Walking is useful in restoring my faith in humanity.
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| Found on Foot...Golf Club Rd! |
Generally, you are guaranteed something a little surprising, whimsical even.
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Now that the Transit Referendum is over, it is time to take inventory. Refocus. Did it fail, in part, because transit is somewhat unthinkable in our current state? Our city lacks sidewalks on 75% of our roadways. This plays a role in our psychology around transit. When we imagine walking to the bus stop, we literally cannot find safe passage.
With this is mind, I feel like Nashville may have put the cart before the horse with the recent transit plan. Imagine, instead, if we took the transit funding and built the best tree-lined sidewalks on all our streets. Envision a well designed network that allowed you to have distinct comfortable options on foot.
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| Note the tiny blue sign...this is the bus stop at One Hundred Oak Mall. Imagine how you actually get in or out of the bus stop on foot (?) |
Without well designed walking infrastructure, engaging Nashvillians around transit seems challenging, somewhat unthinkable. If you cannot safely and comfortably walk, you cannot wrap your head around transit as a viable option.
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Nashvillians have been asking for sidewalks for years. Mayors have run on sidewalks. Things are a touch better but not by much. I vote for taking the energy around transit and putting it into sidewalks. Now is the time.
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