Hear their stories! 

Bike Club, an after-school program run by the non-profit Community Cycling Center in Northeast Portland, has helped hundreds of children like Alex Thenglao and Fatuma Osman learn to love bike life and take home their own hard-earned set of wheels. Last year alone, 32 kids went home with new bikes!

After completing the six-week program, participants go home with a refurbished bicycle, a helmet and bike lock, and a bicycle repair kit. Kids leave Bike Club with the knowledge and tools to ride safely, be their own bike mechanics, and become more confident behind the handlebars.

Some students, such as Alex, even learn how to ride a bike for the first time. “In the past, I didn’t know how to ride a bike and my family made fun of me about it,” Alex said. “So, I’m going to get my bike and show them that I can ride a bike!”

Fatuma, who graduated from Bike Club along with Alex, had more great things to say about her experience in the program. “The group is fun and funny and nice, and there are people that help you there,” she said. “I love riding my bike because it’s just fun riding!”

The two also shared why they think bikes are so good for you and eco-friendly. “Bikes are important because they help the environment,” said Alex. “Fatuma adds, “They take you places. You don’t need to pay gas and you don’t have to run or walk to get there.”

Want to help more children like Alex and Fatuma join Bike Club? Our Sunday Parkways Presenting Sponsor, Kaiser Permanente, is hosting a community benefit sticker hunt at Sellwood-Milwaukie Sunday Parkways on September 24.

Just pick up a Kaiser Permanente Passport to Health from any info. booth at the ride and collect six stickers from the sponsor booths on the map. When you show your completed Passport to Health, you’ll get a prize and Kaiser Permanente will donate $5 to the Bike Club. Then you can share your achievement and photos on social media with #KPBikeClub.

Need one more reason to ride? “More people should bike,” said Fatuma. “It gets you places easier and you get exercise. You don’t have to think about anything. You can just ride your bike. It takes you places.” We agree!