The MN Bike/Walk Awards!
Minnesota is one of the most bicycle-friendly states in the country. Even though we have the hard work of hundreds of individuals and organizations to thank for this, each year BikeMN strives to recognize a few particular people who have gone the extra mile to make Minnesota a place where bicycling is easy, safe, and fun for everyone.
BikeMN is striving to engage and empower advocates within both urban and rural communities with health, racial, socioeconomic, and safety disparities via these awards. Youth, women, people with disabilities, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, immigrants and people of color are encouraged to nominate themselves or individuals/organizations that make Minnesota a better place. tobike, walk and roll. All are welcome.
Nominate Someone Today for 2024!
Minnesota is one of the most bicycle-friendly states in the country. Even though we have the hard work of hundreds of individuals and organizations to thank for this, each year BikeMN strives to recognize a few particular people who have gone the extra mile to make Minnesota a place where bicycling is easy, safe, and fun for everyone.
BikeMN is striving to engage and empower advocates within both urban and rural communities with health, racial, socioeconomic, and safety disparities via these awards. Youth, women, people with disabilities, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, immigrants and people of color are encouraged to apply. All are welcome.
We host the MN Bike/Walk Awards annually. We currently are recognizing outstanding groups and bike-friendly people in these award areas:
- Educator of the year (individual)
- Educator of the year (school or organization)
- Advocate of the year (group or individual)
- Bicycle Friendly Community Champion (individual, group or committee)
- Bicycle Friendly Business Champion (individual, group or committee)
- Lifetime Service Award
Keep reading to learn more about all of our winners from years past.
2021 MN Bike Award Winners
We were proud to present Lifetime Service Award to Jack Broz of Richfield.
Jack Broz had a 40+ year career in transportation engineering in Illinois and Minnesota. As a consultant, and as the Richfield city engineer he led and designed dozens of innovative and award winning multi-modal transportation projects for clients across the United States. Jack has also trained dozens of engineers and planners from the public and private sectors in Complete Streets design and public engagement. He also led the implementation of the Richfield’s Bicycle Master Plan and development and implementation of the City’s Pedestrian Master Plan. Throughout his career, Jack has served as a valued mentor, teacher, and friend to many, many people and his innovations will continue to influence transportation design and planning throughout the region.
jackBroz_A1_210820_OL2019 MN Bike Award Winners
It was such a pleasure to present Lifetime Service Award to Louis Moore of Minneapolis in 2019. The other awardees were:
- Advocate of the Year (Individual): Barbara Beck of We Bike Rochester
- Advocate of the Year (Organization): Minneapolis Bike Parks (pictured right)
- Bicycle Friendly Community Champion: Friends of the Jackson County Trails
- Educator of the Year: Safe Kids Coalition of NE Minnesota
- Bicycle Friendly Business Champion: Bike Friendly Walker
2018 MN Bike Award Winners
We were honored to present Lifetime Service Award to Richard Keir of Mankato in 2018. The other awardees were:
- Advocate of the Year: Aaron Hautala of Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Crew in Crosby
- Bicycle Friendly Community Champion: Maren Webb of Sawtooth Mountain Clinic in Grand Marais (pictured, right)
- Educator of the Year (Organization): Rochester Public Schools School Age Child Care in Rochester
- Educator of the Year (Individual): Susan Ericksen of Susan Lindgren Elementary School in St. Louis Park
- Bicycle Friendly Business Champion: 3M Bicycle Users Group of Maplewood
2017 MN Bike Award Winners
Our inaugural Lifetime Service Award was given to Rep. Phyllis Kahn of Minneapolis in 2017. Read a profile of Phyllis Kahn and learn about her long career making Minnesota better for bicyclists. The other awardees were:
- Advocate of the Year: Jenny Van Sickle of Community Action Duluth in Duluth (pictured, right)
- Bicycle Friendly Community Champion: Patrick Stephenson of 30 Days of Biking in Minneapolis
- Educator of the Year (Organization): Austin Hauf and PartnerSHIP 4 Health in West Central Minnesota
- Educator of the Year (Individual): Martha Flynn of the Minnesota High School Cycling League of Saint Paul
- Bicycle Friendly Business Champion: Peace Coffee of Minneapolis
2016 MN Bike Award Winners
Congratulations to all of 2016 awardees!
- Advocates of the Year: Annie Van Cleve and Tony Desnick of the Winter Cycling Congress Twin Cities
- Bicycle Friendly Community Champion: Wayne Hurley of Pedal Fergus Falls in Fergus Falls
- Educator of the Year (Organization): Minneapolis Public Schools Safe Routes to School
- Educator of the Year (Individual): Adam Cooke of Prairie View Elementary School in Eden Prairie
- Bicycle Friendly Business Champion: People’s Food Co-Op of Rochester (pictured, right)
2015 MN Bike Award Winners
The inaugural MN Bike Awards were hosted by Hubert H. Humphrey III.
Advocate of the Year: Women on Bikes Saint Paul- Bicycle Friendly Community Champion: Greater Mankato Bike & Walk Advocates in Mankato
- Educator of the Year (Organization): Brooklyn Center Secondary School in Brooklyn Center
- Educator of the Year (Individual): Peter Connor of Owatonna (pictured, right)
- Bicycle Friendly Business Champion: Shawna Mullen of Zeitgeist Arts in Duluth