There are too many reasons to state here why I really enjoy working in transportation. But I thought I would take a moment and mention how I 
[0]Detail Team CCCspent the second week of September.
Many people know about Cycle Oregon [1]and the breathtaking [2] and luxurious bike tours [3]they host every year. I was lucky enough to volunteer at the event not through the non-profit that puts on the event, but through the Community Cycling Center (CCC) [4]. The CCC is a non-profit with the laudable goal of creating access to bicycling, believing that bikes are a tool for personal empowerment and a vehicle for change and recognizing that through riding bikes people become self-sufficient, healthy and connected.
[4]What it is all about.While people on this site like to debate the value of investing in bike infrastructure and why cyclists should pay registration fees for their preferred mode of transportation, I am writing about an organization with the goal of giving 500 bikes to low-income kids for the holidays. A group that started with a Cycle Oregon Grant 14 years ago, responsibly recycles 25 tons of scrap metal a year that would otherwise be wasting space in our landfills.
I am a cyclist and a bike commuter and I work in transportation. It is no 
[4]What would you do for a smile like this?wonder that I see the value in providing safe alternatives for transportation. But what the CCC does is create change and community by creating commuters through the adult earn a bike program [5], providing low-income people reliable bike transportation and teaching the rules of the road and basic maintenance. Also, the CCC engages the community to donate and refurbish bikes to support their annual bike give away [6] creating hundreds of happy kids who get to pick out their very own bike to ride away with.
[6]New love for a clean cassetteI was happy to clean the grime and dust off of my share of 200 bikes at 
[6]Team Clean Works AwayCycle Oregon to help the center fund their activities. It was terrific to work with Allison Graves and her staff, Neil Armstrong, Rich Walker and Alex Purdue who were so very patient teaching me about the mechanics and systems of bikes. But even greater then that, and all the bacon that Cycle Oregon feeds you, was [7]raising $15,000 [8] so that kids can learn the joys of riding a bike.
If you know a kid that needs a bike [9]or if you have an old ride or components to donate [10]you can contact the center. They will be happy to help you out.
[10]Insepecting the work
[10]Rob King of the tandem detail
[10]Team detail hard at work.
[10]So much to clean.