Your January Foot Notes

Happy New Year! 2024 is going to be an exciting year for walking and biking in Nashville. With rumblings of a transportation referendum, and transformative projects coming on our major pikes, there’s a lot to watch. We’ve got a lot going on too.

In May, we’ll host the 20th Annual Tour de Nash. Our work with our focus schools continues. We’re looking forward to Walk to School Day and Bike to School Day once again. With your help, we’ll continue advocating for a more walkable, bikeable, and livable Nashville through efforts large and small. To kick off our year, here are four things to know, two things to do, and one action you can do right now! 

Four Things to Know

1. We’re hosting our first membership meeting since 2020. All Walk Bike members are invited to join us Thursday, February 1, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the East Park Community Center. We’ll discuss our 2024 events, advocacy priorities, and connect with fellow members in breakout sessions. Not a member? Join today. 

2. The 7th Annual Pedestrian Memorial is February 24. 37 people lost their lives walking and biking in Nashville in 2023. We will gather at noon at Trinity Community Commons to remember those lost and continue calling for safe streets for all.  

3. Schools are back and so is our programming. WBN staff joined family night at Paragon Mills Elementary, one of our 2023-24 focus schools. The bus track game was a hit!

4. In the news. Here’s what we’re reading this week: 

  • The mayor’s office hired Michael Briggs to work on mobility and transportation issues (Tennessean), and the mayor met with Accelerator for America, an organization tied to successful transportation victories across the country (Axios). 
  • The 12th Ave S complete street is the 12th best bike lane project in 2023, according to People for Bikes. We’re excited to see more fully protected bikeways around town! 
  • Nashville received a federal grant to transform a dangerous stretch of Nolensville Pike, and NDOT is beginning plans to transform the corridor by 2028 (Nashville Scene). 
  • A new technology aims to make crossing safer for wheelchair uses. Pedestrians in wheelchairs are 36 percent more likely to be killed in a crash than those not in wheelchairs (Shepherd Center). 
  • TDOT released its 10-year project plan, paving the way for choice lanes and several highway expansion projects. Meanwhile, transportation leaders elsewhere are calling for a focus on maintenance over expansion projects (Planetizen). 

Two Things to Do

1. Save the date for our 2024 events. We’ve got a full year of events - go ahead and get them in your calendar. Have an event, ride, or walk you want on our community calendar? You can submit events anytime through our Tockify. 

  • Volunteers and Valentines | February 10 
  • Pedestrian Memorial | February 24
  • Bike to School Day | May 1
  • Tour de Nash | May 18
  • Member Party | September 14
  • Walk to School Day | October 2
  • Open Streets | October 12 or 20 
  • World Day of Remembrance | November 17

2. Get your tickets for Volunteers and Valentines. Our annual volunteer appreciation celebration is at noon on Saturday, February 10 at Bearded Iris in Germantown. Following the program, there will be a community walk and ride through the neighborhood. Get your free tickets now!

One Action to Take Now

1. Get 30% off in our merch store when you take the membership survey. We want to hear from you to better understand our base and advocate for our issues. Active members received a link to the survey in their inbox. Complete the membership survey by February 1 to receive an exclusive 30% discount in our merch store.  

Support Walk Bike Today!

We can’t wait to see you in 2024!

Ashleigh, Meredith, Wesley, David, Juleesia, Meshach, Melissa, Aaron, and Calah