Nominations Now Open for the
2026–2027 Wheel of Achievement Awards
Help recognize the people, projects, policies, and initiatives that are advancing bicycle and pedestrian accessibility throughout Central Florida.
Celebrating Leadership and Innovation in Bicycle and Pedestrian Accessibility
The Wheel of Achievement Awards celebrate outstanding efforts that make communities safer, more connected, and more accessible through thoughtful planning, innovative design, improved facilities, supportive public policy, and community leadership. Now in its fourth cycle, the awards honor municipalities, public agencies, advocacy organizations, engineering and planning firms, businesses, community groups, and individual leaders who are creating places where people can safely walk, bike, and roll.
The 2026–2027 nomination cycle is now open.
Nominations Open: [Date]
Submission Deadline: September 4, 2026
Winners Announced: Fall 2026
Awards Celebration: February 2027
Time remaining to submit nominations:
All nominations must be submitted through the online application form by the deadline.
About the Wheel of Achievement Awards
The Wheel of Achievement Awards celebrate outstanding efforts that make communities safer, more connected, and more accessible through thoughtful planning, innovative design, improved facilities, supportive public policy, and community leadership.
Now in its fourth cycle, the program recognizes the work of municipalities, public agencies, advocacy organizations, engineering and planning firms, businesses, community groups, and individual leaders who are helping create places where people can safely walk, bike, and roll.
Who Can Be Nominated?
Nominations may include a wide range of people, organizations, and efforts that have advanced bicycle and pedestrian accessibility across Bike/Walk Central Florida’s service area.
Eligible nominations include:
Individual community leaders, advocates, and professionals
Nonprofit organizations and advocacy groups
Public agencies and municipalities
Planning, engineering, and design firms
Private sector partners and businesses
Projects, programs, and initiatives
Policies or planning efforts that improve safety, access, or connectivity
Self-nominations are welcome, and submissions may come from community members, peers, or organizations.
Award Categories
To recognize the many ways communities are improving bicycle and pedestrian accessibility, nominations are accepted across the following categories:
Innovative Bike/Ped Plan or Design
For people-first action plans, master plans, designs, guides, or toolkits that make walking, biking, or rolling safer, more accessible, or better integrated into the community.
- Open to projects with either a transportation or recreation focus, including paved or natural surface features.
- Plans or designs must have been officially adopted or granted funding for activation/construction.
- Both public and private organizations are eligible to submit.
Innovative Bike/Ped Infrastructure: Safer Streets & Corridors
For projects that improve safety, access, or connectivity along roadways and urban corridors.
- Projects may include intersections, complete streets, cycle tracks, sidewalks and crossings, corridor-wide roadway improvements, trail connections, lighting, wayfinding signage, road diets, or safety treatments. 
- Nominations are open to projects with either a transportation or recreation focus, including either paved or natural surface features.
Innovative Bike/Ped Infrastructure: Closing Trail Gaps, Trail Connectivity, & New Regional Trail Networks
Trail infrastructure projects that close critical gaps, loops, connections, or expansions of regional networks, making bike/ped use significantly safer and better integrated.
- Projects may include trail gap sections, new trail networks, bridge or underpass connections, or transformative redevelopment projects.
- Open to projects with a transportation or recreation focus, including paved or natural surface features.
Innovative Bike/Ped Infrastructure: Facilities & Parks
Completed projects that have furthered the development of specialized facilities or recreational spaces that encourage activity, skill-building, and community engagement.
- Projects may include bike parking, repair stations, heat safety, bike parks, pump tracks, and other recreation-focused amenities.
Outstanding Advancements in Bike/Ped Policy
For a policy that has significantly advanced bike/ped access, safety, or promotion through formal systems. This award recognizes the "behind-the-scenes" or "top-down" work that creates the framework for change.
- Legislation, transportation planning, inter-agency partnerships, or securing transformative funding through policy change. 
- Open to elected officials, government agency staff, and professional or citizen advocates working within the policy/legislative arena.
Outstanding Community Leader (Individual)
For an individual who has demonstrated sustained excellence in leading the local community toward a more active lifestyle. This person is likely a "go-to" figure in the local scene—someone who manages programs, runs a major club, or spearheads high-profile initiatives.
- Organizing large-scale efforts, managing safety education programs, or leading major wellness/recreation initiatives. 
- Bridging the gap between recreation and transportation to build a culture of biking and walking.
Outstanding Community Leader (Organization)
For a non-profit, business, or community group that has integrated active transportation into its core mission or operations. This award recognizes the collective power of an entity to move the needle on safer streets.
- Corporate wellness initiatives, non-profit programming, charity events, or organizational partnerships that provide resources and visibility to the bike/ped movement. 
- Demonstrated organizational commitment to exercise, safety education, or off-road/on-road advocacy.
If you believe a project, policy, or leader is making a difference, we encourage you to submit a nomination—even if it doesn’t fit perfectly into a category.
What Makes a Strong Nomination?
Strong nominations clearly show how a person, project, policy, or initiative has improved bicycle and pedestrian accessibility in a meaningful way.
The most effective submissions include:
Clear, specific impact on safety, accessibility, or connectivity
Measurable outcomes or observable results when available
Innovation, leadership, or efforts that go beyond standard practice
Evidence of community benefit and real-world impact
A clear explanation of what was done and why it matters
Tip: Provide as much detail as possible to help reviewers understand both the work and its significance.
See Past Honorees
Explore previous winners and honorable mentions to see examples of innovative ideas, partnerships, and measurable impact that continue to shape safer and more connected communities.
Get Involved or Learn More
Have questions about the Wheel of Achievement Awards, or interested in learning more about the event? Whether you’d like to nominate a project, person, or organization, or simply want to understand how the awards work, our team is here to help.