Western Wheelers Bicycle Club

The Lefkowitz award is a legacy created by the late Ben Lefkowitz. Ben, formerly a very active member and president of Western Wheelers, was also a strong bicycle advocate. The city of Palo Alto named the Under-crossing of 101 at Adobe Creek (boundary of Palo Alto Baylands and Shoreline Park near East Meadow Drive) after him. Ben gave $5,000 to the club in 1989 asking that proceeds from the funds be awarded each year to recognize service by an individual or organization which has benefitted cycling in the Bay Area. The club now subsidizes the award. The Board (or a committee appointed by the Board) makes the final selection.

2023	Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition	Bicycle advocacy - Making bicyclists safer in Silicon Valley, including but not limited to: 13 Silicon Valley Bike Summits, Valet Bike Parking at Levi Stadium, Bike to Work Day / Bike Month for the past 25 years, Active local teams in many local cities and monthly Biketivist Forums, A comprehensive adult bike education program in Santa Clara County funded by VTA, Innumerable beginner and infrastructure rides, Safe Routes to School advocacy.
2022	David Fork & Jack Miller	David Fork started Silicon Valley Bike Exchange operations nearly 30 years ago, Jack Miller later joined him as director of the organization. They continue serving the community while inspiring people to learn the art of bike repair. They encourage bicycles for everyday use, provide bikes to children and adults in need, recycle and conserve materials and energy resources, and teach bike repair skills through social work gatherings. Since 2006, SV Bike Exchange has promoted biking by donating approximately 8,000 bikes, including 1,035 bikes in 2022.
2021	Randall Braun	Years of activity benefitting the bicycling community including donating time and expertise to local charity rides, improving the relationship of cyclists with the coastal community with fund raisers for coastal charities (Puente, La Honda Fire Brigade, Abundant Grace, and the Bike Hut), authoring bicycle guidebooks, helping ACTC with their Sierra to the Sea event, and a Route Arrow business to help guide cyclists on public rides.
2020	Not awarded
2019	Tim Oey	A long time cycling advocate, a founding board member of the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition where he continues to be active, and a League Cycling Instructor who loves to teach people how to bike and how to bike better.
2018	Larry Dean	Founded Walk Bike Cupertino in 2014 with the simple idea of making Cupertino a better place to walk and bicycle. Larry and Walk Bike Cupertino have been effective at getting more Cupertino resources dedicated to creating and improving bicycling in the city.
2017	Not awarded
2016	Robert Neff	The chair of the Palo Alto Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee (PABAC) and active bicycle advocate.
2015	Dianne Brien	Member of Peninsula Bicycle and Pedestrian Coalition board and an active community bike advocate.
2011	Ralph Rohwer	Bike and community advocate with 15 years of dedicated work at the SVBC Bike Exchange providing bikes for underprivileged children and adults.
2010	Mike Jacoubowsky	Long-time bicycling advocate over the years for both the Western Wheelers and the cycling community in general.
2009	Jerri-Ann Meyer	Bicycling advocate.
2008	Ellen Fletcher	Unselfish service to the bicycling community. 12 years Palo Alto City Council, 6 years League of American Wheelman, Santa Clara County Valley Bicycle Assoc. Organized bike parking for Palo Alto/Los Altos arts fairs and all the Stanford football games, long time editor of Spinning Crank. Received this award in 1989 as well.
2007	Yoriko Kishimoto	Advocate for a walkable and bike-able Palo Alto, brought the prologue of the Tour of California to Palo Alto, fostered the next generation of cyclists with Safe Routes to School program.
2005	Mike Harding	Sequoia Century Chair, longtime active member of the SVBC and Peninsula Bicycle and Pedestrian Coalition, instrumental in maintaining safe bike lanes on Hwy 92 near Half Moon Bay after the road was widened, enduring lobbyist on behalf of cyclists, Mt. Hamilton ride leader.
2003	Alan Wachtel	Worked with California Association of Bicycle Organizations and California Bicycle Coalition as their legislation specialist to clarify ambiguities in the vehicle code to improve cycling safety. Former WW president. Avid bike commuter and regular recreational cyclist.
2002	Steve Schmidt & Dani Weber	Continued advocate of bicycle as serious transportation alternative. Mayor of Menlo Park, 8 years Menlo Park City Council, 11 years San Mateo City/County Association of Government Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. Finished PBP twice, 40 years of cycling. Accomplishments as a cyclist and advocate too long to list here. Dani Weber, Chair of the Peninsula Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee. Made County Officials accountable for bike safety. Wrote for SVBC newsletter. Organized memorial rides and invited the media to draw attention to safety issues (deaths of cyclists, Katherine Pope and Jon Davidson).
2001	Pete Blasberg	Longtime popular Ride Leader. Leads the Thursday morning C ride, created and leads the Tuesday morning C ride for nearly ten years. In addition, a frequent A and B ride leader.
2000	Don Burnett	Chairman of the VTA Policy Advisory Committee. Longtime SVBC (Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition) board member, founding Cupertino Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee member, Cupertino City Council, longtime guiding light to cycling advocacy in the Santa Clara County.
1999	Anne Ng	Active member of the SVBC, successfully worked with County DA to convict the truck driver who ran over and killed cyclist, Jeffery Steinwedel. The first trial met with a hung jury; the second trial resulted in a conviction. Anne represented the cycling community in pushing the legal community to punish flagrant violators.
1998	Howard Shafer, Jacquette Ward & Dick Blaine	Howard and Jackie ran the Long Distance Training Support Group ride series. Held a clinic on self-contained overnight touring. Dick, RideMaster for several years, advocated patching potholes, inspired safer riding, led Sequoia Century, and mentored new riders. Member and chairman of the Cupertino Bicycle Pedestrian Committee for four years. Huge club contributor.
1997	Scott Mace & Tom Diskin	Scott, director of the Mid-Peninsula Bicycle Coalition (MPBC) and Chairman of the Bikeways and Pedestrian Advisory Committee of the San Mateo City/County Association of Governments. Works on improving bike lanes, bridges, paths, and access for all. Tom, an occasional club rider, heads the San Mateo County Special Olympics cycling program and coaches cyclists. Gave a March meeting presentation featuring some of his Special Athletes. An inspiration to all who attended.
1996	Jim Mongillo	Sequoia Century Chair, longtime active member of the SVBC and Peninsula Bicycle and Pedestrian Coalition, instrumental in maintaining safe bike lanes on Hwy 92 near Half Moon Bay after the road was widened, enduring lobbyist on behalf of cyclists, Mt. Hamilton ride leader.
1995	Scott Worthge, Hildy Licht, & Committee	Scott, Hildy and the entire Sequoia Committee revamped the Sequoia Century. For the past four years, have invested huge amounts of time and energy to this popular event.
1994	Lisa Dondick	Sequoia Century Chair, longtime active member of the SVBC and Peninsula Bicycle and Pedestrian Coalition, instrumental in maintaining safe bike lanes on Hwy 92 near Half Moon Bay after the road was widened, enduring lobbyist on behalf of cyclists, Mt. Hamilton ride leader.
1993	John Langbein	Obtained funding, compiled information, and assisted production of the first county wide Bike Map for San Mateo County.
1992	Howard Meissner	Led a large number of successful club rides.
1990	Leo Moll	Bicycling Advocate.
1989	Ellen Fletcher	Bike advocate: 12 years Palo Alto City Council, 6 years League of American Wheelman, Santa Clara County Valley Bicycle Assoc..