JUMP START
In 2020 we expanded our organization beyond events to include bicycle advocacy work. Our commitment to life-changing bicycling experiences and connections throughout the state helped pave the way for this expansion. At the forefront of this work is the Jump Start Program.
Jump Start is a rural bicycle education program under the Safe Routes to School umbrella. The program includes a fleet of 439 bicycles, 11 adaptive bikes/trikes, helmets for all users, and curriculum for teachers to deliver to their schools. One of most rewarding elements of this program is the opportunity to get more kids riding bikes. Introducing these fundamentals and lessons build confidence and safe riding habits for kids that they can enjoy for a lifetime. For the 2025–26 school year, at more than 60 schools across Oregon, our program instructed 9,128 students—an 18% increase over the previous year! Of those students, 24% learned to ride a bicycle for the very first time!
Interested in having a Jump Start session in your community? Here’s how to get started:
- Review the Jump Start Curriculum.
- Fill out this interest form to request a teacher training.
- Talk with principals, PE teachers, and other school staff or interested community members about Jump Start. Download this flyer to help you promote the program.
- Contact program coordinators Shawne Martinez or Becky Newman for additional questions regarding bicycle safety training.
Youth Bike Giveaway Program
After completing a bike education unit, students are always excited to keep riding—but many don’t have a bicycle at home or lack the resources to buy one. The Cycle Oregon Foundation closes that gap through our annual fall bike giveaway, providing complete setups to students with a demonstrated need.
We launched the program in the fall of 2025, gifting 20 complete bike packages to students at Dorena School in Lane County. Each autumn, we select one partner school or community to receive up to 20 high-quality bikes, helmets, locks, lights, and accessories. We custom-fit every bike and helmet on site, and the gear is theirs to keep for a lifetime of riding. (See the drop-down below for this year’s application timeline and deadlines.)
Teachers, school staff, or nonprofit community organizations working with youth may apply to bring the giveaway to their school. To qualify as a partner, the school or organization must:
- Have participated in the SRTS Jump Start Bicycle Education Program and actively teach bike safety.
- Hold a Title 1 Designation.
- Be located in and serve families within Oregon.
- Be designated a Town or Rural Community by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).
- Be a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization or a public/government entity (including public schools).
- Not have received a Cycle Oregon Youth Bike Giveaway within the last 5 years.
- Not be served by a similar giveaway program through another organization (such as Community Cycling Center or Free Bikes4Kids).
- Be designated a Town or Rural Community by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) – To find out your community’s designation, use the NCES Locale Lookup online tool
We work directly with the applicant (typically a school employee) to distribute applications to families who would benefit most. If requests exceed our 20-bike limit, the Cycle Oregon board reviews applications and selects the final recipients.
It’s a celebration! We work with your school or organization to schedule an hour-long event during the school day where parents and guardians are invited to join. We bring up to 20 high-quality bikes, ensure proper helmet and bike fits, and even provide a limited number of car bike racks to make transportation easier for families. The bike, helmet, lock, and lights are theirs to keep
October 26 (Midnight): Community Applications Due
November 1: Community Partner Selected
November 2–13: Student & Family Application Period
Late November / Early December: Bikes Awarded & Distributed