A Nashville resident has pushed the city to add more sidewalks and increase what she calls "walkability" throughout the area by placing signs around town.
Stacy Dorris began printing out signs on race-bibs that say, "Nashville Needs Sidewalks." The mother of two and avid runner got the idea after finishing a race.
She said her effort was simple at the start.
"I started it small: a simple sign attached to my stroller, and it's kind of exploded at this point," Dorris said.
As more runners began to see the mother's signs, many began reaching out to her. So, she began printing the signs and mailing them to people who wanted to post them.
NewsChannel 5's Cuthbert Langley discussed the topic on Facebook Live.
NC5_CuthbertLangley was live about an increase push in Nashville to build more sidewalks. Do you agree that more should be done?
Posted by NewsChannel5.com on Tuesday, February 23, 2016
They could be seen in east Nashville, Midtown and Green Hills.
"Probably in the last six months or so, something has happened, and I guess it's the new Mayor and her interest in walkability," She said. "I feel like it's this buzzword and people are super excited about walkability."
Mayor Megan Barry has pledged to invest $25-million in sidewalk projects throughout the year. Her administration is also reviewing the, "Sidewalks and Bikeways Strategic Plan." It's an effort that focuses on community feedback, reviewing other city's plans and reviewing the current condition of Nashville's sidewalks.
But Dorris said the issue isn't just the lack of sidewalks. Construction sites are blocking the pedestrian routes, leaving the Nashville mother shocked.
"In Nashville, we just close the sidewalk," she said. "We don't make options for walkers. We don't put up signage that tells them where to go or how to reroute, we just close the sidewalk."
To read more about the city's strategic plan for sidewalks and bikeways, click here.
