José Vargas

I began to ride around San Francisco as a teenager, drawn by the freedom bikes afforded me, and the thrill of exploring the Bay Area. In high school, cycling also became exercise. Since then, it has become my main form of transportation; a means of reducing my carbon footprint; a central source of joy; and not least, a way to nourish my mental health. 

I have been an educator for nearly 30 years. I have taught elementary and high school, as well as Spanish to adults. In 2019, I became a licensed cycling instructor. Since then, I have taught folks, from 3 to 75 years old, how to ride and enjoy bikes, in Spanish and in English.

Learning to ride can be exciting and provoke anxiety. I think it’s important to be patient with oneself and to acknowledge the legitimacy of one’s stress. If we address, normalize and contextualize our feelings, we are more likely to allow ourselves to learn. Good teachers are midwives- they help students to deliver what they harbor within. Seeing people discover the joy of riding never gets old.