Matt Farr
Bike Walk Tennessee announced the hiring of Matt Farr as the organization’s first executive director. Founded in 2009, Bike Walk Tennessee is a 501(c)3 organization that advocates for better bicycling and walking in Tennessee. Relying on volunteer capacity, Bike Walk Tennessee has facilitated a jump in Tennessee’s Bicycle-Friendly State ranking from 43rd to 20th over the past five years, and has ushered a widespread resurgence in biking and walking throughout Tennessee’s urban areas. With dedicated staff capacity, Bike Walk Tennessee expects to be able to propel Tennessee into the national spotlight for innovative bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and programming.
Mr. Farr is a Memphis native, a graduate of Sewanee: The University of the South, and resides in Nashville. He has a strong background in community outreach, fundraising, and program development gleaned from his positions as development manager with the Shelby Farms Park Conservancy in Memphis and associate director of Philanthropy with The Nature Conservancy in Nashville.
“It is such an honor to lead Bike Walk Tennessee,” said Mr. Farr. “Through the hard work and dedication of volunteer advocates who care deeply about their communities and state, Tennessee is positioned to be a national leader for active transportation. It is my goal to build upon the momentum they have created and work toward a statewide realization of the economic, social, health and environmental benefits that bicycling and walking have been proven to provide.”
Bike Walk Tennessee President Anthony Siracusa said Mr. Farr is uniquely equipped to build on recent momentum. “Matt is a natural relationship builder. He has been very successful in strengthening local advocates by connecting them to statewide work, and this exceptional leadership will – combined with his extensive experience in program development – help Bike Walk Tennessee to grow the number of people who walk and bike in our state.”
“Tennessee has made significant advances in providing more transportation choices over the past few years and we are thrilled to see Bike Walk Tennessee take this big step,” said Jessica Wilson, Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator for the Tennessee Department of Transportation. “Bike Walk Tennessee is a valued partner and we look forward to working with Matt to make our communities across Tennessee safer for people who walk and bike.”
Bike Walk Tennessee is currently undertaking multiple initiatives across the state that seek to enhance opportunities to enjoy Tennessee by bicycle or on foot. It is pioneering the U.S. Bike Route System in Tennessee, which will create designated routes between Tennessee’s cities and cities across the Southeast. It id working with small and medium sized communities to educate planners and engineers about the benefits of Complete Streets policies and practices. And it is bringing advocates and supporters across the state together with the annual Tennessee Bike Summit, now in its fifth year.