On social media I saw a guy on a mission to walk every street in Providence, so I invited Daniel Morris for a Motif interview along his next walk. We met up, and sure enough, he was already a 2F2B (my regular column, Two Feet, Two Bucks) fan. He showed me how he manages the project. Instead of a GPS app or paper map, he loaded the simplest street map into a drawing app on his phone where he traces with a finger each segment he completes. I admired the high/low tech expedience. Clearly, he is focused on every walking moment,and not the geekery or eventual trophy. We headed south through the West End, where I began to ask him questions.
Andy Nosal (Motif): Do you know how many miles you’ve walked?
Daniel Morris: I don’t. I didn’t look or care. It’s not about the miles.
AN: To catch each little street do you have to walk where you’ve already been?
DM: It happens, especially on the main roads like Hope or North Main, I’ll double back a bit to get those smaller side ways.
AN: When you head out how do you pick what’s next?
DM: I first started where Wildflour is because it’s the border of Pawtucket. I started in August and spread out from there. Nowadays, I just go where I feel like. I’m starting to branch out into other neighborhoods like Olneyville. I’ve done some of Elmwood, South Providence.
AN: How long a walk each outing?
DM: About an hour.
AN: Did you drive here?
DM: I biked. My rule is when I go for a walk I do not drive there because that defeats the purpose. I either bike or take the bus.
AN: What do you carry?
DM: My water bottle, phone, wallet, keys. I might bring a book if I go to a bar afterwards.
AN: When you are out in new places do you get tempted by a hot weiner or something?
DM: I have stopped in some stores that are new. North Main, we have a new thrift store across the street from the Parlor. Sometimes I go to restaurants, but mostly I am focused on getting my streets colored in.
AN: Do you take notes or pictures?
DM: I take some photos of homes. I like the color on that one. (pausing to snap a pic). Interesting things.
AN: What is the nicest surprise you have stumbled across?
DM: The murals. There’s some that aren’t downtown. One of my favorites is by Waterfire Arts Center, depicting Providence on fire during the rapture. The funny thing is it’s on a mechanic shop. It shows angels going up to heaven. You come across random art like that. It’s very funny.
AN: What is the most dismaying thing you have come across?
DM: Streets like Smithfield Ave near Pawtucket. Ugh. Where it crosses the highway. No pedestrian lights. You wait minutes to rely on the mercy of drivers. I live off North Main, we’ve had 4 people die in a year and half. Other places, the trash. I’ve seen toilets on the side of the road.
AN: What percentage of the time are you satisfied with how the environments hold your interest? DM: Probably more than half. When I walk around I look specifically for things to report to 311. (points to a broken sidewalk).
AN: Are you the first person to attempt this in Providence?
DM: I’d heard of it being done in other cities. New York, Milwaukee or Minneapolis. I know there is one guy trying to bike every road in Rhode Island. I don’t know his name. I think I’m the first walker. I know some person has tried to ride all the RIPTA lines. It’s all similar stuff.
AN: What do you wish to prove or teach?
DM: I realized I spend the majority of my time in certain neighborhoods. Why would I go to Elmwood? It would be good to know these other places in the city. What happens in Wanskuck? I’m gonna find out! The main inspiration was Providence Monthly reviewing all the best restaurants in the city and they were all on the East Side, West End, Downtown. Places like Cranston Street or Chalkstone Ave, Mount Pleasant were not mentioned and I thought that was a problem. I realized I lived in a bubble. As if all the restaurants only exist in 3 neighborhoods. I like Asian Bakery.
AN: How long have you lived in Providence?
DM: 3 ½ years. (AN: Wow you have already seen much more of the city than I did in the first 3 years I lived here!)
AN: Wherever you lived before, were you an explorer?
DM: I’m from the South Shore. I lived in Boston and a couple other cities. I moved around a lot. I lived in 7 states. I’m done doing that! I never had time to stop and smell the roses, really.
AN: Do you have a car?
DM: I have a personal car and a work truck. I do construction equipment sales. I go around RI and MA trying to drum up business.
AN: How far along are you?
DM: About 1/6th. I’ve almost completed the East Side, and Fed Hill. Only been at this 63 days!
AN: Would you like to systematically record your impressions of each street you walk in exchange for authorial credit on this walker’s-eye map of Providence I am attempting to create?
DM: This is pleasure, not work.
AN: I hear you.
DM: Make sure your map includes the locations of bike parking, murals, and public seating. Bathrooms would be gold. We finished where we started in Dexter Park, admiring the scene in the late daylight. Morris says, in a testament to his reverence for simple pleasures, “I was here for that big neighborhood yard sale day. I’ll be back for the $1 spring rolls they serve right in front of that church.” •