Op-Ed in Tennessean Today

My fellow Transit Now Nashville board member, Jay Everett, and I had the privilege of voicing our support of The AMP (the East-West connector) in an Op-Ed featured in today's Tennessean. Please check it out and let us know your thoughts. Thanks in advance for reading, sharing and supporting public transit in Nashville.

'Adopt a Stop' Program

I am pretty excited and impressed with MTA's latest initiative to keep the bus stops clean and well maintained. Local residents and businesses can adopt a bus stop, much like the adopt a highway or street program, and volunteer to keep the stop clean and presentable. Exciting, right?! I've often made an attempt to clean up the area around my local stop, the effort initiated by my desire to have clean surroundings and possibly encourage others to ride the bus. And just a couple of weeks ago, I lamented to my local MTA driver, Eric, that I wish MTA would do more to keep the stops clean, including having trash cans at each stop so residents and riders have a place to dispose of trash.

Well, when I got on his bus today, he asked me who I know at MTA, because right after we were talking about it, he looked on MTA's website and saw the program advertised. I had to admit, I had nothing to do with this program, but nonetheless excited about the initiative and eager to sign up to do my part. Signing up is easy and can be done right online using the above link.

So, I've signed up and will make it a point to take a plastic bag with me to my stop a couple of times a week. Much like picking up after a pet, I can tidy up the stop without touching the trash and place it right in the can. Now I feel challenged to keep 'my stop' tidy and challenge others to do the same. I've always felt that if bus stops and the actual buses were well maintained, possibly more students and professionals would be inclined to ride the bus as an alternative transportation option. Bravo to MTA! Now let's see how many Nashville residents and businesses step up to keep Nashville beautiful and possibly increase transit ridership. Who will join me?

Urban Living in East Nashville

Urban life in East Nashville is great. I'm hanging at Bongo Java East where I come often for a sweet cup of coffee or chai tea, breakfast or lunch. Of course, I walk the couple of blocks from home to here. Or I come to study for class for a change of scenery and to be with the other cool kids reading, blogging or simply visiting here. If I want to find a snappy dress, scarf or bag, I just walk around the corner and see my friends Bill and Donna at Allegria in the Shops on Woodland, where there's always fun and fashion mixed together. When I get hungry, I can walk a couple of blocks the other way to The Turnip Truck East to pick up some organic deliciousness, my favorite chocolates or something healthy for dinner. Then I hop (yes, I hop) across the street to Woodland Wine Merchant to see Tyler and the gang and grab a bottle (or two) of my favorite Chardonnay to accompany dinner. If I'm not in the mood to cook, I love to grab a slice of pie at Five Points Pizza to take home or enjoy there with a friend and a cold one.

Of course, there are less trendy spots in the 'hood to grab necessities and toiletries like your neighborhood Family Dollar Store, where you are assured an adventure after you walk in and hear the overhead speaker warn you that 'for your safety and protection, your movements are being monitored'. Or my favorite Bill Martin store, which has been here for years and updated (outside only) to fit in with the trendier stores. If I need Jiffy cornbread mix or just plain old baking soda, Bill's my guy. But I went there once for spinach and after searching among the 'fresh' vegetables unsuccessfully, I asked the clerk if they carried spinach, to which she replied incredulously 'Frozen!', like, who eats it any other way. Yes, I admit, I take the bus to Green Hills to the famous Whole Body and Trader Joe's at least once a week, but I'm thrilled to live in East Nasty where we have all the amenities of suburban life with much more flare and variety. Never a dull moment, and I love it! Coming to visit soon?

Just Walking...

I've come to realize more often than not that walking soothes me. Walking provides more than a means to get from one place to the next. It is a time for reflection, and give me perspective and direction while keeping my body and mind in motion. I enjoy being car-less not only because I find riding the bus interesting (to say the least) but because I am forced to walk more, plan my destinations, and save money at the same time. I've mentioned often how much I appreciate the health, financial and mental benefits of walking, biking or riding the bus to destinations. From time to time, I have to remind myself of why I've chosen to make Nashville my own little 'New York' in terms of transportation, and I've recently appreciated (again) that it comes down to just walking. I really do enjoy just walking...