City Council and BPAC Workshop on Narragansett Avenue Corridor and Bicycle Ordinance Updates - April 14, 2026

This workshop, held on April 14, 2026, brought together the Newport City Council, the Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Commission (BPAC), Bike Newport, the Newport Police Department, and city staff to discuss two primary topics: the future of the Narragansett Avenue corridor improvements and a comprehensive update to the city's bicycle-related ordinances. The meeting included presentations, public comment, and deliberation on funding options, design scope, and ordinance language. No formal votes were taken, but strong consensus emerged on key directions.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Pete (first speaker): Expressed concern that no visual plans exist for the Narragansett Avenue project, stating, "If we can't even see what we're what we're buying... it seems to me foolish." He also raised concerns about tree removal, asking how many trees would be taken out and what the street would look like afterward.
• Rachel Schmidt (member of BPAC and Bike Newport): Asked about foreseeable roadblocks to implementing bike lanes on Narragansett Avenue. She noted that Bike Newport was previously told a bike lane would be built from Spring Street to Cliff Walk but later heard there might not be room. She emphasized the need for safe routes for people with different mobility levels.
• Lily Dick (Chair, Kutnik Island Trust Board): Supported option two (waiting for the federal grant) and strongly urged the city to develop a detailed landscape plan before starting construction. She highlighted the importance of trees on Narragansett Avenue and submitted a letter from a resident who planted six Katsura trees there.
• Elizabeth Peterson (BPAC): Commented that waiting for more funds is a good idea for safer streets. She noted that speed feedback signs alone do not improve bikeability or walkability and urged traffic calming measures that support all road users, such as narrowing roads and adding bike lanes. She also expressed concern about Uber/Lyft drivers stopping in bike lanes on America's Cup Avenue, citing near-collisions.
• Christopher Daly (BPAC): Highlighted a dangerous area at the bottom of Memorial Boulevard where the bike lane ends and cars stop to drop off for the Cliff Walk. He also questioned how the proposed passing distance for drivers would be enforced, noting that many ordinances rely on subjective judgment. He pointed out that the previous version of the ordinance had specific three-foot distances, which were removed.
• Jim (BPAC): Raised enforcement issues along First Beach, where motorized scooters often ride in bike lanes and sidewalks, endangering pedestrians. He urged officers to enforce bicycle ordinances alongside speed limits. He also suggested requiring verbal communication (e.g., "on your left") when passing another cyclist, particularly on shared paths.
• Another speaker (unidentified): Noted that many e-bikes have had speed governors removed, exceeding the defined classes, and questioned whether larger regulatory steps are needed. He also asked about the lack of definitions for scooters and powered tricycles.

Discussion Items

Narragansett Avenue Corridor – Funding and Scope

City Manager Colin Kennedy and Director of Resilience and Sustainability Teresa Crean presented two options for the Narragansett Avenue corridor improvements, funded partly by a recent $4 million federal Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant (part of a $24M island-wide award with Middletown and Portsmouth):

• Option 1 (Immediate): Use $500,000 from the FY26 CIP budget to build curbless sidewalks and limited on-street bike lanes within 4–6 months (summer/fall 2026). However, spending this money before executing the SS4A grant agreement would forfeit its use as required local match (over $800,000 total match needed). This would also reduce the grant's scope, potentially delaying the grant process by 2–3 months.
• Option 2 (Delayed integration): Wait 12–15 months to align with the grant, allowing a full corridor project from Oakra Court to Spring Street (sidewalks with curbs, buffered bike lanes, intersection improvements, traffic calming). The grant provides $1.5M for this segment plus $2M for the intersection with Bellevue Avenue, with a total Newport-specific award of about $4M. Construction would begin in fall 2027. The $500,000 CIP funds could be reallocated to other pedestrian/bike projects (e.g., sidewalks on Chapel Street, Ruggles Avenue) with council approval.
• Key considerations: NEPA compliance, coordination with federal highway, and potential cost savings by sharing a consultant with Middletown and Portsmouth. The timeline includes NEPA review and design.
• Councilor and public sentiment largely favored Option 2 for long-term gain, though some expressed frustration over delays. Councilor Tara Zambrana (Chair of BPAC) emphasized that the council is committed to the project and that the majority has fought to ensure it happens.

Bicycle Ordinance Updates

Sergeant Jason Head and Chief Ryan Duffy reviewed the multi-year effort to update 20 bicycle-related ordinances, done in conjunction with BPAC, Bike Newport, and the police. Key changes include:

• Definitions: Added definitions for e-bikes (three classes), shared-use paths, pedicabs, and other vehicles, aligning with state law.
• Parking: Explicitly prohibited parking in bike lanes, trails, or paths.
• Bicycle registration: Changed from mandatory to voluntary, with a national database option for stolen bike recovery.
• Operating a bicycle: Added 15 mph speed limit on shared-use paths; required riding in same direction as traffic; allowed cyclists to take the lane when unsafe to ride to the right; prohibited cell phone use (hands-free allowed) and covering both ears; required front white light and rear red light at night; required helmets for riders 15 and younger; prohibited anyone under 16 from operating an e-bike.
• Passing and door zones: New ordinances require drivers to pass cyclists only when safe (mirroring state law) and prohibit opening a car door into moving traffic without checking first.
• Bicycle businesses: Updated rental agency requirements to include reading and acknowledging Newport's ordinances. Hotels and Airbnbs providing free bikes were not originally included; council directed staff to add them.
• Impoundment: Clarified procedures for abandoned bikes and participation in a national database.
• Enforcement: Chief Duffy confirmed that the department conducts targeted seasonal enforcement of bicycle rules (e.g., wrong-way riding) and prosecutes violations at the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal, a practice rare among communities.
• Several speakers asked for explicit prohibitions on e-bikes on sidewalks, specific passing distances (feet rather than judgment), and rules for scooters. Staff agreed to consider these and other feedback before finalizing.

Key Outcomes

• Narragansett Avenue Corridor: Strong informal consensus to pursue Option 2, i.e., pause immediate construction and align with the SS4A grant to maximize scope and funding. The council will need to adopt a resolution to reallocate the $500,000 CIP funds to other pedestrian/bike projects in the interim. Staff will bring a formal recommendation to a future meeting.
• Bicycle Ordinance Update: The package received broad support. Staff will incorporate public and council feedback (e.g., adding hotels/Airbnbs to rental requirements, clarifying e-bike sidewalk prohibitions, possibly reinstating a specific passing distance) and send to the city solicitor for review. Target is to present the final ordinances for two readings by the end of June 2026 for summer enforcement.
• Tree and Landscape Plan: The public and council stressed the need for a comprehensive landscape plan before construction, including tree preservation and replacement. The tree warden and Tree and Open Space Commission will be involved.
• Community Engagement: Staff committed to ongoing public input for both the corridor design and the allocation of reallocated funds, working with BPAC and the council.