The Alliance for Biking & Walking has been presenting its annual Advocacy Awards since 2009.
Bicycle infrastructure, meaningful bike policy, bike skills education, and all the other things that get more people on bikes don’t just magically happen. It takes people power to make Washington state and our communities great places to bike and walk.
Now you have an opportunity to give some outside bike love to a deserving bike advocate, organization or business by nominating them for the Alliance for Biking & Walking’s 2015 Advocacy Awards. Public nominations will be accepted until this Friday, January 16.
This year, the Alliance is awarding Advocacy Awards in seven categories:
- Advocate of the Year – This award goes to an individual leader of a bicycling and/or walking advocacy organization who has shown tireless commitment to promoting bicycling and walking in his/her state/community. This person goes above and beyond the call of duty to transform his/her state/community into a great place for biking and walking. His or her time, knowledge, creativity, and commitment are the highest standard of excellence exemplifying a role model for peers.*
- Bicycling Magazine People’s Choice Award – This award is given to a state or local bike advocacy organization in recognition of exemplary work, executed within the past year, that significantly improved bicycling in their community. The People’s Choice winner has made a notable positive impact on bicycling and bicyclists in their community, whether through breaking ground on infrastructure or instituting programs to make bicycling accessible to all. Nominations will be received through the Alliance for Biking & Walking, and the winner will be decided by popular vote on Bicycling.com.** ‡
- Innovation Award – There are a million ways that people think about bicycling and walking. This award is given to an individual leader, group of leaders, community organization, or state or local biking and/or walking advocacy organization in recognition to incorporate diverse perspectives into biking and walking advocacy and/or foster new leaders within bicycle and pedestrian advocacy who have not traditionall been included. This award is presented in conjunction with the League of American Bicyclists’ Equity Initiative and Women Bike programs.* **
- Susie Stephens Joyful Enthusiasm Award – This award commemorates Susie Stephens, one of the Alliance’s founders, former executive director of Washington Bikes, and an enduring inspiration for many members of the bicycle and pedestrian movement. The honor goes to an individual who carries on Susie’s passion for advocating for bicycling as a fun and economical means of transportation, as well as creating a safe biking and walking environment for all.*
- Advocacy Organization of the Year – This award goes to a bicycling and/or walking advocacy organization 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 and programs and the victories they have achieved for biking and walking in their state/community.**
- Winning Campaign of the Year – This award goes to an organization for a winning campaign, in the last year, which has had the biggest impact for bicycling and walking. Their victory will dramatically increase biking and walking in their state/community or will dramatically shift the way that biking and walking are considered.**
- Business Advocate of the Year – This award goes to a business, corporation or corporate employee who have constantly championed the cause of bicycling and walking advocacy. The time, money, and energy they have invested are evidence of their commitment to promoting bicycling and walking for healthier communities and sustainable transportation choices.
Submit your nomination today! You can submit multiple individuals and organizations, and you can nominate an individual or group for more than one award category.
Two Washingtonians have been past recipients of Advocacy Awards. Julia Field, the founder of Undriving, received the Susie Stephens Joyful Enthusiasm Award in 2012. Barb Culp, former ED of WA Bikes, was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013.
The 2015 Advocacy Awards Ceremony will on March 10 — the first evening of the National Bike Summit — in Washington, DC.
*In order to become a finalist for this Advocacy Award, the nominated individual must be closely associated with an organization that is a member of the Alliance for Biking & Walking.
**In order to become a finalist for this Advocacy Award, the nominated organization must be a member of the Alliance for Biking & Walking.
‡ In order to become a finalist for the Bicycling Magazine People’s Choice Award, the organization must (a) agree to encourage supporters and members to vote for them on Bicycling.com and (b) agree to promote a Bicycling magazine subscription to their supporters.
Send your nomination to us for a profile on the Washington Bikes blog
We’d like to profile great advocates around Washington. If you’re submitting a nomination, consider sending a copy to Louise McGrody.
