A flat tire, broken break cable, loose handle bars – any one of these bicycle ailments stymie one’s ability to ride.  The Safe Routes to School program recognizes that “if we fix it, they (students and families) will ride” to school and other destinations – or at least they will have the opportunity to ride.

The Portland Safe Routes to School program partnered with the city’s 23^rd annual Fix-It Fair season to provide free bike tune-ups for students and families.  The three fairs this season took place November 21 at Roosevelt High School, January 11 at David Dougals High School, and January 30 at Parkrose High School.  Attendance at each of the fairs was between 600 and 900 people.

A select group of bike mechanics partnered with Safe Routes to School and volunteered their Saturdays and their expertise to help students and families get riding again. In total, our mechanics serviced almost fifty bikes, 28 of which showed up to the last Fix-It Fair event on January 30^th – the word had spread!  Check out this interview of the Fix-It Fair bike tune-up event.

Our deep appreciation to our bike mechanic partners for making this service possible.