Bike Baton Rouge announce winners of annual Mike Bitton Awards
Bike Baton Rouge announce winners of annual Mike Bitton Awards
5/2/2019, Baton Rouge, LA
Bike Baton Rouge today announced the recipients of the annual Mike Bitton Awards that recognize community members who have gone above and beyond in their efforts to make Baton Rouge a better place to bike. The Mike Bitton Awards are named after former LSU student Mike Bitton, who became a spokesperson and advocate for bicycle safety and awareness following a hit and run crash on River Road that left Mike with life threatening injuries.
2019’s award recipients are as follows:
Bike Friendly Business - Radio Bar
Since it’s first day open several years ago, Radio Bar has welcomed its bike-riding customers with open arms, installing one of the largest bike racks at a private business in town. They have hosted fundraisers for cycling causes, including one for Bike Baton Rouge, which allowed us to raise money to publish our Economic Benefits Report.
Bike Friendly Professional - April Renard
While at DOTD, April was involved in everything related to bikes/pedestrians and Complete Streets. April worked tirelessly to change the culture of traffic engineering to one that values human life and mobility. She continues such work at CSRAS as the Complete Streets Lead of the MoveBR program.
Bike Friendly Elected Official - Tara Wicker
We don’t give this one out every year because, sadly, some years we simply don’t feel anyone has earned it. Not so this year. Councilwoman Wicker, an avid bike rider herself, has always been a steady ally in the fight for safer streets and more bike and pedestrian infrastructure. She was a main voice in helping to make BikeShare a reality in Baton Rouge and serves on the city/parish Complete Streets committee to this day.
Mike Bitton Award - Dr. Jean George
Dr. George was a co-founder of the Sustainable Transportation Action Committee which helped to expertly show the potential and possibility of redesigning a portion of Florida Blvd, one of the most dangerous streets in the state, to where it works for all road users. Dr. George works with AARP and is unmatched in her quest to make roads safer in Baton Rouge so, as she so often puts it, “people can be safe to walk across the street.” Her passion for road safety, civic engagement and for an active lifestyle for senior citizens makes us proud to know her.
Bike Baton Rouge is a local non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization and has been dedicated to making bicycling trips in Baton Rouge safer and more enjoyable since 2006.
Dr. Jean George
Press Release - Bike Baton Rouge recognizes bicycling advocates at Mike Bitton Awards ceremony
Left to Right - Gilles Morin, Beaux Jones, Juan Cruz and Dave Cano
(Photograph by Irene Kato)
Bike Baton Rouge recognizes bicycling advocates at Mike Bitton Awards ceremony
4/29/16, Baton Rouge, LA
Bike Baton Rouge and around thirty local bicycling advocates celebrated the recipients of the Mike Bitton Awards on Wednesday evening at the Firehouse Gallery at the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge. The annual awards recognize community members who have gone above and beyond in their efforts to make Baton Rouge a better place to bike, and are named after former LSU student Mike Bitton, who became a spokesperson and advocate for bicycle safety and awareness following a hit and run crash on River Road that left Mike with life threatening injuries.
Beaux Jones, former president of Bike Baton Rouge and winner of the Mike Bitton Award, said “It is a great honor to be recognized by an organization that I love and respect so much. There is still so much to be done, but I hope that I helped to move our community closer to a safer, happier and healthier Baton Rouge‘’. Jones was awarded the Mike Bitton Award for his services to Bike Baton Rouge as well as bicycling and walking in both Baton Rouge and Louisiana.
Other recipients included David Cano of Iron Works Design LLC, who was awarded the Bike Friendly Business Award for his work with manufacturing and installing Bike Racks in Baton Rouge; Gilles Morin, of the City of Baton Rouge Planning Commission who received the Bike Friendly Ambassador Award for his long term support of bicycling projects in Baton Rouge; and Juan Cruz, of Cultural Dynamics, who received the Bike Friendly Professional Award for his work in supporting bicycling and walking projects amongst minorities and underrepresented communities, particularly with the Gardere Project.
Mark Martin, founder and outgoing president of Bike Baton Rouge, was cautious when asked about what he’ll do with his time, saying “I want to take it easy for a while and see how long it takes me to become antsy again.” When asked about his successes, Martin said ”I am happy to see more people riding now than there were 10 years ago. I can't say that anything I did had a direct affect on that but it's good to see.”
Martin’s successor, Mika Torkkola, will immediately take the helm of Bike Baton Rouge.
Bike Baton Rouge’s focus for May will be be Bike to School Day, on May 4th, Bike to Work Week on May 16th through May 20th, and Bike to Work Day on the May 20th. Bike Baton Rouge will have volunteers offering advice and support to anyone who is new to commuting by bicycle. For more information, please email bikebatonrouge@gmail.com
Mika Torkkola
225 571 2906
bikebatonrouge@gmail.com
Bike Baton Rouge is a local non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization and has been dedicated to making bicycling trips in Baton Rouge safer and more enjoyable since 2006.
Bike Baton Rouge members including Leif Remo in foreground
(Photograph by Irene Kato)
Outgoing Bike Baton Rouge Mark Martin (left) and Beaux Jones
(Photograph by Irene Kato)
Announcing the recipients of the 2016 Mike Bitton Awards
The Mike Bitton Awards, established in 2013, honour those individuals and organizations in Baton Rouge whose work results in better bicycling in Baton Rouge. We're very excited to announce this years award recipients below - and to invite you to the awards ceremony which will take place next week Wednesday April 27th, 7pm, at the Firehouse Gallery at the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge (427 Laurel Street).
This years awards go to :
David Cano of Iron Works Design LLC, who will be awarded the Bike Friendly Business Award for his work with manufacturing and installing Bike Racks in Baton Rouge.
Gilles Morin, of the City of Baton Rouge Planning Commission who will receive the Bike Friendly Ambassador Award for his long term support of bicycling projects in Baton Rouge.
Juan Cruz, of Cultural Dynamics, who will receive the Bike Friendly Professional Award for his work in supporting bicycling and walking projects amongst minorities and underrepresented communities, particularly with the Gardere Project.
Beaux Jones, former president of Bike Baton Rouge, who will be awarded the Mike Bitton Award for his services to Bike Baton Rouge as well as bicycling and walking in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and beyond.
Please come join Bike Baton Rouge, our award recipients, and our friends, members and volunteers in celebrating the great things that Baton Rouge is capable of! Snacks and drinks will be provided, and we'll have a membership sign up table if you've not already picked yours up here.
Need a reminder? Sign up at our Facebook Event.
Previous recipients of the Mike Bitton Award include :
2013
Bike Baton Rouge Bicycle Advocate Award Mike Bitton
2014
Mike Bitton Award Mark E. Martin
Bike Friendly Ambassador Award Mayor President Kip Holden
Bike Friendly Professional Award Rachel DiResto (CPEX)
Bike Friendly Business Award Chelsea's Cafe
2015
Mike Bitton Award Front Yard Bikes Dustin LaFont
Bike Friendly Ambassador Award Metro Councilwoman Ronnie Edwards
Bike Friendly Professional Award John Price
Bike Friendly Business Award Bet-R Grocery
Dustin LaFont and the kids of Front Yard Bikes
Press release - Bike Baton Rouge announce winners of annual Mike Bitton Awards
4/19/16
Baton Rouge, LA
Bike Baton Rouge today announced the recipients of their annual Mike Bitton Awards that recognize community members who have gone above and beyond in their efforts to make Baton Rouge a better place to bike. The Mike Bitton Awards are named after former LSU student Mike Bitton, who became a spokesperson and advocate for bicycle safety and awareness following a hit and run crash on River Road that left Mike with life threatening injuries.
Award recipients will include David Cano of Iron Works Design LLC, who will be awarded the Bike Friendly Business Award for his work with manufacturing and installing Bike Racks in Baton Rouge; Gilles Morin, of the City of Baton Rouge Planning Commission who will receive the Bike Friendly Ambassador Award for his long term support of bicycling projects in Baton Rouge; Juan Cruz, of Cultural Dynamics, who will receive the Bike Friendly Professional Award for his work in supporting bicycling and walking projects amongst minorities and underrepresented communities, particularly with the Gardere Project; and finally Beaux Jones, former president of Bike Baton Rouge, who will be awarded the Mike Bitton Award for his services to Bike Baton Rouge as well as bicycling and walking in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and beyond.
Kellen Gilbert, Bike Baton Rouge board member and organizer of the Awards ceremony said “We think it is important to recognize and celebrate the individuals and businesses who are dedicated to making Baton Rouge a better and safer community for all who people who ride bicycles, who walk and who run. The ceremony will honor those who go above and beyond for all of us.”
The award ceremony will take place at 7pm on Wednesday April 27th at the the Firehouse Gallery at the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge (427 Laurel Street). Bike Baton Rouge members, non-members and the general public are invited to join Bike Baton Rouge and our award recipients for some fun, food and festivities.
For more information, visit bikebr.org, look up Bike Baton Rouge on facebook, or email Bike Baton Rouge at bikebatonrouge@gmail.com
Mika Torkkola
225 571 2906
bikebatonrouge@gmail.com
Bike Baton Rouge is a local non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization and has been dedicated to making bicycling trips in Baton Rouge safer and more enjoyable since 2006.
Press release - Bike Baton Rouge seeking nominations for annual Bicycle Ambassador Awards
February 25, 2016
Baton Rouge, LA
Bike Baton Rouge is seeking nominations for the 2016 Mike Bitton Bicycle Ambassador Award. The honor goes to an individual who, like Mike, has demonstrated commitment, determination and action to make Baton Rouge a better and safer place to bicycle and who inspires the rest of us to do the same. Last year's Mike Bitton Bicycle Ambassador Award went to Dustin LaFont, founder of Front Yard Bikes, Baton Rouge's first community bike shop.
"The Mike Bitton Awards are our biggest event of the year," said Mika Torkkola, Bike Baton Rouge Board Member. "They're an excuse to come out and celebrate the good things that are happening for bicycling in Baton Rouge and to recognize the people who are behind them."
Nominations will be accepted through March 19th, 2016, and can be submitted via email to bikebatonrouge@gmail.com. Nominations should include the name of the nominee, and a brief description of their contributions to bicycling in Baton Rouge. Nominations for this year's Bike Friendly Business and Bike Friendly Professional are also being accepted at the same email address.
"All too often we don't stop and recognize the good things that are going on in Baton Rouge", Torkkola added. "Baton Rouge is a much better place to ride a bike than it was even just a few years ago - and it's largely thanks to the the efforts of the people who will be receiving these awards."
The awards ceremony will be held at the Firehouse Gallery at the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge (427 Laurel Street) on Wednesday, April 27th.
For more information, visit bikebr.org, look up Bike Baton Rouge on facebook, or email Bike Baton Rouge at bikebatonrouge@gmail.com
Mika Torkkola
225 571 2906
bikebatonrouge@gmail.com
Bike Baton Rouge is a local non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization and has been dedicated to making bicycling trips in Baton Rouge safer and more enjoyable since 2006.
