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On Saturday, April 30, Napa Bike kicked off National Bike Month with a membership meeting at the new plaza behind the Opera House in Napa, followed by a ride through Carneros. 

One of the highlights of the meeting was the announcement of Jim Wilson as Napa County’s 2011 Bicycle Commuter of the Year.  Jim graciously accepted a beautiful wool jersey, donated by Napa River Velo, to commemorate his accomplishment, and then joined group on a 18 mile fun ride.

Jim got into commuting by bike from his home in Napa to his job of Quality Assurance Manager at Anheuser-Busch in Fairfield, as an expression of a personal commitment he made to help ‘de-carbonize the economy’. 

Jim’s decision to reduce his impact on the earth’s resources started 3 years ago with running the 18 miles from his home to work once each month and car-pooling with fellow employees.  He also got into biking and convinced other A-B employees to form Team Budweiser to compete in Solano County’s Team Bike Challenge.  Last summer he decided to step-up his commitment, bought a really good bike, and put 2000 miles on it instead of his car.

Jim sustained an injury to his arm late in the year which temporarily took him off his bike. The injury has not deterred his enthusiasm for bike commuting, and so while he recuperated, he organized a bike-to-work competition involving all 30 A-B breweries in the US and Canada.  Jim organizes internal competitions for 300+ employees in Fairfield and offers a healthy breakfast to encourage employee participation. Jim is well now, and celebrated his bicycle come-back with a century ride in the Napa Valley Tour de Cure on May 1, the first day of National Bike month.

Jim is an outstanding example of how one person’s quest to help environmental consciousness can inspire hundreds to change their habits to the benefit of everyone. We are proud Jim Wilson is Napa County’s Bicycle Commuter of the Year.