Places become better when they are bikeable, walkable and full of options for modes of transportation. They become more interesting, more diverse, and more beautiful. They encourage activity and make their residents more healthy. They inspire more ways for people to interact. And walkable, bikeable places attract people from around the region to come and see what all the fuss is about.
Imagine children growing up in Burien with bike racks to lock up to when they ride their bikes around town!
Biking is good for the local economy
- “Shop Local.” When people bike and walk locally, they tend to shop locally as well. Bicyclists and pedestrians bring in business.
- Research makes this clear: when downtowns open themselves up to multiple forms of transit, local businesses thrive.
- When you bike, you experience neighborhoods differently than when you drive a car.
- You can fit more bikes than cars into a space, thus you increase the density of people who frequent an area.
- Once a person gets in a car, they are far more likely to drive off to the distant mall than to stick around at the local shops.
- Downtowns that encourage all modes of transit see their business districts flourish.
Biking promotes well-being
Riding a bike instead of hopping in a car to get that loaf of bread also makes you feel better. It’s better for your health and well-being. Scattering bike racks around the city is right in line with tennets of the Vision for Burien, adopted in July 2011:
- Burien promotes community vitality with health and wellness services for all ages.
- Burien encourages active living to support physical and mental health.
