Meet Tommy – our new Advocacy Manager!
The team at Bike Cleveland has grown again! We’re excited to add Tommy Oddo to the mix as our Advocacy Manager. In this new role Tommy will be dedicated to developing and winning support for key biking and walking infrastructure improvements in Cleveland. Tommy will be working closely with our Better Street Committees and elected officials to develop support and take action for safe streets.
Tommy is a Northeast Ohio native and a growing community builder with a deep belief in safe, connected, and resilient communities. Tommy graduated from Case Western Reserve University in 2025 with a Master of Social Work and brings a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. Before joining Bike Cleveland, Tommy was a Network Weaver with Neighborhood Connections, a Documenter with Cleveland Documenters, and a Graduate Research Assistant with the Swetland Center for Environmental Health.
Tommy hopes to bring his experience and his curiosity to Cleveland’s world of active transportation. As Advocacy Manager, Tommy is looking forward to engaging neighbors and moving collectively towards a truly safe and accessible city – whether we’re walking, biking, driving, or scooting. You can connect with him about your neighborhood at tommy@bikecleveland.org
What do “safe streets” mean to you? To me, safe streets have enough room for everyone to move freely, not only without worry but with a sense of belonging. Where we can take a breath, be grounded in our environment, and greet our neighbor. Where we don’t only feel secure, but we can show up as our best selves in our community. I think safe streets are designed to have people of all ages and abilities using all kinds of transport to get where they need to go to work, to play, to shop, and to connect.
What inspired you to join Bike Cleveland?
As a distance runner since 7th grade and a casual cyclist, I’ve personally found lots of joy in exploring on foot and by bike. Joining Bike Cleveland is a chance to bring that joy and work alongside folks committed to building up a transportation network that serves everyone, car or no car. I want to help make active transport a safe and preferred option, and I’m eager to keep learning and building community that gets tangible results on the ground.
You can only eat one kind of food from today forward. What is it? Noodles! Whether it’s ramen, phở, spaghetti, or stroganoff, a noodle dish is my all-time favorite whether I’m feeling down or celebrating something.
What is your top non-bicycle obsession? It honestly changes season to season, but right now it’s Cavs basketball and bird watching! I’m super new to birding, but discovering a new bird song or call with my Merlin app is a great time. The Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve is my go-to birding walk.
What are some of your favorite spots in CLE?
It’s hard to choose, but if a friend is visiting from out of town, our weekend probably includes a stop at Edgewater Beach, tea at Algebra Tea House, a hot dog from Happy Dog, or a trip to the Bop Stop.