A growing number of Portland's homeless --
like Bill and his dog Buster shown here --
use bicycles to carry their belongings.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Project Homeless Connect is a city-funded program that provides services and information to Portland's homeless population via a series of annual events.

Among the many types of help offered is a Transportation Area which offers a variety of services to help folks in need stay safe and mobile on two-wheels. (more...)

Tony watches as Ian Stude from
the PSU Bike Co-op adjusts
the brakes on his bike.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Community groups and local bike shops came together yesterday to keep Portland's homeless population rolling smooth on two wheels.

Thousands of families and individuals in need of basic health and social services came to the Memorial Coliseum in Portland yesterday for the annual Project Homeless Connect event. Among the many stations offering services was a transportation area that offered free bike helmets, lights, maps, and tune-ups.

Ian Stude from the PSU Bike Co-op and Alex Criss from River City Bicycles worked non-stop throughout the day to tighten, clean, repair and replace parts on numerous bikes. One bike makeover recipient was a man named Tony (he didn't want to share his last name). (more...)

Volunteer Steven Kung helps fix a bike.
(Photo: Chris Smith)
See YouTube video recap below

Project Homeless Connect is part of an effort by the City of Portland to end homelessness. It's mission is to, "provide an opportunity for the community to aid homeless people in receiving much needed services and support and for better understanding of this population's needs."

An important part of those "much needed services" is transportation. For many homeless folks, (like Bill and Allen), the bicycle is a perfect transportation solution.
(more...)

Meet 38 year-old Mike Colhour. He runs a successful scrap metal recycling business by bike. He rides around the neighborhood, collecting scrap metal and plastics from dumpsters and from the side of the road.

He's been doing this for 10-15 years all over Vancouver and Portland. He recycles all kinds of stuff including glass, wire, stereos, toasters, and so on.

Once he fills his custom-made dual trailer system he cashes in his load at Metro Metals Northwest.
(more...)

Riding home today I noticed this peculiar trailer set-up. The guy who owns it was stopped and fiddling with his derailleur so I decided to introduce myself and take a closer look.

Allen (picture below), who calls his bike his home, has put together this hi-capacity cargo trailer for hauling cans, bottles, and other stuff he finds on the side of the road.
(more...)

Lately I've been seeing more and more bikes being used by Portland's homeless population. I've started to get to know a few of them and hear their stories and experiences about their nomadic, rolling existence.

Sometimes I won't meet the owner of the bike, I'll just observe its load and marvel at the bungee cording skills that it takes to carry everything they own, everywhere they go.
(more...)