FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday September 16, 10:30 a.m.
GObike announces appointment of Kevin Heffernan as its next Executive Director.
The GObike Board of Directors announced today the appointment of Kevin Heffernan as its new executive director.
Heffernan, 40, joined GObike in 2021, and most recently served as deputy director and communications director. In this role, Heffernan led advocacy for safer streets, special event creation and promotion, and all mass communications across Erie, Niagara, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua Counties.
A national search seeking new leadership began in May 2026 following the departure of Justin Booth, the organization’s founder, who after nearly 20 years leading GObike accepted the position of Parking Commissioner with the City of Buffalo.
A search committee chaired by GObike’s board member Jennifer White included GObike board members and staff representatives. It worked with Triple Track Consultants and Eva Hassett on a search that resulted in 98 applicants, 16 interviews and two finalists.
Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan:
“GObike has been a strong partner to the City of Buffalo in our shared work to make our streets safer and more accessible for everyone. I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with Kevin on transportation projects and have seen firsthand his commitment to making Buffalo a better place to walk, bike, and get around. I congratulate Kevin on his appointment and look forward to continuing the City’s strong relationship with GObike as we work together to build safer, more connected streets throughout Buffalo.”
GObike Board Chair Nicole Komin:
“Kevin brings a deep understanding of GObike’s mission, people, partnerships, and the communities we serve, along with the vision and leadership necessary to take the organization forward. He understands where GObike has been, where it is today, and most importantly, where it can go. Selecting an internal candidate was not about simply continuing with the status quo, it was about recognizing that GObike has an exceptionally strong foundation and that Kevin is uniquely positioned to understand that foundation while also challenging us to think bigger about what comes next.”
Since 2021, Heffernan has doubled GObike’s digital audience while pivoting the organization to take a more outspoken role as advocates for traffic safety improvements in the city and region. Heffernan also created new programming for GObike including Ride Reels film screening events and September 26, 2026’s Circle the Square 2 party. Traditional GObike events like Bike Month grew in attendance to over 750 participants, and the 2026 SkyRide increased attendance to a record-breaking 2,000 participants.
As interim executive director since December 2025, Heffernan oversaw the organization’s preparations to move the East Side Trails project towards construction, with groundbreaking planned for winter 2027. GObike has also launched GOstreets, an LLC within the organization’s umbrella that will work directly with municipalities and property owners to paint crosswalks and bike lanes and install bollards and rubberform blocks to provide greater protection to people walking, biking, and rolling in wheelchairs.
“I would like to thank the search committee and GObike’s board of directors for their thoughtful process and consideration. I am so excited and grateful for the opportunity to lead such talented, motivated, and kind individuals on our team,” Heffernan said. “The joy of walking and biking to connect to my community led me to this organization, and it fuels our team’s work to make it possible for everyone to experience that same joy. GObike is stronger and moving faster than ever before. Together with our community, we’re going to build a regional transportation system where children can once again explore their neighborhoods safely on foot or bike, where older adults are not isolated when they can no longer drive, and where everyone has multiple safe, convenient, accessible options to get wherever they’re going.”
Heffernan is a 2008 graduate of Canisius University, with a B.A. in political science and German. Through Canisius, he conducted research in El Salvador and India, and studied in Germany before building his career in marketing and communications in Buffalo.
GObike’s priorities include:
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Constructing the East Side Trails with the City of Buffalo, a transformative project connecting the North Buffalo Rails-to-Trails system to the East Side with linkages to McCarthy Park, William Gaiter Parkway, and the Scajaquada Creek Trail
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Maintaining the momentum that has contributed to the most individuals ever served in any year at its 313 Broadway and 98 Colvin Community Bicycle Workshops
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Training parents and school administrators on how to launch their own bike bus to school programs for the spring and fall
Heffernan begins his new position on September 16, 2026.
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About GObike
GObike is the only nonprofit organization in the nation to combine traffic safety education programs with two community bicycle workshops, a planning department that designs, engineers, and builds new trails, greenways, and complete streets, and advocacy efforts to pass laws and policies that increase safety and accessibility for people walking, rolling, and biking.
GObike is an independent not-for-profit, community organization whose mission is build and promote active mobility options. GObike advances active mobility culture as it connects and empowers communities through advocacy, education, planning, and engagement.
www.gobikebuffalo.org.
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Eds: Contact QinDi Gerwitz-Dunn, qindi@gobikebuffalo.org, 716.201.0719