Annual ‘Holiday Bike Drive’ makes 411 new bike wishes come true

(Photos by Connor Ebbinghouse)

Portland’s cycling’s ecosystem got a big injection of new life on Sunday when 411 kids received their very first bicycle.

It was all part of the Community Cycling Center’s 21st annual Holiday Bike Drive.

Over 240 volunteers joined with CCC staff for the event which took place in the atrium of Legacy Emanuel Hospital in north Portland. Before choosing their favorite bike, the kids went through a series of educational pit stops that included safe biking tips and the importance of wearing a helmet. After choosing their bike and having it adjusted for them by trained, on-site mechanics (and even turning a few wrenches themselves), the kids hopped on their new bikes and did a few laps on an obstacle course in the parking lot. The final stop was a thank-you-card writing station.

When you add the 99 bikes given out at their spring Bikes for Kids event, the CCC provided over 500 bikes for kids in 2016.

Here are few more images from the event:

— Jonathan Maus, (503) 706-8804 – jonathan@bikeportland.org

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