s a great way to get to Rte 1 for coastal bike trips.
Only four stars because there’s no light at the Elementary School so that bikes can cross the (very busy) Kingston Road at the end of the path… With the final phase (whenever that happens) this should be fixed.
Love the boardwalk over the swamp (near Ministerial Rd). Great trail for nature-​watching.

A bike trip
with some
unexpected
sights.
I’ve done this bike path many times and have seen some unusual things and critters. Deer, geese, ducks, turtles sunning themselves, frogs hopping across the path, snakes slithering across the path and various strange looking humans. But yesterday I saw something exceptionally odd; a goat dancing on a grave stone.
It was getting dark and I could see something in the distance. Something that wasn’t quite right. As we peddled closer all five in our group slowed down and just stared. It was one of those things where your mind just wasn’t quite comprehending what your eyes were seeing. It was indeed a goat prancing around on top of a grave stone. As we just stared with mouths open, a bunch of other goats appeared, then one lone black sheep and a woman in a long skirt and hood. Hmmmmm.
The woman explained that she bought her goats into the ancient cemetery to graze and that they get very frisky at dusk. Some did indeed appear to be dancing as they jumped up to get the leaves on the trees and others were just having a good time butting each other and jumping around. Fortunately I had my camera or I would soon be known as the biggest liar in Rhode Island.
I love strange and unusual sights. The bizarre and unexpected. But goats prancing in a cemetery and on gravestones is going to be a hard one to beat.
A bike trip
with some
unexpected
sights

I would love this bike path if it went all the way to the water. As it is, it is a pretty treacherous ride from the end of the bike path to the beach, one that I definitely would not recommend without a helmet or with any kids. I really like where this bike path begins — the train station provides apple parking and is easy to find. There are some really cute town centers you pass through that have some food and shopping places and if you take the hazardous ride to the beach there is a whole plaza at Narragansett pier.
It is definitely a short ride. I used it more as a way to get to the beach without having to find a place to park than a real bike ride.