Shade Parade introduces Reflection of Nashville - a shoppe selling all things reflective for those dying to be seen

In the spirit of our times...

REFLECTIONS

of 

NASHVILLE

A new shoppe bringing you all things reflective for those who are dying to be seen.

Located in the heart of Green Hills

Extended holiday hours

NEVER fear walking in the dark again...

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A personal solution for Nashville's walkability issues!

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JK!

This is fake news!

Happy Thanksgiving...Nashville STILL Needs Sidewalks.

Happy Thanksgiving to all.  Thank you for the support of those in Nashville interested in great walkability.  Your support, your emails, your photos that you share help me keep this blog going.  

Shade Parade will celebrate its 3rd anniversary on November 30th.  I cannot tell you how many people tell me that they have been asking for sidewalks for many years.  When I write, I often hear from people that they had approached their city government about the same thing 5, 10, 15, 20 + years ago.   Our issues are not new.  But, they are wrong.

The fact that we still have very few sidewalks is a shame.  We have schools without sidewalks.  We have major shopping areas that could be connected so people could walk them on foot but aren't.  We have lousy design and frequent barriers smack in the middle of the sidewalks that do exist.  We have construction that closes sidewalks for months - years - without any Plan B.  It is a shame & I cannot see why we cannot move faster.  

  That being said, I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting so many people like the lovely lady below who saw my Nashville Needs Sidewalks race bib on my shopping bags.  I just, frankly, wish that we were not still talking about this issue!  She told me about her recent move here from Milwaukee followed by her quick understanding that Nashville was  in significant need when it comes to sidewalks & walkability.  Wondered why she had to cross streets to use sidewalk that lined only one side but made it significantly harder to walk.  I hear her.  As an avid walker, I take risks and go out of my way to get there on foot but I recognize that many would not and will not.  

Sorry to say, after 3 long years, that Nashville has not yet made a full commitment to a consistent and well designed sidewalk plan with a completion date.  But, I am hopeful.  I keep chipping away at it in a hope that by highlighting certain issues and themes, our city of Nashville will commit to walkability as a major goal.  I am only asking that  the simple act of walking be safe and comfortable.  

I challenge our mayor, Megan Barry, to move fast on assuring Nashville that this is her goal too.   The issues surrounding walkability are the same as they have been - restudy or reconsideration is little needed.  We know what is wrong.  

   Tis the season of giving and it would be the most wonderful gift to feel that Nashville has committed to making great sidewalks and walkability a major funded project.

NEW Sidewalk Legislation - a Summary!!!

Wanted to get this out there ASAP...

Sidewalk Legislation Summary, BL 2016-493

With questions or suggestions, please contact the bill’s lead sponsor Councilwoman Angie Henderson at angie.henderson@nashville.gov or 615-260-5530

This is a zoning code text amendment for Chapters 17.04, 17.20 and 17.40 pertaining to sidewalks.

This proposed amendment to the Code will support access to and use of Nashville’s transit system and close the loophole wherein single- and two-family infill development on major and collector streets and on neighborhood streets near to centers is not required to install sidewalk infrastructure.  The legislation will also reduce instances where in lieu contribution may be applied and requires more physical construction of sidewalks throughout the city as development occurs.

Timeline (subject to change):

• Bill introduced on first reading at November 15, 2016, Council meeting.
• Planning Commission staff report published on January 6, 2016.
• Planning Commission Public Hearing on January 12, 2016.
• Council Public Hearing on February 7, 2017.
• Planning & Zoning Comt. review and third reading at Council on Feb. 21, 2017.

What the Legislation Does

• Requires that sidewalks be provided for:
• Multi-family or nonresidential development when property is: 
• within Urban Services District (USD)
• on a street in the Major and Collector Street Plan (MCSP) and/or
• within 1/4 mile of a “center” designated in the General Plan
• This expands sidewalk installation for multifamily and nonresidential uses and removes triggers such as percentage of expansion, percentage of value of expansion, and references to a sidewalk priority index. 

• One or two-family residential development when property is:
• within the Urban Zoning Overlay (UZO).
• on a street within the MCSP in the Urban Services District and/or
• within a 1/4 mile of a ”center” designated in the General Plan
• Currently, sidewalks are not required for single-family/two-family units for tear down/rebuilds.
• This legislation proposes to bring additional, improved infrastructure to more suburban areas outside of the downtown core and closes a loophole wherein no infrastructure improvements are typically required for infill single and two-family construction.

• Increases instances where sidewalks must be built including (in lieu of fee not applicable):
• replacement or repair of existing sidewalk
• extension of sidewalk proposed for adjacent development
• when existing sidewalks are present on the same block face
• within the UZO
• along a street in the MCSP

• Reduces instances in which in lieu payment is an option
• Under current code provisions, in lieu contribution is allowed unless there is an existing sidewalk network adjacent to site or on same block face.

Other items addressed by this proposed legislation include:

• Clarifies that the in lieu contribution is in lieu of construction only, therefore required right-of-way must be dedicated with the issuance of the building permit.
• Adds a requirement that if one seeks a variance from sidewalk improvements from the Board of Zoning Appeals, Metro Planning must make a recommendation on whether the variance is justified or whether there are potential alternative designs that could result in installation of public sidewalk benefitting community.
• Obstructions are prohibited within the required sidewalks, but may be located within a grass strip or frontage zone. Existing obstructions shall be relocated.

Shouldn't Major Corridors Have Better Walkability In Nashville?

Hillsboro Pike - a MAJOR corridor in Nashville.  You tell me, where can one walk here???  

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We need creative and low cost options in Nashville to quickly alter our low quality infrastructure.  Our roadways were mostly completed in the cheapest fashion possible - lacking sidewalks, curbs, gutters, and proper pedestrian level lighting.  There is infrastructure such as telephone poles, guide wires, rock walls, landscaping etc placed directly in the path a pedestrian would use.  I argue that now is the time for a sidewalk infrastructure plan with consistency in design and a completion date.  

Many roads in Nashville look just like this...

LINK:  https://www.wired.com/2016/10/how-to-design-better-cities/


Things are bad for pedestrians, Nashville -> let's get creative!

• AUTHOR: TIM DE CHANT.TIM DE CHANT PERSONAL FRONTIERS DESIGN
 
• DATE OF PUBLICATION: 10.28.16.10.28.16
 
• TIME OF PUBLICATION: 11:00 AM.11:00 AM

16 WAYS TO DESIGN A BETTER INTERSECTION—AND BETTER CITIES

MIKE LEE

IF YOU THINK the only purpose of intersections is to move cars past each other, you solve problems like a plumber: with bigger pipes. But wide, barren streets full of traffic don’t make a livable city. One solution would be nothing. No lights, no curbs, no sidewalks—just colored pavers. It works. Accidents decline, traffic slows, and property values rise. “You’ll never do as good a job as two ­people using body language and eye contact,” says Sam Goater, a senior associate at the Project for Public Spaces. But don’t rip out the infrastructure just yet. Urban designers have a good set of tricks to turn a city intersection into something more like a plaza and less like a freeway interchange. Cars pass, people walk, bikers bike, and everyone’s lives flow more smoothly.

Seeing Barriers IN the Sidewalk? Mayor Megan Barry is asking for photos (with the address!)

The more Nashvillians walk, the better.  As you go about, consider taking photos of poles, guide wires, conduit, an other barriers.  Send them, with cross street or address to @MayorMeganBarry.  

Bradford and Grantland...Nashville

Plant Trees - Just NOT in the Right-of-Way. Consider the Future Sidewalk!!!

There is a big push, despite the drought, to plant trees in Nashville right now (see the wonderful work of the Nashville Tree Task Force:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/1157459857620239/.  

Rightfully so as there is rapid development leading to big changes - too many of which involve clear cutting.

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When planting, please consider the future sidewalk if you do not have one.  Learn where the right-of-way is so that you can locate your beautiful new tree in a place where it will not need to be moved when you finally get your sidewalk.  

For clarity, trees really help when walking - Nashville is HOT in the summer!  We want trees between the cars and the sidewalks as they make a fantastic green buffer.  Be smart in the planting.  One thing that can significantly stall a sidewalk is when one neighbor has invested in infrastructure or has planted trees in the right-of-way.  No one wants to create bad feelings but having to tear out someone's rock wall or cut down their tree when the sidewalk finally comes.  

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Don't plant all the way to the road so there is literally no place for pedestrians.  

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A property survey is the only absolute way to determine property boundaries. One way to generally check boundaries is to use our interactive mapping site with parcel line data on top of aerial photographs.  Here’s how you do it.

1.       Go to this site - http://maps.nashville.gov/ParcelViewer/

2.       Click “Continue.”

3.       Zoom into the area of town you are interested in or Click on the magnifying glass in the upper right hand corner.    You can enter either the Parcel ID or Address.

4.       Once you are zoomed in close enough or typed in an address, the parcel lines will show up on the map.

5.       Click the box in the upper right hand corner that has four smaller boxes in it.  

6.       Select the “2014 Aerial Imagery.” You should now have an aerial photo of that area that you can compare with the property boundaries.

Nashville Pedestrians Want More Sidewalks Along With Bike Lanes - yes we do!!!

Nashville pedestrians want more sidewalks along with bike lanes

By Joseph PleasantPublished: November 2, 2016, 3:21 pm  Updated: November 2, 2016, 5:30 pm

Nashville pedestrians want more sidewalks along with bike lanes

By Joseph PleasantPublished: November 2, 2016, 3:21 pm  Updated: November 2, 2016, 5:30 pm

For video - see link below!

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Metro Nashville budgeted $30 million for sidewalks this year and council members are letting the city know where they are needed.

For some people in Nashville, their morning commute means hitting the pavement instead of pressing on an accelerator.

Sharon Parsons took for granted the convenience of having a car, until hers broke down. Now, she is among the thousands who ride a MTA Bus to get to work.

But before she gets to her bus stop she walks up to two miles one way to catch the bus.

Photo: WKRN

“It is dangerous, cars sometimes don’t recognize you are walking there and they almost kind of hit you,” she said. “It’s very dangerous without sidewalks.”

In 2015, 18 pedestrians were involved in fatal collisions. In 13 of those cases, the pedestrian was in the road outside of a crosswalk.

“We have a strategic plan for sidewalks and bikeways greenways and parks we are looking at all of those as avenues for transit,” Nashville Mayor Megan Barry said. “We have put in $30 million in our budget this year for sidewalks.”

Mayor Barry said she has prioritized putting sidewalks down that connect children to schools and people to transit. Metro Council members have been letting public works know where to put in sidewalks.

“Those budget dollars get spent all over the county on different sidewalk projects,” Mayor Barry said. “Council members are telling us where they need them the most and we are putting them down as fast as we can.”

The city is also updating its strategic plan for sidewalks and bikeways. The plan is currently in its final phase and should be ready for implementation by the end of the year.

But it can be frustrating to pedestrians to see improvements to roads that include better bike lanes.

“We need more sidewalks because a lot of people walk to work,” Parsons said. “When they put in a bike lane they should think about a sidewalk.”

Parsons also said drivers should be more considerate of pedestrians who have no choice, but to walk.

“My transportation is currently down so riding the bus is much cheaper as I try to save money for a car,” Parsons said. “Some drivers if they see you trying to cross the road they speed up and if they see you in the middle of the road trying to cross the street they definitely try to speed up.”

If you live in an area in need of new sidewalks or sidewalk repairs you can contact your council member or the Public Works Department.

http://wkrn.com/2016/11/02/nashville-pedestrians-want-more-sidewalks-along-with-bike-lanes/