By Calah Gipson

 

This year, Walk Bike Nashville hosted one of our most ambitious projects yet: a five-mile Open Street encircling Downtown Nashville on July 20th, August 17th, and September 7th. The Open Streets Summer Series was a first for Nashville, and the community came out in droves to show their support for Streets for People. We're grateful to everyone who attended, as well as our presenting sponsors Amazon and NDOT.

Instead of honking cars and revving engines, the streets were filled with the sounds of kids playing, bikes traveling en masse, music from local bands, and conversation with neighbors. Nashvillians of all ages came out and traversed the route. For many, they traveled the entire five-mile loop!

My favorite scenes from the Open Street always involved families enjoying the space: kids rode their bikes down First Avenue to play soccer on the green with their friends; parents taught their youngest how to hula hoop; toddlers took advantage of the chalk strewn across the road to draw whatever they wanted. Children and families got to experience the freedom, safety, and joy of car-free streets.

Walk Bike Nashville’s mission is simple: We are working towards a more walkable, bikeable, and livable Nashville for all. We can confidently say that at the Open Streets Summer Series this mission was seen in action. The walkability, bikeability, and livability of this city’s streets were clearly demonstrated by all who came out to use them.  We created a new, safe, and connected mobility network for Nashville, and neighbors came out all three days to explore the city outside of a car.

Several community partners hosted events and gatherings that took advantage of the Open Street. Music City Adventure Co. led historic bike tours navigating the whole route. Cyclists took over Division Street as part of a Critical Mass Bike Ride. Local venues like Rudy’s Jazz Room and the Nashville Farmers’ Market hosted live music performances. Countless shops, restaurants, and other businesses opened their doors to people.

Through the Summer Series, people discovered parts of Nashville and their neighborhoods that they had not visited before. As they explored downtown without a car, they met community organizations, new neighbors, and plenty of pets — including at least one parrot. New discoveries became favorite spots to frequent, and chance meetings became longtime connections. Whether we were doing yoga at Riverfront Park or enjoying live music in the Gulch, we all used our streets for their original purpose: to connect with community.  After all, streets are our biggest form of public space, and they can be for more than just getting around. Check out more pictures on our Facebook!

Throughout all three dates, we heard statements like:

  • "I would travel this route everyday for my commute if it was safe like this."
  • "I didn't know this was happening here. I just live in the area, discovered the Open Street, and walked to it from my place."
  • "This is a great way to get outside and exercise while seeing the city."
  • "I get to ride my bike right outside my door in downtown Nashville!"

These testimonials are why we host Open Streets. We want to create places for this to happen in all neighborhoods.

We at Walk Bike Nashville want to thank everyone who came out to reclaim downtown Nashville’s streets at the Open Streets Summer Series. Creating a route of nearly five miles of streets and greenways for neighbors to walk, bike, and explore the city of Nashville took the effort and support of many different organizations, institutions, and community members. The work that went into making the Open Streets Summer Series come to life shows that the city of Nashville wants and is ready for Streets for People.

A few additional thank-yous to:

  • all restaurants who came out and opened their doors to the city
  • all non-profits and advocacy groups who used the space to spread their great missions
  • every Nashville neighbor who came out in support of Streets for People
  • and that one Domino’s bike delivery carrier who used the route on all three dates. Thank you for showing our mission in action!

It’s been a huge undertaking, and we couldn’t have done it without the volunteers who helped us plan the event, the local businesses and partners who opened their doors to attendees, and the hundreds of Nashvillians who braved the heat to gather with us. Open Streets are a glimpse into what our city could be — thanks for being part of this new vision for Nashville.

Want to host an Open Streets event in your neighborhood? We're here to help!

Our Open Streets Nashville Community Guide & Toolkit walks you through the whole process, from your earliest ideas to the big day. Visit openstreetsnashville.org for more information.