Delaware's Bicycle Commuter of the Year Award - Frank Warnock

Frank Warnock has a shy smile that grows quickly to an infectious laugh whenever anything reminds him of bicycling, which given the amount of time he spends on a bike or with other cyclists makes him and anyone around him happy most of the time.

I first met Frank two years ago while I was sitting in Panera Bread Cafe in Newark enjoying a cinnamon roll and wondering why this tall lanky fellow kept studying me and my bike helmet.  At 64 I generally don't warrant that much attention and I was beginning to wonder what was the cause of his intense interest.  Just in case, I grabbed my cell phone for a quick call to 911 if needed.  .... Just kidding.  When you meet Frank, even at a distance, you know he's not only a good guy, but one who will more than likely become a very good friend.

The guy never sleeps!

Finally, he wandered over to my table with a Henry Fonda kind of walk and snapped down a Bike Delaware business card in front of me.  "Glad to see your biking," he said.  "Come join us at Bike Delaware!"

And so, I did.

On May 21st at the Delaware Bike Summit, Frank very deservedly won the 2010 Delaware Bicycle Commuter of the Year award. Amy Wilburn, of the Delaware Bicycle Council stated it best with her introduction of Frank:

"Our Commuter of the Year Award goes to a man who commutes by bike on most days to his job at Siemens.  While his ride is significant and he must deal with traffic, it's not his commute that is exceptional.  What is exceptional is his commitment to using his bike for transportation.  Day after day, year after year, for most of his life, he has chosen to ride on his bike instead of in his car.  He has commuted by bicycle from his childhood job as a paperboy, through changes in his employer and state of residence.  When chronic pain and injury would have caused others to hang up their bike, he continued to put his tires to the asphalt.  I am truly honored to present this award to Frank Warnock."

Frank has been active in bicycle advocacy all the way back to decades ago when neither bicycles nor advocacy was considered "cool."  He has been a leading force in bringing about many improvements for cyclists in Delaware and still never misses an opportunity to locate a problem and find the solution. 

 Frank attending one of the Bike Summit conferences

The guy just doesn't seem to have an "off" switch when it comes to cycling and the residents of Delaware are the recipients of this gift.

 See what I mean about that smile.  He has Amy laughing.

Congratulations, Frank!  No one deserves this award more than you.