Exciting news. The Senior Cycle programme I run here at PDOT is now going to be co-run with Portland Parks and Recreation!
They were enthralled with the success of last years’ classes – which we ran entirely on their Parks greenway facilities – the result being, after a period of working out the logistics, PDOT will be transitioning over to allow Parks to run many of the classes themselves as part of their senior programme.
Bringing Portland Parks onboard, and having a bicycle programme fully incorporated into their calendar of events for the first time ever – is yet another super step in the right direction towards making Portland a more bike-friendly place for everybody, no matter what their age.
Here’s where you come in!
Parks are looking for a couple of regular volunteers to help run the Monday morning classes. The classes run from 9-11am (with volunteers needing to be at the ride locations from 8:30am), from the Springwater Trailhead carpark at SE 45th & Johnson Creek Blvd. You would be helping to do things such as –
* unloading the bikes from the trailer
* teaching basic bike safety to the seniors
* teaching seniors how to actually ride the three-wheeled bikes (many seniors haven’t ridden a bike in over 50 years, and are not used to the new technology… like gears!)
* helping to fit seniors to the bikes (involves moving the seat to accommodate their leg length)
* helping to fit helmets we provide for each senior
* leading or being a sweep for the ride portion of the class along the Springwater corridor
* just generally being a friendly, encouraging presence for people who are nervous at riding a bike again after a very long absence
* having some knowledge of Portland’s bikey-ness, to help answer questions about bikes, bike shop locations, bike facilities & routes, etc
* possessing a willingness to ride a bike as part of the class, along with the seniors
Comprehensive training for all of the above will be provided. To see first-hand what the classes look like, check out the three-minute video short NY filmmaker Clarence Eckerson made about the program last Autumn –
http://www.streetfilms.org/archives/portland-or-older-adults-bike-program/
If you are interested in finding out more information, or know of someone whom you think might be perfect for this, please feel free to get in touch with either myself here at PDOT at 503-823-6981 – kirsty.hall@trans.ci.portland.or.us, or Parks’ Senior Recreation Coordinator, Kristine Canham at 503-823-4328 – PKCanham@ci.portland.or.us
Thankyou so much!
Kirsty
Kirsty Hall
Community and Schools Traffic Safety Partnership
City of Portland Office of Transportation
503-823-6981
kirsty.hall@trans.ci.portland.or.us