December Volunteer Spotlight – Barbara Coats

Barb is the ideal volunteer for an organization like Bike Walk Wichita. She is willing to pitch in and help with anything. Years ago we were getting ready to paint our office space. First person to get down and clean baseboards? Barb! Yet she has the professional background and interest to inform our program decision making and has helped our Pedestrian Workgroup grow its reach beyond just hosting walks to include data collection and  shared walking routes throughout the city. Walking is the key to health, and by making access to safe, appealing routes available to anyone through our app we are able to reach many people who we may never even meet. We are thankful for her hours “having fun” in Google Maps!

Barb is sure to be the first to sign up for any info table or outreach like Open Streets. She is so open and easy to talk to that she is one of the best at sharing our message and encouraging people to take steps towards a healthier life. And we can count on her to lead walks with an engaging and confident manner that people trust, so important since we get many people who have never gone on a group walk. 

Finally Barb’s attention to detail has made her an invaluable member of our database team. We know that if Barb finds our instructions clear and accurate, then anyone should be able to complete the procedure by following the steps. That is not easy, and I especially appreciate her patience and good humor as we refine procedures!