By Eliza Lawson, Special Projects Manager
What happens at an Open Road event?
On Saturday, September 19th, we got a pretty good answer at the Sakonnet Coastal Bike & Stroll.
For about two miles, people walked, biked, rolled, jogged, and strolled along the Sakonnet coastline – all without having to worry about cars.
The event was organized by Island Park Coastal Community, whose mission is to celebrate Island Park’s unique coastal character, honor neighborhood traditions, support local businesses, and keep the community fun, connected, and vibrant for all ages. Along with Island Park and the Portsmmouth BPAC, a committee of volunteer residents and officials brought the event to life, with support from the Portsmouth Police Department, Department of Public Works, and Bike Newport.
This was my first Sakonnet Coastal Bike & Stroll, and I was struck by how much was happening on the road.
Families rode together. Kids practiced on balance bikes. People jogged, walked, rollerbladed, and cruised along in wheelchairs and walkers. Older couples took their time. Dogs came along for the fun.
But what stood out most was the camaraderie.
Neighbors along the route set up snack stations and lemonade stands, and greeted participants. Kids drew and wrote encouraging and colorful messages in street chalk. People stopped to say hello, chat with friends, and meet neighbors they might not normally see.
One resident I spoke with said they notice more and more people participating every year—and the event brings people to this stretch of road that normally would not be outside of their cars. Young children. Older adults. Families out together.
And that’s really what “open road” events are about.
They give people a chance to experience our shared streets in a different way and show us who those streets can serve when we make room for everyone.
The Sakonnet route is beautiful. Before this, I’d only ever experienced it by car. It’s easy to miss the details. But on foot, I noticed so much more. With my son, husband, and dog, we were able to catch views of boats, islands in the cove, and wildlife. We got to stop and enjoy the views. My dog made quite a few new friends. We met both residents and people who, like us, traveled to take it all in. For a few hours, the road felt less like a way to get somewhere else and more like a place to be.
That’s an experience worth paying attention to.
The Sakonnet Coastal Bike & Stroll is a glimpse of what’s possible when we prioritize people in our streets and public spaces. Thanks to Portsmouth’s newly formed Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission (BPAC), those glimpses help inform the long-term work of making our communities safer and more connected.
Many thanks to everyone who made this event possible:
- Island Park Coastal Community for bringing the neighborhood and broader community together
- The new Portsmouth BPAC for organizing and staffing
- Bike Newport for supporting and promoting
- Portsmouth Police Department for helping keep everyone safe
- Graziano’s for hosting the event headquarters
- Jonny Pops, Strength and Sport, and Hathaway Elementary PTA for sharing information and connecting with the community
- Localz for hosting the lemonade stand and Art Attack zone
- Portsmouth Times for covering the event
- All the volunteers who gave their time to make the day possible
- Everyone who participated by biking, rolling and strolling!
- And, of course, the local residents who continue to make this event such a success
Here’s to making our streets places to connect, explore, and enjoy our communities together.
Bike Newport