Dan Burden, a passionate advocate for pedestrian and bicycle-friendly communities, will bring his energizing, highly-visual presentation to Bellingham during a public talk scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 14 in Bellingham City Hall Council Chambers.
Burden is executive director of Walkable Communities, Inc. and a nationally recognized expert on creating healthy pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly communities.
During an August visit to the Northwest, Burden led more than 30 growth experts and innovators from across the globe through Bellingham as part of a four-day tour. During the tour and in subsequent publications, Burden has highlighted Bellingham's waterfront as having the potential to become one of North America's best new places, with its design being the "tipping point" to attracting new jobs, smart growth and prosperity for the entire region.
"Genuine urban areas, such as the Bellingham waterfront, provide the most social and economic benefit when they remain public and welcoming to all people," he said. "Many people must take part in the process so that the waterfront vision is strong and compelling. Most of all, the waterfront will realize its greatest potential if it is designed for people, while accommodating cars; not the other way around."
His Oct. 14 presentation will describe the ideas and impressions this group of experts gained while touring the area, as well as offer his perspective on what steps communities should take to achieve people-oriented streets, neighborhoods and downtown centers.
Burden's vision is to assist elected officials, business and community leaders in their quest to create activity centers, business districts and neighborhoods for people, and his highly visual, information-rich workshops showcase ways to create plans and designs that do so.
Burden is the founder and executive director of Walkable Communities, Inc. and a nationally known expert in the "placemaking" movement. He is a recognized authority on bicycle and pedestrian facilities and programs. He brings together many disciplines and issues - such as street design, traffic calming, public safety, bicycling, and greenways - into a holistic vision for creating healthy, pedestrian and bicycle-friendly communities.
For more information about Burden's Oct. 14 presentation, contact the Mayor's Office.
Published: Oct 7, 2008
