Community Corner
Cranston's Blizzard Hero is "Bike Guy"
Snow plows, city crews and the mayor have been out on the streets all blizzard long. And so has Cranston's "Bike Guy."
The first time Cranston Mayor Allan W. Fung saw Bike Guy, it was on Park Avenue.
The wind was howling, snow was piling up on the streets and from his perch inside a city vehicle at around midnight, Fung could see through the iced up windshield: Bike Guy was pedaling along Park Avenue.
“For the most part, people are adhering to the travel and parking ban, which is great. But what do we do with this guy on a bike riding down Park Avenue? Nominate him for the Darwin Award?” Fung asked in one of his numerous Facebook posts since the start of the storm.
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But it didn’t take long for Fung’s apparent disdain to quickly turn to admiration and respect for Bike Guy, who has not yet been identified.
About an hour later, Fung fired off another picture of Bike Guy. The snow was thicker. The wind was still howling. The roads were getting worse. And Bike Guy was pedaling along next to the Chapel View shopping center on New London Avenue.
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“Now I’m really impressed,” Fung said, coining a #BikeGuy hashtag. “He actually made it down from Park Avenue to Chapel View and he smiled as we drove by!”
The comments on Facebook began to roll in. Some people suggested Bike Guy was out of his mind for hitting the pedals during what had been predicted to be an “historic blizzard.” Others admired his apparent fortitude and determination. Some suggested it was perennial gubernatorial candidate and Cool Moose Party Founder Bob Healey.
“Was there a keg of brandy around his neck? one asked.
“Starting to get attached to that guy!” said another.
A Bike Guy Twitter parady account popped up. The storm wore on. The snow piled up. The plows kept going nonstop. Eventually the sun rose and it didn’t take long for Bike Guy to make another appearance — and show up in someone’s social media post.
Yanaiza Alvarez Gallant on Tuesday afternoon said her husband had to head out and “guess who he spots?”
“Bike Guy is still at it on Oaklawn Ave! He’s amazing,” she said.
So who is Bike Guy? We’re still trying to find out. If you can help us track him down, drop us a line at mark.schieldrop@patch.com
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