About Us
Our Story
Our Passion
Dan Burden is widely recognized as a thought-leader and implementation-focused practitioner in walkability, active transportation, traffic calming, safe routes to school, placemaking, and street design. He brings diverse teams together, integrating transportation planning with land use and health programming to build inclusive and vibrant communities. His expertise is in helping communities envision and implement streets that promote walking, bicycling, and social engagement.
Since 1996, Dan Burden and Walkable Communities have been at the forefront of revitalizing the art, science, and practice of walkability, urging neighborhoods, towns, regions, and the nation to embrace active lifestyles. Throughout his journey, Dan has had the privilege of learning from esteemed mentors in fields such as urban planning, urban design, economics, health,
engineering, architecture, landscape architecture, development, politics, government, and advocacy. Collaborative efforts in numerous communities have enabled Dan to refine engagement methods and design development tools, leading to the creation of sustainable, resilient, livable, and healthy places.
In 2008, Dan embarked on a new chapter by joining Blue Zones, inspired by its charismatic founder, Dan Buettner. Through this role, he has assisted hundreds of cities and counties in revitalizing communities, with a focus on enhancing walkability, wellness, and overall health. The Blue Zones program has demonstrated tangible improvements in individual well-being and economic health, providing a platform for Dan to achieve significant milestones. In 2023, he was honored by Blue Zones and recognized as its first Fellow, acknowledging his excellence.
In 2023, Dan launched Dan Burden Consultants, bringing together individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions to collaborate on the development of streets, parks, blocks, neighborhoods, towns and cities that align with the shared values and aspirations of people, irrespective of political affiliation.
Walkability, as a timeless approach to block and town design, has experienced a resurgence, gaining momentum in both rural areas and complex cities. The importance of building a healthy human habitat centered around walkability has been reaffirmed as crucial for realizing the visions and values of communities. Dan’s legendary energy and unique approach have made him a valuable source of good practices, generously shared with others. Take the time to explore this site and access our print and video resources. We appreciate the incredible work you are undertaking and are here to support you every step of the way.
Dan Burden is widely recognized as a thought-leader and implementation-focused practitioner in walkability, active transportation, traffic calming, safe routes to school, placemaking, and street design. He brings diverse teams together, integrating transportation planning with land use and health programming to build inclusive and vibrant communities. His expertise is in helping communities envision and implement streets that promote walking, bicycling, and social engagement.
Since 1996, Dan Burden and Walkable Communities have been at the forefront of revitalizing the art, science, and practice of walkability, urging neighborhoods, towns, regions, and the nation to embrace active lifestyles. Throughout his journey, Dan has had the privilege of learning from esteemed mentors in fields such as urban planning, urban design, economics, health, engineering, architecture, landscape architecture, development, politics, government, and advocacy. Collaborative efforts in numerous communities have enabled Dan to refine engagement methods and design development tools, leading to the creation of sustainable, resilient, livable, and healthy places.
In 2008, Dan embarked on a new chapter by joining Blue Zones, inspired by its charismatic founder, Dan Buettner. Through this role, he has assisted hundreds of cities and counties in revitalizing communities, with a focus on enhancing walkability, wellness, and overall health. The Blue Zones program has demonstrated tangible improvements in individual well-being and economic health, providing a platform for Dan to achieve significant milestones. In 2023, he was honored by Blue Zones and recognized as its first Fellow, acknowledging his excellence.
In 2023, Dan launched Dan Burden Consultants, bringing together individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions to collaborate on the development of streets, parks, blocks, neighborhoods, towns and cities that align with the shared values and aspirations of people, irrespective of political affiliation.
Walkability, as a timeless approach to block and town design, has experienced a resurgence, gaining momentum in both rural areas and complex cities. The importance of building a healthy human habitat centered around walkability has been reaffirmed as crucial for realizing the visions and values of communities. Dan’s legendary energy and unique approach have made him a valuable source of good practices, generously shared with others. Take the time to explore this site and access our print and video resources. We appreciate the incredible work you are undertaking and are here to support you every step of the way.
Our Vision
One day North American towns and cities will be more than limited oasis of walking and bicycling, and it won’t be just for those well off. Indeed active transportation will be seamless, and the preferred way to live healthy and to prosperous lives.
Our Mission
Through this web site we will help you grow your knowledge and courage to bring about change, to greatly increase communities for people and place, to make your town more, green, resilient, friendly, holistic, wholesome and successful.
Our Expertise
Delivering Beyond Expectation
Simply said, walkable communities are the places people want to live, work and play. They are neighborhoods and entire towns where people and place come first. It is easy to recognize a walkable community, as there is an abundance of diverse people walking, bicycling, and socializing. In a walkable community, walking, bicycling, and using transit become seamless, with many people switching their mode of travel multiple times each day. Physical and mental health, socializing, the number of friends and associates a person has, and both diversity and equity are increased as walkability goes up. In a truly walkable community, car ownership is no longer necessary and the built environment works for children, seniors and everyone in between.
Each neighborhood or district has the right scale, mix of uses, diversity and density of housing stock to allow people to walk to most destinations. The guiding principle is that there are many places to go to within the neighborhood. A test? Most things a person needs in a day can be found within a 15-minute walk. Block lengths are compact enough that speeds are low, and walking is the easiest and most natural choice. Each neighborhood provides reward for people living or visiting there, and each neighborhood has its own identity, complexity, quality, and uniqueness.
All streets in a walkable community work for all modes of travel, and for all people of all ages and ability. People feel safe, comfortable, and welcomed on all streets, and streets serve many purposes, not just moving cars. Local streets are designed, operated, and maintained where all motorists are courteous to all people living, walking, and bicycling. Streets are well connected, and welcoming. On-street parking and tree canopies further reduce speeding, while freeing up more space for housing. Higher category streets (avenues and boulevards) are designed, operated, and maintained where motorists look out for people walking and bicycling. No street or lane is wider than needed to perform its assigned service. People and place over speed and efficiency are always favored.
When poorly designed, streets create the wrong motorist behavior and they need to be amended. The needed changes to streets to overcome bad design are not band aids or tourniquets, they are neighborhood-built holistic and system wide. Changes do not simply move problems to the next street. The best street amendments are often inexpensive, and attractive, such as applying narrower street widths, more compact intersection designs and street greening techniques that work together to bring local, school, park areas and main shopping street speeds down to safe and comfortable levels.
For human habitats to be comfortable, inviting, and affordable, street designs must include well-selected trees and other plant materials. Bringing nature back to urban and suburban places has a positive impact on health, as well as the social and retail life of streets. By greening streets, the harmful effects of pavement are partially overcome and benefits include: reduced drainage costs; cooler streets and homes; more inviting places for walking; and reductions in both speeds and crashes.
Change is difficult. Many people would rather stick with what they know than adapt to the unknown. Public meetings can become shouting matches, and fearful neighbors put down or water down good place-centered designs. Walking audits bring back civil discussions and even make public engagement fun and rewarding. When technical and public walking audits are applied, they improve understanding and deliver a better future. Engagement can include workshops, as well as pop-up and demonstration projects in one or more locations. Again, confrontation is replaced with learning and trust-building. Positive engagement build lasting, healthy relationships.
Why Choose Us
The Best Place for the Best People
Years Experience
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Vestibulum vel tellus maximus, pretium nisl id.
Professional Team
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Vestibulum vel tellus maximus, pretium nisl id.
Proven Results
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Vestibulum vel tellus maximus, pretium nisl id.
Our Team
Meet Our Professionals
Dan Burden
Owner
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Employee Name
Position
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Employee Name
Position
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Employee Name
Position
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Employee Name
Position
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Employee Name
Position
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Employee Name
Position
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Employee Name
Position
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Employee Name
Position
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Employee Name
Position
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Employee Name
Position
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Employee Name
Position
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.