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Congratulations to the Winners of the Alliance’s 2009 Advocacy Awards!

Posted: 03/06/2009

Alliance for Biking and Walking announced the 2009 winners of our Advocacy Awards in March, 2009.

Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA)

Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) has been honored with the 2009 Advocacy Organization of the Year Award for its numerous efforts and achievements in the DC area. This award is given to an organization that has made significant progress in the past year in regards to the strength and stability of their organization, and efforts towards biking and walking issues in their community, state, or province. Some of WABA’s most successful efforts included the debut of DC Smart Bikes (the first ever bike sharing system of its kind), receiving a grant from DC for a Share the Road Campaign, a record 7,000 participating riders for Bike To Work Day, and reaching over 10,650 students in 58 schools, day camps, and weekend rodeos with their Bike and Pedestrian Safety Education program. Congratulations!

Lloyd J. “Bud” Vye

Lloyd J. “Bud” Vye, Vice President of the Virginia Bicycling Federation and Advocacy Chair for the Richmond Area Bicycling Association has been honored with the 2009 Advocate of the Year Award. This award is given to a biking and walking advocacy leader who is a true role model to other advocates in regards to their tireless efforts, creativity, knowledge, and commitment to grassroots campaigns. For over a decade, Bud has dedicated his life to promoting safe biking and walking in the Richmond area. Bud recently 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. Bud’s efforts and dedication make him a true role model for biking and walking advocates.

Planet Bike

Planet Bike has been honored with the 2009 Business Advocate of the Year Award for its commitment to grassroots biking advocacy. This award is given to a business that proves its dedication to biking and walking by committing time, money, and energy on sustainable transportation issues. Since its founding in 1996, Planet Bike has given $660,000 to various biking organizations, and currently 25 percent of Planet Bike profits are set aside for bicycle advocacy. In addition to its financial contributions, Planet Bike has helped bring other key players in the bicycle industry to support the grassroots bicycle advocacy movement.

Transportation Alternatives

Transportation Alternatives has been honored with the 2009 Innovation Award for their Youth For Car Free Parks project in Brooklyn, New York. The Innovation Award is given to an organization that has implemented the most creative and innovative campaign in regards to biking and walking issues and advocacy. Transportation Alternative’s campaign not only promoted bicycling and walking in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, but also found a way to directly involve community youth by choosing four Brooklyn high school students to lead the effort through a competitive summer-long internship. In addition to collecting 10,000 signed postcards for Mayor Bloomberg in favor of a car free park, these students took on emissions testing, meetings with elected officials, and a final march across the Brooklyn Bridge.

Bicycle Colorado

Bicycle Colorado has been honored with the 2009 Best Practice Award for its outstanding efforts and results in regards to program growth, policy, and advocacy. This Best Practice Award is given to an organization that exemplifies successful day-to-day operations and therefore serves as a model for other bicycling and walking organizations. After surpassing their goal of doubling their staff and budget, Bicycle Colorado went on to secure funding to promote bicycling on Colorado’s 25 designated scenic byways, to establish a Bicycle Education Fund to improve road safety, to grow the largest membership base of a state-wide bicycle advocacy organization in the U.S., and to create a coalition of event leaders from the largest bike events in Colorado.

Livable City

Livable City is being honored with the 2009 Winning Campaign Award for its work on the campaign to bring Sunday Streets to San Francisco. Livable City worked to help convince Mayor Newson to champion the two pilot events which each drew roughly 10,000 residents to the 8-mile car-free route.

Randy Neufeld

Randy Neufeld, Chief Strategy Officer of the Active Transportation Alliance, President of America Bikes, and the founding chair of the Alliance for Biking and Walking has been honored with the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award. Randy served as Executive Director of the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation (now the Active Transportation Alliance) from 1988 to 2004 before becoming its Chief Strategic Officer. His leadership has taken the organization from its roots as a small group of volunteers to its present state of organizational strength: a staff of 26, a budget of more than $1.5 million, more than 5,000 members, and a reputation locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally as a leading bicycle advocacy organization. As a founding member, he has also played a key role in the growth and success of the Alliance for Biking and Walking. His service on national boards, mentoring of advocacy leaders, and leadership on national strategy demonstrate Randy’s unwavering commitment to biking and walking advocacy.

Congratulations to all of the award winners. Please be sure to join us on Tuesday, March 10, 8:30 PM, at the Elephant and Castle, 1201 Pennsylvania Ave NW #2, for the formal award presentation at the Alliance Reception.