Bike community helps out with Project Homeless Connect

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.

To help with the Project’s event earlier this week at the Oregon Convention Center, citizen activist (and possible future Commissioner) Chris Smith organized volunteers from the bike community to help out.

Here’s the result:

• Legacy’s Trauma Nurses Talk Tough handed out and fitted over 500 helmets.
• The Communtity Cycling Center received 87 referrrals to their excellent Create-A-Commuter program.
• Timo Forsberg of PDOT and Emily Gardner of the BTA had 34 referrals for the Ways to Work program.
• 14 bikes plus a stroller and a wheelchair were repaired by Steven Kung of the Community Exchange Cycle Touring Club and other volunteer mechanics.

Videographer Dan Kaufman of Crank My Chain! was there as a volunteer and he has this quick little video recap of the day:

Thanks to all the volunteers!