This year, we took our member party to the street by throwing the Streets for People block party on the East Bank in front of Bailey on Cowan St. The rain didn’t stop more than 100 supporters from joining us for the celebration, including a dozen people arriving on bikes and a handful of youngsters playing in the puddles. (Check out our photo album from the evening here.)

Our party marked the official launch of our Streets for People Campaign–a campaign to first support Choose How You Move, the transportation improvement program Nashvillians will vote on November 5. After election day, our campaign will work to ensure the newly funded projects are transparent, informed by the community, and reconfiguring streets for people. 

With sponsorships from HNTB, WeGo Public Transit, Barge Design Solutions, and Tennessee Titans ONE Community Foundation, we used life-size street tiles and trees donated by Premiere Building Maintenance to demonstrate a street for people on what will eventually be East Bank Blvd.–Nashville’s next major corridor.

One of the highlights of the evening was the presentation of our annual awards. These awards shine a light on some of the amazing people who are helping make our city more walkable, bikeable, and livable for all. 

Congratulations to all our 2024 winners!


 



Trinity Community Commons

Most Bike Friendly Business of the Year 

(accepted by Trinity Community Commons’ Executive Director Zach Lykins, presented by Walk Bike Nashville Executive Director Meredith Montgomery)


This award recognizes businesses and organizations that have supported efforts in making Nashville more walkable and bikeable. That can look like making their office supportive of multimodal transportation, working to make the larger community more walk/bike friendly, or leading on local issues related to walking or biking.

Trinity Community Commons has served as a wonderful partner to Walk Bike Nashville by hosting community engagement meetings for our Dickerson Pike Pedestrian Safety Plan, serving as a starting point for Walk to School Day in 2023, and allowing us to hold our Pedestrian Memorial in 2024 in their front yard. They regularly host bike clinics and are currently working to install bike racks on site. In addition to walkability and bikeability, Trinity Community Commons fosters livability in the neighborhood by serving as an important third space–a welcoming place for community members of all walks of life to share meals, work in the garden, seek out resources, and enjoy a strong sense of community among neighbors.


Linda Kee

Crossing Guard of the Year Award

(presented by Walk Bike Nashville Open Streets Coordinator Calah Gipson) 

This award honors crossing guards who are committed to keeping our children safe on their journey to and from school each day. It recognizes those who take special care, and go above and beyond to make our kids and all road users feel safe, seen, and supported. 

Anyone who passes through the East Nashville intersection of 5th and Russell during school hours has likely seen Linda hard at work. She has something friendly to say to all of the students, often gifting them with a sweet treat and a warm smile. Her service doesn’t stop with the kids–Linda keeps all people on foot safe, from dog walkers to bus riders. She’s quick on the draw of her whistle anytime a driver dares to go above 15 mph and her dedication does not go unnoticed. 


 

Charlie Weingartner

Advocate Of The Year 

(presented by Walk Bike Nashville Advocacy Manager Wesley Smith) 

This award recognizes ambassadors and advocates who utilized community advocacy to promote walking and biking this year. This person is steadfast, and committed to their community and have been actively advocating for a better Nashville. 

Charlie is an active member of the cycling community and a Vision Zero advisory committee member  who genuinely cares about the quality of bicycle infrastructure and pedestrian safety in Nashville. He effectively uses social media and public meetings to bring attention to issues and seek out solutions. His website MiddleTNCycling.com raises awareness of cycling events and legislative progression towards a more bike friendly Nashville.


Michael Briggs

Government Official Of The Year

(presented by Walk Bike Nashville Board President Chris Weinman)

This award honors government officials, elected or unelected, who have had the greatest positive impact on Nashville’s walkability and bikeability over the last year. They are respected leaders in this movement. 

For years, Michael has worked day in and day to revolutionize transit in Nashville.  In his current day job at Vanderbilt, he helps people understand “how they can save money, reduce stress and help the environment while traveling to and from work,” which has dovetailed perfectly in his role as Director of Transportation Planning in the Mayor’s office. After working closely with the Mayor to ensure the Choose How You Move transportation improvement program made it onto the ballot under a tight schedule and intense scrutiny, he has now turned his attention to meeting with folks all across the city to explain what’s in for them. This is not Michael’s first Walk Bike award–he was recognized in 2019 as the recipient of the Kibby Clayton Award.


KJ Garner

Lifetime Achievement Award: The Kibby Clayton Award 

(presented by Community Engagement Manager Juleesia Santiago-Karim)

This award is named after Walk Bike’s first board president, Kibby Clayton and is considered to be our “lifetime achievement award”, recognizing people who contributed the most time and energy to improve walkability, bikeability, and livability in Nashville.

Described as the “spirit animal of biking in Nashville”, KJ Garner has dedicated herself to building a joyful community of bicyclists across our city. Recently expanding her nonprofit, Bike Fun, to South Nashville, KJ excels at making biking accessible for non-traditional riders through her learn to ride classes, bike giveaways, repair services, bike workshops, and the annual South Inglewood Bicycle Festival. She has taught countless cyclists of all ages how to ride a bike and proven herself to be an effective advocate for robust bike infrastructure in Nashville. KJ helps educate NDOT staff and consultants by leading them on bike rides to improve their understanding of the needs for bike infrastructure, and she also serves on the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission. The culture of biking in Nashville is growing because of KJ’s immense contributions to this community!

 




Thank you again to our party hosts and businesses who made a special contribution to help make this event possible!

  • Bailey
  • Barge Design Solutions
  • The Be-Hive
  • Bruce & Megan Barry
  • Councilperson Jacob Kupin
  • Daniel & Katherine McDonell
  • Josh Thomas
  • HNTB
  • Mark & Sherry Deutschmann
  • Nashville Moves
  • Tennessee Titans ONE Community
  • WeGo Public Transit
  • Yazoo Brewing