Wednesday Pedal Press #9
Bi-weekly insights, updates, and musings on cycling, infrastructure projects, Vision Zero, and more in Nashville and Middle Tennessee.
Gallatin Pike and Main Street Plan Reveal
NDOT finally revealed plans for the upcoming Gallatin Pike & Main Street Complete Streets improvement that should begin sometime next Spring (once Metro Water Services completes their project). I had an excellent time volunteering with NDOT and representing the Vision Zero Advisory Committee at the East Nashville ROAD-EO Festival on Wednesday the 4th, where the community was able to see the designs up close and provide their feedback. I am absolutely thrilled by the fact that NDOT has decided to build center-running BRT lanes along this corridor. By and large, I think the design is excellent, but I do have some concerns.
The fundamental design component of center-running BRT is the Michigan left. Drivers are unable to take left turns across traffic, or out of businesses. Instead, they are required to u-turn at signalized intersections with a specific phase for this turn. I explain how this reduces a number of dangerous interactions with pedestrians in this video:
However, there are a few places in the design that without additional barriers between the two BRT lanes, drivers might dangerously turn left onto the BRT lanes before merging with the normal traffic lane. An instance of this would be at S 6th Street and Yeaman Place.
Similarly, I am weary about how well the RRFBs (rectangular rapid flashing beacon) will function for pedestrian crossings to the bus loading platforms. Ideally, I would like more of these crossings to be at signalized intersections.
Overall, I am very pleased with the design and the implementation of this along the Main Street corridor will GREATLY improve Main Street and the surrounding area in East Nashville. If you’ve attended any of NDOT’s engagement opportunities recently, you have also had the opportunity to see the designs for East Nashville Spokes.
Because NDOT is hoping to fund East Nashville Spokes through a federal grant process, the designs are currently being reviewed by NEPA. However, if you are interested in seeing what the Main Street project and East Nashville Spokes would look like together, I have created an absurdly massive composite of the two project designs. You can view it here, and I recommend doing so on a laptop or desktop computer due to the size of the file.
NDOT still has its comment period open for the Main Street Designs.
Mike Navigates the Music City Bikeway
I’d been stewing on this idea for a while: How difficult is it to ride the Music City Bikeway, merely following the built infrastructure? Sure, most people nowadays will rely on GPS routes and turn-by-turn guidance when they are out riding, but that’s not an excuse for infrastructure to be lacking.
So, I roped in a buddy who’s a good cyclist but does not spend nearly as much time out on the roads as I do. To make it spicey, I only let Mike look at the NDOT’s The Groove Bikeways map for a total of 3 minutes along the journey. We found some interesting things along the way and had a great time doing it. Check out the short video below, which includes my suggestions to modify the route:
Brentwood Ragsdale Rd Improvement Project
Brentwood and Middle Tennessee Electric began the first phase of the Ragsdale Rd Improvement Project which included clearing trees and relocating utility poles. The City of Brentwood has been working on this project for quite some time. I first spoke with City Manager Kirk Bednar about it in the spring of 2023 as they were still working on planning and designs.
This project is particularly exciting as it will connect the multi-use trails along Sunset Rd and Split Log Rd. From a response on the Instagram announcement, “The clearing operation and relocation of electric lines is an initial part of the overall Ragsdale Road Improvements project. This project, when complete, will include a both a sidewalk on one side, and a multi-use trail on the other.” The completion of this project will drastically improve the connectivity of Brentwood’s multi-use trails, including a particularly nice 11-mile loop:
The Ragsdale Road Improvement Project is expected to take two years. I look forward to enjoying it in the fall of 2026.
Brentwood East-West Connectivity Update
With the news that the Ragsdale Rd Project was underway, I reached out to City Manager Kirk Bednar regarding the study they did on East-West Connectivity along Concord Rd crossing I-65. Unfortunately, Mr. Bednar responded, “There has been no movement on the East-West connector project and at this time it does not appear to be a priority for a majority of the city commission.”
In the same email, I encouraged the city to add a pedestrian crossway at the intersection of Franklin Rd and Holly Tree Gap Rd. I know that many cyclists use the new multi-use pathway along this corridor, as well as Holly Tree Gap Rd. This would be a reasonably simple improvement with a profound impact on cyclists in Brentwood. If you regularly use this intersection, I’d encourage you to contact the city of Brentwood and join me in asking for this.
Route Spotlight
I’ve decided to regularly feature a route that I would suggest to folks looking to explore Middle Tennessee on a bicycle. I plan on this being a regular part of the bi-weekly Pedal Press, and am hoping that these may inspire you to hit the roads! The route will vary by difficulty and length, but I promise that they will always have something unique and special to offer. And since we’ve just been discussing Brentwood, without further adieu…
Brentwood Country Loop
Beginning and ending at Grassland Park, this idyllic, 17-mile route has so much to offer. Traversing across the rolling hills of Moran Rd to historic Old Natchez Trace is an absolute treat. Old Natchez Trace then follows the Harpeth River as you head into Montpier Farms. Along these roads, you will find white, farm fences, historic stone walls and estates, shaded tree canopies, and open farmland. There are even places to stop roadside along the Harpeth River.
Across Old Hillsboro Road, you find even more of this on Del Rio Pike and Cotton Lane. Once you find your way to Hillsboro Rd on S Berrys Chapel, you’re on a busier road, but still very commonly used by cyclists before heading to the biggest challenge of the ride on N Berrys Chapel, a 300 ft climb that progressively gets steeper as you get to the top. But the challenge is rewarded with an extraordinary downhill, back through picturesque countryside on Manley Lane to where it all started.
It’s a short, but extraordinary loop that can be ridden as leisurely as possible, or with as much gusto as you can muster. If you’ve not ridden these roads before, they are an absolute must for riding in Middle Tennessee. And I hope you enjoy them!
ICYMI
With the sun setting earlier in the day, many weekday evening group rides are winding down for the year. Yesterday was the last night for the SABCo Tuesday Night Ride, and others are soon following. But one of Nashville’s best end-of-summer events is the annual Big Hill race on the south end of Riverside Dr in East Nashville. I was very sad I had to miss this year for being on-call with work (booo!) but it looks like everyone had an absolute blast, despite how miserable hill climbs are. I always appreciate the superb events that Safety Herd organizes.
The Opening of Nordmeyer Cycling
Todd Nordmeyer, the founder of Endeavor Performance, has launched a new venture, Nordmeyer Cycling. I am excited that his expertise is once again available to cyclists in Middle Tennessee. From their website:
Nordmeyer Cycling offers advanced bike fitting and sizing services to cyclists and triathletes of all levels. Its success comes from leveraging our cycling experience and an unrelenting curiosity to improve comfort, increase performance, and prevent injury.
We increase the sophistication at which cyclists and triathletes obtain comfort and produce power and optimal handling.
Todd has fitted a bike for me in the past, and I cannot recommend his work enough. He uses the top-of-the-line Retül Fitter system, and it’s an exceptional experience! For anyone who spends long hours on the bike and has never had a professional bike fit, or has a nagging ache or pain, I recommend scheduling an appointment.
As always, thank you again for reading. I am hoping to have a couple of interesting features forthcoming, and love all of the community support!
Be visible. Be predictable. Do good. Cheers!
Do you have something you think I should feature or investigate? Please let me know at [email protected], or by completing the Contact Us form on our Mission page.