Daily Inspiration: Meet Marisa Mays

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marisa Mays.  

Hi Marisa, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My name is Marisa Mays. My story and journey started in 2012 when I met a guy named Norm Bustos. He was lighting up bicycle spokes with L.E.D string lights at Dockweiler State Beach in Los Angeles, Ca. I had never seen anything like this before and I knew I needed to take this idea to San Diego. My first stop was Santee lakes campground and it turned out to be an instant craze. From there, I created a small business called Light Me Up Safety Lights. I knew I needed to take this further to the beach so I headed west to Pacific beach/ Campland on the bay. That was a brilliant idea because everyone wanted show off their cool neon wheel lights as they cruised around the campground. Soon after I met the famous “Sebastian the light man” of Venice beach who had already been creating the “light your bike” craze since 2008. We became not only business partners but also best friends. We traveled to different bicycle events all over California and Las Vegas. Early on I formed relationships with the bicycle community and I’ve been invited by several bicycle clubs in Michigan to light up the streets of Detroit. My journey did not stop there, I have also been invited to host Light Me Up events in Arizona, all of southern and northern California as well at NASCAR events, etc. I also partner and collaborate with Bumpboxx SD. We host a monthly glow ride called the San Diego Electric Light Parade. We encourage our riders to light their bikes. We start from the Mission Beach Boardwalk and we cruise the beachside to the bayside and back. The 1st Electric Light Parade was created and founded in Venice Beach Ca, by Marcus Gladney. The Electric Light Parade has now expanded & I got to experience the Maui Electric Light Parade. I’m also involved with bicycle events throughout San Diego County to promote bike safety and support small businesses in the community. This summer I will be hosting weekend glow rides and installing lights for the guests at the new Sun Outdoors San Diego Bay Resort. The best part of this journey is the relationships and connections I’ve made and will continue to make as I embark on the rest of this bike-light journey. It is rewarding to see how the idea I brought to the city influenced others to start their own bike safety fun.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
At times being a one-woman show in a business can present many obstacles and challenges. I was doing something different and new in the community and I had to be pushy and assertive to get my name and idea out there. However, I didn’t give up. My confidence allowed me to stick to my guns and keep myself going by showing people the value and awareness I was bringing to the community 

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Today, I am very proud to say that as my light journey expanded, so did my interests. I am now a licensed Real estate agent with Coldwell Banker in San Diego. I look forward to continuing to help uplift and support the San Diego community that I call home. 

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
My dad would gather the neighborhood kids and take us on fun bicycle rides around the neighborhood. Some of us could not afford bicycles so some kids grabbed whatever they had which was big wheels, scooters, and skateboards. I like to think that this was the spark to my interest and love for bicycles 

Pricing:

• $10
• $20

Contact Info:

• Email: lightmeupsafetylights@gmail.com
• Website: www.lightmeupsafetylights.com
• Instagram: lightmeupsandiego
• Facebook: Lightmeup Safety lights
• Yelp: Lightmeup safety lights

Image Credits
Dave Palmer
Kuya Hoc