May 14, 2026
KAT OFFERS SOKNO SHUTTLE IN SUPPORT OF OPEN STREETS
Bike Walk Knoxville is offering its 12th annual Open Streets celebration on Gay Street this Sunday, May 17.
But thanks to a creative collaboration between KAT, Bike Walk Knoxville, the Old Sevier Merchants Association and the Cattywampus Puppet Council, the SoKno Shuttle will connect all of the South Waterfront with the downtown Open Street enthusiasts.
Open Streets Knoxville returns for an exciting afternoon of community connection and active fun as you walk, bike, roll, dance, and explore Gay Street as it closes to vehicular traffic from Summit Hill Drive to Hill Avenue, and extending across the Gay Street Bridge from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. This free, family-friendly event is open to everyone of all ages and abilities, and invites you to experience Knoxville in a whole new way. Fun family activities and performers will line the street. For more information, visit bwknox.org/openstreets.
At City Councilwoman Karyn Adams’ urging, the celebration is expanding to South Knoxville.
KAT will offer the charter SoKno Shuttle from 1-7 p.m. with 20-minute service and 12 designated pickup and dropoff spots. The shuttle will drop passengers at the south end of the Gay Street Bridge – a short walk or bike ride to Open Streets.
The shuttle also connects to Suttree Landing Park, where the Cattywampus Puppet Council will be presenting the 9th annual Cattywampus Parade and Block Party.
The Cattywampus block party is from 2-6 p.m., with the parade – a New Orleans-style walking parade, featuring giant puppets and revelers in their hand-crafted masks and costumes – stepping off at 3 p.m. To learn more, visit www.cattywampuspuppets.org.
“The shuttle idea grew from several conversations with South Knoxville and City neighbors all recognizing the opportunity to improve movement and diminish traffic. The shuttle’s route links much of the South Waterfront community – Down River, One Riverwalk, the Sevier Avenue commercial district, Old Sevier and Island Home,” Adams said. “This is a first – and it’s very exciting to see an idea move from concept to pilot this quickly.”
Like all KAT buses, the 30-foot hybrid being used Sunday has a front bike rack. So bicyclists can hop on or off anywhere along the route.
“The SoKno Shuttle provides fare-free transit service that allows people to move through various events and neighborhoods,” said Isaac Thorne, Executive Director of Transit at KAT. “This is an opportunity for car-free travel and connection amongst residents and attendees to visit Open Streets, Cattywampus Block Party, and South Knoxville businesses.”
For more information on this release, please contact Dylana Kent, Marketing and Communications Manager at Knoxville Area Transit, at dkent@katbus.com or 865-215-7826.
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