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Bike Walk Franklin is a local committee of Bike Walk Tennessee and has advocated for active transportation since 2018. We believe that our community should be a place where it’s safe for people of all ages and abilities to get around by bike or foot. Investing in infrastructure that supports these modes of transportation pays dividends with improved personal health, community resiliency, economic development, and reduced traffic congestion.
Our work is 100% volunteer – focused on advocacy, education, and service. Watch a short presentation from our committee president below:
ADVOCACY
We work closely with City of Franklin departments and the Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BOMA) to be a voice for pedestrians and cyclists at all levels of city decision making. Short-term priorities might include preserving sidewalk access during a construction project or repainting faded crosswalks for better visibility. In the long term, we advocate for major Capital Investment Projects that will bring more greenways and connectivity to our city.
We reach out to BOMA candidates before every election cycle to learn what vision they have for walking and biking in Franklin, and then share that information with our members.
2025 BOMA Candidate Responses Coming Soon!
Click here to read responses from 2023 BOMA candidates
EDUCATION
Our educational outreach efforts span local schools, public events, and private gatherings. We join the thousands of schools across the U.S. participating in a Walk Bike & Roll day every spring and fall. Working with administrators and physical education instructors, we help plan and publicize an approximately one-mile route that is safe for students and parents of all abilities. It gives instructors an opportunity to encourage physical activity and talk about healthy lifestyles, all while including students and parents in a highly visible and fun event.
We currently have annual events with four schools in the Franklin Special District: Franklin Elementary, Poplar Grove School, Liberty Elementary, and Johnson Elementary. See coverage of our 2022 Walk to School Day at here. Our partners at the Williamson County Health Department also assembled a traffic safety video specifically for young students. You can watch it here.
Additionally, we provide hands-on bicycle safety education through Bike Rodeos and group settings. Our free Bike Rodeos are held twice a year during Franklin’s Touch A Truck festival in May, and Parks Family Day in November. These obstacle courses include realistic street elements like traffic signals and speed bumps for children to practice their riding in a safe environment. The course can be set up for smaller groups and we are happy to bring this programming to church groups or summer camps.
SERVICE
Our group also looks to be of service to the community whenever there are events drawing large numbers of cyclists. Our volunteers help staff bicycle parking areas at the city's 4th of July celebration at Harlinsdale and during the Pilgrimage Music Festival. Our presence keeps the bikes safe during the event, and we are available to help with minor mechanical issues and adding air to tires. We also distribute LED lights for riders who need them heading home after dark.
Finally, we organize annual rides to celebrate the holiday season. More than 200 riders join us on our tour through the Westhaven Christmas lights and we invite families to take part in car-free Waking Wednesday nights at Franktown Festival of Lights.
Additional Professional Resources
Bike Walk Franklin draws on decades of active transportation experience from our members and we are pleased to offer a variety of consulting and instructional services to local organizations at no charge.
Worksite Consultations: Want to make your workplace more accommodating to alternative commuters, but don't know where to start? We can help evaluate options that will make pedestrians, cyclists and transit riders feel welcome on your property. Options could include adding covered bike parking spaces, providing indoor changing areas, or even building locker rooms and showers for commuters to use.
Commuter Route Planning: Want to ditch the car getting to work, but nervous about that first ride? We can help you plan the best way to start commuting by bike, foot, mass transit -- or any combination of the three! Our members will draw on years of road riding experience to map out a route that meets an individual's comfort level, while avoiding busy or dangerous stretches of road. We can also help select the best type of bicycle and accessories to handle any season.
Field Trips for Planners: This is a custom tour geared towards engineers, land use planners, and public officials wanting to see best practices for active transportation. Our group can lead a walking or cycling tour showing the variety of greenways, sidewalks and streets where citizens travel in Franklin -- and the types of hazards that still need addressing through public policy.
Our ability to affect positive change in Franklin is only as great as the number of supporters we have. We invite you to support bicycling and walking in Franklin by making a tax-deductible gift.
Want to get connected with Bike Walk Franklin and find out all the great things we are doing? Contact us at [email protected].
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