View the Agenda: 2019 NATIONAL BIKE SUMMIT

This session will focus on the Tennessee Department of Health’s suite of tools to support active transportation and recreation across the state.  Leslie Meehan, formerly of the Nashville Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, and now at the Tennessee Department of Health, has assembled a built environment team whose job is to work with local communities to increase access to bicycling and walking, including a new  grant program that provides funding for  convening, planning, programming (such as Safe Routes to School) and infrastructure. The funds are designed to complement infrastructure funding and to potentially serve as a match to federal federal funds offered through the Tennessee Departments of Transportation (sidewalks/bikeways) and Environment and Conservation (trails). Finally, additional resources will be discussed such as the Active Transportation ROI Toolkit, training for planning commissioners on active transportation and health, Active Building Guidelines to promote physical activity, and a suite of informational guides for health professionals, planners, and elected officials and the general public on the benefits of active transportation in various land use contexts.