Meet the 2026 Bike Champions of the Year
Congratulations to this year’s outstanding awardees, from young students who model safety on their daily rides to seasoned advocates and instructors leading youth programs. These champions share a commitment to the power of biking, whether through advocacy, education, or inclusivity. They ensure that cycling is accessible, safe, and joyful for everyone, regardless of age, background, or experience level. Read on to meet the awardees from each of the nine Bay Area counties, or click to jump to a specific county.
ALAMEDA COUNTY
Alejandro Jasso
Hayward resident Alejandro Jasso has helped transform his community by adding bike racks, running a regular repair tent at the farmers market, and launching monthly group rides called “Wayward in Hayward.”
Over the last five years, Alejandro Jasso has helped to transform the landscape of Hayward and the unincorporated Eden area to include more bike racks, a regular bike repair tent at the farmers market, and monthly group rides called “Wayward in Hayward,” among other advances.
Though he has always enjoyed biking, Jasso did not consider himself an advocate until recently. “A few years back, when I first started getting involved in bike advocacy, I often felt like an impostor. But I eventually realized that simply showing up and taking action is far more important than being perfect,” he says. That lesson became real when Jasso realized the car he owned had become more of a liability than an asset. Between the mounting costs of maintenance, insurance, and tickets, all compounded by the fact that he rarely drove it, the car was a drain on his finances. He decided to trade it in through the Clean Cars for All “Mobility Option,” swapping his vehicle for a significant grant to purchase an e-bike. “Without that bike, I couldn't have made it through. It taught me that biking isn't just a choice, it’s a powerful tool for resilience.” Today, Jasso is vocal about the Clean Cars for All program’s value, ensuring that others know they can trade their own automotive liabilities for mobility freedom. Whether or not Jasso is aware of his impact, his community notices. Nominator Tyler Dragoni proudly states that “[Alejandro] seriously contributed to putting Hayward on the map regarding bike advocacy.”
Resilience is evident in every aspect of Jasso’s work with Bike Hayward. His engagement with local leaders and government brought attention and change to neighborhoods that historically have been overlooked. Jasso’s dedication inspired progress at the city level, too. In March 2025, the City of Hayward announced Hayward Rides, a new program with a mission “to provide residents with access to free bicycles, helping to make cycling a more accessible, affordable, and sustainable transportation option.” Since the program launched, Hayward Rides has given away hundreds of bikes, often working together with Eden Youth, a local organization serving under-resourced youth and families. Bike Hayward was on hand to offer free bike repairs. Hayward Rides plans to give away about 2,000 bikes by the end of 2026.
Collaborations like these are a hallmark of Jasso’s leadership, as is his commitment to inclusivity. Approximately 41.3% of Hayward’s population is Hispanic or Latino, and one in three unincorporated residents are Latino. Jasso is “a great motivator for new cyclists and is always including lots of different people by creating bilingual messaging and social media content,” says nominator Barbara Ledesma Rhinehalt. “His passion for his community is clear in just one conversation. He knows the people of Hayward deserve safe streets and a government that is responsive towards them.” This connection is vital to Jasso, who cites human interaction as a key motivator in his bike journey: “You’re more closely connected to your physical surroundings, you get to connect deeper with your community in ways that are hard or impossible when driving daily. It transforms the commute from a private, isolated act into a shared, human experience.”
Working with young bike enthusiasts also inspires Jasso, who is thrilled to see the recent popularity of “bike buses” around the country: “Besides making the morning fun, these rides transform a passive commute into an active one where kids take a lead role in their own journey. This engagement plants the seeds of resilience our communities need to navigate any adversity.”
However, there’s still work to be done. “My dream for the East Bay is for people to realize that dedicating our roads almost exclusively to cars is unsustainable in so many ways,” says Jasso. “Currently, non-drivers subsidize car infrastructure more every year, and I hope to see our roads shared accordingly. In Alameda County, nearly 50% of road repaving is funded by sales taxes, which everyone pays, while electric cars don’t even contribute to the gas tax. Our street design should reflect this material reality: if 50% of the funding is general, at least 50% of the space should be dedicated to other modes of transportation, such as biking.” Jasso will continue to work toward these goals with the same passion, tenacity, inclusivity, and determination that have helped him accomplish so many others.
Jasso summarizes his feelings about being selected as Alameda County Bike Champion of the Year with gratitude: “This recognition belongs to the courage it takes to keep pedaling when things are difficult, proving that even in our lowest moments, we can still move forward and lead.”
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Maria “Downhill Diva”
Richmond resident Maria “Downhill Diva” is an advocate and mentor dedicated to making East Bay cycling more inclusive, safe, and joyful for all riders through her extensive leadership in community organizations, group rides, and coaching.
If you’ve ever been on a group bicycle ride in the Bay Area, particularly the East Bay, there’s a good chance you’ve ridden with this year’s Contra Costa County Bicycle Champion of the Year, Richmond resident Maria “Downhill Diva”.
Maria is a force of nature in the East Bay cycling scene, dedicated to turning "lemons into lemonade" by dismantling barriers and sidestepping gatekeepers that can sometimes keep new riders off the road. She leads and organizes rides including Bikes Burgers Brews, Red Bike and Green (RBG) Oakland, East Bay Bike Party, and Major Taylor Bay Area Cycling Club (MTBACC). Maria also marshalls other rides on Thursday nights, 1st Fridays, and weekends. Maria’s impact is defined by her commitment to safety, joy, and radical inclusivity.
Maria’s leadership spans the entire region, building cross-sector partnerships with schools, nonprofits, businesses, and public agencies. As a Steering Committee & Community Member of the Richmond Outdoors Coalition, she actively contributes and supports partner-coordinated, youth-and-family-centered, hands-on outdoor access programs promoting health, leadership and environmental awareness, all rooted in heritage, social welfare, emotional welfare, and academics, specifically for Richmond residents. As a Board Member for Bad Business Model Bikes (BBMB) in Richmond, she helps provide refurbished bicycles and biking resources to disenfranchised, low-income communities.
Maria’s bicycling journey began 16 years ago as a personal health quest. Initially, she faced a "gatekeeping" culture where she felt she didn't fit the typical demographic of a cyclist. This experience fueled her mission to create spaces where everyone – regardless of race, size, or experience level – feels they belong. “I wanted to break down those barriers and make cycling easily accessible,” she says, reflecting on her path from a novice rider all the way to coaching cyclists. She became certified as a League Cycling Instructor (LCI) in 2024.
Her nickname, "Downhill Diva," was born on a Feather Pedals Cinderella Classic ride (a long-running women-only bicycle tour in the Tri-Valley that welcomes all cyclists during its conditioning series) where her incredible descending speed consistently allowed her to fly by riders and landed her at the front of the pack. Her endurance cycling acumen is equally impressive, having completed the AIDS/LifeCycle Ride (a 545-miles fundraising ride from SF to LA) six times and the Climate Ride three times.
Maria also takes a creative approach to her cycling advocacy, acting as a "bike nurse" during a heatwave or when a rider needs aid. She recruited riders to participate in the Black Joy Parade, organizing with Black/African diaspora history events. Maria brings a calming, expert energy to every group she rides with.
In 2025 alone, Maria led and marshaled over 70 group rides, introducing riders to new experiences and locations all with music filling the airwaves. For her, the priority is simple: “If people remember how they feel–JOY, FREEDOM and SAFETY–then you’ve done your job”. The weekly Bikes Burgers Brews rides in Contra Costa are as diverse and welcoming as the community itself.
Maria’s leadership and passion for advancing equity, climate resilience, health and wellness, social justice and inclusive mobility across diverse national and Bay Area communities are an inspiration to all who seek community on two wheels.
MARIN COUNTY
Gwen Froh
Gwen Froh has led Marin County's Safe Routes to Schools program for more than two decades, advancing youth bike safety and helping communities build a culture where biking to school is normal, supported, and safe, empowering generations of young riders.
MCBC is proud to honor Gwen Froh as 2026 Bike Champion of the Year, recognizing her extraordinary leadership in making biking a safe, accessible, and joyful part of everyday life for Marin students and families.
For more than two decades, Gwen has led Marin County’s Safe Routes to Schools program, helping thousands of students discover the confidence and freedom that comes with riding a bike. Through innovative education and encouragement programs, she has taught generations of students lifelong riding skills, while continuously evolving the program and championing new approaches to meet emerging challenges. Under her leadership, Safe Routes to Schools in Marin became a nationally recognized model, helping shape programs and best practices far beyond our county.
Gwen’s impact goes far beyond the classroom. She has been a leading voice in advancing youth bike safety and active transportation, helping communities rethink how students get to school and building a culture where biking is normal, supported, and safe. In recent years, she has also played a critical role in raising awareness about the dangers of e-motorcycles being marketed to children as e-bikes, helping Marin respond with clear guidance that promotes safe, age-appropriate riding and protects young riders. Through her work on the County’s e-bike task force and as a presenter across the Bay Area and at the Safe Routes to Schools National Conference, Gwen has helped shape how communities nationwide think about youth bike safety.
Those who nominated her describe her as both an accomplished leader and a deeply committed role model, someone who not only built a nationally recognized program but also consistently leads by example. An avid rider herself, Gwen can often be seen biking to meetings across Marin and mountain biking with friends, embodying the habits she has worked so hard to instill in others.
Through her leadership, Gwen has helped shape a generation of confident young riders, making her a truly deserving2026 Bike Champion of the Year and leaving a lasting mark on how Marin rides.
NAPA COUNTY
Charles Mickey Wagner
At just 17, St. Helena resident Charles “Mickey” Wagner is becoming a community fixture, teaching others to ride and repairing bikes at his local school and farmers market. Mickey is deaf and wears cochlear implants, and rides with confidence and joy.
“Mickey’s commitment to safety and his inclusive, friendly attitude set him apart as someone who embodies the true spirit of biking—enjoyment, respect, and community.” -Nominator Lisa Empting
When highlighting the attributes that make Charles Mickey Wagner a Bike Champion, one of his nominators described Mickey’s “consistent dedication, positive impact, and inspiring example to others.” At just 17 years old, Mickey has become a well-recognized fixture in his community–so much so, that multiple nominees shared that if you live in St. Helena, you know Mickey and his love for biking.
Mickey is demonstrably dedicated to riding a bike. Whether for transportation to school, athletics, or church; for running errands like going to the grocery store; or just for fun with friends and family, Mickey rides his bike every day. He has been riding a bike for longer than he can remember, reminiscing that his first memory of riding a bike was on a three-wheel tricycle in his backyard. These days, Mickey has a variety of bikes, including a city bike with a trailer he made himself, a tandem, a cargo bike, and mountain bikes. The latter he uses to deliver eggs and honey to fellow community members throughout town with a zip tie-secured basket. And he is more than a fair-weather friend to his bike–he even enjoys riding when it’s raining, staying dry with a raincoat and rain pants. He recommends riding slower, using caution, and using bike lights throughout the day when riding in the rain. “I feel so good riding my bike,” Mickey says. “It gives me energy and makes me feel happy.”
Through his love for biking, Mickey gives back to the community by helping others to go by bike. He shares his bikes with others and encourages them to ride. He donates bikes to his school and younger kids. He repairs bikes at the bike shop at his school and at the local Farmer’s Market over the summer, and enjoys teaching kids how to ride a bike, including his younger brother. Helping others learn to ride reminds him of those who helped him learn in the past. “Biking is good exercise, and it is so fun,” Mickey responded when asked what inspires him to give back to the bicycling community, “I want everyone to be happy and go places on bikes.”
Mickey inspires others in his community through his kind character and resilience. Mickey is deaf and wears cochlear implants, but he does not let that stop him from riding with confidence and inclusivity. He models responsible cycling to his peers by obeying traffic laws, always wearing a helmet, and encouraging safe biking practices. His nominators highlighted his friendly and helpful attitude, sharing that he is “always looking out for other kids on the road,” smiling, saying hello, and stopping to offer help when he sees a need. Teamwork, looking out for others, and kindness are practices Mickey also attributes to his time riding with the local mountain bike team, the St. Helena Thunderbirds.
Mickey’s advice for new riders reflects his characteristically responsible approach to biking: “Be careful, watch out for cars, ALWAYS wear a helmet. Take a water bottle, have lights on your bike for at night and a mirror. Follow the rules.”
SAN FRANCISCO COUNTY
Molly Hayden
Molly Hayden leads Bike Buses across San Francisco, serves as a Slow Street Steward on Page Street, and is co-President of the Lower Haight Merchant and Neighbor Association, where she advocates for active and public transportation. As one nominator wrote, “What doesn't Molly do to get more people on bikes?”
This year, we’re excited to honor Molly Hayden as San Francisco Bike Champion of the Year! Molly is an SFBike member who leads Bike Buses at local schools and stewards car-free spaces like Page Slow St and Sunset Dunes. Read more about how she helps spread bike joy to people of all ages throughout our city.
San Francisco Bicycle Coalition: How did your bike journey begin, and how is it part of your life here in San Francisco?
Molly Hayden: I grew up as a farm kid in rural Washington and used to follow my brothers around on their BMX bike adventures to visit my cousins. When I moved to Boston for college, I bought a bike and would ride it everywhere, and that continued when I moved to Manhattan. When I came to SF, I snagged a bike before the Covid lockdown and that was a saving grace. I found Bike Party, Critical Mass, and lots of new friends through Page Slow Street and my bike shop, Scenic Routes Community Bicycle Center. Biking has awakened all my senses and I feel like a part of the city while moving through it.
SFBC: How do you advocate for active transportation and micro-mobility?
MH: Simply being on my bike is inherently advocating for active transportation and micro-mobility. I’ve also written to Supervisors, given feedback at SFMTA open houses and public comment at various hearings – all essential steps to grow protected biking infrastructure. Seeing parents and caregivers with kids on their cargo bikes has convinced me that this is truly the best way to navigate San Francisco (hills included!).
Last year, I became a League Certified Instructor, and I teach adults and children how to ride a bike confidently in the city. When I’m helping adults and kids learn to ride and their newfound confidence comes together with their balance and pedaling, I’m filled with a sense of pride. Knowing the miles of pavement, dirt, or gravel they have unfolding before them is exhilarating and makes me excited for them. It’s a privilege to be a part of that core memory.
SFBC: Can you tell us about your efforts in leading bike buses for students in the mornings? Do you have a favorite moment from leading them?
MH: I’ve helped a handful of public and private schools start and keep their Bike Buses going. It helps kids build their independence and confidence, and I love seeing them interact with one another on their commute to school. I tend to bring music, bubbles, and sometimes a dog; biking is more fun with friends. My favorite moments are often overhearing their observations or conversations while biking. On each ride with them, I see just how much their enthusiasm for biking and exploring while also fostering independence. They might not bike every day, but when I see them building stamina and their curiosity for exploration, I know it’s going to stick with them for life.
SFBC: Do you have any advice for someone who wants to help their friends or loved ones riding a bike?
MH: Biking with a friend or in groups helps build confidence. I love seeing the numbers of bikers grow; mini-pelotons of folks using bike infrastructure and slow streets as carefree spaces. But it takes time to get there and can be daunting to just stay out solo. So if you have a friend who is on the fence about becoming a bike person, offer to ride with them! And when you do, remember: don’t make yourself smaller. It’s important for bikers to be visible; California Vehicle Code entitles bikers to use the full width of a lane and it’s safer to take up space and be seen. If you are that person who’s maybe weary of riding on your own, reach out! I love helping riders build confidence; biking is truly the best way to see everything SF has to offer and I can help get you there — literally and figuratively!
SAN MATEO COUNTY
Cherie Chan
Pacifica parent Cherie Chan advances safe biking, environmental sustainability, and community well-being through collaboration, persistence, and vision for safe streets for all. Chan secured grant funding for bike racks and paths, led school walk audits for safer routes, and organized community events including the Pacifica Bike Park Seaside Pedal Party.
Cherie Chan has been a leader for biking and better biking infrastructure in Pacifica. Her involvement started with the Cabrillo School PTO Board where she motivated the school to pursue Safe Routes to School funding from the San Mateo County Office of Education. This grant helped the Cabrillo School install a bike rack and implement a quick-build solution that added new paint and bollards around the school to create a safer environment for biking to school. She is also a part of City of Pacifica’s Parks and Recreation Commission and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Subcommittee, where she worked with the department to do a walk audit that led to a “park and walk/ride” option from the Pacifica Community Center to the Cabrillo School, leading to decreased traffic around the school and improved the riding experience of students going to school.
Cherie regularly rides her bike around town, often to take her children to and from school in the family cargo bike. She believes that cycling is one of the best things that she can share with her friends and family and has been a big part of her children’s development. She shares this joy and love of cycling with others by organizing community bike events, like the Pacifica Bike Park Seaside Pedal Party. These events build skills, confidence, and connection, ensuring that people in Pacifica are supportive in choosing to bike around town.
Her advocacy and engagement has built partnerships, informed policy, strengthened cycling infrastructure, and continues to inspire families, all in the mission for active transportation to be a part of every resident’s day in Pacifica.
SANTA CLARA COUNTY
Kelly Boyett
Kelly Boyett, Director of Programs at the Silicon Valley Bike Exchange, creating access to safe and healthy transportation through bike education and donations. Boyett revived a bike repair program with the Palo Alto Veterans Association, creating a space where veterans teach fellow veterans bike maintenance as part of recreational therapy.
Kelly Boyett is the Director of Programs for the Silicon Valley Bike Exchange and is focused on supporting SVBE's mission to create access to safe and healthy transportation through bike education and donations.
Write-up: Kelly Boyett is the Director of Programs for the Silicon Valley Bike Exchange and the first thing she would say about being Bike Champion of the Year, is the award and recognition is shared with the volunteers and supporters of Silicon Valley Bike Exchange.
Kelly grew up riding a bike regularly, encouraged by her family who taught her the rules of safe cycling as a small child to be able to ride to school and join in on family rides. When two of her family members were struck by cars while riding their bikes, it made her notice the need for safe active transportation infrastructure. This, joined with her love for environmental sustainability and community, ultimately led to her joining the Silicon Valley Bike Exchange.
Kelly’s work as Director of Programs has been focused on supporting SVBE's mission to create access to safe and healthy transportation through bike education and donations. The focus of Silicon Valley Bike Exchange is to fix up donated used bikes with volunteers through free bike repair events to encourage more people to choose biking as a part of a sustainable future. She manages partnerships and has worked with other local nonprofits to get bikes and bike repair to the people who need it the most. Since joining in 2024, Kelly has brought back a bike repair program with the Palo Alto Veterans Association to create a space for veterans to teach other veterans how to work on their bikes as a part of their recreational therapy program. These workshops help bring in more mechanical education on how to safely use and maintain a bike.
Kelly understands that access to safe and reliable transportation is an often-overlooked basic human need and hopes to break through those barriers with one freshly restored bike at a time.
SOLANO COUNTY WINNERS
Alexi Sinclair
Vallejo-resident and founder of V-Town bikes, Alexi Sinclair, generously shares the joy of bicycling through organizing group rides for all skill levels and regularly volunteering his time and expertise across Solano County and the broader Bay Area.
Vallejo resident, Alexi Sinclair, has been riding his bike his whole life. He grew up in the North and East Bay, surrounded by bicycle culture. He says, “[Biking] is not just a sport, it’s an activity that can change with you as you move through your life.”
Alexi enjoys urban, suburban, and off-road cycling, riding multiple times per week. His garage is full of bikes, a bike for whatever mood he is in. “Riding gets you outside and into your environment; you get to interact with your surroundings as you move through them,” he said. He often commutes by bike to work where he builds and sells bicycles. He even incorporates biking at work-sponsored rides. “I ride for the pure joy of riding. The full lungs and the wind in my face and the feeling of being able to go places without having to drive or rely on anyone else,” he said.
In 2020, while many were exploring new at-home hobbies, Alexi started Vallejo-based cycling group, V-Town Bikes. “I just started inviting people on social media and it has been growing naturally…I hope to [continue to] help grow the cycling community here in town.” Alexi organizes bi-weekly community rides suitable for all ages and skill levels, riding along dirt paths, bike lanes, and other terrain. He teaches riders how to navigate each area safely, while sharing some of his favorite areas to ride. In the last year and a half, he has increased his community rides to every other week, often hosting up to 20 riders of all skill levels. The group rides at a “party pace” with no rider left behind. His goal is to get everyone that he can on a bike!
When not riding, Alexi can be found volunteering his time and sharing his knowledge of bicycles in Solano County and around the Bay Area. He is described by nominators as “generous with his knowledge,” “adventurous in spirit and action,” and “truly a Bike Champion for all.”
Braxton Winchester
Dixon 7th grader Braxton Winchester models safety on his daily bike commute to school, building a culture of active transportation within his community
Braxton Winchester rides his bike to Dixon Montessori Charter School every day. He says he started biking when he was 3, beginning with balance bikes. Now a 7th grader, Braxton enjoys riding his bike because it gives him a sense of freedom and independence. He rides around Dixon with friends, visiting places like the library, the store, and the park.
Braxton’s dad inspired him to ride, sharing stories of BMX racing and taking the family on bike rides. His dad also taught him how to ride safely and fix his bicycle. Braxton continues this family legacy by modeling safe bicycling during his commute to school. He always wears his helmet, follows the rules of the road, and rides with care. As he is one of the older students on campus, younger students look up to him and have been inspired to wear their helmets and ride responsibly.
Braxton hopes other students can learn the value and skills of bicycling. His advice to others is to, “Be careful and follow all rules. You don’t know when something bad can happen, and you need to stay as safe as possible.” He also says it’s important for people to understand the basics of how their bike works. “Kids should know how to diagnose some problems and be able to do some basic fixes.”
Nominated for riding his bike to school every single day, and consistently modeling safety, responsibility, and respect, Braxton receives Bike Champion of the Year recognition for building a culture of safety and active transportation within his school community.
SONOMA COUNTY
Larissa Connors
Larissa Connors, a math teacher at Montgomery High School in Santa Rosa, is recognized for her dedication to bike commuting, competitive mountain bike racing, and her contagious energy in getting more kids on bikes.
The Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition has named Larissa Connors the 2026 Bike Champion of the Year for her dedication to commuting, racing, getting more kids on bikes and bringing seemingly boundless energy to the local bike community.
Connors, a math teacher at Montgomery High School in Santa Rosa, grew up riding the trails at Annadel State Park. She eventually became a professional mountain bike racer and has won, among many events, the famed Leadville Trail 100 mountain bike race -- twice.
She has been a committed bike commuter since 2008, and estimates that she hasn’t driven to her teaching job in five years. She and her six-year-old daughter now bike to school together, and she is a passionate advocate for active transportation.
“I believe everyone should have the choice not to drive,” Connors said. While she believes the City of Santa Rosa has done a lot to improve local bike infrastructure, she also notes that she feels the gaps in the bike network much more keenly as a parent.
“Your child’s safety is at risk,” she said.
Lately, Connors has become involved as an instructor with the Blue Tailed Skinks, a local mountain biking program for kids. She also recently led a family ride for SCBC on the Joe Rodota Trail. Her own professional cycling career, she says, was built on similar foundations of spending time outdoors and exploring trails as a child.
And after a five-year hiatus from racing, Connors has started lining up again. Late last year, she was the first woman and fifth overall to finish the MegaHopper, a 400-mile race that linked together several of the local Grasshopper Adventure Series routes. She is currently preparing for Unbound XL, a 350-mile gravel race in Kansas, adding hours of weekly training time to her already packed schedule.
But the goals now are a little different, she says. While she still wants to win, more important is being happy with her performance and being a good role model for her daughter. She finds motivation in being able to share her cycling knowledge with kids and adults, and to help all riders find the joy in biking.
“Each individual person enjoying being on a bike is super motivating,” she said.