A new parking policy at Crosstown Concourse urged Memphis residents to advocate for increased mobility options.
Crosstown Concourse implemented paid parking in all lots and garages from 6:00 p.m. to 4:30 a.m.
Officials said as of Friday, August 21st, Crosstown is partnering with Metropolis to “bring a new parking system designed to make every visit smoother and more effortless than ever.”
Though visitors can still go to certain businesses and organizations to receive validated parking, transportation advocates and residents said this decision brings attention to the limited mobility options for visiting Crosstown.
“Many of the evening visitors are there for community, not to spend money,” Kelsey Huse, a public transit and social media organizer, said. “Additionally, many of those people are forced into car ownership by a city that does not prioritize other methods of transportation.”
Huse, who also runs the Instagram account @Memphisurbanism, started a petition calling on Memphis Mayor Paul Young, Memphis City Council, and Crosstown Concourse President and CEO, Todd Richardson, to prioritize transportation to Crosstown.
Huse said driving is the safest way to get to Crosstown safely, which alienates a portion of residents who do not have a car. Her petition emphasizes improving walkability, bikeability, and public transit.
The petition points out that the city is the most dangerous in the country for pedestrians and said “walking to Crosstown can be dangerous and unpleasant.”
Huse also pointed out the need for a “fully protected bike lane” along Cleveland Street.
She said that rideshares are expensive and not an option for most Memphians, and that the Memphis Area Transit Authority(MATA) only has two routes that have a “reasonable walk” of Crosstown.
The agency also has an average on-time-performance rate of 61 percent, which Huse called “unacceptable.”
Lydia Jackson, a Whitehaven resident and school teacher, signed the petition in hopes of bringing attention to the lack of bike lanes and sidewalks on Elvis Presley Boulevard.
Jackson said they frequently visit Crosstown. Though they’re doubtful the parking situation will change at Crosstown, they felt this was an opportunity to advocate for infrastructure that accommodates different mobility options.
“I think there’s a lot we can do transportation-wise, like adding sidewalks to the streets, so that if you want to walk to the place, [you] can walk to the place,” Jackson said.
“[In] Whitehaven there’s a lot of streets that have no sidewalks or the sidewalks are completely covered, and there’s no one actually tending to it to actually help us get there.”
Input like Jackson’s further emphasizes Huse’s purpose in creating the petition. She said she wanted to shift the conversation about parking, and further press officials about being intentional with transportation options.
“Crosstown Concourse is a world class destination, but Memphis will never be a world class city without frequent, reliable bus service and safe walking and biking infrastructure,” Huse said.
“It feels these issues are not a priority for our elected officials, but I want them to know there are a mass of people willing to support policy and dollars going toward better transportation options.”
