Tyler Vasquez grew up in southeast San Diego, where the concept of active transportation is not a common idea. A first-generation college student, he was raised with the belief that freeways and cars were the only way to get to school, the library, or the grocery store. When he worked in construction, he did not have a car to get to his job site and had to carpool or ride his bike. Choosing to ride his bike, he quickly realized how unsafe it is for individuals who cannot drive to travel on our streets. He came to understand that if you ride your bike, you are an advocate. Turning his frustration into action, he developed an understanding of traffic planning and the built environment. He is now the Policy and Advocacy Officer at Cascade Bicycle Club, leading efforts to make Seattle’s streets safer and more accessible for people who bike or want to.
