2023 New Year, New BWW!
2023 is already shaping up to be an exciting year for biking, walking, and BWW, an adventure with lots of opportunities to realize and challenges to overcome. And we will. There’s no doubt, with our collective power and energy, we can continue transforming our neighborhoods. Yes, it is ambitious, but with you, by our side, we have proven we can and will.
This year we are set up to make great strides, now we just need you. We are resident-led and your voice, energy, and support ensure we can get more people biking/walking, take advantage of more opportunities, and remove barriers that make a real difference.
We’ve heard from you and Bike Walk Wichita is making an effort to bring back popular education classes, while creating fresh educational opportunities in our new building’s seminar classroom. New guest speakers are planned for everything from nutrition and health classes to training rides and bike-packing, as well as simply learning to ride a bicycle.
The Recycle Bike Repair shop is settled in and planning to expand this Spring. A Bike Mechanic education series for people interested in helping as Shop Assistants or Coordinators begins Feb 4.
We have raised just over $400,000 towards our Capital Campaign goal of $600,00. With your support, we are on track to fully realize the potential of this amazing location and property.
Dr Greg Meissen and Kevin Bomhoff will be leading BWW through a re-visioning and strategic planning process over the next six months to ensure BWW 2.0 is meeting the needs and desires of our friends and residents. We hope you will help shape our future.
Help us pick up the pace!
Below is a quick recap so far this year, none of which could have happened without the generosity of our volunteers and donors. More than 200 volunteers have made these become reality in 2022.
2022 accomplishments:
- 600+ donated bikes ReCycled and distributed to kiddos and people needing a bike for transportation!
- Launched our first major fundraising effort, our Capital Campaign, to purchase and make improvements to a downtown property. I’m excited to announce that we have just surpassed our halfway goal and are on track to pay off the property within a few years! This dream has become a reality through the generosity of our BWW friends, local businesses, and foundations who believe in our mission and the significant impact we are making.
- Moved into our new HQs at 325 N. St Francis and set up a more efficient and user-friendly ReCycle Shop, available to anyone needing to make a bike repair or find a used bike/gear. Plus nice bathrooms and plenty of space for social gatherings, classes, and events!
- Hosted over 100 walks and rides exploring neighborhoods, bike/ped infrastructure, parks, and shopping districts across ICT.
- Successfully advocated for increased city funding dedicated to bike/ped projects, including $300,000 annually for crosswalk restriping.
- Advocated for more than 10 miles of bikes lanes/paths/road diets that were installed in the city this year.
- Expanded and strengthened relationships with numerous service agencies, local businesses, neighborhood groups, and organizations. Collaboration is vital to making progress and implementing local solutions to address resident and community challenges.
- Collaborated with the city and partners to host: Bike Month ICT, Open Streets ICT, Open Streets ICT-NoMar, Walktober, and Operation FireFly events. We also attended + made many new friends at Juneteenth, Love Your Community Evergreen, and other local events.
I’ve been trying to solve an unsafe pedestrian situation between Sim Golf Course and Botanica. Along the newly added portion of Botanica there is a sidewalk that unfortunately only goes about half way and then stops, forcing pedestrians to walk the remaining half in the street. There is a wide swath of grass, on the Sim Golf Course side, that is wide enough for putting a sidewalk in in order to complete a safe pedestrian access opportunity. I live in the Riverside area and have spoken to various people about this need over the years. I wish this project could be attended to. Thanks.
Thanks for your comment. We appreciate anyone identifying unsafe streets or sidewalk conditions. We have some people in Bike Walk Wichita that may be able to help you more. We have a Pedestrian work group that is active in walking around the city and who are frequently highlighted in our monthly eNewsletter and accessible from our website. We also have volunteers who happen to be a part of the city’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board. Additionally, we have Bike Walk Wichita members who reside in your District VI and who reside in the Riverside neighborhood that may also be of some assistance to you.
Before I can really point you in the right direction if you don’t mind providing a little more information. When you say “you have been trying to solve this unsafe pedestrian situation”, what have you been able to do so far? Have you been able to contact your District representative or Neighborhood Association? Do you have any photos of the unsafe sidewalk or lack of sidewalk?
Here are some additional online resources:
District 6 webpage:
https://www.wichita.gov/Council/Pages/DistrictVI.aspx
District 6 Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/wichitadistrict6
Riverside Citizens Association Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/137465432675/
I’ll contact you again via direct email and cc those in our organization as well,
Thank you
/Jason H.
Bike Walk Wichita
Tech Admin/Communications