For the first time in five years, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) has been re-launched under the leadership of Mayor Freddie O’Connell. The committee has been tasked with increasing the number of bicycle-friendly businesses in Nashville and focusing on policies that will help the city achieve bike-friendly status as defined by the League of American Bicyclists.
BPAC aims to promote cycling and walking in Nashville through key infrastructure projects. These include incorporating walking and biking into community plans and coordinating with the Vision Zero committee to enhance safety measures.
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“We took a step closer over the weekend toward our goals with the 20th anniversary of the Tour de Nash at The Nations,” Mayor O’Connell told the committee. “It was the first time we’d set up open streets at the start and finish of Nashville’s largest urban bike ride. It’s a great way to explore the city’s bikeways, neighborhoods, and greenways. It’s also a great way to connect with your neighbors.”
In conjunction with the committee’s first meeting, Mayor O’Connell released a new map related to his Choose How You Move transportation improvement program. The map depicts the 35 miles of new and improved bicycle facilities covered under the program.
In his first set of executive orders in January, Mayor O’Connell expanded Metro’s Green and Complete Streets policy. This policy includes integrating and prioritizing multimodal street improvements such as bicycle boulevards, protected bicycle lanes, high-capacity transit corridors, connected networks of sidewalks and walking paths, and safe street crossings.
A complete street network is considered essential for a more livable and resilient city.
“We’re so fortunate to have an amazing community of walking and biking advocates here in Nashville,” said Diana Alarcon, Director of the Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure. “I’m eager to get BPAC re-launched and collaborate with each member to continue the important work of building out a safe and connected transportation network in line with Nashville’s Vision Zero goals.”
The Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee was first established by Mayor Karl Dean in 2009.
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