The CCC, known for their work
with kids, will seek to broaden
their impact into underserved
parts of the city.
(Photo © J. Maus)

The Community Cycling Center plans to launch a new project in 2009 that will seek to broaden the scope of their mission into ethnically diverse and low-income communities in North and Northeast Portland.

According to the CCC's Director of Community and Programs Alison Hill Graves, the new project will start in early spring of next year and will seek to build "cultural competence" by partnering with other community organizations who view bicycles as "a viable option for their community." (more...)

One of the Pacific ReCycles bikes.
(Photo: Pacific University)

Back in 1994, the Northeast Portland-based Community Cycling Center helped get Portland's infamous Yellow Bikes program off the ground. The CCC donated bikes to kick-off the program and later became an official co-sponsor.

The Yellow Bike program only lasted for about a year before the bikes vanished and it became nothing more than a piece of urban history. Now, the CCC is backing a program that is similar in spirit, but much different in execution. (more...)

Repairs to the mural on the west side of the Community Cycling Center (NE Alberta and 17th) have been completed.

Back in December, a pickup truck accidentally backed into the mural on the wall, damaging the painting as well as the CCC's offices on the other side (which have also been repaired). (more...)

Kids got new bikes, and
the skills to ride them.
(View slideshow below)

Today at Legacy Emanuel Hospital in North Portland, 519 kids received a special holiday gift: a new bicycle.

Culminating over 5,000 volunteer hours over the past year, the Community Cycling Center's (CCC) Holiday Bike Drive was once again a big success.

Speaking at a brunch for supporters before the kids arrived, CCC executive director Susan Remmers said, "We hope today is about possibilities. This event is what we're all about...it's at the very heart of our mission." (more...)

A scenes from last year's event.
(Photos © Jonathan Maus)

On Sunday, December 9th, 519 Portland kids will receive a shiny recycled bicycle, lovingly prepped and polished by an army of volunteers.

But despite the heart-warming smiles of anxious kids ready to pedal their new rigs, handing off the bike is just one part of this very special event.

To pull off their annual Holiday Bike Drive event, the Community Cycling Center (CCC) spends nearly all year organizing with over 65 individual caseworkers (all the kids are referred into the program), schools, and community organizations.

And then there are the volunteers. With one week to go before the event, they've already donated 1,538 hours of work. (more...)

Official Event Website

Community Cycling Center & Exchange Cycle Tours Holiday Bike Drive

DATE: Dec. 1st, 2007
Time: 11 AM - 4 PM (12:30 PM - 4PM at Athey Creek)

Locations:
Lake Grove Albertson's Grocery Store
16199 Boones Ferry Rd, Lake Oswego, OR 97035

Athey Creek Middle School (at the Girl Scouts' Trefoil Bazaar Event)
2900 SW Borland Rd, West Linn, OR 97068

The Community Cycling Center is holding its annual Holiday Bike Drive, a wonderful event that provides helmets, bikes and bike safety education to hundreds and hundreds of deserving children in Portland.

Volunteers are needed to help translate for those families that don't speak English. We need people who can help translate Spanish, Russian, Chinese and Vietnamese.

Positions include helping registrations, guiding kids through the process of receiving helmets and bikes, and bike safety education.

If you are interested, please email me at volunteer(at)communitycyclingcenter(dot)org, and I will provide you more information, including dates and shifts.

**** I promise that this will be one of the most rewarding volunteer experiences you've ever had. For more information about the Holiday Bike Drive, please read an excellent story and see the pictures from Bike Portland.

--
Neal Armstrong
Volunteer and Event Manager
Community Cycling Center

1700 NE Alberta
Portland, OR 97211
503-288-8864
www.CommunityCyclingCenter.org

Bicycles are a tool for personal empowerment and a vehicle for social change.

Attention, mechanics:

The CCC is the most giving bike group in Portland, they offer hundreds of free bikes to the community. The holiday bike drive is their signature event. They have a lot of bikes that need some wrenching. The bikes are already cleaned and are ready to be adjusted. I went last week, there's plenty of available bike stands, come on down. Don't wait till the last minute, there's plenty of opportunities to help.

What; Wrenching on Kids bikes.
When: Every Thursday this month
Time: 7-9:30

Hope to see you there!

[Anxiously awaiting
her new bike.]

At Legacy Emanuel Hospital yesterday, weeks of hard work paid off when over 400 kids were cured of their longing for a new set of wheels. The Community Cycling Center's 11th annual Holiday Bike Drive was just what the doctor ordered.

This year, the kids not only got to pick out a new bike, they also learned how to ride it and stay safe while doing so.

Throughout the morning, waves of kids and their parents -- who were specially selected through partnering social service agencies -- got fitted for free helmets, picked out a new bike, and then went through a series of educational mini-clinics before setting off with their new wheels.
(more...)

Portland must lead the world in giving free bikes to kids. I've heard about several efforts currently underway to take donated bicycles, recondition them, and gave them to low-income kids for Christmas.

The Community Cycling Center's annual Holiday Bike Drive is the most well-known and this year they're spreading the cheer far and wide.
(more...)

[Volunteers work hard to get used 600 bikes ready for the the CCC's annual Holiday Bike Drive]

This time of year, the headquarters of the Community Cycling Center on NE Alberta street is like Santa's workshop; complete with elves, toys for the kids, and a magical sense of anticipation for the Big Day.
(more...)