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

Bicycles don't belong in landfills.

Bicycles are designed for riding.

We've teamed up with the Metro Nashville Bike Co-op for a bike drive during the Tour de Nash. Do you have an old or unused bike sitting around waiting for a new home? Bring it by the Bike Drive table at the Tour de Nash and we'll make sure it gets some good mechanic attention and adopted out to a new home. We need bikes of all sizes and kinds. Bikes donated to the drive will go to both Walk/Bike Nashville's education programs and to the Metro Nashville Bike Co-op's bicycle rehabilitation efforts.

Letter from the Executive Director

May is National Bike Month and we're offering quite a few opportunities to celebrate. We've dedicated this entire newsletter to upcoming events and hope to see you out there with us.

Did you know that 40 % of car trips in the United States are less than two miles in length? Two miles is quite walkable or bikeable, depending on the destination and purpose of the trip. The average bicyclist can ride two miles in twenty minutes and most folks can walk two miles in 30 minutes or less. Imagine how much healthier our bodies and our air would be if we all took just one of these trips per week without the car.

With that little bit of knowledge and in celebration of Bike Month, I challenge you to join me in reducing vehicle miles traveled (and fuel burned) by committing to taking at least one trip by foot or bicycle each week during the month of May. Maybe you need to go to the grocery or want to take the family out to dinner on Friday night. Maybe you need to go to the post office or want to head out to lunch with your co-workers. Whatever your trip, consider taking it without the car. Send me an email and let me know when you do. I'd love to hear your stories.

Get out there!

Shannon Hornsby

info@walkbikenashville.org

News from WalkBike Nashville

The 5th Annual Tour de Nash with Eddie George & Bridgestone Americas is May 17th!

We know you've been waiting an entire year and it will be well worth the wait. Or maybe you've always wanted to come out or just heard about the event. Don't wait another year!

The 5th Annual Tour de Nash will be staged at the East Bank Greenway on the river at Titans Stadium. Joining us this year is Eddie George, Mayor Dean, and Health Commissioner Susan Cooper.

Enjoy a 2 or 4 mile walk around downtown, a 6 or 12 mile family bike route through East Nashville, or a longer 27 or 50+ mile bike route through East, North, and West Nashville.

Grab the kids, your grandma, your neighbor, and your friends and come out to explore Nashville's growing network of sidewalks, bikeways, and greenways.

We also brought back the ever popular health and wellness fair, thanks to our friends at the Community Health & Wellness Team. You'll have a chance to learn about healthy eating choices, discover community programs, and even see yoga and dance demonstrations.

Rest stops are sponsored by local businesses and organizations this year. All walkers and riders get a free water bottle. All children completing any route with an adult will receive a free t-shirt! Visit www.tourdenash.org or call 1-877-474-TOUR for more information.

We'd like to thank our bronze, gold, and platinum sponsors for making this event possible this year: Bridgestone Americas, Detour, EGX, Fox 17 WZTV, Lightning 100, Vitamin Water, Secure Horizons, Village Fund, and WFSK.

Volunteers are the key to offering the community a successful event. Please contact Christine Ward if you would like to volunteer. christinehward@yahoo.com

May 14: Tour de Nash Volunteer Party

We need some help stuffing the Tour de Nash goodie bags. Join us from 6:00pm - 7:30pm at 800 Second Avenue South (Metro Planning Department). It's a small amount of work for yummy pizza and great people.

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

Car Wins Commuter Race, Others Still Prefer Their Mode

For the 4th Great Commuter Race, the car finally beat out the bicyclists on the 8-mile commute from Donelson to Downtown. Hermitage resident and former councilman Phil Ponder drove in on Lebanon Pike and arrived at the courthouse in 17 minutes and 52 seconds. Current Councilman Phil Clairborne arrived 2 minutes later having driven Briley Parkway north to Elmington Parkway.

Bicyclists Glen Kamka arrived in 23 minutes after taking Lebanon Pike all the way into town. Kamka, who lives in Antioch, commutes over 40 miles by bike each day to his job on Brick Church Pk. Several other cyclists from the Veloteers Bicycle Club opted to take the Stones River Greenway that connects to the Shelby Bottoms Greenway via the new bridge over the Cumberland River. Their ride, although mostly traffic free and much more pleasant, took 31 minutes. Leslie Meehan, the third driver, reached the courthouse in 32 minutes after a slow drive in on I-40.

Mike Rocco and Sally Robertson of Mt. Juliet took the Music City Star and arrived in 35 minutes. Both Rocco and Robertson frequently take the train and then ride their bikes to work in the 12th Avenue South area and Nashville Tech. The only difficulty occurred with bus rider, Laura Artates, who planned to ride her bike to Vanderbilt after the race. The Donelson Bus already had two bikes on its rack and Artates had to wait for the next bus. Artates who heads the Clean Air Partnership of Middle Tennessee has done this commute on many occasions and has never had a problem with the rack on the bus being full. Artates arrived downtown after one hour and 5 minutes. Even though this was a disappointment, Artates is glad that MTA ridership is growing, and the bike racks that are now on all MTA busses are being used.

Shannon Hornsby, executive director of Walk/Bike Nashville, feels the race was a huge success even though the bike didn't win. "It took our lead bicyclist 5 minutes longer to get downtown than the lead driver," says Hornsby. "There is little doubt that the bike is much cheaper, greener, and healthier." The race organizers which include Walk/Bike Nashville, the Metro Planning Department, the Clean Air Partnership of Middle Tennessee, MTA, and RTA/Music City Star are confident that with the rising cost of gas and increasing environmental awareness, more citizens will choose alternative modes of travel to get around Nashville.

Official Times

Phil Ponder, driver (Lebanon Pk.) 17:42

Phil Clairborne, driver (Briley/Elmington) 19:43

Glen Kamka, bicyclist (Lebanon Pk.) 23:01

Beth Travers, Brain Cox, William Anderson, David Perreault, Chip Hahn, bicyclists (Stones River/Shelby Bottoms) 30:53

Mike Rocco, Sally Robertson, Music City Star 35:00

Laura Artates, bus 1 hour, 5 minutes

The "Great Commuter Race" overview

Race begins: 7:00 am Tuesday, May 6

Ace Hardware in Donelson Plaza, corner of Old Lebanon Pk. and J.B. Estille Rd.

Race ends: Between 7:20 and 7:45 am at Metro Courthouse Plaza at the end of 2nd Ave North

A bicyclist, driver, bus rider, and train passenger will leave Donelson Plaza at the same time, headed for the Metro Courthouse – who will get there first?

That's the question volunteers will be answering at peak commuting time on May 6. The cyclist and driver can choose their own routes, as long as they obey all traffic laws, and the riders will travel on a regularly scheduled MTA bus and the Music City Star commuter train.

There's more to consider about that 8-mile commute, though, than just the fastest time. Air quality, carbon dioxide emissions, and the relative cost of the trip are all factors in selecting the best way to get to work.

"Regardless of who wins," says Walk-Bike Nashville executive director Shannon Hornsby, "this race will demonstrate that we now have more transportation choices than ever, and that the car is not always the most practical way to travel."

Nashville's 2008 "Great Commuter Race" is a joint project of Walk/Bike Nashville, the Clean Air Partnership of Middle Tennessee, the Metro Planning Department, the Metropolitan Transit Authority, the Regional Transportation Authority/Music City Star, and the Veloteers Bicycle Club.

Cost of 16-mile Roundtrip Donelson:

Commute Car: $8.64 (based on the AAA cost estimate of 54 cents per mile)
Music City Star: $7.20 (based on a 10 ride pass)
MTA Bus: $2.40 (based on a 20 ride pass)
Bicycle: $2.08 (based on our estimated rate of 13 cents per mile)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions (in pounds) per Participant

Car: 16 (more for idling or driving a larger vehicle)
Music City Star: 3.2 (assuming the train is ¾ full)
MTA Bus: 3.2 (assuming bus is ¾ full)
Bicycle: Almost 0 (except for the extra exhaling)

60% of automobile pollution occurs in the first few minutes that a car is driven so reducing short car trips could greatly improve our region's air quality.

Calories Burned per Participant

Car: 100
Music City Start: 200 (assuming a short amount of walking is required)
MTA Bus: 200 (assuming a short amount of walking is required)
Bicycle: 600

May 9: Bike-to-Work Day

Be healthy, be green, and save money! Downtown workers from across Nashville are invited to try commuting in to town on two wheels for Bike-to-Work Day on Friday, May 9. If you don't work downtown, you are still more than welcome to join. Walk/Bike Nashville will have ride leaders departing various locations between 6:30 and 7:15 am. and arriving at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center around 7:30 am. Leaders will share their favorite routes into town while avoiding the gridlock of the busier streets whenever possible. Refreshments will be served. No registration required, but helmets are mandatory.

Tell us about your bicycle commute--Go to http://www.myspace.com/walkbikenashville to post the route you usually commute via our comments section. Tell us what you like or don't like about it.

To learn more about bike commuting, visit http://www.bikeleague.org/resources/better/commuters.php

Bellevue/West End (673-6329)

Red Caboose Playground– 6:30 am
Gran Fondo Bike Shop– 6:45 am
Vine St. Church—7:00 am
Join Murphy Rd Route at Elmington Park at 7:10 am

Hillsboro/Belmont (478-0487)

Hillsboro High School—7:00 am
Belmont/Gale –7:15 am
16th/Magnolia-7:25 am

Shelby Ave (585-2014)

Shelby Community Center—7:15 am
East Community Center—7:25 am

Sylvan Park/Murphy Road (668-6003 )

Richland Park Library (on Charlotte Pk.)—6:50 am
McCabe Community Center (near the Richland Greenway)-7:00 am
Elmington Park-7:10 am
Join Hillsboro/Belmont Route on 16th Ave at 7:25 am

Donelson (812-2035)

Donelson & Lebanon Pk—6:45am
Two Rivers Skate Park—7:00 am

Germantown (260-0005)

Morgan Park Community Center—7:00 am
Farmers' Market along 7th Ave—7:15 am

May 9: Bike-To-Work Day Franklin

Franklin area workers are invited to commute into Franklin on two wheels for Bike-to-Work Day, Friday, May 9. If you don't work in Franklin, you are still more than welcome to celebrate bicycling commuting!

Walk/Bike Nashville, with Harpeth Bicycles, will offer coffee and donuts to bicyclists arriving at Harpeth Bicycles between 7:00 -7:30 am.

Bicyclists can share their favorite routes into downtown Franklin, meet up with fellow commuters, or organize group rides on to work from the shop. No registration required, but helmets are mandatory.

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!