In 2004, Tennessee was the first state to create a Strategic Highway Safety Plan (now all states have such plans). In 2009, the state added a bicycling/pedestrian element to the plan. In 2008, Nashville set up an 18-member Bicycling and Pedestrian Advisory Committee with a chair appointed by the mayor. Knoxville and Chattanooga have recently embraced the Complete Streets approach to transportation planning.
Major changes, including Nashville’s expansion from 7 to 150 miles of bikeways and greenways, and $20 million per year for sidewalk improvements, are the result. Lessons learned from the Tennessee initiatives were topics of a helpful webinar screened today at the Glendale Municipal Services Building. Thanks to the Glendale Safe and Healthy Streets program for enrolling in the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycling Professionals series for the benefit of Glendale city staff and community stakeholders.
Major points: Advocate for change, look for supporters, educate policymakers and the public, and use existing rationales such as managing traffic demand and mitigating pollution to advance the goals of bicycling and walking as healthier transportation alternatives.
Safe and Healthy Streets coordinator Colin Bogart may arrange a second screening of the webinar for Glendale Safe Routes to School volunteers and other community stakeholders. Check the website for updates.