Meet WalkBike Worcester and most importantly…

Meet Karin, WalkBike Worcester’s fearless and dedicated volunteer leader!

Karin Valentine Goins, co-founder of WalkBike Worcester, is a public health activist working to make our streets more pedestrian and bike friendly. Karin has been a member of the Worcester community since 1997, and has both a personal and professional interest in helping people be active. As an avid walker and biker herself, Karin understands the importance of making our streets safe to all modes of transportation.

Recently I had a chance to sit down with Karin and hear about all that WalkBike Worcester (WBW) is up to.  One of their primary focuses is Complete Streets. Complete Streets is a approach that “ensures that transportation planners and engineers consistently design and operate the entire roadway with all users in mind – including bicyclists, public transportation vehicles and riders, and pedestrians of all ages and abilities”. WBW is working with city officials and staff across a range of department to make this a reality in Worcester.  They attend public meetings and provide input on project designs and plans, providing a consistent and clear voice for pedestrians and cyclists in the city. Karin believes that Worcester can begin to transform into a community with a strong and visible bike and pedestrian culture. WalkBike Worcester also hosts speakers, ranging from local and state-wide agencies such as the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission.  WalkBike Worcester aims to educate residents regarding current legislation and advocacy that supports a transition to a walk/bike friendly community.

In the future, Karin hopes that WalkBike Worcester can become a freestanding non-profit organization (right now they are a working group of the Worcester Food & Active Living Policy Council).  With continued growth, she hopes that WalkBike Worcester can have the capacity to do a wider range of activities that would be geared towards policy work. These activities, along with more events and promotional pieces, will enable WalkBike Worcester to reach a larger audience, gaining capacity to continue advocating for social, physical, and legislative change.

WalkBike Worcester is an essential element in the Worcester Food and Active Living Policy Council (FALPC). According to Karin, “The populations for whom food and active living are an issue are also the ones with fewest transportation options”. Karin believes that the most economically vibrant communities are also those that provide transportation options to their residents. As a long-time advocate for public health issues, Karin continues to transform the way we see and move in the Worcester community.