John Stechschulte

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6. How did your Teach For America experience impact your subsequent endeavors?

After completing my two year teaching commitment, I had a few months off before I would start my current job. With all this time, and my newfound sense of possibility, I decided to bicycle from Baltimore to California. It was a journey I’d long dreamt of, but without my experience in the classroom, it probably would have never gone beyond the dream stage. I rode solo and unsupported; I carried about 50lbs of gear, camped most nights, and cooked most of my dinners and breakfasts on my camp stove. Often I would knock on doors and ask people if I could set up my tent in their backyard (I was only turned down once). Altogether, I rode 4,600 miles over about three months–I had 72 days of cycling, with a few rest days interspersed. I wore my Cornell jersey for about a third of those days (I only took three jerseys).

On my journey I bicycled through many cities–DC, Pittsburgh, Columbus, Xenia OH, Louisville KY, St. Francisville LA, Austin TX, El Paso TX, Phoenix AZ, and San Diego CA. Some were more bicycle friendly than others, but I was impressed in each by the efforts being made to encourage bicycling and improve infrastructure for cyclists. Since
just before I left on my bike ride, I’ve lived car-free in Baltimore. Two years ago I would’ve rated Baltimore as the least bicycle friendly city I’d ridden in. However, the city has made significant strides recently, and I’m excited to be involved in the effort to encourage active transportation.
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