Nashville's New Year's Resolution: 30 minute walk per day

Happy New Year's Eve Nashville!!!

A great resolution as it is doable and healthy is to commit to a 30 minute walk per day. 

If you do this on Nashville's city streets, you will quickly identify the issues our pedestrians face:  lack of logical connected infrastructure, safety concerns, distracted drivers, poor lighting conditions. 

Walking 30 minutes per day would turn us all into pedestrian advocates as the full menu of our issues would be quickly understood by all. 

As health and safety are 2 major themes of this blog, I am wishing you a 30-minutes-per-day ACTIVE new year (per CDC guidelines) but encouraging you to be safe while on foot.

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Please read the stories of those pedestrians who have lost their lives walking in Nashville. 

https://www.nashvillepedestriandeathregistry.org/



Judah R. Bryndal, perished on foot, December 21, 2017, Nashville TN

Judah R. Bryndal

A pedestrian was struck and killed on Lebanon Pike near Central Pike at 8:15 p.m. Thursday, December 21, 2017, was not carrying identification.  Later, he was identified as Judah R. Bryndal, 22, of Nashville      

The pedestrian was either sitting or attempting to stand up in the left travel lane of Lebanon Pike when he was struck by a Ford F-150 pickup truck driven by Roger Hanson, 69, of Nashville.  Hanson said he did not see the pedestrian until seconds before impact and could not avoid striking him.  The immediate area was not well lit.        

The pedestrian had a bicycle.  Witnesses told officers that they saw him standing in the left travel lane trying to pick up the bike when he fell over.  He was hit shortly after that.       

No charges are anticipated against Hanson.      

Toxicology testing on a blood sample from the pedestrian will be performed by the medical examiner. 

Metro Nashville Public Works NEW Interactive Map...see where sidewalks are planned, track progress.

Metro Nashville Public Works NEW Interactive Map...see where sidewalks are planned, track progress.


Nashville Public Works has released its interactive map.

Please note that 'Completed' - in green - sidewalks may only mean on a single side - not both sides of the street so this definition of 'completed' is arguable.  I would have liked more clarity as to sidewalk on one side or both.


There is still too much grey here and not enough yellow or blue. There are too many 'sidewalks to no where' - we need to stitch these together for better connectivity.  This must be a goal & we must start talking about an end date for this goal.  Is 5 years fair?  10 years?  Are we even close to ADA compliance in all of Nashville?  What is the legal implications of not completing this goal in a timely way.  When will we have proper sidewalks in Nashville???

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Maps like this are important to compare with where citizens wish  sidewalks to be.  Check out:  http://thesidewalkfoundation.org/ which has an interactive map where you can drop a pin where you believe a sidewalk is NEEDED. 


Public Works Interactive Map:
https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmpw.nashville.gov%2FCapitalProjects%2FProject%2FInteractiveMap&data=02%7C01%7Cstacy.l.dorris%40vanderbilt.edu%7C2bbedc84fad1438eefa108d54951fb47%7Cba5a7f39e3be4ab3b45067fa80faecad%7C0%7C0%7C636495538963043982&sdata=ib8j01ve%2FAxwT%2FU2bgXWeIW9zuwTw5ejl%2F7BPXSuVD8%3D&reserved=0

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https://www.nashvillepedestriandeathregistry.org/the-registry/


Nashville has a pedestrian struck and killed every 21 days.  Look for me. 

Councilman Glover's Proposal for Religious Institutions to be Exempt from the Sidewalk Bill Denied in Planning, Next Hearing 1/2/2018

Councilman Glover's Proposal for Religious Institutions to be Exempt from the Sidewalk Bill Denied in Planning, Next Hearing 1/2/2018

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Years of minimal planning for pedestrian infrastructure has led to a severe deficit in Nashville.   In 2017, we have roughly 1/4 of our roadways sidewalked.  Mostly, on a single side. 

We are a unique city:  532 square miles, a city/county, that has grown fast.  Things are changing quickly. We average one pedestrian death every 21 days.  We have record low public transportation ridership. We have poor health statistics around obesity.  We have bad traffic. 

And, we have a lot of people who want to walk!

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Health and safety are two main themes for my writing and why I took to blogging about pedestrian issues in Nashville 4 years ago.  Per the CDC, healthy living includes 30 minutes of exercise per day and I am committed to this practice.  But, I often feel threatened while on foot:  drivers come too close, are driving too fast, are not looking for me.  And, I can see why.  There is literally no designed place for a walker on most roadways.  It doesn't feel safe.  If I wasn't so stubborn, I wouldn't attempt those 30 minutes per day, on foot, on Nashville's roadways.

Walking is a basic human right.  We should not have to get in a car to travel our city.  We should feel safe and invited to go on foot...

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The phrase 'nobody walks' is frequently repeated as the reason to continue to avoid building sidewalks.  Nobody walks because it is treacherous out there as I have just described.  With proper infrastructure, things in Nashville would be different. When Councilman Glover used this notion as a reason for religious institutions to be exempt for The Sidewalk Bill, it struck a nerve. 

http://shadeparadenashville.blogspot.com/2017/12/quick-call-to-action-exemption-to.html

The good news is his proposition was denied.

Speakers in opposition at the meeting, including Council Members Withers, Elrod, Allen, and Henderson. Plus there were about 15 letters/emails sent (THANK YOU if you were one of those who sent in an email!).

As a result, the planning commission voted nearly unanimously (1 voted in favor) to disapprove the exemption.

The next step is public hearing at council January 2nd.  What would be needed is 27 votes to pass it with Commission disapproval.

CASE 2017-160 (Council District – 12) Brandon Williams, appellant and New Beginnings International Ministry, Inc, owner of the property located at 3179 Earhart Road, requesting a Special Exception and a variance from sidewalk requirements in the RS15 District, to construct a new 14,400 square foot Church. Referred to the Board under Section 17.16.170 E3,17.20.120. The appellant alleged the Board would have jurisdiction under Section 17.40.180(B&C). Use-Religious Institution Map 98 Parcel(s) 208



https://www.nashvillepedestriandeathregistry.org/

http://thesidewalkfoundation.org/

Quick Call to Action! Exemption to Sidewalk Bill Being Requested - Take 5 minutes and write a brief 'NO' email to the Planning Commission!

Quick Call to Action!

Councilman Glover is proposing a bill, BL2017-938,  which would create an exemption from sidewalk requirements for churches.  It is on the agenda of the Planning Commission tomorrow, Dec 14th, 2017!

This particular exemption is for a single church in his district and the planning staff has recommended approval but the bill is to create an exemption for ALL CHURCHES.

The ordinance requiring sidewalk construction was passed in April and took effect July 1st 2017. 

In my opinion, it’s too early to start exempting anyone before we know more about the impact of the law. It is estimated, that if we continue producing new sidewalks at our current rate, our network will not be completed until 1000 years!!!  We have a huge sidewalk deficit in Nashville, we are not in ADA compliance and exempting properties is not going to help create a safe and inviting landscape for our pedestrians.   

  

One exemption will lead to others in the future.

For the HEALTH & SAFETY OF ALL NASHVILLIANS:

PLEASE take 5 minutes and write to the Planning Commission.  Let them know that you oppose Bill BL2017-938.   Let them know you want every piece of sidewalk put in properly.

 

 

It’s agenda item  2017Z-023TX-001 .  

You can and should write to the commission members here: 

planning.commissioners@nashville.gov

Make sure you put your address and zip code

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Dear Planning Commission,

Wanted to write and say I am deeply opposed to exemptions from sidewalk requirements in Nashville.  Councilman Glover, BL2017-938, has applied for an exemption on Thursday's agenda and I truly hope that you say no to this request. 

Churches, as a gathering place, are of highest need for access by all and should, in no way, be limited to car ridership only. 

The sidewalk bill is also very new - give it time before we start passing out exemptions!  It will not be successful if we start allowing people out now.  Places, such as churches, benefit mightily by being in Nashville.  Let's let all of Nashville benefit a little by adding one more piece of the sidewalk grid. 

Safety, health and fairness should prevail.  Nashville has a pedestrian struck and killed every 21 days.  Most roadways are not ADA compliant.  If you let this one go exempt, it sets the dangerous precedent to continue in this same vein and for others to request exemption, too.

Please do not allow this exemption.

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 You may also want to shoot CM Steve Glover and email, too: steve.glover@nashville.gov


Here is my email

Dear Councilman Glover,

As a health care provider and volunteer, I am highly interested in the health and safety of all Nashvillians. That is why I was so alarmed and concerned when I read that you were working to exempt churches from having to build sidewalks.

Churches, to me, should be welcoming to all. Including the community nearby. Including people who may walk. Including those who take the bus. Including those in wheelchairs.

Churches also build community. And, the best community would be local. Neighbors should be encouraged to get to a place of worship on foot.

Nashville has 2 things that could be reduced with sidewalks: a very high pedestrian death rate and an alarming rate of obesity. Neither is good for our citizens. We also suffer from some lack of connection. An easy way to work towards fixing this is to wave hello to neighbors as you walk along.

Please, I am asking you to stop putting energy into a bill that will hurt the health, safety and community building that goes with great walkability. Please stop BL2017-938.

Worst Bus Stop Ever! Nashville is not ADA compliant when it comes to many bus stops.

The ADA Standards issued by the Department of Transportation (DOT) apply to facilities used by state and local governments to provide designated public transportation services, including bus stops and stations, and rail stations.


In this busy shopping district on Powell Rd at Thompson Ln in Nashville including Berry Hill, One Hundred Oak Mall, Vanderbilt Medical, Hollywood 27 Movie Theater, Home Depot, Walmart and more, the bus stops are lacking American with Disability Compliance (ADA).


This is federal law.


Take a look at where this bus stop was placed.  It is clear that no person actually thought this through.  There is literally no access to it on foot.  You have to climb OVER a guard rail, scale a steep hill to reach it.  The cow path shows that some brave souls are doing this.  It is certainly far from ADA compliance and should be rectified with a proper sidewalk immediately. 

And one more picture for the icing on the cake.  The other bus stop on this east side of the street is not much better...

This bus stop allows no safe access to the mall is supports.  It actively discourages walking by being uninviting to those on foot.

Roadway Design Slows Traffic, Creates a Parklette in Doing

Purely residential streets in Nashville are lowest on the scoring system for who is going to get sidewalks.   Road design leads to certain behaviors such as speed driven, length of time stopped at stop signs, turning radii, etc.  Here is a great example of local residents getting together to change the design of the road:  creating a parklette out of unneeded roadway with the added benefit of slowing traffic.

Some Brilliant Toronto Residents Fixed This Intersection With Chalk And Leaves

Erik Shilling

Image: Dave Meslin/Twitter

Where Regal Road and Springmount Avenue meet in Toronto, there’s quite a bit of pavement, and, importantly, all-way stop signs. The problem is that not a lot of drivers stop, probably in part because of all that space.

What’s impressive to me about all this is the math the residents did, and how exacting they decided to make their new lanes.
According to the CBC:

When Meslin and his neighbours measured other roads in the area, they found most run 8.5 metres wide.
That meant there was about 185 square metres of surplus space at their intersection that could very well be turned into a parkette with benches or trees and still allow cars the space they need to pass through safely, he said.

Residents are now talking to local officials about turning the space into just that, though city officials also suggested that, if you live in Toronto, consider calling them first before going rogue with some chalk and leaves. Meslin, for his part, seems to have no regrets.

“There’s a certain risk aversion in the bureaucracy … and it’s our job to push against that gently and politely, but firmly,” Meslin said.

That all sounds like the Canadian way.




https://jalopnik.com/some-brilliant-toronto-residents-fixed-this-intersectio-1820931621/amp

'Bryan Smith, the owner and operator of the Dodge van, came over the crest. He wasn't on the road; he was on the shoulder. My shoulder'.

Nashville is a creative town.  Lots of artist use walking as a way to work out any complex knot they have worked themselves into.  I recently read Stephen King's On Writing and was riveted by the spooky story from his real life of being struck by a van in 1999 while taking his daily 4 mile walk in Maine.


I recognized instantly his description of walking on roadways with narrow shoulders and no sidewalks.   All it takes is one distracted driver...


This is my own spooky spot.  As I head north on 23rd Av S after turning off of Golf Club, I enter this stretch.  What you can't see is the steep hill just beyond the horizon.  Drivers fly up that hill.  


I had one very, very close call here.  A driver in a black SUV hauling a*# up this hill heading south, swerved to the left to avoid me (walking against traffic as I should) only to see another driver, heading north at the very crest of the hill, therefore swerving back into my shoulder.  He stopped dead, flung open his car door and said, 'this is why Nashville Needs Sidewalks'.  


Terrifying.  I hate this hill. 

From On Writing, by Stephen King


'When I reached the highway I turned north, walking on the gravel shoulder, against traffic.  One car passed me, also headed north.  About three-quarters of a mild further along, the woman driving the car observed a light blue Dodge van heading south.  The van was looping from one side of the road to the other, barely under the driver's control.  The woman in the car turned to her passanger when they were safely past the wandering van and said, "That was Stephen King walking back there.  I sure hope that guy in the van doesn't hit him."


'Most of the sightlines along the mile of Route 5 which I walk are good, but there is one stretch, a short steep hill, where a pedestrian walking north can see very little of what might be coming his way.  I was 3/4 of the way up this hill when Bryan Smith, the owner and operator of the Dodge van, came over the crest.  He wasn't on the road; he was on the shoulder.  My shoulder.  I had perhaps 3/4 of a second to register this.  It was just time enough to think, My God, I'm going to be hit by a schoolbus.  I started to turn to my left.  There is a break in my memory here.  On the other side of it I'm on the ground, looking at the back of the van, which is now pulled off the road and tilted to one side.  This recollection is very clear and sharp, more like a snapshot than a memory.  There is dust around the van's taillights.  I register these things with no thought that I have been in an accident, or of anything else.  It's a snapshot, that's all.  I'm not thinking; my head has been swopped clean.'

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Please take a few minutes to check out the new Look 4 Me campaign with stats about when, where and how pedestrians are struck and often killed in Nashville.

http://www.nashvillelook4me.com/

Pictures of Bus Stops, Nashville. Maybe this is why riderships has dwindled since 2011?!?

A recent Tennessean article reports that bus ridership has dwindled over the last few years reaching its lowest level since 2011.


Nashville bus stops have not kept pace with modern needs.  After traveling to other cities and used their bus systems to great effect it is clear that we are severely lacking in even the basics such as a clean and inviting stop that is a part of a walkable grid. 


Nashville is certainly not compliant with ADA requirements for bus stops and seems unable to solve this issue.  This is not an issue just in remote or out of the way locations but in major corridors ripe with shopping, post offices, libraries, school and traffic. 


I'm all for transportation but I do not want to think we are going to bypass our basic needs.  We don't have sidewalks.  We don't have inviting bus stops...now.  If we don't have a full sidewalk grid, how are people to get to public transportation?  It is a little hard to have confidence when we have been begging for these basics for years.


The money needed for light rail could provide AWESOME sidewalks with great lighting at pedestrian scale and it could tree line all streets.  Just saying. 

This is actually a pretty good bus stop for Nashville - it is in the busy Green Hills area

Simple concrete pad that does not connect to a sidewalk grid

Hillsboro High students waiting by the side of busy Hillsboro Pk
Note:  no sidewalk.

Typical in its lack of appeal

Uninviting

This north bound bus stop, also on Hillsboro Pk, is literally a concrete pad that does not connect to anything.  We had to cross 5 lanes of traffic to reach it.

The stop sign on the opposite of the street represents the south bound bus stop at Hillsboro and Golf Club.  It is a grassy ditch.

This bus stop is on Harding Rd.  There is literally no place for a person to stand.  No clear access to the parking lot due to bushes.

This is my 'favorite'.  This bus stop on Powell Av in front of One Hundred Oaks has no access.     That grassy hill is not ADA compliant and has a fence at the top.  I'm curious of anyone can actually use this stop as I can only think this was a mistake to put a bus stop sign here.


For comparison, a few Chicago bus stops:

The Tennessean Article

Robertson Rd Breaking Precedent and Adding Green Buffers!!!

Robertson Road is making some big changes.  For years, despite guidelines on green buffers and sidewalk widths for our roadways, it seems that once a sidewalk goes in, that foot print is forever etched in concrete even if less than ideal. 

This project on Robertson Rd is a reversal of that notion.  The red arrows below point out the old sidewalk, which abuts the fast paced road loaded with heavy trucks.  The new sidewalk has a new green buffer and sidewalk that is set back off the road.

View of old sidewalk next to road and new sidewalk being placed.


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A few years back, New Natchez had the opportunity to add the proper green buffer width but, instead, they put the sidewalk in the same foot print. A big disappointment.  No room for trees.

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Sidewalks that are right up against the roadway do not feel safe or inviting.  One false step, and you are in the road. There is no protection from the elements.  


Nashville need sidewalks that are set back off the road with tree lined buffer (hence Shade Parade) to help with comfort, noise, and shielding from the sun.  Just look at the pictures below to see.