Crosstown Concourse recently implemented paid parking after 6pm, with validation upon purchase from all businesses. At the same time, Crosstown is also known as the one of the country's best Third Places -- a place you can go that isn't home, or work. A place you can go without a reservation to meet someone. A place you can have community meetings in the social areas. A place you can go without paying.

Many of the evening visitors are there for community, not to spend money. Additionally, many of those people are forced into car ownership by a city that does not prioritize other methods of transportation. Midsouth residents spend nearly $13,000 per year on car ownership already. Paid parking may seem like a drop in the bucket to some. But for others, it can be the difference between staying home or going out.

What are the options besides driving? Each has its own set of issues, which are outlined below.

1. Walking

We are the most dangerous city in the country for pedestrians. The V&E Greenline is a great option for those who can use it. But otherwise, walking to Crosstown can be dangerous and unpleasant. The 2025 Heat Watch Campaign demonstrated how hot the conditions near Crosstown can be. More trees and shade structures are needed along walking routes to Crosstown.

2. Biking

Technically, Cleveland has a bike lane. Realistically, bike commuters in Memphis largely avoid it. Not only is it unprotected, but it is frequently littered with glass and other items that can puncture a tire. The Memphis Safety Action Plan Dashboard highlights how injury and fatal crashes are common along Cleveland. (This is why most bikers take Stonewall instead, by the way). Cleveland needs a fully protected bike lane to be a viable option.

3. Rideshare
It's expensive, and most of the money spent on rideshare immediately leaves our community and goes toward Uber/Lyft corporate headquarters and insurance companies, rather than workers. Uber/Lyft is not an affordable option for most Memphians.

4. Groove on Demand

Groove on Demand has a limited service area. Additionally, with large events, the capacity is most likely too low to work for a mass of people. Groove on Demand is great for those who can use it but not an option for everyone.

5. MATA

There are 2 bus routes that have stops within a reasonable walk (less than .25mi) of Crosstown: The 42 and the 53. The 42 has a frequency of every 45min, and the 53 of every hour. On Sundays, it's worse: the 42 is every hour, and 53 every TWO hours. (See MATA Spring Service updates here for details). Experts say that good, usable transit has a frequency of at least every 15 minutes.

Furthermore, MATA has an average on-time performance of 61%. One missed bus on an hour-frequency route means a rider will wait for 2+ hours at a bus stop. And if it's the last bus of the night? Good luck. That is unacceptable.

Public Transit in Memphis should be a public good that we can all rely on. Instead, it is a struggling service led by interim leadership making $75,000 per month, that is deeply underfunded by the city.

We love Memphis.

We love Crosstown Concourse.

We do NOT love the limited mobility options for getting to Crosstown Concourse.

We call on the Memphis Mayor and City Council to prioritize transportation to Crosstown for Memphians by improving walkability, bikeability, and public transit. And we call on Crosstown Concourse to advocate for their patrons' mobility options.