Bicycle Coalition Celebrates San Diego’s Big 13 of 2013

Two-wheeled momentum builds from Coronado to Oceanside

On December 12th, people who love bicycles rolled into SILO in Makers Quarter to spin joy for the county’s top 13 bicycle achievements in 2013. The third annual Holiday Joy Ride showcased achievements such as major route and parking improvements, government and agency bicycling plans, open street celebrations and events attended by everyday people on two (and sometimes three) wheels.

In no particular order, the Bicycle Coalition notes the big 13 of 2013 as: 

• CicloSDias – San Diego’s first open streets celebration celebrates car-free streets
• New Belgium Brewing’s Tour de Fat raises more than $40,000 for local bicycling nonprofits
• Thousands of bicycles cross the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge for sixth annual Bike the Bay and raise more than $62,000 for the Bicycle Coalition
• Mayoral Candidates address plan for livable streets and communities
• The Bicycle Coalition hosts dozens of classes and public workshops to prepare anyone bicycling with safety tips
• SANDAG approves $200-million for regional bike plan Early Action program
• San Diego’s first-ever bike share program with DECO Bikes unanimously approved (scheduled to launch in 2014)
• Bike to Work Day gets a record number of participants in 2013 (over 9,000)
• Cities across San Diego County install bike corrals, green bike lanes, sharrows and other infrastructure enhancements
• The Bicycle Coalition hosts free bicycle valet at over twenty community events in San Diego County
• Regional Bike Walk Alliance created by the Bicycle Coalition represented by Bicycle and Pedestrian groups in Oceanside, Coronado, Chula Vista, Encinitas, Vista, Escondido, Solana Beach and San Diego City Council District 2
• Partnership with San Diego Business Improvement District Council holds Monthly Bike Local Sundays to encourage folks to ride and shop at local businesses
• San Diego City Council Approves $312 Million Bicycle Master Plan Update 

In addition to bicycling improvements throughout the county, the Bicycle Coalition honored the winners of its Golden Gear Awards for those who went above and beyond to make San Diego more bicycle friendly in 2013. The winners include:

• Advocate of the Year: Randy Van Vleck of City Heights Community Development Corporation
• Volunteers of the Year: Julie Hocking and Robert Leone
• Community Partner of the Year: KPRI Radio
• Public Partner of the Year: San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG)
• Bike Friendly Business of the Year: New Belgium Brewing

For more information on the Bicycle Coalition and how to get involved in its successes in 2014, please visit www.sdcbc.org.