Congratulations to our 2024 Advocacy and Education Award winners

For the first time since 2019, we were thrilled to host our annual Advocacy and Education Awards ceremony in person at this year’s Summit. There is something just particularly special about the energy in the room and hearing from the winners that can’t be expressed when everyone is constrained to a small video-conference box. If you couldn’t make it to the 2024 Summit (or you want to re-live it), you can watch a recording of the livestream of the festivities and get a taste of what’s in store for 2025. 

The 2024 Advocacy and Education Award winners are a truly impressive cohort. Their achievements in their communities had an impact far beyond their hometown streets and roads. It’s impossible not to be inspired by their work, which you can read about below. We look forward to seeing them build the future of the bike movement, one that is impactful, inclusive, and instrumental in building a Bicycle Friendly America for Everyone.

Bicycle Friendly America Leadership Award 

The Bicycle Friendly America Leadership Award recognizes civic, academic, and business leaders who have made significant contributions towards our shared goal of an America where biking is safe, comfortable, and accessible for all  From mayors and CEOs to public agency leaders, academics, and university presidents, this award honors the leadership of changemakers each year.

Our 2024 Award goes to Commissioner Rodney Ellis of Harris County, Texas

What do you hope the future holds for the bike movement?

I am hopeful that the future will see Houston leading the way in a global bike renaissance, where we become a model for transforming a car-dependent city into one that makes cycling a cornerstone of our transportation system.

How should advocates seize this moment to shape the future?

Advocates should seize this pivotal moment with unyielding determination, pushing beyond the status quo to demand cities where accessibility and sustainability are not just ideals but foundational principles that guide our planning and development.

What was a recent moment of bike joy in your work?

A recent highlight was attending multiple ribbon-cutting ceremonies for new segments of the Bayou Greenway project, an ambitious 150-mile trail system that threads through Houston’s bayous. Each completion brings me immense joy and pride, as it marks another step towards realizing a grand vision for our city—one where the natural beauty of our bayous is seamlessly integrated with our urban landscape, providing accessible, green transportation options for all Houstonians.

Advocacy Organization of the Year

This award goes to a bicycling and/or walking advocacy organization or club who, in the past year, made significant progress. Their leaders have worked tirelessly together to grow and strengthen their organization and fulfill their mission. The proof of their efforts is in the growth of their capacity, programs, membership and the victories they have achieved for biking and walking in their state/community. This award is about recognizing organizations that are inclusive, welcoming, and committed to growing bicycling.

Our 2024 Award goes to Bike Houston

What do you hope the future holds for the bike movement?

In many places in America, it’s more controversial to include bikes in our transportation plans than it is to exclude them, but we’re working toward a future where it’s the other way around. Some places might already be there. For the rest of America, that future can’t come soon enough. 

How should advocates seize this moment to shape the future? 

Our job right now is to show decision makers that this isn’t just a future that bike advocates want; this is a future that most Americans want.

What was a recent moment of bike joy in your work? 

Before Houston’s election last fall, BikeHouston co-hosted a mayoral forum on transportation where we parked nearly 70 bikes in three curbside parking spaces outside the event. 

Advocate of the Year 

This award goes to a leader of a bicycling and/or walking advocacy organization who has shown tireless commitment to promoting bicycling and walking in their state/community. This person goes above and beyond the call of duty to transform their state/community into a great place for biking and walking. Their time, knowledge, creativity, and commitment are the highest standard of excellence exemplifying a role model for peers.

In 2024, the League gave two Advocate of the Year Awards, one to a professional advocate and one to a volunteer advocate. 

Our 2024 Professional Advocate Award goes to Jeremiah Lowery, advocacy director of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association

What do you hope the future holds for the bike movement?

I hope the bike movement continues on a pathway of becoming more inclusive and welcoming to people of all backgrounds, because we will win when we keep the doors to our movement open.

How should advocates seize this moment to shape the future? 

Advocates can seize this moment to shape the future by thinking big and bold while also tapping into the artistic and fun parts of our movement.

What was a recent moment of bike joy in your work? 

A volunteer and fellow biker told me that he had never lobbied or talked to his local elected representatives about traffic safety before, and our campaign gave him that opportunity to tell his story to his representatives (side note: we ended up passing and fully funding traffic safety bills because of his voice and others). That brought me bike joy. 

Our 2024 Citizen Advocate Award goes to Steven Hardy-Braz, a board member of Bike Walk NC

Watch Steven accept the award:

Gail and Jim Spann Educator of the Year 

This award recognizes a person who has worked to elevate bike education in their state/community. We’re looking for educators who are current League Cycling Instructors, active in teaching classes in the past year, serve diverse communities, and have shown innovation in their education work.

Our 2024 Award goes to Diana Hildebrand 

What do you hope the future holds for the bike movement?

The bike movement has already shifted to where more people are becoming aware of the freedom the bicycle gives them and how far they can go just on two wheels.  As a tool it will provide alternative options for health & wellness, mobility and family within the biking network. My hope is to see biking as an educational enhancement within our physical education curriculum. By doing this it will allow youth to understand not only safety but could shift how they will interact with cyclists once they are behind the wheel of a vehicle.  

How should advocates seize this moment to shape the future? 

As an educator of biking, advocates should seize this moment by stepping into communities where we see the most need for better implementation of ped/bike infrastructure.  Being the true face of biking, walking and safety while meeting them where they are at.  Being a tangible change and not relying on the systematic adjustments to please those with funds but more so for our community.  

What was a recent moment of bike joy in your work? 

The most recent bike joy I received in my work was first being honored with the Educator of the Year Award, becoming a League Cycling Coach and watching lives being changed two wheels at a time by working with physical education teachers to offer biking during PE.  Watching some of my students not only learn how to ride a bicycle as a middle schooler but having the confidence to continue to get better so that we can have fun on two wheels riding through neighborhoods while also showcasing the skills they’ve learned during our sessions.

Susie Stephens Joyful Enthusiasm Award

This award commemorates Susie Stephens, one of the Alliance for Biking & Walking founders and an enduring inspiration for many members of the bicycle and pedestrian movement. The honor goes to an individual or group who carries on Susie’s passion for advocating for bicycling as a fun and economical means of transportation.

Our 2024 Award goes to Sam Balto, co-founder of Bike Bus World

What do you hope the future holds for the bike movement?

I hope to see more children riding in the street to school and for our leaders to prioritize childrens mobility.

How should advocates seize this moment to shape the future? 

Advocates should focus on children with their work. Children aren’t looking for perfection, they just want to be seen.

What was a recent moment of bike joy in your work? 

A recent moment of bike joy was getting a message from a parent of a middle schooler who rides in the bike bus that they now feel more comfortable biking in the street.

Katherine “Kittie” T. Knox Award

This award recognizes champions of equity, diversity, and inclusion in the bicycling movement. This award goes to an individual or group that has led in making bicycling more inclusive and representative and has worked to remove barriers to participation by underserved and underrepresented people in their community, state, or country.

Learn more about Kittie Knox and her advocacy for a more inclusive League and bike community.

Our 2024 Award goes to Veronica O. Davis, author of “Inclusive Transportation”  

What do you hope the future holds for the bike movement?

The ability to elect better leaders who are willing to make the hard decisions to install better and more infrastructure.

How should advocates seize this moment to shape the future? 

Use the bike summit to network and build national coalitions. You don’t have to suffer or go it alone.

What was a recent moment of bike joy in your work? 

The 11th Street Bike lanes in Houston won an award from the America Public Works Association. It seems like validation for a great project.

Emerging Leader of the Year

This award is a special accolade for a young person who is new to the bicycling movement and has demonstrated exceptional and inspiring bicycle advocacy. Nominees have demonstrated leadership in their short tenure and show great potential to continue leading in the bicycling movement.

Our 2024 Award goes to Avery Daniels, youth projects coordinator at Community Bike Works 

What do you hope the future holds for the bike movement?

I hope the future holds more engagement. I would love to see as result of our work that guests of the Youth Bike Summit are able to take what they learned and experienced back to their own cities and implement it into their communities. I believe the organizations in attendance are going to have powerful workshops with a lot to reflect on.

How should advocates seize this moment to shape the future? 

I think it is first important for advocates to take a step back and look at their community and assess what it is they need, then do as much research and collaborate as possible to make your work come to life. As advocates you are looking to be the voice representing those around you, the first step is opening your mouth and making your message be known.

What was a recent moment of bike joy in your work? 

Recently, a moment of bike joy has been picking my favorite trails in the Valley to ride during the summit. It is fun for us at CBW to think about if you could only go a few rides while here (at the YBS) for a weekend, where would you go first.

Club of the Year

This award is for a bicycle club that has done an excellent job at providing a great experience for its members and people who are new to bicycling. The goal of this award is to recognize clubs that do an exceptional job at integrating advocacy into club activities or supporting advocacy organizations while creating exceptional events for new and experienced bicyclists. This award is about recognizing clubs that are inclusive, welcoming, and committed to growing bicycling.

Our 2024 Award goes to Major Taylor International Cycling Alliance

Watch Bill Gaston, founder of the alliance, accept the award: 

Youth Empowerment Award 

Our inaugural 2024 Award goes to Eric Supil, executive director of Trips for Kids Charlotte

What do you hope the future holds for the bike movement?

Equitable access to bicycle infrastructure, education, mechanical resources and bicycles themselves.  Infrastructure and greenways are also tools for mobility, just like the bicycle.  Education around how to use them, how to access them (especially the last mile) and how to navigate them to connect to opportunity is critical to shifting the narrative of who cycling is for.  My hope is to see more emphasis and support for educational and engagement programs to empower ALL communities (not just the already engaged cycling community) to confidently utilize, navigate and benefit from transit by bike.

How should advocates seize this moment to shape the future?

The opportunity to shape the future starts on your local level, in your community, in your neighborhood and in your schools. Supporting youth engagement, education and empowerment on “two wheels” ensures a future of connected, informed and confident bicycle users/commuters. Their voice will shape the narrative that takes cycling from an “alternative transit option” to an accessible, equitable and sustainable primary mobility choice.

What was a recent moment of bike joy in your work?

I am fortunate to collect many moments of bike joy through our youth programs.  My favorite comes from our Earn-A-Bike camp programs where a youth’s initial expression of uncertainty, as we bike out of the known boundaries of their neighborhood, transforms into expressions of confidence and excitement as we expand and explore their perspective of the world through greenways, infrastructure and connections by bike.