Justin Triano is the founder of RideESSJ, a group which has been leading the bicycle effort for the Eastside, a notorious and underdeveloped part of San Jose. His work in the Eastside community has brought him to serve on San Jose’s BPAC and serves as an ally and advisor to the DOT. He served on San Jose Bike Party’s organizational hub (2009-2014) and developed a keen understanding of San Jose’s streets, cultures and its people. This inspired Justin to connect the many aspects of San Jose, from businesses and creatives to bicyclists and spectators and create the annual downtown event, the Bike Life Festival.

His love for community interaction and space activation carries beyond bikes, leading to other projects like the Pillow Fight SJ and San Jose Skate Night. Having not driven a car in 8 years has given Justin a new perspective into local civic life and has inspired him to advocate for the development of San Jose as a multi-modal transportation city and showcase the cultural roots that make up this part of Silicon Valley’s eclectic community.

Project Summary: Revitalizing a neglected pedestrian bridge that connects two low-income communities in order to give residents safer access to amenities and foster walkability.