This award goes to an individual leader of a bicycling and/or walking advocacy organization who has shown tireless commitment to promoting bicycling and walking in his/her state/community. This person goes above and beyond the call of duty to transform his/her state/community into a great place for biking and walking. His or her time, knowledge, creativity, and commitment are the highest standard of excellence exemplifying a role model for peers.

2015: Keith Holt, Wisconsin Bike Fed

Keith Holt, southeast region director of the Wisconsin Bike Fed, has worked in Chicago and Milwaukee to improve access to bicycling for everyone. He is leading the biking and walking movement into a greater understanding of how to incorporate diversity and equity into its work. In his own advocacy work, he’s consistently built partnerships with communities of color to encourage healthier lifestyles and to use bicycling as a tool for social change. In addition to his work at the Wisconsin Bike Fed, Holt helps with the formation of Milwaukee Bicycle Works and serves as chairman of the Milwaukee Bike Ped Task Force.

 

2014: Nelle Pierson, Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA)

When Bicycling Magazine named her one of 14 innovators working to change the world through biking, Nelle took the opportunity to explain her approach to broadening the base of citizens demanding better biking in the greater Washington, DC area. “We don’t have the resources for corporate marketing,” she said, “so we sell through humans and connect through people power.”

Nelle’s passion for human-to-human connection has informed her exceptional outreach and programming work over four years with the Washington Area Bicyclist Association. As WABA’s outreach coordinator and former events coordinator, she has brought huge events from budget to after-party and, most recently, designed and established the highly successful Women & Bicycles program. This new program is transforming the conversation about women and bicycling in the DC region by bringing in new riders and advocates through peer-to-peer networking.

It’s not hard to envision Nelle as the new face of bicycle advocacy: persistent, idealistic, relentlessly organized, and dedicated to resolving inequities in the bicycle movement.

2013: Rebecca Serna, Atlanta Bicycle Coalition

Rebecca Serna has been Atlanta Bicycle Coalition’s Executive Director for over 5 years, and a board member of Georgia Bikes. During this time she has worked with leaders and elected officials from across the region to make Atlanta a better place to bike. As we saw earlier with Georgia’s Complete Streets policy, the Southeast U.S. is a region that is making great strives to become more walkable and bikeable, Rebecca’s work is an inspiration to those around her.

“The work that she does sets the bar for the surrounding cities and counties,” said Sonja Parham, who nominated her for the award. The Alliance and the League awarded Atlanta Bicycle Coalition our largest Advocacy Advance Model Grant and they have been an incredible partner, mentor, and example for other organizations across the continent. Jessica Estep, who nominated Rebecca for this award, said that Rebecca has dedicated herself to “making a city that used to be bike-unfriendly into a blossoming city for bicycles, and she does it all with an air of humility. She deserves this award more than anyone else.” We couldn’t agree more!

2012: Eric Rogers, BikeWalkKC

The campaigns may change, but in Kansas City, Missouri, one thing remains the same. "If you show up for an advocacy effort," one nomination summed up, "there's one guy you will always see — and that's Eric Rogers."

Rogers' long-standing involvement at the state and local level has earned him a reputation as both as a passionate advocate leader for the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation, and trusted, go-to expert on bike-ped issues for policymakers of all stripes. While he chairs the Kansas City Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee and serves as the executive director of BikeWalkKC, Rogers spends countless hours attending hearings and meetings across the region; working behind the scenes to keep advocates updated; and improving critical education and encouragement programs like the KC Car-Free Challenge and KC Safer Routes.

As one city council member attested in her nomination: "Eric has been a constant, persistent, passionate voice in the oversight of private developments and city infrastructure services, speaking out for sidewalks, bike lanes and routes, driver education, defined trails and safe crosswalks." And, in the true spirit of genuine, selfless advocacy, Rogers never expects recognition beyond the legacy of his own good works.

2011: Jackie Douglas, Livable Streets Alliance

In 2010, there was no advocate more tireless or worthy of modeling than Jackie Douglas from LivableStreets in Boston. Having risen from the ranks of intern, Douglas never rests as executive director, working to improve conditions for cyclists and pedestrians; increase membership for the organization, bring in grant funding for its programming and act as the face of LivableStreets at near-daily public meetings, volunteer gatherings and public speaking events.

For Douglas, working overtime is the norm and that tireless dedication shows in the sophistication and success of LivableStreets campaigns, including a Better Bridgesinitiative that's tackling the tough task of getting better provisions for bicyclists and pedestrians on the region's river crossings. Despite her busy schedule, Douglas is generous with her time, frequently sharing her experiences and insights with other advocacy leaders in Advocacy Advance reports and Alliance Mutual Aid Calls.

2010: Paul LeFrancois, Palmetto Cycling Association

Paul LeFrancois, President and a founding board member of the Palmetto Cycling Coalition, has gone above and beyond the call of duty to transform South Carolina into a better place for biking and walking. Among his many accomplishments, Paul created and secured passage of a SC Share the Road license plate (one of the first in the U.S.), has coordinated bicycling legislative events in cities throughout South Carolina, and assisted communities throughout the state in securing bicycle-friendly designation from the League of American Bicyclists.

With his leadership the PCC had its most significant success passing major reforms to South Carolina’s bicycle traffic safety laws in 2008. Paul’s knowledge, creativity, and commitment are the highest standard of excellence making him a role model in the Palmetto State and for biking and walking advocates.

2009: Lloyd J. “Bud” Vye, Virginia Bicycling Federation

Lloyd J. “Bud” Vye was Vice President of the Virginia Bicycling Federation and Advocacy Chair for the Richmond Area Bicycling Association. For over a decade, Bud has dedicated his life to promoting safe biking and walking in the Richmond area.

Bud led successful efforts to ban text messaging while driving in Virginia and to install bike racks on all local buses. Bud has also advocated for pro-bike legislation including overturning laws requiring bicyclists to ride on a sidepath, where there was one, and requiring lights while riding after dark.