Washington Area Bicyclist Association

Mission & Vision

WABA empowers people to ride bikes, build connections, and transform places. We envision a just and sustainable transportation system where walking, biking, and transit are the best ways to get around.

Values

To make our vision a reality, we ground our work in five key values:

• Joy: We celebrate people and share the joy of bicycling.
• Boldness: We think big and transform passion into action.
• Integrity: We earn trust through consistency, honesty, and transparency.
• Justice: We put justice at the heart of our work.
• Stewardship: We care for people and the environment, conserve resources, and evolve thoughtfully.

Our Theory of Change

WABA acquires, manages, and distributes our limited resources in ways that align to our values and best serve the people and communities in our region. And when we’re successful, our transportation system looks different — easier to use, accessible to everyone, more affordable, and climate-resilient — and more people join us for the ride. 

To build public support and encourage more people to become champions for a better transportation system, we know the simple act of bicycling can change everything. Here’s how we think about it:

Riding bikes helps people see the need for safe places to ride: multi-use trails and low-stress protected bike lanes that get them where they want to go. When our cities and counties and states build safer places to ride, more people will get on a bike. And then, when more people ride, demand for better streets and connected trails rises too. 

WABA steps in at two key places along that spectrum: first, we give people the tools and resources to have a great ride, from teaching someone to ride for the very first time to helping them navigate a tricky multi-modal commute. Second, we organize community members who demand better places to ride, and ensure that our region’s leaders respond to our pressure and build better places to bike. We’re simultaneously building demand and the physical space we need to make our region more just and sustainable.