Each year, the Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition (SBBike) honors women who have made significant contributions to area cycling. The Velo Wings Awards ceremony takes place as part of CyleMAYnia, a month long celebration of all things cycling. This year’s recipients are being celebrated for their commitment to advocacy and increasing bike safety.
The awards are the brainchild of bike coalition Education Director, Christine Bourgeois. “Biking is such a male-dominated sport. We are always seeing men on podiums, but I am surrounded by amazing women in the cycling community; ladies biking across America, ladies competing in the Olympics, ladies working to make positive changes in infrastructure. We should celebrate the people who are doing so much for the biking community.”
Traditionally, the awards have been given to three recipients; however, this year’s list includes five. “I see our list getting longer and longer,” says Bourgeois, who notes that the growing number of women in cycling is also being recognized at the national level by bike companies and conference organizers.