I just wrote an email to Mayor Wharton, at my neighbor’s urging.
Les Edwards, who is working tirelessly toward achieving bike lanes for Madison Avenue, lives down the street from me. He has been an exemplary leader on this matter.
Rather than fighting against those business owners who fear that the 3-lane option will harm their bottom line, Les has taken the high road. He has been out there winning the hearts and minds of the business owners. And it is working!
In just three weeks, 1,301 people signed the petition in support of the 3-lane option for Madison Avenue. This is because Les and his team have gone door-to-door to Madison Avenue businesses letting them know that we love them and that we also want this. He has told them the many ways that the bike lanes can even IMPROVE their businesses, provide more parking spots and encourage patronage.
So, when Les asked me to email Mayor Wharton and our city council representatives, I did just that.
And I am sharing my letter with you.
Before I do, let me ask you to write one of your own SOON! Time is of the essence. The mayor will be making his decision within a few days.
Here is what you need to do:
- Write an email to Mayor AC Wharton, with a copy to the four City Council Members representing this district (addresses listed below).
- Demand the 3-lane option for the entire stretch of Madison that is being repaved.
- Put “No compromise on bike lanes” in the subject line of your email.
- If they receive 500 or 1,000 emails in the next couple of days, it will have an impact on the final decision.
- Please do it now, because time is of the essence.
Mayor Wharton: Mayor@memphistn.gov
Please CC the following: Jim.Strickland@memphistn.gov, Shea.Flinn@memphistn.gov, Reid.Hedgepeth@memphistn.gov, Kemp.Conrad@memphistn.gov
And now here’s my email:
Mayor Wharton-
I am asking you to approve the 3-lane option for the entire stretch of Madison that is being repaved.
This is a golden opportunity for the citizens of Memphis — and a perfect opportunity for you to model your personal values to the greater community. I known you work out daily to keep yourself healthy and strong. I know you believe in the importance of healthy habits.
This is an opportunity for you to prove that Memphis is a city of choice for citizens who choose to take an active role in their neighborhoods, communities and city.
Bicyclists are patrons of Midtown businesses. We should be looking for more ways to encourage Memphians to get out of their cars and exercise. Maybe Memphis could become known as being a city of choice for folks who like the outdoors, value our parks and our greatest natural resources.
There will always be some people who oppose change.
Please please PLEASE set things in motion for Madison Avenue to become more bike and pedestrian friendly.
We need to create a sense of neighborhood and community where adults, families and kids are encouraged to ride their bikes and walk more.
I live one block off of Madison Avenue in the Tucker-Jefferson neighborhood at 1906 Court Avenue. My husband, Jackie, and I ride our bikes to work and would love to bike and walk to more Midtown locations. The traffic on the Midtown streets makes it unsafe for us to do a lot of biking. I find myself biking on the sidewalk sometimes because I am afraid to bike on the street.
We just returned from a trip to the Pacific Northwest. Of course the progressive cities of Portland and Seattle had dedicated bike lanes. That was no surprise.
We were not expecting that even the small towns and rural areas of Oregon and Washington would have bike lanes — encouraging folks to conserve fuel and use good old-fashioned human energy to get from one place to another.
I have been following the Madison Avenue issue since the beginning. There are basically only 2 business-owners who are vocal opponents to the changes on Madison. That is Huey’s owner Wight Boggs and Mercury Valet’s Mike Cooper. My husband and I have patronized both Huey’s and Mercury Valet for decades. Their opposition to the bike lane plans are unfounded.
Although I have respect for both of these business owners, I believe they are wrong on this matter. Both Huey’s & Mercury Valet can actually benefit in numerous ways from the 3-lane option. It is a business opportunity for them to reach out to passionate neighborhood bicyclists and walkers. They could encourage us active neighborhood folks by offering incentives to ride our bikes to Huey’s for a meal or ride or bikes to drop off dry cleaning.
Say YES to the 3-lane option for the entire stretch of Madison!
Thanks.
Leah Nichols