The cycling association Ruedas Redondas celebrated its 25th anniversary on Saturday with the presentation of the Timbre de Oro awards, including one to Diario Sur journalist Ignacio Lillo for his contribution to sustainable mobility.
The cycling association Ruedas Redondas celebrated its 25th anniversary on Saturday night at an event that brought together around fifty people, including former presidents, collaborators, and representatives from various companies. During the event, the president of the organisation, María José Márquez Ballesteros, reviewed the quarter-century history of the group and presented the Timbre de Oro awards to various figures and institutions that have been fundamental to the development of sustainable mobility and urban cycling in the city, as reported by Diario Sur.
Among the awardees is Diario Sur journalist Ignacio Lillo, who specialises in mobility, infrastructure, transport, and the environment. Lillo (Málaga, 1978) receives this recognition "for his valuable contribution to the promotion of cycling and sustainable mobility." He holds a master's degree in Institutional and Business Communication from the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) and has worked in the Local section of Diario Sur since 2004. He has received the Andalucía Journalism Award, the City of Málaga Award, the National Aena Journalism Award, and the Montero de Burgos Award, among others.
The association was founded on January 28, 2001, under the initial name of Ruedas Cuadradas, an ironic expression reflecting the difficulties faced by cyclists in the city. Since then, it has evolved from a time with no cycling paths or parking to becoming a reference point in Andalucía and Spain. During her speech, Márquez Ballesteros highlighted the journey taken and emphasised that "the true success has been contributing to transforming the culture of mobility in Málaga. It has been about demonstrating that the bicycle has a legitimate place in the city."
Addressing the current context of climate emergency and rising fuel costs, the president reflected on the challenges that remain: "We might think that we have many more allies in promoting the use of bicycles, but unfortunately we must acknowledge that there is still much to be done." Despite this, she reaffirmed the organisation's determination, stating that "not a shred of enthusiasm has been lost in continuing to ride bikes, advocating for their safe use, and we will keep pedalling with the strength and joy that comes from being part of this family called Ruedas Redondas."
The meeting also served to pay tribute to those who have led and supported the organisation over the years. In the category of former presidents and founders, the first member, Sergio García Molina, was honoured for establishing the association, its first premises, the website, and the magazine PEDALEO. Alonso González Ruiz, president during the expansion phase that promoted the Biciescuela and the Iberian Congress of the Bike and the City in 2015, and Jose Luis Martín Bellido, who led for eight years, managed the renovation of the headquarters and fleet, and spearheaded the mobilisation on February 14, 2021, when over 8,000 people protested against the mobility ordinance, were also awarded.
The list of awardees was completed with recognitions for activists, collaborators, and entities from the Málaga capital. The dedication of Virginia Díaz Llamas at the helm of the BiciEscuela was acknowledged; the graphic work of Natalia Resnik Petersen, the association's illustrator and creator of the mascot Velonia; and the collaboration of the Association of Neighbours of El Palo in various marches and workshops. Additionally, Greg Mills from the Recyclo shop and workshop was awarded for providing technical space for fleet maintenance, and Albert García from Amics de la Bici for his support in bike demonstrations and the creation of associative networks. The day also included a posthumous recognition for Kurro de Paula, a former president of the entity, in memory of his voluntary work in the project's early days.
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