Get Linked is a fun, after school bicycle safety and maintenance program for youth, ages five to 12, who live in the immediate neighborhood of the Community Cycling Center. Kids prove their safety skills and earn their own bicycles, helmets and locks.
Since January, a grant from the City of Portland’s Bureau of Housing and Community Development has funded this crucial neighborhood program. Our goals are simple: youth empowerment through safety, health, self-sufficiency and environmental awareness, linking parents and teachers to their kids’ activities, achievements and interest in bicycles, and encouraging alternative forms of transportation.
Each weekday after school kids come to the CCC, grab their shop aprons, play games, and work on bicycles or related projects. Learning tool and part names and functions has been a large part of the program. Most of the kids have never used tools before. They have never checked out a bicycle closely to see how it works. The kids guess the names and functions of parts. Their responses are very humerous. Needle-nosed pliers are often referred to as “needle evil nose pliers”. Since the wedge on the end of the handlebar stem bolt of the kids’ bikes are so rusted, they’re most closely associated with “raviolis”. When the kids learned that the bike industry term for a wheel that has been destroyed by a car is a “taco”. The goal each day is to have a room full of kids who no longer refer to parts as “this” or “the thingy” but instead use the actual names. As they learn more, they are extremely proud to shout out the answers.
Tearing down bicycles to be recycled is a favorite activity for every person in the program. After all, what’s more fun than taking things apart? When asked “What’s the correct tool to take this apart?” the kids wildly respond with screams of “Bolt cutters!” “Cable cutters!” “Hammer!” “Saw!”. Before destruction sets in, however, each part is carefully examined to determine what the original purpose was. In the process, brakes and gears have ceased to become magic and are now a series of logical mechanical functions.
The kids understand that recycling bike parts is cool and ecological, but making our own projects has been a true display of creativity. Plenty of wonderful creations have been devised. Two of the participants instead made belts from lengths of chain with reflector buckles. The kids were so detailed in their projects we took three whole afternoons to finish them.
Getting the kids thinking about recycling materials besides paper and soda cans has led to a great conversation. It is a challenge for the kids to pay attention to what is being taught when there are so many exciting, distracting tools and parts everywhere, but they are dedicated to earning their bikes and they work hard to stay focused.
The kids love playing non-competitive games that reinforce the skills they’re learning. In one game, we move as a chain of imaginary cyclists, doing a strange dance to imitate pedaling while moving our arms around to signal our turns.
The kids have really taken a liking to standing near the front door of the CCC Bike Shop and reprimanding customers who ride away without signalling their turns. When we’re riding as a group, the favorite signal is “danger”, a low, waving or flashing hand. When asked to explain uses for this signal, the kids say, "You should use the danger signal to let your [fellow cyclists] know about glass, trash, and dead dogs in your path."
As a drop-in program, everyone can be included immediately, and no one is turned away for lack of experience or knowledge. As a result, each time a newcomer arrives rules and boundaries are discussed. This is a reinforcement opportunity for returning kids and a chance to feel responsible ownership of the program.
Though challenging at times, the program's age range allows participants a sense of pride and the opportunity for the older kids to teach new skills to the younger kids. We have a good mix of young girls and boys who are all working together, learning respect and teamwork, and having a great time in the process.
Special thanks to the Bureau of Housing and Community Development for funding this much-needed neighborhood program!
