This article was written by Jessica Roberts. Jessica is the former metro area advocate for the Bicycle Transportation Alliance and now works as a bicycle and pedestrian planner for Alta Planning and Design. She previously wrote about the City of Portland’s bike parking fund.
tune-up day brought new life to
over 80 bikes.
(Photos by Jessica Roberts)
Saturday was the annual free bike tune-up day at Hinson Church in Southeast Portland (you might remember Hinson from the Biking for Jesus article back in March).
Church volunteers partnered up with the non-profit Community Cycling Center (CCC) to help dozens of Portlanders reclaim the spirit of their down-trodden steeds. The scene outside the church included mountains of donated bikes and a line of people waiting patiently for a free bike tune-up.
“We all do what we’re gifted at, and what our group loves is bikes.”
–Hinson Church member Chris Franzke
One woman said she missed the tune-up day last year and hand been eagerly waiting a year to bring her bike in.
Chris Franzke, one of the organizers, explained that the bike tune-up effort is part of a church-wide community service weekend; others were weatherizing houses, knitting caps for preemies, or assisting seniors. “We all do what we’re gifted at, and what our group loves is bikes,” she says.
For all of the organizers, bikes are an important part of their lives. Franzke and her husband have been “married 41 years and biking for 40 of them.” Even though they live in Gresham, her husband sometimes bikes to the church.
60 bikes donated at the event.
This is the fourth time that Hinson has organized the community bike tune-up, and they say it has been very well received. Organizers see this as a way to give back to the community that surrounds them. Participants were enthusiastic and grateful for the service, and had the chance to meet other bicyclists as well as church community members.
According to Neal Armstrong of the CCC, this event is unique for them, and he credits “super-volunteer” Dave McQuery with making it happen. In addition to providing free tune-ups, a CCC held a donation drive. Neal says the quality and quantity of bikes from Hinson is outstanding.
Armstrong says that yesterday, despite the hail and grey skies, 81 bikes were tuned up and over 60 bikes were donated. “It’s a great event and a great community,” he said. “And besides, it’s my own neighborhood, so I take personal satisfaction in giving something back as well.”