The Bottom-Up Revolution Fighting for Safe Streets in America’s Most Dangerous City
Aug 21, 2025
Kelsey Huse, a safe streets advocate and graduate student at the City University of Memphis, dives into the pressing issues of urban safety in one of America's most dangerous cities. She discusses her grassroots efforts in analyzing car crash sites and launching advocacy coalitions to promote safer streets. Kelsey also shares insights on personal experiences with urban planning, the role of social media in raising awareness, and the community's push for improved pedestrian and bike infrastructure. Her dedication exemplifies the impact of local advocacy on urban design.
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Learning Memphis By Bike
- Kelsey felt scared to bike in Memphis at first because it's a car-focused city with large roads.
- Joining the Memphis Social Bicycle Club revealed useful bike infrastructure in Midtown and downtown.
Arterials Fragment Walkable Neighborhoods
- Memphis' geography and historic development created concentrated neighborhoods but huge arterial roads that fragment them.
- Those widened arterials encourage high speeds and make walking dangerous even near schools.
Use Instagram To Build A Local Movement
- Use social media to connect isolated supporters and show widespread demand for safe streets.
- Post consistent, local examples to help people discover shared concerns and potential leaders.
