Over the last decade, San Jose’s bicycling infrastructure has grown significantly. The most visible example, a 400-mile bikeway network proposed in 2009 as part of our first bike plan, has been completed. The person responsible for that bike plan and many of the improvements it yielded is our Active Transportation Program Manager, John Brazil. We’re excited to share the news that John has been honored as one of the Public Sector Professionals of the Year by the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals!

Under John’s leadership, the City of San José has increasingly become known as a city that prioritizes bicycling and is willing to invest in the infrastructure that makes it safe and convenient. John has worked to align bike projects with our annual pavement maintenance program, saving time and money compared to stand-alone bikeway projects. And many of those projects have been cutting-edge: San José has embraced paint-buffered bike lanes, protected bike lanes, green high-visibility paint, and protected intersections like few other cities. He has also overseen the installation of 3,500 public bike racks and been a champion for right-sizing roads (also known as road diets) to calm traffic and improve safety for people riding bikes, walking, or using assistive mobility devices like wheelchairs.

The work completed under the 2009 bike plan would be a career’s worth of success for many. But John saw the close-out of that plan as an opportunity to craft a new, more ambitious version. Dubbed the “Better Bike Plan 2025,” it calls for significant improvements to existing bike infrastructure, and increased connections to eliminate gaps in the network and provide more "low stress" biking options. The process to develop the plan saw John traveling all over the city on countless evenings, talking to community and business groups about their hopes and desires for a safer city to bike in.

As APBP acknowledged when they announced the award:

John has pushed the envelope to make San José one of the most bicycle and pedestrian-friendly cities. Within the City of San José, John's 20 years of service continue to inspire others to strive for safer street design, more inclusive outreach, and to be overall better public servants by listening to community members and exercising humility in his interactions with the public. His vast contributions to projects and programs are making a significant difference in safety, accessibility, and quality of life.

Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition, John! Thank you for your work to make San José a better place for biking, for people of all ages and abilities.