MCBC is proud to honor Gwen Froh as our 2026 Bike Champion of the Year, recognizing her extraordinary leadership in making biking a safe, accessible, and joyful part of everyday life for Marin students and families.
With 21 years at Marin County’s Safe Routes to Schools—including 12 as Program Director—Gwen has helped thousands of students discover the confidence, independence and joy that come with riding a bike. Through innovative education and encouragement programs, she has taught generations of students lifelong riding skills, while continuously evolving the program and championing new approaches to meet emerging challenges. Under her leadership, Safe Routes to Schools in Marin became a nationally recognized model, helping shape programs and best practices far beyond our county.
Gwen’s impact goes far beyond the classroom. She has been a leading voice in advancing youth bike safety and active transportation, helping communities rethink how students get to school and building a culture where biking is normal, supported, and safe. In recent years, she has also played a critical role in raising awareness about the dangers of e-motorcycles being marketed to children as e-bikes, helping Marin respond with clear guidance that promotes safe, age-appropriate riding and protects young riders. Through her work on the County’s e-bike task force and as a presenter across the Bay Area and at the Safe Routes to Schools National Conference, Gwen has helped shape how communities nationwide think about youth bike safety.
Those who nominated her describe her as both an accomplished leader and a deeply committed role model, someone who not only built a nationally recognized program but also consistently leads by example. An avid rider herself, Gwen can often be seen biking to meetings across Marin and mountain biking with friends, embodying the habits she has worked so hard to instill in others.
Through her leadership, Gwen has helped shape a generation of confident young riders, making her a truly deserving 2026 Bike Champion of the Year and leaving a lasting mark on how Marin rides.
