Bike to Wherever Day is coming up on May 15, and every year we highlight a member of our community that embodies the joy of biking and helps make their community better for biking.
This year’s Bike Champion is Tony Guan, an 8th grader at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School. Tony was nominated by his teacher, Ms. Delfino, who runs a bike elective course, with Tony as her student assistant. Tony helps teach 6th graders how to ride bikes and about bike maintenance, plus repairs bikes – not only for students but for all his friends, too! Ms. Delfino says, “his love and passion for working on and riding bikes exudes from him. He has helped reignite my love for teaching bikes class, and has been incredibly helpful in maintaining the bikes our class uses. I have never had a student so passionate and knowledgeable about bikes. Some days I am teaching him, and other days he’s teaching me.”
Tell us about yourself and how biking is part of your life here in the Bay.
I live here in San Francisco and biking helps me explore nature, explore SF, and have fun with friends. One day after school, I washed up the old bike in my backyard with my brother, fixed it, and that’s when I started to ride. I got a new bike after a year and started biking with my friends. A few times a month they come with me to ride on trails and explore the city. When we explore, we go on different trails, and that’s how I discovered my favorite place to bike, John Mclaren Park.
What does bike joy mean to you?
To me, bike joy means climbing up steep hills, my legs burning out, and after all that, going downhill as I feel the refreshing wind. I love this feeling whether it’s on the trail or on the road.
How do you help bring biking to your community?
I joined the biking elective at school last year. It’s normally for sixth graders, but I joined by special request because biking is my passion. I love that it’s in the morning since it makes it the first thing I do at school. Every time someone has a problem like cross chaining, broken shifters, loose brakes, bald tires, kickstand rubbing the tire, or seat adjustments, I help them fix it. I always love seeing the sixth graders riding around while smiling. I also think that it’s nice for them to learn because it’s a skill you can carry on with you forever. A semester ago two students told me they wanted to take the bike elective again, because it was so much fun.
What advice do you have for people who want to try biking for the first time?
My advice is…why not! Once you start to bike you will love it. It reduces cars on the road, it’s free, and most importantly, it promotes a healthier life. So get on a bike and start riding!
We’re expanding our Bike Champion awards to recognize others in our community to embody what it means to be a champion for biking in our city. Later this month, we’ll announce a District Supervisor, Volunteer, and Small Business Bike Champion of the Year. Nominate your favorite bike-friendly small business now until May 10th!
