Last week, the biking and walking community across the country lost an incredible champion, friend, and changemaker. For those of us in the Bay Area, Deb Hubsmith’s passing hits even closer to home. Before she founded and ran the Safe Routes to Schools National Partnership, Deb Hubsmith worked in Marin County, running the Marin County Bicycle Coalition, starting the first Safe Routes to Schools program, and working to make all of our lives, commutes, and communities better.
Those of us at the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition who were lucky enough to work directly with Deb have lost a personal friend and mentor, and all of us have lost an inspiration and leader. We all have a responsibility to continue Deb’s legacy, and echo her tireless energy, commitment and joy in our work to improve our communities. In the meantime, please join us in sending our love to Andy Peri, Deb’s husband, the Safe Routes to Schools Partnership staff, and all of those who were lucky enough to have their life touched by Deb.
To read more about Deb’s work, please see remembrances and statements from around the country: