Safer Streets for All: Neighbors Unite for a Safer Tanyard District

Photos, interview, and graphics by Dakota Parks for Bike Pensacola

As Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “there is power in unity, and there is power in numbers.” Together, three neighbors are fighting to make a change in The Tanyard District.

Gloria Lemmey, a dynamic entrepreneur, is the owner of two businesses: Citrus Door, which specializes in short-term rental management, and Milkkrate, an art and music collaborative. Having visited the area since her parents moved here in the late '90s, she fell in love with the Tanyard District and purchased a home in 2015. Now a full-time resident, Gloria is passionate about music, art, and community, which fuels her business interests and inspires her active lifestyle filled with yoga, CrossFit, hiking, and exploring the city by bike, Honda scooter, or with her Weimaraner in tow.

Stephanie Rafferty, a dedicated RN at Baptist Hospital and an avid marathon runner, has deep roots in the community, having lived in the area twice since 2008. With her husband in the military and their two children now out of the home, they travel often to visit family, but when Stephanie is home— she’s running. Stephanie not only fuels her passion for running through her involvement in the local running group, Wild Cheetah Girlz, but she also enjoys coaching new runners— from 5K to marathon distance— fostering a tight-knit and supportive community in Pensacola.

Nancy Hyndman, a retired insurance professional, embraced the vibrant culture of Pensacola after moving here in 2017. With her 91-year-old mother now nearby, Nancy spends time with her playing mahjongg, shopping, going to movies, attending concerts, and traveling to see her grandson in New Orleans. Deeply committed to environmental stewardship, Nancy takes long walks Downtown Pensacola along the waterfront with her rescue dog, Cooper, picking up trash as they go. Nancy is also transforming her small garden into a sanctuary for native plants and pollinators and enjoys hiking at local parks and trails with Cooper. A dedicated reader, she participates in multiple book clubs, takes classes through Leisure Learning at the University of West Florida, and has served as a poll worker since 2018.

Tell us a little about the traffic conditions in your neighborhood.

Gloria: We live in The Tanyard District, which spans from South Reus to Pace Boulevard and from Garden Street to Main Street. Traffic patterns vary significantly by area. For example, between A Street and South Reus, new construction has led to narrow streets that can be difficult to navigate, especially with cars parked on both sides. Government Street, a major thoroughfare, has speeding problems. My neighbors, Nancy and Stephanie, have raised concerns about pedestrian safety, particularly needing key crossings at E and Main, and Clubbs and Main to provide safe access to one of our neighborhood’s newest amenities—Bruce Beach.

Stephanie: I live down the street from Nancy and am fairly selective about where I run. There are definitely roads that I will not run on. For the most part, I feel our area is safe. There are intersections that need improvement though.

Nancy: I moved here to reduce my reliance on a car, and now, I can easily walk or bike Downtown from my small shotgun house on West Government Street. However, Government Street's width and lack of stop signs from A St. to Barrancas can turn it into a racetrack with speeding cars, making biking hazardous. Cars often don’t stop for pedestrians, and distracted driving is a real concern. Many drivers do not even seem to realize there are bikers or pedestrians sharing the road until they are right on top of them. It is also challenging to walk across Barrancas to access the dog park at Kiwanis Park. There are no crosswalks and no way to alert the speeding cars that pedestrians are trying to cross.

How have these traffic conditions impacted your life, and how have you advocated for safer crossings and traffic calming?

Gloria: One of the major challenges is the intersection at Barrancas and Government Street, where a six-way traffic light creates confusion and congestion. Barrancas sees high traffic volumes and frequent speeding, particularly as drivers head toward West Pensacola or rush Downtown in the mornings, creating safety risks for both drivers and pedestrians.

As someone who frequently walks and bikes around the city, I’ve experienced firsthand how dangerous these crossings can be. With the growing population in our neighborhood, there’s been a significant increase in foot traffic and cyclists, highlighting the urgent need for safer crossings. The combination of heavy traffic, speeding, and inadequate pedestrian infrastructure creates serious safety risks. I’ve been advocating for much-needed traffic-calming measures.

Neighbors also face difficulties accessing local amenities like Kiwanis Park, Corrine Jones Park, and businesses such as Emerald Republic, Pearl & Horn, Supposey, Fiore, Vowells Printing, and Lost Pizza— all located on either side of Barrancas. Many avoid walking across Barrancas due to safety concerns, choosing to drive even short distances instead of walking to places just steps from their homes.

Stephanie: I've attended local meetings about improvement projects and left comments on the City of Pensacola’s interactive map. Barrancas is definitely one of the streets I avoid when biking or running. I am very cautious and always run against traffic, using side streets and crosswalks as much as possible. However, I have known one person who was killed while running, several friends have had near misses, and I have almost been hit a handful of times. There are many areas where you have to run in the street due to disrepair to sidewalks or absence of sidewalks.

Nancy: I often take alternate routes out of my way, even avoiding Main Street’s bike lane, because it’s frequently obstructed with vegetation. While any bike lane is better than none, the City needs to create protected bike lanes. Consider the share-way on Spring Street. Bikes and cars are supposed to share the same lane with cars allowing bikes in front of them in one lane. Instead, bikes have to watch out for drivers who don’t know how to use a share-way and watch for drivers backing out of the diagonal parking spaces. I also requested a pedestrian-activated crosswalk light at E and Main St., but currently the light only changes when a car approaches it. I am hoping that as improvements are made to Bruce Beach and the Main Street corridor, these issues will also be addressed.

Have you contacted the City of Pensacola or other government bodies about slowing down the cars near your home?

Gloria: Three years ago, Nancy and I met with David Forte to discuss the need for pedestrian crosswalks at Barrancas and Government, and E Street and Main. We were informed that Barrancas falls under the jurisdiction of the FDOT, so the City doesn’t have the authority to make changes directly. We were also told that getting results could take years. I raised the issue again at a town hall meeting with Mayor Grover, and the same explanation about FDOT’s control was reiterated. I believe there needs to be a major reform regarding the six-way traffic light at Barrancas and Government to address the safety concerns more urgently.

Stephanie: We have contacted the police about speeding on Government, and they sent an officer to the intersection of E and Government, resulting in several speeders being pulled over. I also requested the City repaint the crosswalk at Main and Clubbs, and it was completed within a week.

Nancy: I’ve contacted the City and was invited to City Hall to discuss my concerns. Since that meeting, crosswalks were placed at E and Government with signs on Government informing drivers of the need to stop when a pedestrian is in the crosswalk. However, due to the speed of traffic and the lack of an actual stop sign, many cars still speed through the crosswalk. I don’t enter crosswalks unless there are no cars visible as you cannot trust the cars to stop as the sign indicates. Recently, I submitted a request through 311, [the City of Pensacola’s platform for services like crosswalk requests, tree trimming at intersections, and sidewalk repairs] to add a crosswalk at A and Government Streets. This request was more successful because there is already a 4-way stop, which forces drivers to stop regardless of whether someone is in the crosswalk.

What kinds of changes would you like to see to slow down the cars and make our streets and neighborhoods safer and more pleasant for walking and bicycling?

Gloria: I believe there should be an urgent focus on installing Pedestrian Light-Controlled Crossings— where pedestrians can push a button to activate a traffic light, stopping traffic for safe crossing. Additionally, enforcing traffic laws and providing clear signage are essential to addressing safety concerns.

Stephanie: I think the most important item is more respect for crosswalks. When I go to other cities, it seems the drivers are more vigilant and aware of crosswalks and are more willing to allow people to cross. I would love to see lighted crosswalks on Main Street and more visible crosswalk paint and signage. As far as biking, we need true dedicated bike lanes instead of the shared lanes that are all over town. It is dangerous to commute by bike if you have to ride on major streets like Cervantes, Barrancas, Navy Boulevard, and Mobile Highway.

Nancy: For a street like Government which is so wide, there is plenty of room for a protected bike lane. In addition, curb bump outs and speed tables/humps would force cars to go at a slower speed as they travel from A Street to Barrancas.

What inspired you to start advocating for safer streets, and what would it mean to you to live in a safer, traffic-calmed neighborhood?

Gloria: Advocating for safer streets isn’t a luxury— it’s a necessity. Living in a walkable city has shown me how crucial safe walkability is, and it must be a priority as our city continues to grow. I moved here from a very walkable city, Miami Beach, where I experienced firsthand the many benefits of a pedestrian-friendly environment—one of which is maintaining a healthy lifestyle. In such neighborhoods, walking is encouraged, and the community feels more connected as a result. I vividly remember walking to the movie theater, biking to visit friends, strolling to shops, going to the beach, and enjoying my favorite restaurant—all within a few blocks. I believe we are on the cusp of significant expansion here, and ensuring safe walkability is paramount for fostering stronger community bonds and supporting the health and well-being of residents.

Stephanie: I love Pensacola, and I feel it continues to improve every day. There are some exciting new projects in the works to increase walkability and safety. Hopefully, people will realize how important walkability is to a vibrant city life.

Nancy: My advocacy began when I moved here and started walking and biking daily. It made me realize how car-centric our society is. I attended a CivicCon panel about Complete Streets, and it made so much sense. If your main consideration when building roads is how fast someone in a car can reach their destination, then roads will be built with only one thing in mind— cars going fast. Until you give equal consideration to how bikers and pedestrians will use your roadways, the roads will remain dangerous for everyone. Downtown streets are not meant to be speedways. None of these roads are highways, and they all go through neighborhoods. Traffic calming is an immediate safety measure the City needs to take for the benefit of its citizens.

*This interview and the Safer Streets for All campaign were made possible thanks to a grant from The Last Mile.