Meet our October Bike Hero: Andy Hina!

This Bike Hero has been working as groundskeeper at CHUN (Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods) since 2002. He is not only in charge of grounds upkeep but also maintaining the CHUN house which was built in 1896. Andy also takes part in multiple community activities like CHUN’s very own People’s Fair, a celebration of the Denver community and its diverse residents. It’s an annual event consisting of arts & crafts, food vendors, music, and more. In addition to the People’s Fair, Andy also took part in Viva Streets which turned 23rd Ave from a bustling, car inhabited street into a bike and pedestrian haven as a way to help promote an active lifestyle.

Though working at CHUN for almost 10 years is already an impressive amount of time, Andy has been in Denver since 1982 when he was first stationed here as an army recruiter. Even cooler still, and why BikeDenver loves him, Andy has been riding his bike around Denver ever since then. Now, he takes his specialized 2011 Stumpjumper out for rides along the Cherry Creek path, 12th Ave, and Emerson Street, which was recently installed with bike lanes. He says that since starting biking, he is “definitely more healthy” and has “lost some pounds.” BikeDenver thanks Andy for riding his bike and for helping to promote biking throughout the community.

[Submitted by Courtney Burkett]

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Bike Hero of the Month Awards highlight different people each month, and help encourage other people to bike by telling the Hero’s personal story. The goal of the Bike Hero Awards Program is to showcase the diversity of citizen-cyclists and the people who support them in Denver.

BikeDenver’s Executive Director Piep van Heuven says: “We introduced the Bike Hero awards because we want to encourage a friendly environment for and public image of bicyclists in Denver. One of the ways we can do this is to showcase the different faces of and great stories about people in our community, like Andy, who ride bikes or help others get out there and ride. Through the Bike Hero awards, BikeDenver honors bicyclists of all ages and walks of life, from the first time bicyclist to the rain or shine bicyclist!  We all know people (our neighbors, co-workers, family members or community leaders) who inspire us to reach for the handlebars instead of the car keys. Take a moment to look around you and help BikeDenver recognize the people in our community who are making a difference for Denver, one ride at a time!”