Survey Regarding Sidewalks in Nashville

Shade Parade is dedicated to improving walkability in Nashville via high quality sidewalks. 

We are gathering data in order to support our argument that Bowling Av, as does all of Nashville, would be vastly improved with a sidewalk.  Please take a moment and let us know your thoughts.

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https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/65FXP9F

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The best argument yet!

Sidewalks are, admittedly, not a very considered element in the built environment.  They are not really considered sexy.  But, they have a huge impact on your day to day life, your relationships, and your health.  

If you have never thought much about sidewalks - I encourage you to watch this video.  It is well worth your time…

The best argument yet!

After watching the video above - Please take a few moments to fill out a survey about sidewalks in Nashville:

      https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/65FXP9F

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Shade Parade Nashville is dedicated to increasing walkability in Nashville via high quality sidewalks.

Current Use is Not a Reflection of Future Use

Current use does not = future use.

   If infrastructure is poor, use will be low.

Honestly, places like this image above do not invite pedestrians.  The scale is all wrong.  It is uncomfortable to walk here.  It feels unsafe.  The argument that people do not currently walk much in an area like this, which happens to be on the main shopping areas in Green Hills, and therefore investing in the infrastructure is not needed really isn't a fair one.  

I actually want to walk here - a lot!  It was my New Year's Resolution to do all errands in Green Hills on foot.  Even though it is uncomfortable, sometimes a bit dicey and sometimes plain hard - I prefer it to sitting in my car - & I feel like I am doing my part to reduce vehicle traffic. 

   

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Case in point, the Gulch in Nashville.  The Gulch wasn't really much 10 years ago.  Now, it is a dense rich area that is quite fun to walk around in.  So, prior 'use' doesn't have much bearing on future 'use' if the infrastructure makes a dramatic change for the better.  

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My neighborhood actually has an opposite issue.  We have the walkers - we just don't have the infrastructure at key junctures.  

Our large walking population is due to our quiet tree covered streets.  But, there are severe barriers such as crossing/walking along Bowling Av, that make walking in a logical loop a challenge.  We are prone to superblocks - no easy cut throughs around here.  In addition, we have Woodmont Blvd - a reasonable connector to both West End/Harding and Hillsboro Village/Green Hills via Hillsboro Pk - but, without sidewalks, is essentially unwalkable.  

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So, to say current pedestrian use on Bowling Av is low and therefore it does not need a sidewalk is not an accurate picture of the volume of walkers who would use the sidewalk if Bowling had one. 

DOES NOT EQUAL 

Walking on Woodmont, Nashville - Sidewalk Project #6, Woodmont Av

I can say, with all sincerity, that walking on Woodmont Av in Nashville is NO FUN!

Without sidewalks it is truly unwalkable. You cannot walk on the road due to little shoulder and the speed of the cars (40 mph).  And you cannot really walk well on the grass.  The landscaping certainly says to a pedestrian 'DO NOT WALK HERE' and it is fraught with numerous obstacles.  

But, the area, next to the road is a right-of-way.  As an individual, I have the right to walk there.  If I could walk there, I would have an easy path to walk to my work at One Hundred Oaks Medical Center, to the public library with my kids, to Green Hills, to Harding Rd/West End…

As I tried to walk it, I wondered how residents of this street do simple tasks such as walk their dogs?  Do they get to know each other? I imagine that there is little chance of running into a neighbor except for possibly at the mailbox.    

It really is a shame, too, that it is essentially unwalkable, as it is a pleasant wide street with grand houses and within walking distance to Green Hills and West End/Harding Rd.  

Certainly, there is plenty of room for sidewalks and it doesn't appear that there are major drainage issues.  One hardship to overcome would be the speed of traffic (40 mph) but as long as their was a wide green tree lined buffer between the road and the sidewalk - it may not really matter on Woodmont as much as it does on small, more narrow roads. 

As it stands, walking on Woodmont poses a real safety risk.   

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But the question of funding seems to be the stopping point in discussions about sidewalk production in Nashville.  At this point, it is a rare individual who is actually against them.  So, how do we, as a city, obtain more funding for sidewalks?

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Do we do it ourselves?  Create a Sidewalk Foundation?  

There is actually precedence for the idea of public space being privately funded…Woodmont was the 1st paved street in Nashville and the paving was funding by the residents and developers of the street not the city of Nashville.  

This article from 1964 mentions a repaving effort on "concrete boulevard," which was Woodmont's nickname for many years. 

In its heyday, Concrete Boulevard was often a training ground for young people learning to drive. The paving of Woodmont in 1916 was financed by property owners and real estate developers, not the city of Nashville.

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Could this not occur again - almost 100 years later - this time to fund sidewalks on Woodmont if the city will not do it?

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The Strongest Argument I Have Seen.

This pretty much says it all…

Nashville is currently ranked the 2nd worst walking city in the US.  Nashville also resides in the 2nd most obese state in the US.

  Connected?

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Shade Parade Nashville is dedicated to increasing walkability in Nashville through access to well designed high quality sidewalks.

This could be the strongest argument out there for funding sidewalks.

Sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUaInS6HIGo

Public Meeting, 4/23, Sidewalk Project #1, Bowling Av

Last night was an overwhelming success.  We had many councilpeople and public works in attendance.  We had great line-up of guest speakers who did a fantastic job covering everything from the values of sidewalks to the health they can facilitate.  And, best of all we had a room full of neighbors!  More than 70 people came out in support of sidewalks in Nashville, particularly on Bowling Av!

Now, let's get Bowling Av sidewalked…

Sidewalk Project #1, Bowling Av, PUBLIC MEETING TONIGHT + SURVEY, 4/23/2014 630p West End Middle School Library

TONIGHT!

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Please take a moment & fill out our survey:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/65FXP9F

For updates, please follow this blog.

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Sidewalks for Bowling…. and beyond

Wednesday, April 23rd 6:30 - 8 p.m.  

West End Middle School Library

***Entrance on the west side of building (Bowling side), library on 2nd floor.  If you drive, overflow parking next to elmington  Park*** 

You are strongly encouraged to attend!  Your presence will help make a difference.  We need to make a big impact this week in order to continue to build great momentum for this project and others.

This will be a friendly information-sharing and input-seeking meeting for all those residing nearby who care about sidewalks.  We have a fantastic agenda set with some very knowledgeable and committed Nashvillians regarding sidewalks.  There will be a series of short presentations, question and answer period, and chance to offer your input.  

We intend for this meeting to convey that while this is our first sidewalk project, we see this as a template to repeat in other parts of Nashville to cure one of Nashville’s real deficits:  lack of sidewalks and connected sidewalks.  Our goal is to pursue this pilot project to its completion in a cooperative fashion and then move forward onto other roads so we can gain some true connectivity throughout the city.

If childcare is holding you back, sitters will be available so that your child can do their homework or write a letter to Mayor Dean in the back of the library as we meet in the front!

Looking forward to seeing you on Wednesday!  Please forward away.

Stacy Dorris Proctor, M.D.

Trish Mixon

more info:

http://shadeparadenashville.blogspot.com/2014/04/sidewalk-project-1-bowling-av-update_19.html 

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https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/65FXP9F