Burien Tutors Come To You

A group of people in Burien, Washington, know the power of walking and biking—not just for health and fitness, but also to bring the community together. Walk/Bike Burien, known around town as WABI, was founded by citizens who are passionate about the benefits of self-propelling on two wheels or two feet.

WABI’s goals mesh well with the city’s. In its 2011 “Vision for Burien,” city officials adopted a principle that said, “Burien promotes community vitality with health and wellness services for all ages.” A second one said, “Burien encourages active living to support physical and mental health.” City officials are also aware that biking and walking are good for the local economy, because people who use “manual” transportation tend to shop locally, whereas people who drive can easily drive to a different community to shop. Biking and walking may even encourage residents to seek services, such as Burien tutors, locally.

To support its mission, WABI plans events that encourage Burien residents to walk and ride their bikes. Every month, WABI volunteers, or WABI-ists, host “Walk-n-Talks” to encourage active living and provide a way for residents to meet. The roughly 2.5-mile walks also encourage people to think of the town square as the “living room” of Burien, a gathering place; thus, the walks typically start in the town square. Some of the walk-n-talks double as art walks, designed to get walkers to experience and appreciate Burien’s art.

WABI volunteers also conduct “Weekday Walkers Walk on Wednesdays” once a month. These walks last one to two hours and cover three to five miles. Participants walk at their own pace while socializing with fellow walkers.

Other events WABI plans are SaFaRis (Safe Family Rides), the B-town Bike Fair, and Burien Bike Day. The group has also taught Bike Commuting 101 to people interested in commuting to work.

One of WABI’s main initiatives has been the installation of bike racks all over town. The group earned a grant to purchase and install forty bike racks. WABI-ists did not want Burien’s lack of adequate bicycle parking to dissuade potential riders from riding bikes, and the racks make it easy for people to lock their bikes.

The group stays involved with city policy and looks for opportunities to promote bike-to-work commuting and equitable transportation infrastructure. As a consultant, WABI works with businesses, government, and schools to put in place policies that support biking and walking. Ensuring safe routes for kids helps students get to class and tutoring in Burien.