#DontBlockMyWalk
Walk Bike Nashville is currently running a campaign with the name #DontBlockMyWalk which is a quick way to help advocate for better walkability in Nashville.
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In addition to construction blocking sidewalks, there are a number of repeated offenses by citizens and businesses leading to blocked pedestrians thoroughfares.
The corner of 24th S and Blakemore (at Dragon Park) is a location that continues to frustrate me as there is almost always a car parked smack in the middle of the crosswalk. Although not a blocked sidewalk per se, you can see that this disallows free mobility on foot. Worse, if you are using a stroller or wheel chair, the curb cut is completely blocked off.
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| This kind of blockage seems to be in the same spirit as the campaign and deserves attention. |
Walk Bike Nashville's excellent advice:
If you see a sidewalk that is closed with no safe, alternative route please share it on social media with the hashtag #DontBlockMyWalk. Give the address or cross street. You can also consider adding the location and tagging Walk Bike Nashville (@walkbikenash), Metro Public Works (@NashvillePW) and the Mayor's Office (@MOON_Nashville). Also consider tagging your district and at-large council members to let them know that this is a concern. If you don't use social media, you can also still email your council member to let them know of your concern.
Additional Steps:
- Call Non-Emergency Police (615-862-8600) --- to report issue, ask for ticketing. They will need address or cross streets. If it is a car blocking, they will need the make, model and color of car. Best to have plates, too.
- Call the police precinct of the area to ask for extra patrol if issue is persistent
- Public works takes calls (615-862-8750) and emails (http://www.nashville.gov/Public-Works.aspx with photos) as well Best to have as many details as possible.
Unless these entities know that you care about walkability issues, don't expect much to change.
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Two additional and frequently spotted issues in Nashville:
1) Cars parked on sidewalks
2) Trash buggies on sidewalks
Any large obstacle on the sidewalk means walkers are going to have to risk safety and go into the road. I encourage you to notice anything that blocks your walk and report it.
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The fact is, everyone in Nashville is a pedestrian. Yet, unlike cyclist, we are a group that is not especially advocate minded. In regards to pedestrians, we have allowed Nashville to become the 15th most dangerous city in the US and a place where 88% of our public roadways are not safe.
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