Biking in VECA
Biking in VECA
Cycle into Spring
Last summer (2012), a group of neighbors started meeting on Wednesdays for bike rides to downtown and back. You are invited to join the fun when the group starts back up in the spring. Rides are about 10-15 miles at a pace of about 14 mph average. Helmets are required. Front and back bike lights are strongly encouraged.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013, 6:30 p.m., please join the team for a social event at the VECA Welcome Center to meet other riders and learn more about routes. Rides begin Wednesday, March 13, 6:30 p.m.; meet at Café Eclectic. Updates are posted on the VECA Facebook page and the VECA ENews.
Email us with questions at: bikeveca@gmail.com
Streets are shared spaces — they belong to everyone!
May 8, 2013 is Bike to School Day
National Center for Safe Routes to School
May 17, 2013 is National Bike to Work Day (May is National Bike Month)
Articles and Links:
Bike/Ped Memphis – Kyle Wagenschutz – City of Memphis Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator
Overton-Broad Connector Path will be VECA’s route to the Shelby Farms Greenline:
Article from the Memphis Flyer
Article from the Commercial Appeal
MidSouth Complete Streets (You Tube Full Version)
MidSouth Complete Streets (You Tube Short Version)
Midsouth Complete Streets (blog)
Great article by Marvin Stockwell about getting into the cycling groove!
How to fix a flat:
Memphis Hightailers Bicycle Club welcomes all cyclists. Benefits include discounts at several stores and more.
Memphis named “Most Improved for bicycling (Memphis Business Journal)
Memphis named “Most Improved for bicyling (Commercial Appeal)
Check out Live From Memphis: The Bike Project! Includes articles and PSA’s!
Blog: Memphis Cyclist (comprehensive website for the Memphis cyclist).
Article on walkability of neighborhoods: “Biking and walking are part of a ‘complete streets’ strategy that public rights of way should be for all of society —not just cars.”
Getting Ready for the protected bike lane “breakthrough”
The Harahan Bridge Project: Walk, Bike, Run across the Mississippi
PDF Map of Bike/Ped Facilities in VECA
This map (PDF link above) shows the various existing bicycle and pedestrian facilities in the VECA neighborhood, as well as City of Memphis projects that will be completed in the next year, and the long-term connections proposed in the Memphis MPO’s Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan.
These facilities may be on roads, such as the bike lanes along McLean, Chelsea, and North Parkway, or separate paths for shared use by cyclists and pedestrians, like the VECA Greenline and Overton Park Trail. The map shows in purple dotted lines the proposed Memphis projects for 2012 that will be implemented using a $1.5 million Congestion Mitigation & Air Quality (CMAQ) federal grant which was awarded to the city last November. These routes were identified using community input and the MPO’s Bike/Ped Plan, and are often coordinated with routine city repaving projects; and example would be McLean Blvd, part of which was repaved with bike lanes in 2011. McLean south of North Parkway will be repaved in 2012, with bike lanes added.
Check out the new Bike/Ped Memphis website!
More info on the Memphis MPO’s Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan can be found on the MPO’s website, under “Plans & Publications,” at Metropolitan Planning Organization.
On March 14, 2012, City of Memphis Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator, Kyle Wagenschutz (center, wearing tie), visited the VECA Welcome Center to raise awareness of new facilities and promote safer cycling. He presented an overview of the city’s cycling facilities, laws regarding bicycling on city streets, and tips for safer and more convenient travel by bicycle.
Information about the Proposed
Bike Lanes on North Parkway
May 2011
A public input meeting about bike lanes on North Parkway was held on Tuesday, May 24, 2011.
The Commercial Appeal provides a recap on the meeting.
The Memphis Flyer wrote up the meeting as well.
CLICK HERE for a pdf about the proposed bike lanes. This information comes from Mr. Kyle Wagenschutz, City of Memphis bicycle and pedestrian coordinator. This is a draft and not a final plan.
CLICK HERE to read more about the plan and the input meeting. This links to long-time bicycle advocate Mr. Anthony Siracusa’s facebook page/blog.
CLICK HERE to read an article from The Daily News about the proposed bike lanes
August 2012 update: The City of Memphis received a Federal grant which will be used in part to complete the North Parkway bike lane project, including the Watkins overpass. The project should be completed by August 2013. For alternate route suggestions, check out google maps. On the top right corner of the page, hover over the word ‘Traffic’ and click on ‘Bicyling’ for a view of routes in Memphis.
