Remembering Bill Walton, Friend to CalBike
There have been lots of remembrances of Bill Walton, who died May 27, 2024, at age 71. He touched the lives of many people. Here at CalBike, we remember him as someone who loved bikes and supported the goal of making our state more bike-friendly.
Known primarily for his legendary career on the basketball court, including national championships at UCLA and as an NBA All-Star, Walton dedicated his retirement to championing the cause of cycling. He was a notable sight on his custom extra-large-framed bicycle and wearing Grateful Dead gear, often seen riding the hills and valleys of San Diego County.
Walton was active among grassroots bicycling groups around the state, regularly participating in San Diego’s Bike the Bay, attending events for Bike Bakersfield, and speaking out for protected bike lanes. In an interview with San Diego’s Better By Bike page, he said, “Protected bike lanes are fantastic. They give us the sense of safety and security that we must have, your own personal routes and style will vary, but always think safety and security, know and follow the laws/rules, find the best routes with the least traffic, the most safety and greatest protection, and the best pavement.” Walton appreciated the new bike facilities near his home in La Mesa.
Former CalBike Executive Director Dave Snyder said, “I had the pleasure of meeting Bill Walton in 2015 at a fundraiser for CalBike in his home. He spoke with such love and passion for how bicycling can bring joy and so much more. It was perhaps the most eloquent tribute to our movement I’ve ever heard. He was special. RIP Bill.”
Former CalBike board member Josh Cohen posted this remembrance on Facebook: “We all know what a cool guy and great athlete Bill Walton was, but some don’t know he was also an AVID cyclist. So much so that he opened his house to the 2015 California Bicycle Coalition Board of Directors in-person meeting. I had no idea who he even was — just that he was super charismatic and likeable. And he had drums and Grateful Dead stuff everywhere! He later signed a letter to Paul Koretz in support of protected bike lanes from the Purple Line Extension to UCLA. Thanks for the smiles, Bill Walton! See you on the next lap…”
Through his nonprofit, Bikes for Humanity, Walton demonstrated his unwavering commitment to making bicycles accessible to those who might not otherwise afford them. His work in adaptive bike advocacy opened up the joy of cycling to countless individuals in California and beyond. His career and activism after his time on the basketball court had a profound impact on the lives of many people. He will be missed.
