Summit Awards 2021: Let the Voting begin!
Thanks to all of you for putting in your nominations for Person, Program, and Project for the Silicon Valley Bike Summit Awards 2021. We received many nominations from both Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties recognizing the innovative work done in the past year around biking. And now, the fun part begins! It is time to vote to choose the most laudable Person, Program, and Project for these awards! Voting will be open until DATE, and the winners will be awarded online at our 11th Annual Bike Summit on August 12 and 13, 2021.Below is a quick introduction of the nominees:Nominees for Bicycling Person of the Year: (8 nominations) –
Ari Feinsmith || SVBC Sunnyvale team leader, Volunteer - Ari joined the Sunnyvale local group of SVBC less than a few years ago, and is now leading the Sunnyvale Local team. He has set up Free Bike Repair Events in Sunnyvale, spoken to the city council members to advocate for projects and also successfully organized a lobbying effort for a study issue for making Tasman car lane change to non-car use. He is finishing his second year of college and is super professional, inclusive and nice.
Matthew Bartlett || Chief Trailer Officer - He is supremely dedicated to making sure we have trailers that are in superb shape for the monthly Eastside Connect vegetable deliveries.
Vignesh Swaminathan || President & CEO, Crossroad Labs - Vignesh has done outstanding design work for creating new bicycling facilities. From his work which made San Jose's extensive bicycle network possible to designing the protected bike route on McClellan Road in Cupertino or making equity a fundamental part of his projects, Vignesh is setting an industry example for high quality, inclusive, and cost effective solutions to make outstanding cycling infrastructure mainstream. His tiktok persona "Mr. Barricade" has also brought bicycle infrastructure related content to new viewers around the world.
Julia Malmo-Laycock || Active Transportation Specialist, San Mateo County Office of Sustainability - The Unincorporated San Mateo County Active Transportation Plan (ATP) would not have come to fruition or adoption without the tireless efforts of Julia in managing the consultant team, engaging department staff and agency stakeholders, and leading community engagement efforts. Julia pivoted the ATP's engagement strategy due to the Covid-19 and was still able to prioritize engaging underrepresented communities. She continues to seek and seize opportunities to further implementation, helping to conceive of and write grant applications, supporting programs, and shaping new policies.
Zachary Hilton || Gilroy City Council - Zack has been instrumental in moving the City of Gilroy forward to a more bike friendly community through his leadership, passion, and community engagement efforts in his multiple hats ranging from being the chair of Gilroy Bicycle Pedestrian Commission, running various campaigns, SRTS parent coordinator, running bike fix-it stations. Now a newly elected council member and with his passion for public service, Zack has already made efforts to prioritize transit-oriented villages, support a local proposal for a BMX Pump Track, and advocate for more open government and public participation.
John Langbein || SMC BPAC member and former SVBC SMC local team leader - The list is endless of why John deserves to be Bike Champion of the Century! He advocates for safety and keeping roads open to cyclists. He rides everywhere, commuting from RWC to Menlo Park for work for his entire working career. His name is on just about every advocacy committee in San Mateo.
Ria Lo || Transportation Manager, City of Mountain View - Ria has been a champion for multimodal transportation and has advanced progressive policy and infrastructure projects in the City of Mountain View. Ria has established a Complete Streets policy, a Vision Zero Plan, an Active Transportation Plan to be implemented in 2021, AccessMV, and the implementation of the ECR project and several more! Ria is dedicated to finding solutions for safe bicycle and pedestrian travel. Ria is dedicated to finding solutions for safe bicycle and pedestrian travel and looks for every opportunity to enhance the lives of the residents and visitors of Mountain View. She is a huge asset to the City of Mountain View’s Transportation Department and to the larger community!
Rafael Avendaño || Current ED, Redwood City Together and Former Director, Siena Youth Center - Rafael is a community leader and advocate, mentor, problem-solver, collaborator, and a great source of inspiration. His vast list of impacts includes: hundreds of helmets fitted to kids, a much-needed crosswalk in front of the Siena Youth Center, annual community health fairs featuring bike rodeos and community resources like vaccines, empowerment of youth and community members, advocating for the community as a North Fair Oaks community council member, mentor to hundreds of youth. He’s an invaluable leader and partner, and of course a fellow bike enthusiast. Most importantly, he cares deeply about the community, knowing when to put biking aside to focus on more pressing community needs.
Nominees for Program of the Year: (6 nominations) –
Bike Repair Clinic, Sunnyvale - The Free Bike Repair and Safety Check Training Event is run by Bike Sunnyvale (AKA the SVBC Sunnyvale Team). This event has 3 parts: 1) Evaluation: 2) Fixing and 3) Teaching. Check the website for more info https://sites.google.com/view/free-bike-repair
Ride East San José Social Bike Ride - RideESSJ is part social event, part community service. The social aspect of it encourages people to ride, particularly in the underrepresented East Side of San Jose. They also have done events to celebrate public art and to encourage riders in East San Jose to participate in advocacy for bicycling infrastructure.
SJ Fixed Group Social Ride - SJ Fixed has tapped into the subculture of fixed gear riders in San Jose. Established in 2006, they do several rides weekly and have developed a strong community of riders. They provide a community of support and encouragement for riders new to the scene.
Bike Shop by Live In Peace, East Palo Alto: donation of bikes, community rides, free repairs to community members - This bike shop has been a great place for the youth in East Palo Alto and Belle Haven to come to a place that they are able to have access to a bike, learn how to repair bikes and personalize their bikes all in once. The team takes the kids and families to community rides and advocates for an overall healthy lifestyle. (https://www.liveinpeace.org/bike-shop)
Eastside Connect Farm Box by Bike - In March 2020, Veggielution launched Eastside Connect, a program through which we distribute fresh produce to low-income East San José initially as a direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program serves more than 300 people per week. Produce food boxes are delivered by bike to families in East San Jose who aren't able to pick them up themselves. SVBC organizes and trains volunteers to deliver farm boxes by bike. https://veggielution.org/eastside-connect
Peninsula Clean Energy E-bike rebate program, San Mateo County - In May 2021, PCE debuted the e-bike rebate program to offer up to $800 to qualifying applicants toward the purchase of an e-bike, specifically for people who have a lower income. PCE and SVBC have also partnered to provide additional outreach and encouragement in the form of classes and rides for people who have received the rebate. https://www.peninsulacleanenergy.com/ebikes/
Nominees for Project of the Year: (6 nominations) –
Protected Cycle Track, North Access Road, South San Francisco, San Mateo County - This is South city's first protected bikeway facility. The project constructed a 1,000-foot long protected bike lane (Class IV bikeway) that featured a 12-foot wide, 2-way bike lane on one side of the road separated from vehicular traffic by a raised island. Additionally, the project installed ADA-compliant curb ramps, repaired broken sidewalk, and relocated signs obstructing sidewalk. The project enhanced the safety and convenience for bicyclists and pedestrians on the San Francisco Bay Trail.
Buffered Green Bike Lane, Morgan Hill, Santa Clara County - The city being split by Highway 101, an East West connection between both sides of the City was vital. Crucial to this plan was the creation of a paved bike path and the improvements to Main Avenue. Main Avenue was originally planned as a four lane roadway and currently has a ROW that belongs to the City and the County. In 2021, the City completed an improvement project that created buffered bike lanes with sections of green striping at intersections. To complete this an additional section of sidewalk had to be constructed and the roadway expanded in one area. With the completion of the project bicycles now can connect from the east and west side of the City.
Paved trail connection between University Avenue and Ravenswood Open Space Preserve, Santa Clara County - In August 2020, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District opened a new trail segment at Ravenswood Open Space Preserve that closed a 0.6-mile critical gap in the San Francisco Bay Trail on the peninsula. Completing this gap connected 80 miles of continuous Bay Trail from Menlo Park to Sunnyvale and across the Dumbarton Bridge to the East Bay.
Charleston Rd, Mountain View, Santa Clara County - In partnership with the City of Mountain View, Google completed the first phase of the Charleston Corridor project in 2020. It aims to promote biking and walking while connecting the city of Mountain View to North Bayshore. The corridor places biking mobility first. As the way we travel continues to evolve - with more micro-mobility options, the corridor will serve as an important landmark, providing safe space where the entire community can bike, meet and enjoy, whether they’re hanging out or simply passing through.
10th & 11th Street, San José, Santa Clara County - The City of San Jose is piloting an innovative treatment to make the streets safer for people biking on 10th and 11th Street, both one way roads. The city implemented a frontage road with a physical barrier that bicyclists and residents parking can access. This separates bikes from most of the moving traffic with protection. See more here: https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2021/06/23/i-feel-safer-concrete-barriers-replace-old-painted-bike-lanes-in-downtown-san-jose/)
Slow Streets, Redwood City, San Mateo County - In early 2020, Redwood City met the moment by opening 5.5 miles of neighborhood streets and restricting vehicle traffic so that residents would have more space. The Redwood City Slow Streets Pilot Program increases the safety of walking, biking, and rolling on the designated streets. In May 2021, the city has developed next steps for the program and is considering long term improvements. https://www.redwoodcity.org/about-the-city/slow-streets-pilot-program
Make sure to vote for these nominees and help us identify the most deserving candidate in each category. Don’t forget, voting closes on DATE. Thank you!
