Close To Home, A World Away
9
www.blockislandinfo.com
KNOW THE ISLAND
Once you're on Block Island here's what you need to know. The information below will help you get
around, engage in a friendly dinner conversation and maybe even sound like a local. When you visit,
you'll quickly learn that Block Island is a community made up of very special people living in a very
special place. Nothing beats coming here and experiencing it personally, but below are some of the
basics to get you primed before your visit.
getting Around
Walk.
The sneaker express
is an easy way to enjoy the
shops, restaurants and hotels
in Old Harbor. A 15-minute
walk from the ferry will bring
you to the main beach.
Bike.
Bicycles are an afford-
able and enjoyable way to ex-
plore the Island. Rental stands
offer bikes to fit the needs of
the entire family. Or bring your
own over on the ferry.
Mopeds.
Mopeds can be
rented around the Island, and
can accommodate one or two
passengers. Mopeds may
be driven on all paved Island
roads, but are not allowed on
dirt roads.
Taxi.
Taxi service is available
Island-wide. A taxi stand is lo-
cated by the ferry docks in Old
Harbor, and taxis regularly wait
for customers at New Harbor.
Most can hold parties of five or
more and offer Island tours as
well as getting you from here
to there.
Personal Vehicle.
Depend-
ing on your itinerary, you may
or may not require a vehicle
while here. In the busy summer
months, keeping the number
of cars on-Island to a minimum
is encouraged. However, the
spring and fall provide com-
paratively empty roads.
The Facts
Official Name
Town of New
Shoreham, incorporated 1672
Area
7 miles long and 3 miles
wide, Block Island is shaped
like a pork chop and covers
6,000 acres
Location
13 miles off the
southern coast of Rhode Island
Population
About 1,000
year round and swells to
15,000 to 20,000 in the sum-
mer
Ponds
365 freshwater ponds,
one for every day of the year
Stone walls
300-400 miles
of human-made stone walls
Nature Trails
28 miles of
trails
Open Space
43 percent of
the Island is preserved open
space
Education
One public school
with about 140 students in
grades K-12
Weather
50-60° in the spring and fall
65-80° in the summer
25-40° in the winter
Street Addresses
Block Island is a special
place with its own little quirks.
Because the U.S. Postal Ser-
vice delivers only to the Island
post office, street addresses
do not exist. Instead, all build-
ings have fire numbers. They
are non-sequential, however,
and should not be relied on
for directions. Instead, use the
map included in this magazine
or one of many available here
once you arrive.
Photo by Cindy Wilson
More info
Visitor info
b.i. Welcome Center
(800) 383-biri
www.blockislandinfo.com
www.blockislandchamber.com
South County Tourism Council
(401) 789-4422
www.southcountyri.com
r.i. Tourism Council
(800) 250-7384
www.visitrhodeisland.com
Transportation
b.i. Airport
(800) 243-2460
new England Airlines
(401) 596-2460
b.i. harbormaster
(401) 466-3204
Point Judith, r.i. ferry
(866) 783-7996
new london, Conn. ferry
(860) 444-4624
Montauk, n.Y. ferry
(631) 668-5700
Emergency
All emergencies
911
b.i. Medical Center
(401) 466-2974
Police (nonemergency)
(401) 466-3220
Fire Department/rescue Squad
(401) 466-3220
Animal Control officer
(401) 466-3220
Coast Guard (block island)
(401) 466-2086
Coast Guard (Galilee, r.i.)
(401) 789-0444