Bike Coalition awards City of San Diego, organizations and volunteers for 2014 bike achievements

San Diego CA— San Diego County Bicycle Coalition, an organization that advocates for and protects the rights of all people who ride bicycles, hits the streets with winter cheer for it’s Holiday Joy Ride on Thursday, December 11. Tickets are $15 for members, $20 for nonmembers and $30 to become a member.
The fourth-annual family-friendly ride begins at 5:30 p.m. in Balboa Park at Panama 66 (4150 El Prado), encouraging festive costumes and featuring a “light-your-bike” parade of bicycles strung with Christmas lights and wrapped like presents.
The colorful ride returns to Panama 66 for a joyful celebration recapping top bicycle achievements of 2014 and honoring local recipients of the Bike Coalition’s Golden Gear Awards, recognizing those who went above and beyond to make San Diego bicycle friendly in the past year.
The following awardees will be presented an award by Melissa Balmer, executive director California Bike Coalition’s initiative PedalLove:
Volunteer of the Year: Johan Wangbichler, Bankers Hill resident, for participating in crucial bicycle meetings, community planning, including leading a ride to Tijuana each month.
Advocate of the Year: California Bike Coalition for spearheading significant statewide legislation including the 3-Feet For Safety law and the Protected Bikeways Act.
Public Partner of the Year: The City of San Diego for committing to the city’s first-ever Bike Share program, establishing a Bicycle Advisory Committee and supporting two CicloSDias’, an open streets celebration.
Community Partner of the Year: Tern Bicycles for its unwavering commitment to regional bicycle coalitions and for providing bicycles at events raising awareness about bicycling throughout San Diego.
Bike-Friendly Business of the Year: Irvine Company for launching Bike to Work month and implementing revolutionary bicycle infrastructure, including converting parking spaces into bike parking, to encourage employees to ride bikes to work.
“With two CicloSDias events and the City of San Diego’s first-ever Bicycle Advisory Committee, 2014 has been an incredible year for bicycling in San Diego and that is deserving of an equally incredible celebration,” says Andy Hanshaw, executive director of the Bike Coalition. “We’re looking forward to recognizing San Diego’s community members and organizations who played a monumental role in moving San Diego into the bicycle-friendly region that it should be.”
To become a member of the San Diego Bike Coalition or purchase tickets to the Holiday Joy Ride, click here.