Dan Burden

Director of Innovation and Implementation, Blue Zones, LLC

Dan has spent more than 35 years helping to get the world “back on its feet.” During the summer of 2014 Dan transitioned to his new role with Blue Zones, LLC. Seen as a visionary, innovator and source of inspiration and collaboration throughout his career, Dan is a nationally recognized authority on walkable, livable and sustainable communities, complete streets, and bicycle and pedestrian facilities and programs. Dan has become known for his pioneering work and leadership to mentor many in how to transform communities into places for people first, all while still accommodating the car, and not the other way around. In this new role as the Director of Innovation and Implementation, Dan oversees many additional community built environment transitions, making dozens, and eventually hundreds of communities healthier, more active places to live. 
 
Dan has always been a pioneer in his work, staying up on holistic trends in transportation and land use, and becoming a sought after master of implementing change. In 2014, the White House and US Department of Transportation named Dan a Champion of Change. His efforts have earned him the first-ever lifetime-achievement award issued by the New Partners for Smart Growth and the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals. Additionally, in 2001, Dan was named by TIME Magazine as “one of the six most important civic innovators in the world.” Also that year, the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences honored Dan by making him their Distinguished Lecturer. In 2009, a user’s poll by Planetizen named Dan as one of the Top 100 Urban Thinkers of all time. 
 
Dan has directly worked with more than 3,500 communities over the course of his career, bringing together disciplines to address issues such as street design, public safety, economic development and land-use planning to create a holistic vision for healthy communities that are age-friendly and pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly. He is considered an international expert in walkability, bikeability, traffic calming and road diets. 

Programs: