James Wilson Named 2014 Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals “Nonprofit Professional of the Year”

James Wilson, who has been Bike Delaware’s executive director since 2011, was named the 2014 Professional of the Year for the Non-Profit Sector by the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP).

The APBP announcement was made at the Pro Walk / Pro Bike / Pro Place Conference in Pittsburgh where James was honored for his “vision, leadership and effective advocacy.”

James accepting award from APBP President Jennifer Hefferan

The award recognizes James’ work in leading the Walkable Bikeable Delaware campaign that, starting in 2011, has increased Delaware’s commitment to making the state more walkable and bikeable. In 2010, Delaware was ranked 31^st in the League of American Bicyclists’ Bicycle Friendly State rankings. In 2011, Delaware advanced to #18; in 2012 to #10; in 2013 to #5; and this year to #4. Under James’ leadership as executive director, Bike Delaware also won the “Winning Campaign of the Year” award in 2012 from the Alliance for Biking & Walking.

“James is very deserving of this award, “ said Bike Delaware board member Barbara Boyce. “He has done a tremendous job of engaging city, county and statewide planners and engineers, legislators, and numerous others in supporting bicycle and pedestrian improvements for the state of Delaware. He is dedicated and passionate about improving bicycling in Delaware.”

“Delaware is fortunate to have someone with James’ enthusiasm, expertise and tenacity working to make the state more bike friendly, “ added Carol Ireland, former Bike Delaware board member and former president of the White Clay Bicycle Club.

James cited the essential role of state leaders in Delaware’s recent progress. “Governor Markell and the Delaware General Assembly share the vision of making Delaware the most walkable and bikeable state in America. In doing so, these far-sighted leaders are helping Delawareans save money, making housing more affordable, improving public health, enabling seniors to age in place, increasing tourism, reducing congestion, lowering polluting emissions, providing recreational opportunities and improving quality of life for Delawareans. Perhaps most importantly, they are supporting a pro-growth vision of responsible economic development. The list of public benefits is staggering and is even more remarkable when compared with the modest scale of the investments involved. The economic return on these investments is off the charts.”

James is a member of the Delaware Bicycle Council, holds engineering degrees from Yale University and the University of Texas at Austin and is the only registered lobbyist for cycling and walking in Delaware.

The Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP) works to grow the pedestrian and bicycle profession and its influence by facilitating the exchange of professional and technical knowledge, elevating practitioners’ skills and defining the field. The organization has 1,300 members in the United States and Canada. APBP members work at all levels of government, in manufacturing, and as consultants, advocates, researchers, and students in a wide range of disciplines: transportation planning and engineering, urban design, landscape architecture, public health and active living.

RELATED:

• How I Work: Bike DE Executive Director James Wilson

• Top 8 Reasons Delaware Is Now the #3 Most Bicycle Friendly State in America

• The Walkable Bikeable Delaware Campaign

• Developing walkable, bikeable and transit-connected communities