Safe Streets Campaign

 

Join us to make Nashville safer for biking and walking.

Contact us to join our email list. 

Is Nashville a Bike Friendly City?

 

The data says NO.  So do most bike riders.

I’ve been in several discussions recently about Nashville’s status for biking and walking. Some people have a belief that Nashville has a come a long way to treating biking and walking as legitimate forms of transportation.

There are two ways to verify this answer. One is to experience biking in Nashville and then ride in other U.S. cities such as Minneapolis, Portland, or Seattle or in European cities like Copenhagen or Amsterdam. This would be valuable information but it’s anecdotal.

Another way would be to look at national rankings based on quantitative data such as the ones compiled by People for Bikes.

 

People for Bikes City Ratings – Nashville is 60th of 71 Large Cities

 

City                                   Score

Nashville                          17

Pittsburgh                        31

Minneapolis                    42

Bentonville AR                48

Portland OR                     54

Seattle                             59

Brooklyn                          63

 

PfB uses a 100-point scale based primarily upon an analysis of the bike network and what they call “low stress” and “high stress” bike lanes.  Greenway trails are considered low stress and paint only street bike lanes are high stress. The only low stress bikeways in Nashville are what  greenways and a few on street lanes such as the one now being built on 12 South.

https://cityratings.peopleforbikes.org/

 

League of American Bicyclists – Lowest Level (Bronze)

LAB rates cities on several factors (not just infrastructure) and awards ratings of bronze (lowest), silver, gold, and platinum.

Nashville is considered bronze level and has been for 10+ years. Memphis and Knoxville are also bronze level while Chattanooga is at silver. There are five platinum level cities including Portland and Madison WI.

One reason for low ratings is Nashville has a bike commuter share of 0.2% compared to Portland with 6.3% or Minneapolis with 3.7% based on 2016 data from the Census Bureau. There is a direct correlation between better bike infrastructure and bicycle usage.

https://www.bikeleague.org/bfa/awards

 

Anytime Estimate – 47 of 50

This is a real estate research group, and they rank Nashville 47th of 50 large cities with the worst bikeability score (30 compared to a national average of 54).

 https://anytimeestimate.com/research/most-bike-friendly-cities-us-2022/

 

There are other ratings done by other groups, but you get the idea.

Nashville has along way to go to be considered just a mid-tier biking city. Good infrastructure for biking and walking not only protects pedestrians and bike riders but increases safety for motorists.

 

 

  

Feel free to contact us at info@safestreetscampaign.com

 

 

Previous thoughts are found at "Old Stuff" on the menu.

 

Think that local politicians listen to  bicycle riders?

We don't either.

 

A group of veteran bicycle riders and advocates started the Safe Streets  Political Action Committee to endorse and support candidates. We helped some winning candidates and now we want them to make this a safer city for biking and walking. 

 

Our Endorsements

 

Every politician I know claims they are supportive of biking and walking in Nashville but we need more than talk.  Help us out today with $20, $100 or more. 

The goal of the Safe Streets PAC is to raise funds to donate to candidates who deserve our support. Every donor will have input into our endorsement decisions whether you give $20 or $1,000.

 

WE CAN'T DO THIS WITHOUT YOUR HELP. GIVE ALL YOU CAN AFFORD TODAY.

Not Convinced?    Contact Us.

Safe Streets PAC is registered with the Davidson County Election Commssion and is in compliance with all applicable state laws.

Carey Rogers, Treasurer  Tom Grose, Chair.

 

E-mail us for more info:       info@safestreetscampaign.com

 

If you prefer to pay by check send it to Safe Streets PAC, 1310 Howard Ave., Nashville 37216.

Donations of more than $100 require name, address, job title, and employer. Sorry it's state law.