Ian Thomas

Ian Thomas is the Technical Assistance Lead with America Walks. In this role, he develops and delivers education programs for advocates, professionals, and elected officials about the benefits of walkable communities and strategies to create them.

Ian was the founding Executive Director of the PedNet Coalition of Columbia, Missouri (now Local Motion). Between 2000 and 2013, he established the organization, developed one of the largest Walking School Bus programs in the country, coordinated a campaign that led to Columbia adopting the first “complete streets’ policy in Missouri, and was instrumental in reducing neighborhood speed limits.

From 2013 to 2022, Ian served as an elected member of the Columbia City Council, where he championed adoption of the city’s Vision Zero policy and launched several new community initiatives focused on health equity and sustainability.

Ian and his wife, Ellen, now live in St. Louis Park, Minnesota.