What a great day for 100 people to cut some ribbon and celebrate. With the new bike racks in Burien and all the community support, (in addition to the warm, sunny day),there was much to applaud . The group of 100 spilled out in 4 vacated parking spots, as well as along the sidewalk. (Click photo to enlarge.)
WABI Burien and the City of Burien held a ribbon-cutting ceremony yesterday, Saturday the 29th, to mark the success of the Downtown Burien Bike Rack Project. The ceremony was attended by Burien Mayor Brian Bennett, City Councilmember Rose Clark, Department Director of PaRCS Michael Lafreniere, the 6 WABI Board members, some of the bike rack sponsors and folks from all over town.
The business and greater community was very generous in its support of this project. Folks clamored to quickly sponsor all 41 bike racks and will have their custom plaques mounted to the rack(s) they chose. Funds from their sponsorships will go toward furthering this and other projects for the benefit of cyclists and walkers in Burien. Some businesses sponsored bike racks AND gave discounts AND donated raffle items AND provided refreshments! Such a testament to the generosity of this community…
All those attending the ceremony were given a “Shop Local Discount Sheet” with 11 special discounts for goods and services. Local businesses also provided refreshments for those gathered to celebrate. Freggies donated organic apples and bananas. Maven Mercantile (opening a Burien location in September next to Bumbershoot) made delicious slider sandwiches and cookies. (Mmm. Smoked Salmon and Arugula.) And our very dedicated, local rep from our bike rack manufacturer, Teresa Matthews from Urban Racks, brought mini-cupcakes from Oliver’s Bite, (plus her own homemade bike cookies).
It was a thrill to see such a cluster of bikes and people in Burien. Perhaps the moment they were all most waiting for was the start of the FREE raffle. Items donated for the raffle included:
- Two $10 gift cards from 909 Coffee & Wine
- One Pinarello Italian Cycling Cap, just in from Italy by Maureen
- One $25 gift card from Burien Press
- Two 1-hour massages from Collins Chiropractic
- Kryptonite Bicycle U-Lock, donated by the Highline High School Class of ’75
- One grand prize of a sparkling new-and-royal-blue Trek Classic Cruiser Bike
Single Speed, 19″, Coaster Brakes, (msrp. of $359.99)
from Trek Bicycle Store | Southcenter
WABI Burien sends out a big “Thank You!” to the City of Burien for its support of this project and cycling in town; to all the businesses and individuals that came forward so freely to participate in this effort; and to our community citizens that attended the ceremony to applaud the occasion.
Local artist-with-a-great-eye, Eric Edwards, came from White Center to give his time shooting photos of the gathering. You can find his images here.
Patti Means, sister of WABI President, Maureen Hoffmann, drove down from Snohomish and also gave her trained eye to record the event. The following images have been selected from the 250 that Patti shot.
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WABI Board Members, Sue Blazak and Brooks Stanfield get the WABI banner hung.
Not to miss an event, local Rob Johnson rode up on
his coveted orange bike with a decked-out helmet.
Maureen stands with the bike rack she designed for the project, featuring
a “deconstructed” version of the WABI logo, and a spot for the sponsor’s plaque.
Here are your WABI board members, left to right: Brooks Stanfield (Vice President), Janet Shull (Secretary), Tim Kniffin, Sue Blazak, Jimmy Schulz (Treasurer), Maureen Hoffmann (President). (Click photo to enlarge.) At the right is a banner featuring the 34 different sponsorship plaques.
WABI Board Members, Tim Kniffin (in blue) and Janet Shull,
stand with local “pot-stirrer”, John Nelson and his son.
The kids seemed to enjoy the event especially. Just think… they get to grow up with bike racks in Burien! And years down the road (literaly), they’ll be able to say that they were “there at the ribbon-cutting ceremony”.
When was the last time you ate so well at a community, sidewalk gathering?!
What a gorgeous, orange bike, Rob!
Maureen points out the sponsorship plaques for the 34 different sponsors of the 41 racks.
(Some sponsored 2 racks.)
WABI V.P., Brooks Stanfield (left) listens as Burien Mayor, Brian Bennett,
welcomes and addresses the group.
Burien City Councilmember, Rose Clark, helped by
distributing the program/discount sheets.
WABI Treasurer, Jimmy Schulz, gave out raffle tickets.
Folks on bikes received a bonus ticket!
Maureen and Janet pause for a moment before the ceremony.
WABI Vice President, Brooks Stanfield, spoke about
the Downtown Burien Bike Rack Project.
Burien Mayor, Brian Bennett, WABI President, Maureen Hoffmann,
and Burien City Councilmember, Rose Clark, officially cut the ribbon.
(Click photo to enlarge.)
The raffle draw for the Italian Cycling Cap…
…and the winner is one of the teen actors from the Hi-Liners’ rendition of Godspell.
Bike rack sponsor, cyclist and local citizen, Gail Rongey,
won the raffle draw for the royal blue, Trek Classic Cruiser.
Gail Rongey, stands with Urban Racks Rep, Teresa Matthews.
Ahh, if only we could really lock up our bikes with
red-and-black polka dotted ribbon instead of kryptonite…
Nancy Tosta, left, speaks with Michael Lafreniere,
Director of Burien’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services.
Local business-sponsored bikes, encouraging a bike culture here in town.
WABI Treasurer, Jimmy Shulz, rode the raffle bike to Gail’s house for her
(since she was already on her own bike).
A pedaled people train headed home on 5 wheels after the ceremony.
We loved being a part of the celebration. Burien is lucky to have a passionate group like you that is trying to change our town for the better one rider at a time. Look out for our bike-train family as we get around town from picking up and dropping off kids to school, camp, to running errands and just riding for fun. Cars make way please 🙂
Your kids are growing up with bike sense, and all that brings to their lives and thinking! How fantastic for them, and for all of us! Thanks for coming (wheeled) to the big hurrah.
Wabi is a glowing example of local activism and community building. Thank you for what you’ve done and are doing for Burien!!
Aww, shucks. Thanks bunches!
Hey who’s that kid messing with my bike???
Congrats WABI Burien for keeping Burien moving forward on two (and sometimes 5) wheels! We can’t wait to lock our B-Town Blog Bike up to our own bike racks!
The color of your bike made all of us want to “mess” with it : )
I know…. Just wanted the tikes name!
Such a fun day! Love seeing folks out walking, pedaling, talking, having fun in our ‘hood!
Thanks Maureen and bike/ped team for making such a fun event happen!