‘To the River and Back’ happening Memorial Day weekend

Get ready Richmond! One day on Memorial Day weekend, Friends of the James River Park will be giving you a ride to the river! The To the Bottom and Back shuttle service will be providing an easy and free connection to the James River Park’s downtown gem, Belle Isle, one day on Memorial Day weekend (UPDATE: As […]

May 8, 2011; 6:00 PM • by Phil Riggan

Get ready Richmond! One day on Memorial Day weekend, Friends of the James River Park will be giving you a ride to the river!

The To the Bottom and Back shuttle service will be providing an easy and free connection to the James River Park’s downtown gem, Belle Isle, one day on Memorial Day weekend (UPDATE: As of May 11, looking like Memorial Day from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. is going to be the day for the shuttle).

Now don’t screw up this unique opportunity Richmond! The route and details are still being ironed out, but we voted to donate the money for this trial, likely running between Museum District to Shockoe Bottom and stopping at Tredegar Street for Belle Isle every 30 minutes. We need the buses to be used, we need people to donate and we need everyone to be safe respectful.

From FOJRP:

FOJRP member Phil Riggan, he of the James River News Hub, floated the idea of a To The River and Back bus [in Feburary], and so now FOJRP is working with the To the Bottom and Back bus people to try out a bus route (similar, yet streamlined version of the To the Museums and Back route that has coincided with VMFA’s Picasso exhibit) that might help alleviate summer weekend parking troubles at Tredegar Street due to Belle Isle’s popularity. Our plan is to fund two buses one day of Memorial Day Weekend as a trial and see what makes sense from there. FOJRP cannot take on regular funding of this route alone, but if it works, we will knock on doors in the community to try to secure funding for more.  

The majority of the Friends of the James River Park members walk, bike or paddle to the river (or we’re already volunteering there too early for these buses), they don’t need a bus ride — this is a gift to Richmond. The proposed times would be maybe 11-7 p.m. or noon-8 p.m., depending on Two the Bottom and Back’s availability. Spread the word and enjoy!

May 8, 2011 6:00 PM 0