Living in a prime downtown address, like Metro 67, comes with it’s pluses and minuses. A plus? You’re close to all Downtown restaurant and bars, the Tennessee River and even our beloved FedEx Forum! Minus–commuters in and out of the Downtown area, tend to get frustrated with the incoming traffic (tourists, visitors, etc). Also, we as much suburban quality here at Metro 67, but for those who are not quite the NY City type, the proximate environment can also be challenging…However, it’s nothing that we or the City of Memphis can’t fix!

If you’re used to long country bike rides and paved walkways all along streets, you may be a far cry from home, until the newest proposal to create a bike lane on Downtown Streets. We’re most excited because this benefits our future and prospective residents primarily–as the first lanes being proposed are for the stretch of Madison Ave!

There is a plan to leave four lanes of auto traffic on Madison, two in each direction with the curb lanes to be shared with bicycle riders. Then there is a plan to cut the curb lane of auto traffic in each direction and turn it into a designated bicycle lane for the entire two miles as well as on-street parking along some parts of Madison.

Voters have choice of either two, options and will have until July 30th to come up with a plan and get budgeting for the project to begin! The UPSIDE–almost all committee members seem to be on the same page and will most likely reach the decsision way before the end of the month!

Now residents will be able to feel safe to bring the bikes out more often, whether for an evening pedal around town or as an alternate form of transport opposed to Downtown traffic!