In Newport, Banners and People are Waving for Safe Shared Streets

The streets are busy in Newport. Cars, trucks, bicyclists, skateboarders and pedestrians all share the road. But all too often, there is conflict and tempers flare. Worse, people get hit, hurt and sometimes killed.

A local movement is now afoot to steer people in a different direction when it comes to sharing the road. It’s ”Newport Waves” —a partnership between the city and advocates for safer streets that has truly embraced the expression “kill with kindness.”

“It’s amazing what you can do with your eyes, a smile, and a wave,” said Steve Heath, chair of Fab Newport and frequent bicyclist, “It’s common sense, and it’s friendly.”

The campaign calls for everyone to stop, look and wave whenever paths cross between all users of the city’s busy streets. It’s a way of saying “I see you, we’re all people, all going places, turns out we aren’t that different.”

The public awareness campaign started about a month ago with a video and a bevy of local nonprofits and groups telling everyone about Newport Waves.

Funding has come from the federal Safe States Alliance and last week, banners on Memorial Boulevard, Lower Thames Street and Bellevue and America’s Cup Avenues went up thanks to a legislative grant from Newport’s State Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed.

The money has been limited and the campaign leans on Newporters to embrace the idea of rolling and strolling nice and begin to change the culture of congestion here in the City-by-the-Sea. It might not take long for the city to become known for its extraordinarily courteous road manners, which ropes in tourists who tend to do as the Romans do.

So far, it’s working.

“The response on the street is perfect,” said Bari Freeman, executive director of Bike Newport and coordinator of Newport Waves. “People are smiling and waving and reporting the success of their efforts. The premise is that people who wave and wait for a response are going to move ahead more safely, and the inherent smiles are a really nice bonus.”

The banners, totaling 21 in all, have been strategically placed in high-trafficked areas during the summer months to maximize reach. Workers from the city’s Department of Public Services have been climbing National Grid lamp poles and Newport fire boxes raising the banners one by one.

The banners feature photos of the smiling mugs of Newporters. And then there’s the lobster mascot, who’ll be smiling and waving by the beach, shops and mansions.

“We started running the WAVE message as an on-screen promotion before our films about a month ago,” shared Kathy Staab, owner of the historic Jane Pickens Theater & Event Center in downtown Newport. “It’s a serious safety message in a friendly positive wrapper. Our guests are enjoying seeing people they know on the screen. Everyone benefits when people acknowledge each other by making the effort to wave. I’m happy we can do our part to help get the word out.”

Follow the campaign on Facebook and check out their website.