Funded primarily by the Oregon Department of Transportation, the program teaches middle school students the fundamentals of bicycle safety. Already serving Portland, Bend, Redmond, Corvallis, Ashland, and Talent, the BTA will be initiating new programs in Gresham, Eugene and Clatsop County. A new partnership with the Community Cycling Center has allowed us to teach an additional middle school in Portland. Statewide an estimated 6,000 students will participate in the 10-hour program. Volunteer participation is key to the success of the program.
Volunteers support the program as bicycle mechanics, ride leaders, instructors and interns.
The need for volunteers has increased as our program expands into new cities and schools. Mechanics ensure that our fleet of over 200 bikes is working safely before our programs begin. Ride leaders assist us on the final two days of our program as supervisors during our community riding days. Instructors and interns provide additional staff support, work one on one with beginner riders, assist during on-bike lessons, and develop independent projects with our staff. Volunteering with our program provides many opportunities to educate children about obeying traffic laws and signs, riding with traffic, helmet safety, bicycle maintenance and hazard identification.