It’s been an interesting week for cyclists in Memphis. The week began with bad news, as the City Engineer’s office announced that Federal Stimulus funds earmarked for road improvements in the city would not include accommodations for bicycling facilities in the plans. As one who has been waiting anxiously for Memphis to shed its well documented reputation as one of America’s “Worst Cities for Cycling,” this was very disheartening. Given our new administration’s pledges to improve our city’s cycling infrastructure (and in doing so, addressing indirectly our problems of health and fitness, sustainable transportation, urban sprawl, etc.), this news seemed to come from left-field.
To the administration’s credit, there is progress being made. Just last week, days before we were shown indisputable proof of its need, the Mayor announced that the City would be hiring its first Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator to work in the City Engineer’s Office to ensure that all road improvement plans give consideration to making Memphis a more walkable, bikeable, liveable place. The last decade has seen tremendous progress in the improvement of quality of life in many cities across America as municipalities have made Bike/Ped Coordinator positions important voices in the planning of their futures. As we continue to work towards the goal of making Memphis a “City of Choice” in the competition for the best and brightest young workers locally, regionally and nationally, the hiring of the Bike/Ped Coordinator is a major victory and the impact of this individual should be immediately measurable if properly equipped by the administration.
Elsewhere, we are weeks away from the opening of the Shelby Farms Greenline, a project of the Greater Memphis Greenline and Shelby Farms which will give Memphians an opportunity to bike, run and walk on a new path free of motor vehicles on a seven mile stretch of converted rail line acquired from CSX. The “rails-to-trails” movement has seen the conversion of hundreds of former rail lines into trails in an effort to promote healthier living and the enhancement of communities across the nation. It is exciting to see Memphis on the verge of major progress in the improvement of our collective quality of life.
As the week draws to a close, I am choosing to focus on the progress we have made in the effort to educate our own community on the importance of fostering bicycling and pedestrian infrastructure so that we may once and for all shed the title of “worst cycling city” and show our residents, both current and future, that Memphis is a safe, healthy, and wonderful city to call home. I urge you to make your voice heard by communicating directly to Mayor Wharton and letting him know that you believe oversights like last Monday’s cannot happen again and that you feel our city’s future is linked directly to our ability to make Memphis a more walkable, bikeable and liveable place by sending your emails to Mayor@memphistn.gov or twitter.com/mayoracwharton.
Jason Potter
Director, Promotions/Events Presentation
Memphis Grizzlies
