“When I was a kid, we all
walked or biked to school.
Why don’t we bring it back?
Let’s get our kids engaged,
right here in town, and teach
them bike and pedestrian
safety. It keeps them active
and healthy and gives them a
degree of freedom.”
Zack Hilton
Firefigher/Paramedic
City of Oakland
Z
achary “Zach” Hilton, 42, has served the City of
Oakland as a Firefi ghter/Paramedic for nearly 20
years. In this dual role with Oakland FD, he shoulders both
fi re suppression and emergency medical care responsibilities.
In his spare time, Hilton serves as Managing Director of the
Bay Area Paramedic Journal Club (BAPJC). A typical BAPJC
event brings together EMS directors, ED docs, fl ight nurses
and paramedics to exchange ideas and lessons. Hilton studied
Fire Science Technology at Chabot College and went on to
earn his Paramedic license. He began work on an ambulance
for Alameda County Emergency Medical Services at 19 years
of age, and received their Star of Life Award in 2010. Around
that same time, Hilton sold his car and bought a road bike.
Before long he was racing competitively as a member of the
28
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
San Jose Bike Club. As a member (and current Chair) of
Gilroy’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Commission (BPAC),
he has played a central role in improving bicycle-friendly
planning, street and trail riding, bike sharing and parking. He
is particularly proud of helping Gilroy establish a BMX track
in Christmas Hill Park, complete streets with bike lanes, high-
visibility crosswalks and pedestrian stoplights, and support
for a hillside adventure park with hiking/cycling trails behind
Gilroy Gardens. Hilton is the recipient of the League of
American Bicyclists Bike-Friendly Community Award (2018-
2022). He is also the Parent Coordinator for Safe Routes To
School at his daughters’ elementary school in Gilroy. Hilton
lives in Gilroy with his wife Katie, a teacher at El Roble
Elementary, and their eight-year-old daughter, Avery.
WINTER 2020
gmhtoday.com