San Diego CA— On Thursday, December 7, the San Diego County Bike Coalition will commemorate 30 years as San Diego’s only countywide organization protecting the rights of all people on bikes with a festive bike ride followed by an evening of celebration.
Beginning at 5:30 p.m., people of all ages and abilities will head to Panama 66 for a two-wheeled tour through the neighborhoods surrounding Balboa Park. The Bike Coalition invites participants to join the annual ride on bikes decorated with holiday tinsel and string lights. This year, the organization encourages riders to add 1980s attire to their festive flair in honor of the organization’s 1987 inception.
When the ride ends at 6:30 p.m., guests will reconvene at Panama 66 to raise a glass to the top bicycle achievements of 2017. The Bike Coalition will host its annual Golden Gear Awards to recognize the people who have gone above and beyond to make San Diego County bike friendly this year.

2017 Golden Gear award winners include:

• Advocate of the Year – Michael Brennan, Hillcrest resident: For leading advocacy efforts for a series of bike lanes along University Avenue in Hillcrest.
• Bicycle-Friendly Business of the Year – Mission Brewery: For supporting customers on bikes by offering secure parking and discounts on beer for Bike Coalition members.
• Community Partner of the Year – Bike the Bay Organizing Committee: For raising more than $500,000 over the past 10 years through the Bike Coalition’s annual bike ride over San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge: Bike the Bay.
• Educator of the Year – Francisco Contreras, Encanto resident: For educating the Barrio Logan community on bicycle safety through his youth bicycle club, KCicletas.
• Elected Official of the Year – Councilmember David Alvarez, District 8: For his dedication to bike commuting and his advocacy for bike-friendly initiatives in the City of San Diego.
• Public Partner of the Year – City of Chula Vista: For playing a major role in approving the Broadway bike lane project and funding and organizing CiclaVista — the region’s first-ever open streets celebration outside of the City of San Diego.
• Volunteers of the Year –
  • David and Nancy Nichols, Lakeside residents: For being strong community advocates for better bicycling.
  • Dan and Pauline Callahan, La Mesa residents: For always willing to lend a hand at Bike Coalition events.

“2017 has been a groundbreaking year for bikes in San Diego — from the 10th anniversary of Bike the Bay to approval of the University Avenue bike lane,” says Andy Hanshaw, executive director of the Bike Coalition. “As we celebrate 30 years of gears in San Diego County, we’re eager to hit the ground rolling into another great year.”
Proceeds from this year’s Holiday Joy Ride will benefit the San Diego Bike Coalition’s efforts to make San Diego a better, safer place for bicycling.
To purchase tickets to Holiday Joy Ride on Thursday, December 7, please click here. For daily updates, roll along with the San Diego County Bike Coalition on Facebook and Twitter or at http://www.sdbikecoalition.org.