Building Safer Streets: A Temporary Bus Stop on Antioch Pike
Written By: Eric Hoke, Design Director and Joe Mayes, Projects and Operations Director
5 min read: The Antioch Pike Tactical Urbanism Project is a community-driven effort led by the Glencliff Neighborhood, NDOT, Walk Bike Nashville, Cosecha Community Garden, the Civic Design Center. Following the initial project installation, the local transportation agency, WeGo Transit, required dedicated space along Antioch Pike for student drop-off and pick-up to increase student access to the school via transit.
The Civic Design Center team worked on the installation of the tactical urbaism bus stop. Pictured left to right: Joe, Remi, Eric, and Chase
Bus awaiting riders at tactical urbanism bus stop at Glencliff High School
On Antioch Pike, from Nolensville Pike to McCall Street, change is taking shape. What has long been a busy, car-dominated corridor is now home to a mile-long Tactical Urbanism Project—a community-led effort facilitated by the Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure (NDOT) to rethink how this vital street can better serve the people who live, work, and travel along it every day.
Civic Design Center working with NDOT on installing the bus stop
With support from the Tennessee Department of Health and the Bridgestone Foundation, the Civic Design Center helped bring this vision to life in April 2025. The project uses tactical urbanism, a method of testing quick, low-cost changes, to empower residents to take the lead in designing a safer, more welcoming corridor.
The temporary redesign of Antioch Pike includes shorter and safer pedestrian crossings, a new type of protective barrier made from recycled tires, and curb extensions that are in place for over a mile of the corridor. These tire barriers separate cars from a multi-use lane that creates new space for people walking, biking, and using mobility devices. Parents picking up their children from school can also safely use this lane, easing the often hectic pick-up routine.
With the new multi-use lanes in place, exciting news soon followed: WeGo Public Transit announced that the #52 Nolensville Route would extend down Antioch Pike to connect directly with Glencliff High School. To make this connection even stronger, the Civic Design Center partnered with WeGo and NDOT to install a temporary bus stop along the corridor. Launched just in time for the 2025–2026 school year, the stop now offers students, families, and neighbors a safer and more reliable way to reach Glencliff by bus.
The 52 Nolensville Pike extension connects to Glencliff High School and operates until 6:45 a.m. for morning drop-off and resumes at 2:15 p.m. for afternoon pick-up.
The Design Center created a few designs ranging in intensity, including the addition of enhanced bike lane access ramp to provide space for cyclists to pass by while the bus waited for students to board after school. This design was ultimately not used due to ensure the tactical urbanism project was safe, easy to navigate, and able to be installed before the start of school. Below, you can see the original design meant to accommodate a bike lane that went up onto the sidewalk.
Not approved design
Ideas to build a bike ramp to meet at-grade of the sidewalk
Another factor contributing to the decision to use a the simplified design was the materials we suggested (plywood and 2x4s), as it might not have lasted the full school year. The final design only used paint, which served the purpose, and still prioritized safety and visibility of the bus only zone.
Approved design
For many in the community, this is the first time public transit has been an accessible option along this stretch of Antioch Pike. By carving out space from the redesigned street, the Civic Design Center and its partners showed how simple, flexible changes can open doors to opportunity and make everyday mobility easier for everyone.
The Civic Design Center is proud to work alongside NDOT, the Tennessee Department of Health, the Bridgestone Foundation, Walk Bike Nashville, and local residents to show what’s possible when we rethink our streets. The temporary bus stop is just one example of how tactical urbanism can improve everyday life—making Antioch Pike safer, more connected, and more welcoming for everyone.
Project support provided by: Bridgestone Foundation and Greater Nashville Regional Council