Anthony Salazar and Virginia Guymon
Anthony Salazar and Virginia Guymon were nominated by FrontRunner Train Host, Tatum Steed, to be the September Rider of the Month.
Tatum states, “FrontRunner brings a higher quality of life for these two friends. They continually express their gratitude for our help every day. Recently, we had some mechanical delays and most of the riders weren’t happy with our crew. Virginia and Anthony continued to use their kind words to calm the crew and passengers down. We love it when our riders appreciate of all the hard work and effort that goes into running a train every day.”
Virginia grew up with her grandmother, mom and 2 brothers in Layton and Ogden. From an early age, Virginia recalls UTA being her only mode of transportation because she, along with all of her family members, weren’t able to drive due to a visual impairment that reduced their sight to shapes and shadows. “I remember riding the bus at the age of six with my mom and two brothers to the get to where we needed to go,” says Virginia.
As Virginia progressed through life, she attended Ben Lomond High School along with her two brothers and Anthony Salazar. "Anthony and I became really good friends during high school. He had an intellectual disability, but I could never tell. He was my eyes to help me get around town and I was his mouth because he hated talking with his missing teeth."
After high school, Virginia began working at Your Community Connection to help women and children suffering from domestic violence for the next five years, while Anthony worked as a fix-it guy at Lagoon, Harmon’s and Wendover casinos. “After 10 years, we met back up at Roads to Independence,” says Anthony. Roads to Independence (https://rticil.org/) is an independent living center which promotes full community inclusion for individuals with disabilities. “We were both looking to get our own apartment and SSI (Supplemental Security Income) as a way to provide for ourselves. Plus, they offered fun activities like bingo, crafts, swimming and riding 3-wheel bikes. We love it there.”
Anthony and Virginia do everything together. Whether it’s going to the grocery store, donating plasma, watching/listening to WWE wrestling, working out at the gym, swimming at Splash Summit Waterpark or rock climbing at the Solomon Center.
Recently, Virginia used her life savings to take Anthony to Walt Disney World in Florida. “That is an experience I will never forget,” exclaims Virginia. “After seeing Midnight Sun, my dream is to sponsor a walk from Utah to Florida to raise money for kids [who have] Xeroderma Pigmentosum. I want them to feel the same thrill and excitement that I felt when I was at Disney World.”
1 – How long have you been riding?
Anthony and Virginia have been riding UTA for the past 30 years. They use FrontRunner to go to Solomon Center and Gold’s Gym in Ogden. Lagoon in Farmington, and all the way down to Provo for Lehi Fun Center and Splash Summit Waterpark. They use TRAX to go to her brother’s apartment, shop at City Creek or go to the grocery store. They use to bus to get to their doctor appointments and everything in between.
2 – Why do you ride?
Virginia and Anthony don’t qualify for a driver’s license, so they rely on public transportation for everyday life. We could...walk everywhere,” says Virginia, “but that simply takes too much time. I would much rather ride the bus or train.”
3 – Any tips or suggestions for riders?
Anthony says everyone should ride the train. “It simply gets you where you need to go, plus it’s more reliable than a car.”
Virginia depends on Roads to Independence and UTA travel trainers to help her navigate around town. “Riders [with visual impairments] depend on key landmarks and number of steps to navigate from Ogden to Provo. I am constantly calling customer service and special services to help me with my travels. Don’t let your disability hinder your independence. There is SSI, Roads to Independence and UTA to help you achieve your dreams.”
Learn More
To learn more about how you can ride visit our How to Ride page. To nominate someone for a future Rider of the Month award, please message us on Facebook or Twitter.
