Lack of sidewalks called into question after pedestrian killed - Feb 2013 Nashville

This emphasizes the importance of pedestrian awareness here in Nashville.  It also dramatically shows that we need sidewalks for safety alone…

Lack of sidewalks called into question after pedestrian killed

Posted: Feb 21, 2013 4:50 PM CST

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -

Nathan Walters knows first-hand the dangers of sharing the road.

"I got hit on July 4th on Gallatin Road where there's no bike lanes," said Walters.

"I walked away without a scratch," he added, "I tumbled over the car. I have no idea how in the world, but luckily I wasn't injured."

The death 32-year-old Livia Rose Smith also hits home for Walters. 

Smith's body was found on Barclay Drive, right in front of his house, around five o'clock Wednesday morning.

"I had no idea at that point there was a body like five feet from my driveway," said Walters. "Seeing that and knowing that I was all sleep like 20 yards away and didn't hear anything, couldn't do anything to help her and knowing that it's being investigated as a hit-and-run, I just felt like if we don't do something about the traffic scenario around this whole area in general, that could happen a lot more often."

"It really hit home for a lot of folks," said Peter Westerholm, "That this could be any of our neighborhoods and any of our friends."

Westerholm, the Metro council person for the area, told Nashville's News 2 the issue of more sidewalks is something he's trying to bring more attention to.

Westerholm worked with the city to get a crosswalk put up along Eastland Avenue near a dense shopping district.

"We have lots of side walks that are planned, but are not yet funded," he explained.

Metro Public Works told Nashville's News 2 there is a Sidewalk Master Plan.

The plan was developed about 12 years ago, and ideally called for $20 million in each year's budget be dedicated to adding new sidewalks and making improvements.

Metro Public Works said the reality is, they get about $12 million per year, and this year, Mayor Karl Dean asked all city departments to prepare budgets reflecting a two percent cut in spending.

"I think there's a lot more that needs to be done," said Walters. "Hopefully, it doesn't happen again, because this area is really tight. [If] you know somebody, you know everybody out here."

Sidewalk Project #2 - Hillsboro Pike, Nashville or The Story of Why Hillsboro has a Traffic Problem

Nashvillians love to fuss about the traffic in Green Hills.  

Henry (20mo) and I decided to tour Hillsboro Pike on foot.  Specifically, we walked from Whole Foods to the Green Hills post office. 

Hurdles presented themselves immediately.

Starting point, note time and distance.

Walking north on Hillsboro Pike

 An example of a sidewalk that is essentially impassable.

Hillsboro Pike, walking north, Trader Joe's parking lot.

 Bumpers of cars extending over sidewalk.

Hillsboro Pike, walking north.

Limited width, difficult with stroller.

Hillsboro Pike, walking north.

Multiple curbs makes walking with stroller a 'stop and start' scenario.

Hillsboro Pike, walking north, Abbott Martin Rd is intersection ahead.

 Limited width, difficult with stroller.

Hillsboro Pike, walking north, just past Abbott Martin Rd.
 

I can't even comment on this.  This is embarrassing. 

Hillsboro Pike, walking north.
Near Green Hills Mall entrance, the sidewalk ends.

So, we go out in the road.

A very short sidewalk, decorative at best.

And, the sidewalk begins again.

There are multiple examples of curbs that making walking with a stroller a challenge.

Green Hills post office, exactly 0.54 miles, and a 14 minute walk from Whole Foods.

Heading south on Hillsboro Pike from the Green Hills Post Office.
Curbs and rough pavement.

Bus stop on Hillsboro Pike.

 Lots of trash behind chain link fence.

Somewhat less than inviting…

Hillsboro Pike, heading south, in front of Hillsboro High.
Where the sidewalk end again

Hillsboro Pike, in front of Hillsboro High.

Surprisingly, this was one of the most refreshing spots to walk in the Green Hills area.  

Wide and smooth pavement provided an adequate buffer from traffic.

Tree lined = Shade Parade

With parked car, had to enter into flow of traffic.  

The sidewalk begins again.

Greenbriar Village on Hillsboro Pike offered a great example of a sidewalk with a green buffer.

Hillsboro Pike, walking south.
Rough pavement, curbs, telephone pole mid-sidewalk.

Poor maintenance
Large telephone pole mid-sidewalk

Hill Center, Whole Foods

 Walk from Green Hills post office to Whole Foods, exactly 12 minutes.

Shade Parade is dedicated to improving walkability in Nashville

Walk from Whole Foods on Hillsboro Pike to Green Hills post office takes less than 15 minutes on foot, 0.47 miles, and roughly 1081 steps.  

Traditions

Traditions


I called Ed Freeman on Sunday, commissioner of Belle Meade and of 'We Need Sidewalks Now' campaign to glean advice on how to proceed with Shade Parade.  Sadly, he pointed out 'Nashvillians do not have a tradition of walking'.  

  

As a physician and a mother, this makes me cringe.  This may be Shade Parade's biggest hurdle.  


It is fairly rare to see a pedestrian in Nashville on most streets at most hours particularly in West Nashville.  

On Hillsboro Pike, walking north, entrance to Trader Joe's.

Many sidewalks are literally unwalkable in Nashville.  

Shade Parade is dedicated to changing this…

Green Hills Residents Pushing For More Sidewalks

I was telling a friend today about my adventurous walk through Green Hills with my 20 mo son.  She said she had seen a group of people on Hillsboro in raising awareness and advocating for sidewalks…a quick search lead to The Green Hills Action Partners website (http://www.tghap.org/) and this news report below.




The Green Hills Action Partners
News Channel 5
October 2013

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – It's one of the busiest stretches of road in Nashville, but the problems don't stop on the street and many people point out what maybe even worse, the sidewalk.

For the past 11 years, The Green Hills Action Partners organization has looked for ways to change the scenery along this stretch of roadway by showing the problem one step at a time.

"We just really would like to have a complete network of sidewalks that can get you into and around the Green Hills business district," said coordinator for Walk Green Hills, Angie Emery Henderson.

She said the problem isn't just a lack of sidewalks; it's that they don't all connect.

"Folks that are really barely a third of a mile from the business district cannot walk to the business district to have lunch or run errands," said Henderson.

Brandon and Bess Knox recently moved to Nashville from New York City; where walking was a part of their everyday life.

"So the sidewalk might go 100 yards and then it hits a large grass hill or something and you have to go into the street; with oncoming traffic to get around maybe 50 yards, to rejoin the sidewalk," said Brandon about the sidewalks near his Green Hills area home.

They say they only live a mile and a half from their office, but walking is out of the question, especially with their eight-month-old child.

"Unfortunately on one side of the road there is a sidewalk, but on the other side there is not, so I would have to cross a main street to get to a sidewalk with the baby, which I would feel uncomfortable about," said Bess.

"As you can see right here there is no sidewalk at all and often what grass is there has holes in it and is bumpy, so we had a few older folks who had some challenges," said Henderson.

Green Hills Residents Pushing For More Sidewalks - NewsChannel5.com | Nashville News, Weather & Sports

Carless and Carefree in Nashville, TN: Just Walking...

Wanted to share some thoughts on the luxury of just walking by Kenya Stevens in Nashville…

Carless and Carefree in Nashville, TN: Just Walking...: I've come to realize more often than not that walking soothes me. Walking provides more than a means to get from one place to the next. …

My response and the most pressing question is how to make walking de rigueur in Nashville? ---
Agreed! I love the freedom of walking and the chance for serendipitous interactions. The flow of endorphins is pretty wonderful, too. I moved to Nashville from NYC where walking is required. Here in Nashville, I find that there are many barriers such as lack of sidewalks. Any advice in trying to promote walkability and in making it de rigueur in Nashville? 

Just recently, I have started a blog called Shade Parade (http://shadeparadenashville.blogspot.com) and would love any advice that you may have on promoting walkability. Thank you for writing on the very importance subject of walking!

Sidewalk Project #1 - Bowling Av, Nashville - Update

2nd Update (Dec 11, 2013):  Sean McGuire has agreed to amend the Capital Improvements Budget to include completion of Bowling Av sidewalk to its terminus at Woodmont!!!

Certainly, it CANNOT be this easy…have emailed to ask where stalls may occur and exactly what back up plan is required.  Will update as soon as I hear more…


Update (Dec 9, 2013):  After emailing the very helpful Jenna Smith at Nashville Public Works - this information was gathered.  

In regards to:

1) Bowling Avenue between Brighton Avenue and Woodmont Boulevard ~ total estimated cost to place sidewalk is 2M 

2) Woodmont Boulevard between Harding Pike and Bowling Avenue - total estimated cost to be 3M

- Projects of this magnitude (and these would include drainage and other structural related design and construction needs) usually are handled by Council Member request through the Capital Improvements Budget process

Challenges:

- Ball park figure of $100 per linear foot

- Easements and Right of Way are not all in place and would be required for the installation of sidewalks. These factors are included in the cost estimate above  

- Current location of power poles, utility boxes, etc. would need to be addressed  

- Cost depends heavily upon site needs such as drainage/storm water/curb and gutter/utilities/right-of-way, etc

Therefore, Nashvillians, your help is needed!  

Please email Council Members Jason Holleman at Jason.Holleman@nashville.gov and Sean McGuire at Sean.McGuire@nashville.gov and ask them to help green light Bowling Av sidewalk completion via the Capital Improvement Budget.

2 pedestrians struck on West End; 1 dead - WSMV Channel 4

2 pedestrians struck on West End; 1 in critical condition - WSMV Channel 4


NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) -
A construction worker has died after he and a co-worker were struck by a vehicle Friday morning on West End Avenue while trying to cross the street.

Lucas Primero, 25, and Giovanni Rosa, 23, were working on a new dormitory building at Vanderbilt University and were trying to cross over in a non-crosswalk area near 21st Avenue when police say they were struck in the center turn lane.

 

Primero died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center on Saturday.
Rosa was not seriously injured in the crash.

The driver said he did not see the men, and he was not charged.
"The first thing that crossed my mind is, it could have been me," said construction worker Rodrigo Camacho.

Camacho says it was embedded in the crew from day one that the safety of the workers on and off the job site come first, and they were told never to cross where the men were hit.

"Every day, we are risking our lives, obviously, but sometimes we are not thinking. It only takes a minute to be in an accident like that one," Camacho said.

Pedestrians say it's even dangerous crossing busy West End while in a marked crosswalk.
"Sometimes we are waiting on the light, and we have the right to cross, and people just don't respect," Camacho said.

Chasin Jaigirdar says he's almost gotten hit several times.
"Obviously, people are not paying attention," he said