Candidate Survey from Bike Walk Franklin

How frequently does your family walk or bike in Franklin? Are these trips for recreation, work or errands?
BK Muvvala: I believe that it is important for families to be active and to get exercise. I encourage my family to walk or bike whenever possible. We walk to the park, to the library, and to school. We also bike to the grocery store and to other errands.

I believe that walking and biking are good for our health and for the environment. They help us to stay fit and reduce our carbon footprint. I am also a strong supporter of making Franklin a more walk able and bike able community. I believe that we can make it easier for people to get around without a car by investing in sidewalks, bike lanes, and other infrastructure.

If elected as Alderman at Large, I would work to make Franklin a more walk able and bike able community. I would also encourage families to get out and be active by walking and biking more often.

Here are some specific things that I would do to make Franklin a more walk able and bike able community:
1. Invest in sidewalks and bike lanes. I would work to increase funding for sidewalks and bike lanes. This would make it safer and easier for people to walk and bike around town.
2. Create more pedestrian-friendly areas. I would work to create more pedestrian-friendly areas, such as by adding crosswalks and traffic calming measures. This would make it more comfortable and inviting for people to walk and bike.
3. Promote walking and biking. I would work to promote walking and biking through education and outreach programs. I would also work to make it easier for people to get around without a car, such as by providing free or discounted bus passes.
I believe that by making Franklin a more walk able and bike able community, we can improve the health of our residents, reduce our carbon footprint, and make our community a more livable place.
Franklin consistently ranks behind our peer cities on bicycle and pedestrian facilities. As Alderman would you work to make Franklin a community where residents could choose to live without a car and still meet their daily needs?
BK Muvvala: Answer to your question about whether I would work to make Franklin a community where residents could choose to live without a car and still meet their daily needs:

Yes, I would work to make Franklin a community where residents could choose to live without a car and still meet their daily needs. I believe that this is important for a number of reasons.
1. It is good for our health. Walking and biking are good for our physical and mental health. They help us to stay fit and reduce our risk of obesity, heart disease, and other chronic diseases.
2. It is good for the environment. Walking and biking reduce our reliance on cars, which helps to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
3. It is good for our community. Walking and biking can help to create a more vibrant and connected community. They can also help to reduce traffic congestion and improve public safety.
I believe that we can make Franklin a more walk able and bike able community by investing in sidewalks, bike lanes, and other infrastructure. We can also make it easier for people to get around without a car by providing free or discounted bus passes and other transportation options.

If elected as Alderman at Large, I would work to make Franklin a more walk able and bike able community. I would also encourage residents to choose to live without a car by promoting walking and biking through education and outreach programs.

I believe that by making Franklin a more walk able and bike able community, we can improve the health of our residents, reduce our carbon footprint, and make our community a more livable place.

Here are some specific things that I would do to make Franklin a more walk able and bike able community:
1. Invest in sidewalks and bike lanes. I would work to increase funding for sidewalks and bike lanes. This would make it safer and easier for people to walk and bike around town.
2. Create more pedestrian-friendly areas. I would work to create more pedestrian-friendly areas, such as by adding crosswalks and traffic calming measures. This would make it more comfortable and inviting for people to walk and bike.
3. Promote walking and biking. I would work to promote walking and biking through education and outreach programs. I would also work to make it easier for people to get around without a car, such as by providing free or discounted bus passes.
4. Work with businesses and organizations to make their facilities more accessible to pedestrians and cyclists. I would work with businesses and organizations to make their facilities more accessible to pedestrians and cyclists, such as by providing bike racks and changing rooms.
5. Encourage developers to build walk able and bike able communities. I would encourage developers to build walk able and bike able communities by requiring them to include sidewalks and bike lanes in their plans. I believe that by making these changes, we can make Franklin a more walk able and bike able community and a better place to live, work, and raise a family.
Describe a place in Franklin you feel would benefit most from pedestrian and bicycle investment. What should be changed?
BK Muvvala: Sure, answer to your question about a place in Franklin that would benefit most from pedestrian and bicycle investment, and what should be changed:

I believe that the downtown area of Franklin would benefit most from pedestrian and bicycle investment. The downtown area is a popular destination for residents and tourists alike, but it can be difficult to get around without a car.

Here are some specific things that could be changed to make the downtown area more walk able and bike able:
1. Add more sidewalks and bike lanes. There are currently not enough sidewalks and bike lanes in the downtown area. This makes it difficult and unsafe for people to walk and bike around.
2. Create more pedestrian-friendly areas. This could be done by adding more crosswalks, traffic calming measures, and green space.
3. Promote walking and biking. This could be done through education and outreach programs, as well as by making it easier for people to get around without a car.
4. Work with businesses and organizations to make their facilities more accessible to pedestrians and cyclists. This could be done by providing bike racks and changing rooms.
5. Encourage developers to build walk able and bike able communities. This could be done by requiring them to include sidewalks and bike lanes in their plans.
I believe that by making these changes, we can make the downtown area of Franklin a more walk able and bike able community and a better place to live, work, and visit.

Here are some other places in Franklin that could benefit from pedestrian and bicycle investment:
1. The Williamson County Public Library
2. The Franklin Farmers Market
3. The Carnton Plantation
4. The Carter House
5. The Franklin Park District
6. The Harpeth River Greenway
7. The areas around Franklin city old community
8. Extension of Mac Hatcher
9. Extension of Franklin Road towards Moores lane (Brentwood)
10. Mallory station and surrounding areas until cool springs mall
I believe that by making these investments, we can make Franklin a more walk able and bike able community for everyone.
Would you support dedicating a portion of the CIP budget specifically to pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure projects each year?
BK Muvvala: Sure, here is answer to your question about whether I would support dedicating a portion of the CIP budget specifically to pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure projects each year:

Yes, I would support dedicating a portion of the CIP budget specifically to pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure projects each year. I believe that this is important for a number of reasons.
1. It is good for our health. Walking and biking are good for our physical and mental health. They help us to stay fit and reduce our risk of obesity, heart disease, and other chronic diseases.
2. It is good for the environment. Walking and biking reduce our reliance on cars, which helps to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
3. It is good for our community. Walking and biking can help to create a more vibrant and connected community. They can also help to reduce traffic congestion and improve public safety.
I believe that we can make Franklin a more walk able and bike able community by investing in sidewalks, bike lanes, and other infrastructure. We can also make it easier for people to get around without a car by providing free or discounted bus passes and other transportation options.

If elected as Alderman at Large, I would work to dedicate a portion of the CIP budget specifically to pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure projects each year. I would also work to make Franklin a more walk able and bike able community by promoting walking and biking through education and outreach programs.

I believe that by making these investments, we can improve the health of our residents, reduce our carbon footprint, and make our community a more livable place.

Here are some specific things that I would do to make Franklin a more walk able and bike able community:
1. Invest in sidewalks and bike lanes. I would work to increase funding for sidewalks and bike lanes. This would make it safer and easier for people to walk and bike around town.
2. Create more pedestrian-friendly areas. I would work to create more pedestrian-friendly areas, such as by adding crosswalks and traffic calming measures. This would make it more comfortable and inviting for people to walk and bike.
3. Promote walking and biking. I would work to promote walking and biking through education and outreach programs. I would also work to make it easier for people to get around without a car, such as by providing free or discounted bus passes.
4. Work with businesses and organizations to make their facilities more accessible to pedestrians and cyclists. I would work with businesses and organizations to make their facilities more accessible to pedestrians and cyclists, such as by providing bike racks and changing rooms.
5. Encourage developers to build walk able and bike able communities. I would encourage developers to build walk able and bike able communities by requiring them to include sidewalks and bike lanes in their plans.
I believe that by making these changes, we can make Franklin a more walk able and bike able community and a better place to live, work, and raise a family.
Traffic and congestion remain a top citizen concern in our city year after year. Vehicular roadway improvements are not going to solve our traffic problems on their own. What role should pedestrian and bike infrastructure have in potential solutions to our worsening congestion issues?
BK Muvvala: Sure, here is my answer to your question about the role that pedestrian and bike infrastructure should play in potential solutions to Franklin's worsening congestion issues:

I believe that pedestrian and bike infrastructure can play a significant role in reducing traffic congestion. By providing more options for people to get around without a car, we can reduce the number of cars on the road and make it easier for everyone to get where they need to go.

Here are some specific ways that pedestrian and bike infrastructure can help to reduce traffic congestion:
1. Reduce the number of cars on the road. When people have more options for getting around, they are less likely to drive their cars. This can free up space on the roads and make it easier for everyone to get around.
2. Improve traffic flow. When people are able to walk or bike to their destinations, it can help to improve traffic flow. This is because pedestrians and cyclists take up less space on the road than cars.
3. Reduce air pollution. Cars emit pollutants that contribute to air pollution. When people walk or bike, they help to reduce air pollution and improve air quality.
4. Improve public health. Walking and biking are good for physical and mental health. By providing more opportunities for people to walk and bike, we can improve the health of our community.
I believe that we need to invest in pedestrian and bike infrastructure as part of a comprehensive approach to reducing traffic congestion. By making it easier for people to get around without a car, we can make our community a healthier, more livable place.

Here are some specific things that I would do to promote pedestrian and bike infrastructure in Franklin:
1. Increase funding for pedestrian and bike projects. I would work to increase funding for pedestrian and bike projects in the city budget.
2. Create more pedestrian-friendly areas. I would work to create more pedestrian-friendly areas, such as by adding sidewalks, crosswalks, and traffic calming measures.
3. Promote walking and biking. I would work to promote walking and biking through education and outreach programs.
4. Encourage developers to build walk able and bike able communities. I would encourage developers to build walk able and bike able communities by requiring them to include sidewalks and bike lanes in their plans.
I believe that by taking these steps, we can make Franklin a more walk able and bike able community and reduce traffic congestion.
Are there any peer cities (or places you have visited) with strong alternative transportation and what lessons could Franklin learn from them?

BK Muvvala: Sure, here are some peer cities with strong alternative transportation and what lessons Franklin could learn from them:

Asheville, North Carolina: Asheville is a popular tourist destination with a strong commitment to alternative transportation. The city has a comprehensive network of bike lanes and sidewalks, and it offers a variety of public transportation options, including buses, trolleys, and a light rail system.

Franklin could learn from Asheville's commitment to alternative transportation by investing in more bike lanes and sidewalks, and by expanding its public transportation system.

Portland, Oregon: Portland is known for its bike-friendly culture and its commitment to sustainability. The city has a network of over 300 miles of bike lanes, and it offers a variety of incentives for people to bike, such as free bike parking and discounted bus fares.

Franklin could learn from Portland's example by making it easier and more convenient for people to bike. This could include adding more bike lanes, providing more secure bike parking, and creating more bike-friendly infrastructure, such as protected bike lanes and separated bike paths.

Minneapolis, Minnesota: Minneapolis has a comprehensive public transportation system that includes buses, light rail, and streetcars. The city also has a network of bike lanes and sidewalks, and it offers a variety of incentives for people to use alternative transportation, such as free bus fares for youth and reduced fares for seniors.

Franklin could learn from Minneapolis' example by expanding its public transportation system and by making it easier and more convenient for people to walk and bike. This could include adding more bus routes, extending the light rail system, and creating more pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, such as wider sidewalks and more crosswalks.

These are just a few examples of peer cities with strong alternative transportation. By learning from these cities, Franklin can make itself a more walk able, bike able, and transit-friendly community.