I ask you to consider this juncture...
Brand new parking structure installed in 2015 at Green Hills Mall in Nashville. Old parking structure with sidewalk - not the best in design as it abuts the road but functional. Note: no crosswalk.
But gaze across to the new structure...where are the pedestrians to cross? Weirdly, it is like we allowed the developers to take a step backwards in regards to walkability!
As you can see, people are walking even without proper infrastructure...dangerous.
The cow path tells the tale of lots of walkers choosing to cross here where it does feel a little safer.
In 2016, why is the city of Nashville still allowing developers to build without consideration to pedestrians? How was this approved?
If we really want less traffic, we need to build safe routes for walkers.
This is not a new or modern concept. There are plenty of cities in the US who have put pedestrians first in their designing and building. Nashville had more pedestrian and bicyclist deaths in 2015 than any other year since the mid-1990s - a tragedy. Our way of building is certainly contributing to the death toll.
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According to recent data, 2015 was the deadliest in Tennessee for walkers and bikers.
http://nashvillepublicradio.org/post/tennessee-pedestrian-and-bicyclist-deaths-surpass-20-year-high#stream/0
A lot has been done for bicyclists in Nashville. Bike lanes are cheap. But, bicyclist are a fairly limited crowd. Not everyone will or wants to get on a bike.
On the flip side, everyone is a pedestrian! I don't feel the same attention has been paid to walkers - downtown has made some strides but certainly not out in the neighborhoods. And the 110 pedestrian deaths reflects this.
http://nashvillepublicradio.org/post/tennessee-pedestrian-and-bicyclist-deaths-surpass-20-year-high#stream/0
Unbelievable! Sadly, not surprised.
ReplyDeleteHow did this pass the code review process? Can the owner simply buy his way out of providing a sidewalk in this commercial area?
ReplyDeleteHow did this pass the code review process? Can the owner simply buy his way out of providing a sidewalk in this commercial area?
ReplyDeleteThere is a walking bridge from this parking garage to the mall to keep walkers off the road.
ReplyDeleteBut this would not allow you to walk unfettered through the mall area nor get to the movie theater which is how I discovered this issue. If we want less traffic, we need people to be able to walk or, at least, park once and do all their business on foot.
ReplyDeleteThe current structure would have one park for mall shopping but then need to repark in garage next door for movies. This kind of movement of cars is unnecessary and adds to traffic all over Green Hills!