Nashville’s tally is stark: 28 people were killed on Davidson County roads in 2025. This month, neighbors are being asked to quietly mark the spots where those lives were lost and, at the same time, send a loud message about street safety.
WalkBike Nashville is organizing a series of small, community memorials, inviting residents to place dove markers at crash sites between Feb. 17 and Feb. 21. A short gathering is set for Haywood Lane on Feb. 21 at 12:30 p.m. Organizers say the simple displays are meant both to honor the people who died and to push for quick fixes on some of the city’s most dangerous corridors.
As reported by NewsChannel 5, WalkBike Nashville’s Izi Witt said the 2025 deaths “touch every corner of our city” and called for changes such as raised crosswalks, mid-block crossings, and protected bike lanes. The group has shared a volunteer sign-up form and an email contact for anyone who wants to help. Now in its ninth year, the annual Pedestrian Memorial is designed to keep steady pressure on officials for both near-term and long-term safety improvements.
Turning Grief Into Quick-Build Fixes
Advocates say short-term “quick-build” projects can prevent additional crashes while the city works on larger redesigns. Nashville’s voter-approved Choose How You Move program is intended to fund sidewalks, smart traffic signals, and safety upgrades across the Vision Zero high-injury network, according to Choose How You Move. Memorial organizers hope these neighborhood tributes will keep public attention fixed on the specific places where relatively small investments could save lives.
Names And Stories Behind The Numbers
Among those being remembered: Dot Dobbins, who was struck while using a crosswalk on the 3rd Avenue North Greenway in June, and bicyclist Blaise Schaeffer, who was killed in a hit-and-run on Nolensville Pike in December. Schaeffer’s family has created a memorial scholarship while police continue to pursue a suspect, a case detailed by NewsChannel 5. Organizers say the broader memorial effort is meant to channel public sorrow into practical steps that better protect people who walk and bike.
WalkBike Nashville, which coordinates the ceremony and outreach, is asking volunteers to help place dove markers at each crash site and to reach out with questions through the group’s usual contact channels. For details on its programs and resources for families affected by traffic violence, visit Walk Bike Nashville or email Izi Witt at [email protected]. Advocates say these memorials are a visible reminder that decisions about policy and pavement carry real human costs, and they hope this year’s events will build momentum for safety projects across Davidson County.
