Santa Clara County Triplets Among Bike Champions Of The Year

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA — Santa Clara County’s 2021 Bike Champions of the Year honor goes to Daniel Wood and his three triplets.

The award is given to individuals who inspire bicycling in their Bay Area communities by Bay Area Bike to Wherever Days, which receives support from a number of local organizations like MTC and 511.

Wood and his 7-year-old, first grade triplets — Hazel, Alden and Malia — bike to school every day in Mountain View. The kids attend two different preschools and Wood wanted a way to include biking while taking them to school.

“I didn’t realize at first how fun it would be biking with them,” Wood said in a news release. “It’s just great to be outdoors and on your own power.”

Biking soon became part of their lives. The kids were using balance bikes at home, which Wood said helped them learn how to pedal bikes independently.

Wood added that their experience has inspired others in their lives.

“We have proven to be more inspiring than we realized,” Wood said. “We have run into so many teachers and so many friends and so many folks… and I have seen some of those people take to the streets on their own.”

May is the Bay Area’s “Bike to Wherever Days,” and May 21 is National Bike to Wherever Day. MTC Chairman and Napa County Supervisor Alfredo Pedroza said in a news release that the pandemic has not stopped people from biking.

“The slow streets movement has encouraged people to get on bicycles and explore their neighborhoods, get exercise and run errands,” Pedroza said. “The May events put a focus on bicycling and highlights all its benefits. Biking has never been stronger in the Bay Area and we want everyone to participate.”