Global Youth Coalition Member Feature: Adrián Galindo

1. Where are you connected right now? Tell us about the work you're doing.
I am currently in Monterrey, Nuevo León. I am collaborating with local organizations to create sustainable mobility projects for my community. I work as a project coordinator - this involves the management of resources for the construction of evidence-based and tangible projects around safe mobility and citizen participation. Because of my background education in Social Sciences, I try to integrate social components into the projects. That is to say, we look for ways where the project can support not just the improvement of roads in the area but also the development of street design helps that will help fulfill fundamental human rights.

2. How did you first get involved in road safety and how long have you been working in the road safety and sustainable mobility field? 
My first experience in the mobility sector was in 2017 when I got involved in school volunteer projects. These consisted of painting pedestrian crossings to create safe school zones in primary schools. From there, I have been working directly and indirectly on mobility projects. I have had the opportunity and the fortune to work hand-in-hand with foreign direct investment in transport and urban mobility projects in Nuevo León.

3. Can you tell us a little about your area's road safety and sustainable mobility situation? 
I live in an area that, in recent years, has been characterized as the leader in road crashes in the country. It is a reality that this tragedy has been “normalized”. Currently, the municipal governments have focused their attention on improving road safety. For example, they have started working on promoting bicycle paths and spaces for pedestrians. The effects of these efforts have yet to be seen. Much remains to be done and it is necessary to have socialization and diagnostic processes at a community level so that we are able to face and address this reality.

4. Why do you think it's important to include young people in local and global road safety efforts? 
It is necessary to listen to the ideas of the new generations so that these could be integrated into the design of urban development. An urban development plan must be inclusive so it should not be limited to a narrative of an adult person who uses a car. There are many realities within our community and it is necessary, as far as possible, to incorporate the vision of each one to make streets safe, inclusive, and sustainable.

5. Why did you join the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety? 
In December, I saw the call to participate in a Local Actions project with the support of the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety. Since I took the first course, I knew that this was a serious group committed to road safety which motivated me to want to know more and get involved.

6. What are your comments on the Youth Coalition? Its activities? Its opportunities? 
I have been surprised by the large amount of activity and outreach that the Youth Coalition has. I think The Global Youth Statement for Road Safety should be shared more widely so that everyone can read it and get engaged. People need to know and reflect on the high rates of death and injury caused by traffic incidents.

7. Any messages for people who have not yet joined the Youth Coalition? 
I encourage you to learn more about safe and sustainable mobility. Once inside this "sphere", you will discover that its importance and scope go beyond "urban development".