Our organization is dedicated to:

Increasing the use of bicycling, walking and other forms of nonmotorized travel as transportation modes in order to reduce road miles traveled by motor vehicles, thereby reducing traffic congestion, air and noise pollution, and improving the quality of life in Nashville.

Enhancing opportunities for recreational walking, bicycling and other forms of non-motorized travel, thereby improving the health and wellbeing of participating Nashvillians.

Making Nashville's streets and neighborhoods safer and more functional for all modes of travel through the use of planning and design, public education and enforcement.

E-Mail Inquiries:
INFO@walkbikenashville.org

Phone: (615) 585-2014

Our Next Meeting

Walk/Bike Nashville holds regular monthly board meetings (excepting July and
December), open to the public at Second Presbyterian on Belmont or the Farmers Market on Rosa L. Parks.

For more information, contact Shannon Hornsby at ED@walkbikenashville.org

Come Join the Movement

Being part of the effort to improve the Nashville area has never been easier. You can join our 501c3 not-for-profit organization thru online registration by clicking on :Join Us".

Whether you run marathons or walk your child to school, your membership will support a growing culture where people of all ages enjoy bicycling and walking for a variety of reasons. We are launching a membership drive, so please join yourself if you haven't already done so, and invite your friends to join.

Bike/Ped Fact Sheet

National Facts

54% of Americans would like to walk more
53% would like to bike more
In the 1960’s, nearly 70% of children walked or bicycled to school. Today, less than 10% go to school under their own power
28% of trips in the US are under one mile
48% are less than 3 miles
1.7% of trips are made by foot or bicycle
Motor vehicle emissions represent 31% of carbon dioxide, 81% of carbon monoxide, and 49% of nitrogen oxide
60% of pollution created by automobiles occurs in the first few minutes of operation
A four-mile trip by bicycle keeps about 15 pounds of pollutants out of the air.

Local Facts

10% of Nashville households do not own a car
Nashvillians drive an average of 38 miles of day, one of the highest in the US
The Surface Transportation Policy Project ranked Nashville as the 10^th worst pedestrian city
81% of Nashvillians favor more sidewalks and bikeways
Tennessee spends 0.7% of its federal transportation funds on pedestrian/bicycle facilities
Pedestrians and bicyclists account for 7% of all traffic deaths in Tennessee
The obesity rate in Tennessee is 22.7% which is one of the highest in the country
Nashville has almost twice the road miles as Minneapolis, but half the sidewalks
Of 338 miles of roadways surveyed in Nashville, 75% were identified as unsuitable for bicycling

Walk/Bike Nashville is accepting applications for two open positions on the board of directors.

As a nonprofit advocacy and public education group, applicants for the position must have a sustained interest in creating a more walkable, bikeable, livable Nashville. Preference will be given to applicants with one or more of the following qualifications:

passionate interest in pedestrian issues and policy,
fund-raising experience,
residence in areas of the Davidson County not currently represented by the board,
expertise in the health care industry, media, or advocacy experience for disabled, senior, or minority communities.

The board requests a three-year commitment.

Interested persons can send a resume or CV with letter of interest to Sean Davies, President, seansdavies@gmail.com

News from WalkBike Nashville

We are currently moving our site to a new host and working to make it more user friendly with quality information and links. Please be patient as we develop our new site.

Jim Benson Memorial Bicycle Ride

September 8th, 2008

6:00 p.m.

Riders of all experience levels are encouraged to participate in a slow, single file, and silent 10 - 12 mile tribute ride to Jim's life.

Details are available at Murfreesboro Bicycle Club

Map of Nashville's On-Road Bikeways and Off-Road Paths

More Bikes on the Road = Less Cars on the Road

Safety is the most important element when riding. As more and more folks are getting the old bicycle out of the basement or garage and taking it in to the shop for repairs, we thought we'd remind our readers of how to ensure your safety. When bicycling on the road, it is best to be predictable and follow these guidelines for keeping yourself safe:

Always wear your helmet. Make sure the helmet doesn't wobble around on your head, the straps make a V under your ears and the buckle is close under your chin.
ABC Quick Check your bike to be sure it's safe. Air-be sure those tires are properly inflated; Brakes-be sure there is no less than a thumb's width between the lever and the handlebar when applying the brakes; Crank & Chain-make sure the chain is sitting on those little teeth, wiggle the pedals to be sure they're tight, and rotate the pedals a few times to be sure it's all working smoothly. And if your bike has quick release wheels and/or seats be sure those quick-release levers are tight. Now, take your bike for a brief spin around to be sure everything is working properly.
Ride a straight line and ALWAYS use signals to notify drivers of your intent to turn left or right.
Wear wicking clothing because if you sweat while you ride you can get cold, even in hot weather!
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Drink water before you ride and carry a bottle with you.
Carry lights with you just in case you have a late meeting or get stuck and need to ride in the dark.
Ride an arm's length from the curb. It keeps you in the line of sight for motor-vehicles and keeps you from clipping the curb with a pedal.

The following laws exist to protect you and affect you when riding your bicycle:

The state of Tennessee recognizes and classifies a bicycle as a vehicle. This means you are entitled to travel in the motor-vehicle travel lane. This also means you are required to follow all traffic laws.
As a vehicle, a bicycle must travel in the same direction as motor-vehicles.
Nashville city ordinance prohibits riding a bicycle on a sidewalk in a business district, so apply that to downtown, Hillsboro Village, 5 Points, and other business areas around town.
Tennessee state law requires a motorist to provide no less than three feet when passing a bicyclist on the road.
All bicyclists are entitled to take the lane. This means that if it is unreasonably safe to share a lane with motor-vehicles and you are not impeding the flow of traffic you may occupy the lane.
Tennessee state law requires all bicycles at night to have a front white light and either a rear reflector or a rear red light.

Consider the following:

Riding two abreast in traffic or on busy roads can impede the flow of traffic and make motor-vehicle drivers angry. They are bigger and more dangerous. Keep 'em happy!
A bike lane is designed for one bicyclist's width. Riding two abreast does not provide ample space to ensure safety.
Riding a bicycle against the flow of traffic either on the road or on the sidewalk are the top two reasons for car-bike collisions.
80% of bicycle accidents do not involve a motor vehicle. You have control over your own safety. Practice it by following laws and guidelines developed to keep you safe.
Almost every part of your body is replaceable - your brain is not. Wear a helmet.
If you are a parent and you take your kids out to ride bicycles, think about the lesson you teach if you make them wear a helmet but you don't wear one.
If you don't have enough air in your tires you can get a flat at any time, even by just going over a bump such as a driveway entrance.
A rear reflector can be seen from approximately 50 feet away in headlights, whereas a red rear light can be seem from as far away as 500 feet. That's 450 more feet of space for a motor vehicle to slow down as it approaches you.

Music City Moves Kids!

The official Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program of Walk/Bike Nashville has gained in popularity and demand. Bike safety education is scheduled at four schools over the next two months. Currently, we are recruiting instructors and assistants for our program. Working with kids to increase cycling in our community is fun, plus, our instructors and assistants are paid well for their time. Instructors are required to complete a Road 1 course and co-teach two or three sessions with one of our League Certified Instructors before leading one of our classes. Please contact executive director Shannon Hornsby at ed@walkbikenashville.org if you would like to become an instructor or an assistant.

Commuting And Short Trip Quick Cost Calculator

How much does it cost you to get to work? If you're driving a car, here is a quick way to find out!

Visit: The Rideshare Web Site

What about trips that you take by car less than 5 miles from where you live for short errands such as the post office, pharmacy, grocery store, the gym, or that pound of coffee you :: have :: to pick up from the local coffee shop? Add these trips in to the quick cost calculator and see how much it really costs for you to drive your car!

Try replacing short trips in the car with bicycling or walking. These trips are free, and include a bonus of adding fitness to your routine; you may no longer need to go to the gym. Now recalculate your trips and see how much money you're saving!