Memphis goes bike friendly
By Jaclyn Redmon/MicroMemphis Reporter
April 23, 2014
When Memphis was voted for the second time in three years by Bicycling Magazine as one of the worst cycling cities in the country in 2010, the city decided to so something about it.
Mayor A C Wharton committed to making the city more bike friendly. It started with the Shelby Farms Greenline, which is a 6.5-mile trail that runs through the heart of the city. It connects Midtown with Shelby Farms Park. Wharton also set a goal to add 55 miles of bike lanes throughout the city. By the end of 2013, Memphis had exceeded Wharton’s goal by 10 miles.
“It’s awesome,” Miles Kovariki said. Kovariki works at Outdoors, Inc. at 5245 Poplar Ave., a cycling shop in Memphis, and is an avid bike rider.
“I ride a lot with some people who are helping to develop the lanes, and it’s great because they are really trying to make a difference in the city,” Kovariki said.
Memphis now has more than 133 miles of bike-friendly lanes connecting at several neighborhoods throughout the city. But the city is not done. It has plans to have more than 233 miles of safe biking by 2016.
In 2014, Memphis went from being one of the worst to being name “Most Improved City for Cycling” by Bicycling Magazine.
The push by the city has gotten more people involved in safe biking projects. A group of private foundations and for-profit retailers teamed with several smaller groups to raise some of the money for the project through fundraisers.
The Hampline, which runs through the Binghampton Neighborhood and connects to the Greenline in Shelby Farms, will be the newest addition to the bike lines. The bike line will meet at what will be known as the bike entrance, the Arc de Overton, to the park.
April 23, 2014
When Memphis was voted for the second time in three years by Bicycling Magazine as one of the worst cycling cities in the country in 2010, the city decided to so something about it.
Mayor A C Wharton committed to making the city more bike friendly. It started with the Shelby Farms Greenline, which is a 6.5-mile trail that runs through the heart of the city. It connects Midtown with Shelby Farms Park. Wharton also set a goal to add 55 miles of bike lanes throughout the city. By the end of 2013, Memphis had exceeded Wharton’s goal by 10 miles.
“It’s awesome,” Miles Kovariki said. Kovariki works at Outdoors, Inc. at 5245 Poplar Ave., a cycling shop in Memphis, and is an avid bike rider.
“I ride a lot with some people who are helping to develop the lanes, and it’s great because they are really trying to make a difference in the city,” Kovariki said.
Memphis now has more than 133 miles of bike-friendly lanes connecting at several neighborhoods throughout the city. But the city is not done. It has plans to have more than 233 miles of safe biking by 2016.
In 2014, Memphis went from being one of the worst to being name “Most Improved City for Cycling” by Bicycling Magazine.
The push by the city has gotten more people involved in safe biking projects. A group of private foundations and for-profit retailers teamed with several smaller groups to raise some of the money for the project through fundraisers.
The Hampline, which runs through the Binghampton Neighborhood and connects to the Greenline in Shelby Farms, will be the newest addition to the bike lines. The bike line will meet at what will be known as the bike entrance, the Arc de Overton, to the park.