Walking a state highway bus route

Move with me along state highway 6 (bus routes 9 and 210) between Westport and New Bedford, MA

Early in the morning on Day 2 walking state highway 6 (9 and 210 bus routes). I walked along tiny road shoulders, large grassy medians, and skinny, attached sidewalks for the majority of the route into New Bedford.

As some of you know, I’m currently taking two weeks to walk from Providence to Provincetown. The 150-mile + walk started on Friday, October 10th immediately after working alongside AARP Rhode Island and America Walks to help launch their debut Walktober project which includes a wide range of October walking/rolling events.

Left: My good friend and colleague, Garrett Brumfield and I getting ready to go on stage for a WALK book talk and to share stories. Middle & Right: Our first movement event focused on the benefits of walking/rolling and accessibility.

My first day out of Providence was mostly along the East Bay Bike Path. It was a beautiful, tree-covered route that skirted large bodies of water all the way to Bristol, RI. Day two was different.

I really am drawn to the tension between devastation and beauty. The harsh, cracked-concrete edges of highway walking and all the flowers, fall leaves, and stories that grow, live, and survive all around it.

And. It is not unique. State highways are known for their endless disconnect to anyone moving outside of cars. Before I go on, please consider how often I hear the following, “maybe don’t walk on highways then?”, or “nothing about highways will change, focus on main streets!”, or “highways are made for moving cars, focus on places where people live!”.

Three screenshots along my state highway bus route noting land use:

I know they are hard to read. These two segments have restaurants, banks, pharmacies, convenience shops, schools, and more. Notice the dotted bus stops. Notice the surrounding residential areas.

Where are people coming from? Where are they going? To school? To the bus? To work? To pick up their prescription?

Large retailers (Walmart, DICKS, Petco, auto dealerships, Walgreens, Target, Home Depot). Fire department and restaurants.

It is quite a disconnect to assume that because it is a highway, everyone drives. Millions of people can’t drive. Millions of people don’t WANT to drive for every single trip. Protecting high speed car traffic ripping through places where people work and live is terrible for public health, social connection, and our planet.

Note two bus stops along the route. Most of them looked like this.

The pedestrian environment changes every half block. Some areas have sidewalks. Some have nothing. Some have larger road shoulders like this one. Some have car traffic ripping right next to the pole or sign (below). No shelters. No benches. No service info.

Areas like this force anyone with mobility devices INTO the road having to directly face or compete with blazing car traffic. People are often honked at or flipped off for being a nuisance to drivers. Add kids, nighttime, snow, ice, etc.

Unless you absolutely have to, what would invite you to take transit in these areas? Do you feel safe? Are they accessible? How often does the bus come? What if it’s late? A storm? Can you use the restroom?

Sign on the left reads, “…let us draw near to God with a sincere heart”. I sure wish places of worship would open their huge lawns and parking lots to more functional - outside the walls - hospitality for all who use transit and don’t have homes. Benches? Shelter? Water and food? No strings. No “saving”.

Facts remain. People ARE out here. People ARE using transit. Kids and families ARE risking their lives every day while crossing state highways. There ARE practical origins and destinations (land use) ON state highways. Are you in Massachusetts? Consider getting more involved with Walk Massachusetts (WalkMass).

For real though. Do check out their about us page. I really appreciate their focus on mental health. Do you have a “rage room” near you? We could all use creative and safe places to process anger and destress.

Perhaps houses of worship could learn a few things from the House of Rage? It made my heart happy to see this creative, repurposed bus stop along state highway 6. A trash can. Potted flowers. An arm rest? Beautiful.

Whether we create welcoming bus stop areas in front of our homes and businesses or engage elected leaders to prioritize transit frequency, comfort, and access, it all helps.

Last week’s Walk/Roll audit on Broadway near the I-95 overpass in Providence with AARP Rhode Island, America Walks, and Providence Streets Coalition. We had active participation from state/city agencies, councilmembers, and local advocates.

Lived experience is imperative to mobility justice advocacy. If decisions on transportation outside the car are made primarily (or only) with a driving perspective, funding and policy to improve pedestrian, bike, and transit infrastructure will continue to be neglected. We need people feeling it and not just thinking about it. It is one of the many reasons I support the Week Without Driving project.

Do you have state highways with bus routes that rip through places where people live, work, and go to school? Please share in the comments and consider sharing this article with your state representatives. You may also consider inviting them out for a walk/roll to help them experience it. Thanks for moving with me!

Visit @jstallz on Instagram or read my monthly update email here to see more photo stories from my PVD2PTown walk.