SVBC Announces 2024 Summit Awards Winners
The Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition is thrilled to announce the winners of the 2024 Silicon Valley Bike Summit Awards.
After a competitive nomination and voting process that saw hundreds of community members cast a ballot for their favorite professional, program/project, and elected leader, three winners were selected to be recognized during SVBC’s Bike Summit.
Our winners will be honored at SVBC’s Bike Summit Awards ceremony on Thursday, August 29th at the South San Francisco Library | Parks & Recreation Center on 901 Civic Campus Way, South San Francisco, CA.
Please join us in congratulating our 2024 Bike Summit Award winners!
Professional of the Year
Tony Pereira, Co-Owner
A lifelong bicyclist with a passion for community, Tony Pereira has dedicated his career to fostering a vibrant and inclusive bicycling culture. Originally from Brazil, Tony's love affair with bikes began in São Paulo, where he first discovered the joy and freedom of two-wheeled transportation through BMX and mountain biking.
“It’s a pleasure to be part of the SVBC Family and share this great moment with all participants of this event! ”
Since moving to the Bay Area in 2015, Tony has been instrumental in establishing bicycling initiatives and programs. He is a co-founder of Straight Wheel Cycling, serving the Half Moon Bay and San Mateo communities. Beyond his business ventures, Tony is committed to giving back to the community. He generously donates time and resources to support local nonprofits and community groups by offering bike repair services at cost or less. He does this to build community and engender a culture of biking in the Peninsula.
Tony's dedication to building an inclusive cycling community is evident in his work. He has led bike rodeos for children, served as a League Certified Instructor, and supported initiatives to make cycling more accessible for all. His contributions to the Peninsula's cycling community have earned him well-deserved recognition as Professional of the Year.
Program of the Year
Middle School Bike Skills Program
Wheel Kids Middle School Bicycle Skills is a comprehensive program that empowers middle school students and their parents to become safe and confident cyclists.
“We’re committed to growing the program and hope to make it available to every young person in the area as a key part of their education. Thanks again, and Ride On!”
Through a combination of classroom instruction, practical exercises, and on-road training, both students and parents learn essential skills for navigating traffic safely. By engaging both students and parents, Wheel Kids ensures that safe cycling habits are reinforced at home, making it a truly impactful initiative.
The program's commitment to providing a fun and engaging learning experience helps inspire a lifelong passion for cycling and its benefits. Through their programs, Wheel Kids is achieving their goal of fostering a love for cycling and promoting a healthy, active lifestyle among young people.
Elected Bicycle Champion of the Year
Jen Wolosin
Menlo Park Councilmember
“We want a community where kids can have independence and get around without being in the back of their parents car...a world with safe bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure is a cleaner, happier, better-connected world, and I believe that to my core. ”
Jen Wolosin’s journey into civic involvement began with a personal frustration: inadequate walking and biking access to her daughter’s school.
Faced with a road congested with cars and lacking sidewalks, she rallied parents and neighbors to improve safety and accessibility. This is the origin story of one of the most pro-biking elected officials in the Peninsula. It led her to a successful run for office in November 2020 as District 3’s first representative. Jen was also unanimously chosen as Mayor for 2023.
Formerly the Founder and Chair of Parents for Safe Routes, her advocacy earned the 2018 “Program of the Year” award from the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition. Jen’s dedication extends to housing, sustainability, equity, and civic engagement, with a track record of impactful service on city, county, and school committees.
As Jen approaches the final months of her term, she remains committed to nurturing the next generation of advocates and leaders in Menlo Park. She has opted not to run for reelection, a decision she mulled on for months. Ultimately, she is dedicated to ushering in emerging voices for the next phase of the movement in Menlo Park. She is aiming to leave a lasting impact by empowering others to continue advancing the city’s growth and community well-being.
As she said, “It’s going to take a movement, a coalition…”