Walk Bike Nashville adds pedestrian memorials across Nashville

The organization is honoring victims of vehicle-related deaths with on-site memorials instead of a centralized memorial.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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In response to 24 pedestrian and 3 cyclist deaths in Nashville last year, the organization Walk Bike Nashville is placing individual memorials at the locations where each fatality occurred, rather than a single centralized memorial. The goal is to raise awareness about the need for safer streets and encourage conversations around advocating for pedestrian and cyclist safety across the city.

Why it matters

Pedestrian and cyclist fatalities are a major public health and safety issue in Nashville, with certain areas of the city seeing higher rates of these tragic incidents. By placing memorials at the specific locations, Walk Bike Nashville hopes to draw attention to the problem and spur action to improve infrastructure and policies to protect vulnerable road users.

The details

Over the last nine years, Walk Bike Nashville has put up a single memorial to honor those killed by vehicles each year. But in 2026, the organization decided to change their approach by placing individual memorials at each location where a pedestrian or cyclist fatality occurred. They want to demonstrate how these tragedies impact every part of Davidson County and encourage conversations about advocating for safer streets and transportation options for all community members.

  • In 2025, 24 pedestrians and 3 cyclists were killed by vehicles in Nashville.
  • On March 3, 2026, Walk Bike Nashville will take Metro Councilmember Ginny Welsch to a memorial on Murfreesboro Pike.

The players

Walk Bike Nashville

A local organization that advocates for pedestrian and cyclist safety in Nashville.

Ginny Welsch

A Metro Councilmember in Nashville.

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What they’re saying

“We hope it raises awareness; not only that, we hope it encourages conversations of, 'How can we advocate for street safety? How can we advocate for those who don't have a car or don't want to drive? How can we advocate for all of our community members to be able to get around safely?'”

— Izi Witt, Advocacy Coordinator, Walk Bike Nashville (WKRN)

What’s next

On Tuesday, March 3, 2026, Walk Bike Nashville will take Metro Councilmember Ginny Welsch to one of the new pedestrian memorials located on Murfreesboro Pike.

The takeaway

By placing individual memorials at the sites of pedestrian and cyclist fatalities across Nashville, Walk Bike Nashville aims to raise awareness about the urgent need for safer streets and transportation options that protect the most vulnerable road users. This shift from a centralized memorial demonstrates the widespread impact of these tragedies and the importance of advocating for comprehensive solutions to improve safety for all.