ATLANTA (BRAIN) — When retailer Fred Boykin attended the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition's annual Blinkie awards ceremony last month, he did not expect to receive an award—let alone have one named for him.
Boykin took home his namesake Inaugural Fred Boykin Lifetime Achievement Award. "It was totally unexpected, I had no idea," said Boykin. "The board created the award, named it after me, then gave it to me. It is such an honor."
Boykin was recognized for his dedication to numerous advocacy projects over the years, including his efforts to launch and grow the Safe Routes to School program in Decatur, a suburb of Atlanta.
He spearheaded the Safe Routes pilot program in 2002 after procuring a $400,000 grant from the state of Georgia. The program is now run by the city of Decatur and has become the strongest Safe Routes to School program in the state.
Other projects Boykin has supported include the annual Ride to the State Capitol, which draws more than 2,000 people to ride from Decatur to the capitol building in Atlanta. He is also active in a local program to provide bicycle safety training to fourth grade students in Decatur, and currently serves as Decatur City Commissioner.
Boykin owns Bicycle South, the full-service shop he opened in 1972 when he was a junior in college. Bikes from Giant, Raleigh, Bromptom and Surly are sold at the 4,500-square-foot store in Decatur.
