On Wednesday, May 1, Propel ATL will meet and celebrate with the people working to make Atlanta a better city to bike, walk, take transit, run — and use wheelchairs, strollers, skateboards, rollerblades, and more at its annual Blinkie Awards, held from 6 to 9 p.m. at The Eastern.

An opportunity to celebrate our community's successes and hard work, this year’s awards will be hosted by Atlanta’s own Mark Kendall, a comedian with his finger on the pulse of the city. We? Are so excited.

Awards this year go to elected officials, residents, and organizations making a difference in metro Atlanta.

2024 Blinkie Award winners

Expanding the Movement Award: Red, Bike, and Green 

Red, Bike, and Green is a Black community-building collective that works to enhance the physical, mental, economic, and environmental health of Black communities by creating and promoting a relevant and sustainable Black bike culture. Red, Bike, and Green-Atlanta serves as a resource working to expand and mobilize an inclusive, intergenerational, and diverse Black bike community. “Red, Bike, and Green Atlanta is a beacon for Atlanta’s Black biking community,” wrote their nominator. “They promote a thriving bike culture that centers the health and safety of its participants and forges valuable connections to Black businesses throughout the city.” 

Sustainable Transportation Champion Award: Jason Dozier

Jason Dozier represents District 4 on the Atlanta City Council. The Sustainable Transportation Champion Award recognizes Councilmember Dozier’s commitment to achieving an Atlanta where everyone can move safely, easily, and sustainably throughout the city. He has been instrumental in critical efforts to support pedestrian safety around the Atlanta BeltLine, including sponsoring zoning papers that would eliminate parking minimums in Atlanta BeltLine overlay districts and prohibit new gas stations, drive-thrus, and service stations in those areas. These efforts reflected a larger ambition on the Councilmember’s part: to prevent pedestrian fatalities and reduce racial disparities in fatalities and crashes. One nominator wrote, “Jason continues to lead the city government in advancing transportation equity, safety, sustainability, and responsible planning. He prioritizes the safety of all Atlantans and all modes of transportation, despite pushback. His leadership is an integral part of the landscape of progressive Atlanta transportation advocacy.”

Safe Routes to School Award: Mike Weigand

A resident of East Atlanta, Mike Weigand is a cycling parent and active school transportation advocate. He encourages families at Burgess-Peterson Academy, the neighborhood elementary school, to skip the carpool line by organizing annual walk and bike-to-school events, as well as weekly bike trains on Friday mornings. He also lobbies the Atlanta and Georgia Departments of Transportation for safe infrastructure and serves on his neighborhood’s transportation committee, all to improve transportation equity for the school community. As his nominator wrote, “Mike is paving the way for future generations of bicycle commuters and advocates.”

Safe Streets Advocate Award: Focused Community Strategies

Founded in 1978, Focused Community Strategies partners with under-resourced neighborhoods to provide innovative and holistic development that promotes flourishing communities. This organization’s steadfast commitment to sustainable transportation options and improved infrastructure for the residents of South Atlanta and the students of Carver High School demonstrates an unparalleled dedication to transforming Atlanta’s streets into spaces that are safe, inclusive, and thriving.

Transportation Media Award: Darin Givens

Darin Givens is a metro Atlanta native. His widely-followed blog, ATL Urbanist, takes a thoughtful, keen-eyed look at urbanism issues in our city from the ground up, regularly covering the transportation issues that affect us all. Darin is also the co-founder of ThreadATL, a nonprofit advocating for best practices in urban design in Atlanta. In explaining why they chose him for this award, Propel ATL’s host committee said, “Journalism and media are integral to raising awareness for transportation issues, holding representatives and institutions accountable, amplifying diverse voices, providing accurate information, and sharing thoughtful experiences. Darin’s work does all of the above.”

This year’s Blinkie Awards celebration takes place against the backdrop of the release of Atlanta’s Vision Zero Plan, which lays out the city’s strategy for reducing traffic deaths to zero. Propel ATL has spent years advocating for Atlanta’s adoption of this data-driven strategy, which will save lives. 

“When it comes to transportation’s potential in this city, Atlanta is at a true pivot point,” said Propel ATL Executive Director Rebecca Serna. “It’s meaningful to take an evening to celebrate those who are making our streets places where everyone can move safely, easily, and sustainably – and to have a little fun!”

See you there!