[UPDATE, 10:50am: Event organizers say due to harsh weather, the event is being cut short. They will finish helping families that are already there, and anyone on the way, but doors will close shortly.]
Holiday Bike Drive.(Photo © J. Maus)
With an Arctic blast of snow and wind hitting Portland this morning, and with images of closed roads and stranded cars streaming on the local TV news, the Community Cycling Center is grappling with what the weather might mean for their Holiday Bike Drive.
Over 500 bikes and hundreds of volunteers are all ready to go at Legacy Emanuel Hospital in North Portland this morning. However, Community Cycling Center communications director Alison Hill-Graves says a few families have already called to say they’re staying home.
I called her this morning for an update. Hill-Graves said the first shift of volunteers are all ready to go and that, as of now, they’re moving forward with the event as planned.
“We’ve had a few families call and say they can’t make it, and we’re telling everyone, if it’s too dangerous to come, please stay at home.” Hill-Graves said they’re monitoring the weather closely and they’ll update a special page on their website with the latest information.
If the weather gets worse, Hill-Graves says they would try to reschedule. But that wouldn’t be easy, says Hill-Graves; “It would be really tough to redo this event. We could have people schedule pick-ups from our bike shop and various locations, if it came down to that.”
Hill-Graves sounded hopeful that the harsh weather would subside in the next few hours. “If kids and families come, we will be here for them.”
If you’re scheduled to volunteer at the event or if you’re one of the families slated to receive a free bike, check the CCC’s website and call the CCC Bike Shop at (503) 287-8786 for the latest information.
If any major scheduling changes take place, I’ll update this post with the latest information.