Sure, sometimes it might feel like we’re living in a Portlandia stereotype, but bicycles, for transportation and recreation, are quite abundant here in Oregon. There are so many reasons for the popularity of cycling, and countless benefits to riding a bike. Throughout the month of May we will share all kinds of bicycle-related content to celebrate, educate and enjoy life on two wheels. Let’s get rolling!

Bike, Walk and Roll to School Day: May 8th

Bike & Roll to School Day invites participants to celebrate the joy of active commuting while building a sense of community and school spirit. It also offers youth an opportunity to take the lead in shaping the future of transportation, climate action and safety for their communities. As we might remember from National Public Health Week, communities whose members feel a sense of engagement and connection are healthier and safer for all residents. Bike, Walk and Roll to School Days are part of a larger campaign for Safe Routes to School which aims to improve accessibility, reduce air pollution and traffic congestion in areas around schools. Even if you don’t have a school-aged student, supporting improved air quality and less traffic (and less traffic accidents!) benefit us all. Breathing clearly and not getting hit by a car are excellent things!

Grassroots projects, like the Alameda Bike Bus in Northeast Portland, demonstrate the effectiveness of the actions of a few people to make a big difference. Check out BikeBus.org to see if your local school is participating, or how to start your own Bike Bus if not!

Bike to Work Week: May 13th - 19th!

Did you know that about half of all car trips made each day are 3 miles or less?

Next time you think about driving somewhere “real quick,” think about this instead: The US Department of Health and Human Services recommends adults get 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week, or 75 minutes of higher-intensity aerobic activity.

One bike trip of ~20 minutes, 8 times per week, meets almost all of the suggested physical activity guidelines. Let’s do some Bike Math: 20 minute ride x 8 rides per week (4 work days) = 160 minutes of physical activity incorporated in your daily routine. Take the long way home once when the weather is extra lovely, and you’ve met the activity guidelines while simultaneously doing something you’d have to do anyway: getting yourself to and from work!

We can’t not talk about the environmental benefits of cycling!

A typical automobile emits almost 5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide per year from burning gasoline fuel. A bike ride emits zero. Even an e-bike ride emits only a tiny fraction of the CO2 that an automobile does. The increase in availability of e-bikes now makes cycling even more accessible. E-assist makes big hills less steep and longer rides feel less arduous.

We know that there are some times when driving a car makes more sense than cycling, especially when transporting large or heavy items, so we’re not saying to get rid of cars completely, but even a slight reduction in driving makes a big difference. You don’t have to haul a truckload of woodchips in a Burley bike trailer, or help a friend move a couch, unless you really want to channel your inner Carrie Brownstein and Fred Armisen’s Smooth Moovers

Choosing a bike instead of driving for just one trip per day, can reduce a person’s transportation emissions by 67% !!! That’s 2/3 for all you fraction lovers out there. And for those folks who think in terms of “Ballpark Math,” that’s a reduction of more than half!

Charity Partner: Community Cycling Center

It’s only fitting that our charity partner for May is the Community Cycling Center!

CCC believes that everyone should have the option to choose cycling, regardless of income, background or education. CCC’s programming aims to improve the health and livability of our communities, and breakdown many of the barriers to cycling. These barriers include: cost, safety and bike storage. It’s simply not enough to just give people bikes and expect them to start riding everywhere.

Community Cycling Center values diversity and inclusion, creating a safe space to support riders who have been historically underrepresented in the cycling community, including BIPOC, women, LQBTQ+ and neuro-divergent individuals. All are welcome. The freedom, joy and health benefits of cycling shouldn’t be determined by income or background.

Community Cycling Center is located at 1700 NE Alberta Street, where you can find their retail store, repair shop, DIY repair workspace areas and access to a variety of classes where folks can learn the gamut of bicycle maintenance and repair skills. CCC supports the empowerment of

CCC accepts donations of new, and used bikes and parts. Items that are not able to be refurbished or re-sold are separated, cleaned and responsibly recycled. Each year, the salvage program saves over 40,000 pounds of metal from landfills!

If you’re interested in supporting the Community Cycling Center, or any of their programs, including Bike Camps for kids and Holiday Bike Drives, please visit communitycyclingcenter.org

Donate here!