East Nasty is partnering with the ‘PR Bandits’ this summer who are hosting supported long runs on Saturday mornings. Bongo to Bongo has been a long standing favorite among many and we're back again! Starting from The Yellow House (East Nasty starting location) in East Nashville, we'll run through downtown to Bongo Nashville on Belmont. Being an out and back run, choose a run distance of your liking! Want more than 10? Continue past Bongo and go down to 440 and back for an even 12.

10mi - http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/754971765

This week's run falls on the first Saturday of the month which is.... Dollar Donation Day!!!! We collect a $1 donation from each member willing to help with the cost of hydration and supplies. The donation is not required to run with us but appreciated to help reduce the personal investment to support the runs each week.

Join the PR Bandits Facebook Group for more info, get run invites, and to link up with other runners. Saturday supported runs will begin at 6:00am and be held at various favorite running routes across Nashville. You can also email Brian Johnson at brian.m.johnson@me.com if you have any questions.

Tomato Festival Volunteers East Nasty is committed to making East Nashville a great place to live and to run, and to make running accessible to everyone in our community.    On August 8th, both parts of our mission come into play, and we could use your help.

1)   Sign up for the East Tomato 5k.   This is our home race, where we unleash our potato to tomato participants into the running community.  (Our "potato to tomato" program is the East Nasty version of a couch to 5k program.)   So get out there and run along side your friends and neighbors.  And yes - that morning you can run in the middle of the street.

2) Volunteer to help out at our water stop...for the festival.   The tomato festival is hot.   But that doesn't deter 30,000+ people from showing up.  So every year we have a booth right by 3 Crow Bar where we keep 4 coolers of water filled for the festival goers, and sell East Nasty swag.   It's our way of helping the festival out, but it's also our big fund raiser of the year. We need 15 people who are willing to work a 2-hour shift at our booth.  If you've never done it before - it's fun!   A completely unique way to experience the festival.  Grab a friend and sign up here.

Route #6

Wednesday at 6am and 6pm. Corner of 11th & Holly.

I love this route, but want to point out a couple of things:

When you are running up the hill out of the park (right before the 2-mile mark) stay on the right side of the road.

Right after mile 3, you turn left off of Riverside onto Rosebank.  Rosebank is a fairly narrow road, so please run single file.

Oh yes, and the free pizza is THIS week, not last week...I'm almost 100% sure this time.

Being Good Neighbors: Vision Zero

We've talked about how we can actively try to enhance safety with the pedestrian resources we currently have: but sometimes working within the given cannot not have undesired outcomes. Some might call those accidents.

Vision Zero is a campaign supported in other cities that attempts to raise goals to Zero fatalities and serious injuries, and shifting the meaning of an accident outside the realm of vehicles. Infrastructure changes, enforcement, and multi-departmental cooperation are key. Whereas street design gave equal importances to the conflicting objectives of moving vehicles and safety, safety must trump all other concerns. "Accidents" are unacceptable.

Google Vision Zero and see what you learn. Do you have thoughts on first priorities for Nashville making this a reality? Is it possible? What must we lose in order to win?

http://www.nyc.gov/html/visionzero/pages/home/home.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vision_Zero

East Nasty is partnering with the ‘PR Bandits’ this summer who are hosting supported long runs on Saturday mornings. We're adding another new neighborhood to the rotation this year with 12 South! We will be starting in Sevier Park from the lot near Granny White and Clayton Ave. This is a large loop route with many options for shorter or longer runs. Edley's brunch after?

8mi - http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/755024315 12mi - http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/717094933

Join the PR Bandits Facebook Group for more info, get run invites, and to link up with other runners. Saturday supported runs will begin at 6:00am and be held at various favorite running routes across Nashville. You can also email Brian Johnson at brian.m.johnson@me.com if you have any questions.

Route #5: Walking Bridge

6 am or 6 pm at the corner of 11th and Holly in East Nashville.   It's going to be hot, so start hydrating now.

Being Good Neighbors: Cyclists

Our friends, the cyclists

Imagine walking or running with no sidewalks. No physical separation from cars that weigh  10 or 20 times more and moving 2 or 20 times faster.  Unfortunately, in many areas of Nashville that is the case, but that's almost always the case for cyclists.  Because of this some cyclists choose to ride on the sidewalks or not ride at all. Some places have some paint on the road reminding drivers bicycles are allowed but cars often don't observe the minimum  3 foot passing law.

Although there are currently a few  protected bike lanes for cyclists in Nashville (28th/31st Connector), there  are more  in the works. Davidson Street will soon have separation for pedestrians and  cyclists.

But on these shared, designated areas for cyclists and peds, it can be a challenge for cyclists and pedestrians to navigate around each other while enjoying some protection from automobiles.  Cyclists need to ding their bell or say "On your Left", and pedestrians need to stay right.  Look behind before passing  someone, just as you hopefully would on the interstate, and stay right after. Remind other  peds to stay right. Everywhere.

For example, on many of our runs we go down the Lillian Street [dog-park] greenway descending into Shelby Park.  Often we forget that this is a shared resource and as we run down into the park we spread out and take up the entire width of the path.   We should welcome this protection from the road, but remember that our friends the cyclists use this path as well.   This goes for all the Shelby Park greenways.   Stay right and always make sure there is room for a cyclist to pass on your left.

A few tips for us Sharing our own Road, and remembering that cyclists are our biggest  allies in bargaining for safer infrastructure.

There is going to be free pizza after the run...

But you'll need to head down to 3 Crow if you want a cold beverage... Just thought I'd let you know.

East Tomato 5k

Once again, there are very few excuses for you not to show up to this race/festival.  We consider the Tomato 5k our “home” race, so we need to show up en masse.    That means every single one of you needs to sign up!   When and how do you ask?   Here are two options: (1) just sign up here or (2) sign up at Yazoo on Thursday and get free beer.* Read below.

“You’re invited on Thursday July 23^rd at 5:00pm to Yazoo Brewery. Anyone who comes and registers for the Tomato 5k race gets 2 free drinks and we also just want to hang out with YMCA staff, friends, family… whoever! So please stop by and invite everyone you can. It should be a lot of fun and a good chance to take a breather during this crazy summer. If you have any questions, let me know! Hope to see you all there!”

Yazoo Brewery 910 Division St. Nashville, TN 37203

East Nasty is partnering with the ‘PR Bandits’ this summer who are hosting supported long runs on Saturday mornings. There has been a lot of growth and development on the north side of Nashville between Germantown and the new Sounds stadium. No better way to explore than on foot! Starting from the circle near the entrance of Bicentennial Mall, we'll explore these areas and then hit the greenway from Metro Center and head back in to Nashville along the river.

8.2mi - http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/720247999

Parking - We will be closest to the entrance off of Jefferson St (699 Jefferson St, Nashville for you GPS). There is a parking lot, street parking along 7th, and street parking along 6th on the other side of the circle.

Join the PR Bandits Facebook Group for more info, get run invites, and to link up with other runners. Saturday supported runs will begin at 6:00am and be held at various favorite running routes across Nashville. You can also email Brian Johnson at brian.m.johnson@me.com if you have any questions.

Route #4

6 am or 6 pm at the corner of 11th and Holly.  Be courteous of any and all farmer's market goers...

Fall Half Marathons

There are a plethora of October/November half marathons in Nashville this year and we want to help you get prepared...

(1) If you are already fit and ready for long runs, join up with the PR Bandits (an East Nasty splinter group) for Saturday morning long runs this summer and fall.   They run at 6 a.m. (or 6:30) on Saturday mornings, and they change locations.  So check out the PR Bandits Facebook page, or check this blog on Fridays for details.

(2) If not ready for long runs, but want to build up to a half- join our fall half marathon training group.   The training begins on August 1, and all we ask is that you are able to run 5 miles without stopping by that time.    If you want more details, or if you want to join this group - send Alyce Scrivner an email at a-scrivner@comcast.net.

Bring Good Neighbors Week 6: Asking questions, noticing problems

In raising the bar on being a good running neighbor, did you notice anything last week that could have been better (other than the heat!)? Were we respecting the different modes of traffic? Looking for bicycles? Allowing for cars to be in the road and not jumping in front of them? Staying on our sidewalks when possible? Asserting our rights in the crosswalks? See any cars that didn't yield while trying to cross?  Did you see the East Nashville facebook thread the next day pointing out some things we should work on?

How about crossing at the bottom of the pedestrian bridge at 3rd: after a long descent, why not a stop sign for cars there? What about the other side of Demonbreun, while heading toward the naked statue? How do they keep a sidewalk closed for months and months? Did you know it only costs $10 a day to close a sidewalk for a block, if it's even enforced? Were the cars looking for you as we circled around the roundabout, or just to their right?

Other questions that pop-up in your head while running? How do we make the transition toward a more pedestrian friendly community? We've got the theoretical support of almost all mayoral candidates: we simply need to push our suggestions and recommendations. Send them our way, or use the feedback links and numbers posted last week. Lets convert questions into issues and actions.

Our "Home" Race

We consider the Tomato 5k our "home" race.    That means every single one of you needs to sign up!   When and how do you ask?   Here are two options: (1) just sign up here or (2) sign up at Yazoo next Thursday and get free beer.* Read below.

"You're invited on Thursday July 23^rd at 5:00pm to Yazoo Brewery. Anyone who comes and registers for the Tomato 5k race gets 2 free drinks and we also just want to hang out with YMCA staff, friends, family… whoever! So please stop by and invite everyone you can. It should be a lot of fun and a good chance to take a breather during this crazy summer. If you have any questions, let me know! Hope to see you all there!"

Yazoo Brewery 910 Division St. Nashville, TN 37203

East Nasty is partnering with the ‘PR Bandits’ this summer who are hosting supported long runs on Saturday mornings. For those of you who say, "We never get to take in the sites that downtown has to offer", this run is for you! Starting from Lot R near LP Field (now Nissan Stadium) at the base of the pedestrian bridge, we'll run out Church street, loop Vanderbilt, and head back down Demonbreun.

8.3mi - http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/754935505

Join the PR Bandits Facebook Group for more info, get run invites, and to link up with other runners. Saturday supported runs will begin at 6:00am and be held at various favorite running routes across Nashville. You can also email Brian Johnson at brian.m.johnson@me.com if you have any questions.

Route #3: Musica This is our one out-and-back route.  A great way to see downtown, but there are lots of downtown intersections.   Please be careful and use crosswalks!

6 a.m. or 6 p.m. at the corner of 11th and Holly in East Nashville

Being Good Neighbors week 5: Report Everything

Hopefully you know by now that we have are running a 12 weeks series on improving the roads in East Nashville.  Specifically we are trying to improve pedestrian safety through education.  As we all learn, we become smarter pedestrians, better drivers, and just a much better running group. So I hope that you continue spending the time that it takes to read these posts, and pass them along as you see fit.

Just to underline the resources that exist for helping to improve our streets, please see a comprehensive list that responds to different types of issues. East Nasty is happy to help in tandem with these improvements; but please don't hesitate to indepently be in contact with the city resources. Share any feedback with us. A problem unreported doesn't exist.

Report a sidewalk or bike lane maintenance issue If you encounter a sidewalk or bike lane in need of maintenance, please let Metro Public Works know by calling (615) 862-8750 or filing a report online at

https://www.nashville.gov/Public-Works/Forms/Request-Customer-Service.aspx

Report a greenway or trail maintenance issue Please share greenway maintenance requests with the parks department by calling Metro Parks at (615) 862-8400 or emailing

MetroParks@nashville.gov

Report issues with temporarily closed sidewalks and bikeways Please report any issues with sidewalk and bike lane closures due to construction or special events to the Metro Public Works Permit Office by calling (615) 862-8782 or emailing

pwpermits@nashville.gov

Report signs or overgrown vegetation blocking public right of way Please report any signs or vegetation blocking sidewalks or bike lanes to the Metro Codes Department by calling (615) 862-6590 or online at

https://www.nashville.gov/Codes-Administration/Property-Standards/Code-Enforcement/Report-A-Codes-Violation.aspx

Report an aggressive driver If you are harassed or endangered by an aggressive driver while walking or biking, please file a report with Metro Nashville Police Department's Aggressive Driving Unit online at

https://www.nashville.gov/Police-Department/Online-Services/Report-Aggressive-Driver.aspx

Report people who park illegally in bike lanes and sidewalks You can report drivers who are illegally parked on sidewalks and in bike lanes to the Metro Police Department non emergency line at (615) 862-8600 or online at

https://www.nashville.gov/Police-Department/Contact-Us.aspx

Request traffic enforcement If you have concerns about speeding or other traffic violations, you can request an enforcement operation. For more information, visit

http://www.nashville.gov/Services/Frequently-Asked-Question-Center/FAQ-Details/ID/198/How-Do-I-Request-Police-Radar-or-Traffic-Enforcement-Near-My-Home

Volunteers

We've been bad about asking for volunteers to wash the cups, so we have a pretty blank calendar!   Please consider volunteering.   If all of us volunteered for one week, we could easily fill up a year!    Take the cups home, wash them, bring them back.  Easy stuff.   Sign up for a week here.  Thanks!

(We are also going to need some volunteers to man our East Nasty booth at the Tomato Fest.  More on that next week...)

If you haven't run the 5.8mi or 11.2mi loops at Percy Warner Park, now is your chance! It might be hilly but it doesn't get much better than Percy Warner Park. This weekend we are also accepting $1 donations to help cover the cost of equipment and fluids to keep you hydrated along the run with us. LOCATION CHANGE!!!! If you've run this with us or East Nasty before, we're moving the 'usual' start location on you. We will meet at the Deep Wells entrance (use 7105 Hwy 100, Nashville for GPS). Parking is easier, you can hit the trails directly from here if so inclined, and best of all, bathrooms!

5.8mi Orange Loop - http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/755380447 11.2mi Green Loop - http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/755395295

Join the PR Bandits Facebook Group for more info, get run invites, and to link up with other runners. Saturday supported runs will begin at 6:00am and be held at various favorite running routes across Nashville. You can also email Brian Johnson at brian.m.johnson@me.com if you have any questions.

Being Good Neighbors: What to do about problem intersections Problem intersections can be improved. We (East Nasty) can keep notes of these places and lobby for change, but timely issues should be always called into the non-emergency line at 862-8600. Emergencies to 911. Document precise details of the location, the offender, and whatever may be useful. Car model, color, license plate, person description, etc. Maybe this happens where you live? Or your favorite running route? Now that you're asserting your rights in a crosswalk :) , are cars still blowing through, refusing to yield?

Unfortunately, problem intersections seem only to be changed from two inputs : flow studies and accidents, with accidents needing to be fatalities or near. No one wants to have their life changed forever while exercising or getting around their neighborhood. The smallest driver error could leave us handicapped or worse. Street design historically erred to the side of wanting to move cars faster than increase safety.

Where we have a few hundred extra eyes seeing these issues time and time again, let's work together to improve these spots. Think of a few places where it seems dangerous to cross? Missing paint? Needing to walk another hundred yards or more? Crosswalk lights that don't work? Buttons that don't click? Even street lights that are out.   Who to tell?   Well start with your city councilperson.   Contact them with these issues, that's what they're there for!

Working together as a team to can quickly effect change that almost never occurs individually. Stop signs, like the one just installed at s14th/Shelby, are political nightmares. Everyone complains about the few extra seconds they lose in their commute. We need to remember to write in support and thanks for the changes that help the weaker users of ours streets. We can help shift the balance to erring on the side of safety and encouraging alternate modes of transportation.

Route #2 + Pint Night

On July 1, Shelby is going to be crowded.  Not only are we running through the park, but there will be 200+ potato to tomato runners and the farmers market will be going on!   To me, it's a lot of fun to be around so much excitement, but remember to err on the side of courtesy.

After the run, be sure to head over to NRC for their monthly pint night.

Yes we run in the rain.   6 a.m. or 6 p.m. at the corner of 11th and Holly.

East Nasty is partnering with the ‘PR Bandits’ this summer who are hosting supported long runs on Saturday mornings. This week we will meet in the parking lot of the McCabe Golf Course, just to the left of the main entrance, with a 6:30am start time. The route will allow us to enjoy the Richland Creek Greenway as well as the Hillwood neighborhood with 8 and 12 mile options. If you prefer shorter, stick to a loop around the golf course for a few good miles.

8mi - http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/702131037 12mi - http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/702125747

Join the PR Bandits Facebook Group for more info, get run invites, and to link up with other runners. Saturday supported runs will begin at 6:00am starting in July and be held at various favorite running routes across Nashville. You can also email Brian Johnson at brian.m.johnson@me.com if you have any questions.

Being Good Neighbors

Last week we wrote about using crosswalks from the perspective of a runner or pedestrian. Let's think about this from the other side.

East Nashville has many blind turns where, as a driver, it's almost necessary to ignore everything else while focusing on an opportunity to turn onto another street. There's often a joke that the only people running in East Nashville used to be criminals from the police, or someone pushing a stroller was someone that had stolen it. Times have changed for who are using our streets.

A good example of a blind turn we've seen on many runs is at S16th St and Shelby. A large retaining wall and fence restricts the view onto Shelby from a sloped street, and the cars that approach this are accustomed to getting as close as possible to peak out onto Shelby to get their running shot into the stream of traffic. Many side streets have their sightlines further reduced with onstreet parking that's too close to the intersection, grass bordered sidewalks, and crosswalks distanced far from the traffic lanes.

What might we do to help create a safer atmosphere for the pedestrians? Have you ever seen a pedestrian standing at the crosswalk, wondering why don't they go? Give them that opportunity, which also helps remind the cars behind you that that's what we should be doing. Drive slower in pedestrian trafficked zones; slow the cars behind you.

S16th and Shelby is much better because of the 4-way-Stop now at S17th. There will be one soon at S14th and Shelby.  Note the difficult areas where it doesn't seem at all possible to be safe. We can effect similar changes that lets us all be safer.

Route #1

Last week was The Nasty in perhaps the worst possible conditions!   This week, the heat will still be around, but we are back to route #1, which is only 3 miles...

If you want to avoid the heat entirely, there is a group that meets at 6 am on Wednesday mornings.  (Same place)   Our walk/run group meets at 5:45 pm, and our main group meets at 6 pm.   (Our walk run group may be smaller than usual because of the couch to 5k training program.  Check the Lasty Nasty Facebook page to see if anyone is coming...)