NASHVILLE, TN — Nashville’s city-wide decision to enhance sidewalks, bike lanes, and bus service isn’t just transforming transportation—it’s quietly reshaping the city’s fitness landscape. With the November 2024 vote approving the half-cent sales tax for the Choose How You Move initiative, Nashville is investing in healthier, more active lifestyles for everyone—but especially those who walk, bike, and move daily.
Marking its first footprint, the plan designates 86 miles of new or upgraded sidewalks and 39 miles of bikeways, focusing on underserved neighborhoods lacking safe pedestrian infrastructure. Walk Bike Nashville’s recent “State of Our Streets” report reinforces this effort, urging the rapid rollout of six priority actions, including expanding walking paths and bikeways by Fall 2025.
“This document is meant to generate optimism,” said Walk Bike Nashville executive director Meredith Montgomery, emphasizing the role that short-range infrastructure can play in promoting daily movement.
The initiative includes 592 upgraded traffic signals, many with adaptive timing designed to ease both drivers and walkers. Mayor Freddie O’Connell, celebrating voter approval, said:
“With passage of Choose How You Move we are moving from talking and planning to doing. We built the program from ideas and plans generated by our community, for the benefit of the community, and implementation will include continued partnerships with our residents…and elected officials. We’re ready to get to work.”
Early pilot projects include better-lit, weather-protected bus stops, coordinated micro-transit, and infrastructure that benefits everyone—walkers, cyclists, transit riders, and drivers.
Rather than waiting for buses, the city of over 1.8 million people is investing in everyday fitness by removing transportation barriers. With expanded pedestrian infrastructure, more people can walk to work, school, parks, and errands. Those choosing to bike get safer facilities connecting neighborhoods. Transit riders benefit from improved reliability—but even non-riders gain a more livable, walkable city .
“If you’re in a neighborhood that is challenged and you have to walk on dirt paths, you’re gonna get something out of this,” O’Connell said, highlighting the program’s inclusive benefits.
For the Nashville Fit community, this is a public health win in progress:
Daily movement becomes easier: safe, shaded sidewalks and paths encourage more walking.
Bike commuting grows sustainable: protected lanes boost confidence and reduce car dependence.
Active transit becomes routine: longer walks to transit stops are built into daily life.
Community fitness emerges: safer streets make outdoor recovery walks, jogs, or strolls feel accessible and enjoyable for all ages.
This spring, the first 11 projects launched—including sidewalk builds and traffic signal upgrades and $59 million in initial funds were released. Full deployment rolls out over 15 years, but early wins are already visible: better sidewalks, synchronized lights to smooth morning runs, and safer intersections for evening strolls .
Choose How You Move does more than build infrastructure—it underwrites active, connected lifestyles. For Nashville Fit—a community of runners, walkers, cyclists, families, and fitness enthusiasts—this plan isn’t just transportation news. It’s about citywide empowerment: creating safe paths for movement, improving everyday fitness opportunities for tens of thousands, and fostering a culture where walking, biking, and public transit are part of life’s rhythm.
Expect more stories soon from local studios, trail groups, and community advocates spotlighting how these upgrades are already changing how we live, move, and thrive in Nashville.
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