Bike Austin names new executive director

Bike Austin revealed on Wednesday afternoon that Katie Smith Deolloz has moved to the head of the peloton at the nonprofit organization. Deolloz replaces Mercedes Feris who served as executive director for three years and helped get historic levels of funding for bicycle projects into the 2016 mobility bond. Deolloz also serves on the board of Walk Austin and is a member of the city’s Bicycle Advisory Council and Pedestrian Advisory Council. She’s also the founder of ATX Walks, a business that “designs customized walks and personalized coaching services,” according to Bike Austin’s press release. In the release, the organization’s board president, Hill Abell, lauds Deolloz’s new role as its executive director: “As every Austinite is aware, we have an enormous mobility challenge as our city grows, and the manner in which we reimagine how we get around town is an opportunity that Katie is well-prepared to tackle.” For her part, Deolloz says, “The city of Austin has reached a critical juncture with regard to transportation, and Bike Austin is poised to demonstrate to the community, through both education and advocacy, that cycling can be integrated into the normal activities of daily life. We look forward to partnering with other organizations to promote solutions that will serve people of all ages and abilities in our community.”