Through the Downtown Burien Bike Rack Project we’ll be installing bike racks all over town! You won’t want to miss out on the Sponsorship Sprint on April 19. This is a multi-faceted project and there’s a lot of information, so read on.
All sponsorships and rack locations are subject to approval by WABI Burien and the City of Burien.
Locals all fired up about bike racks
It started a couple of years ago with local folks all fired up to ride their bikes into town to do their shopping. They found that there were few places to lock their bikes up when they got to town. “We need bike racks in Burien!”
These cyclists found each other and joined efforts. They formed the organization “Walk/Bike Burien”, known around town as “WABI”, to address all things walking and biking in the city. And they started stirring things up through conversations about bike racks with the Burien Parks and Public Works Departments, and others in the city government.
Revitalizing the local economy
In the fall of 2012, WABI got wind of grant monies available from the Washington State Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB). WABI President and Vice President, Brooks Stanfield and Maureen Hoffmann, hunkered down for intense time at their keyboards, wrote and submitted the grant in collaboration with the City of Burien’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department… and were awarded $10,000 for the Downtown Burien Bike Rack Project!
The purposes of the CERB grant are to:
- enhance the vitality and livability of the community
- provide pedestrian and bicycle amenities
- revitalize a downtown business district
- increase activity for existing businesses
- improve the safety and enjoyment of bicyclists and pedestrians
- enhance in-city recreational opportunities
Since receiving news of having been awarded the grant money, WABI board members have been busy planning Bike Racks for Burien. WABI plans to install over 40 custom bike racks throughout our city’s commercial centers to promote biking and to accentuate our downtown.
Currently, Burien does not offer adequate bicycle parking, and this discourages those who would otherwise use their bikes to frequent the area. When ample, secure bike racks are placed within the areas that bikers use, Burien will be more attractive for businesses, residents and visitors.
WABI-ists have toured and mapped the whole city, inventorying existing bike racks and potential sites for the new racks. Rack vendors have been considered and selected. And a snazzy, customized Burien Bike Rack has been designed by WABI-ist Maureen Hoffmann, to be produced by regional vendor, Urban Racks. Lots of goings-on behind the scenes! (Click the rack photo to see a larger image.)
This is what our new bike racks will look like on our sidewalks.
YOU can take part in this project:
- Sponsor a bike rack. For $200, you can sponsor a bike rack and promote your business on the rack itself. We’re having a special “Sponsorship Sprint” on April 19 starting at 9:00 a.m. For more details, please visit the Sponsorship Sprint page.
- Tell us where you’d like to see bike racks installed. We want your input for new bike rack locations. Check out our map page of proposed bike rack locations then give us your feedback by comment or email at info@wabiburien.org.
