Microsoft donates bikes to Major Taylor Project

Earlier this summer, Cascade Bicycle Club’s Ed Ewing and Emma Epstein drove over to the Microsoft campus in Redmond where more than 30 gently-used bikes were waiting to be picked up.

Every year, the Microsoft campus holds a spring cleaning during which time bicycles that have been sitting out in the bike racks untouched and unclaimed for more than three months are donated. 

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And for a second time, the Major Taylor Project is the benefactor of this spring cleaning.

“Randall Williams, a Transportation Specialist, has been a consistent contact at Microsoft. The project could not succeed without his help,” said Epstein. “We are all looking forward to getting this new batch of bikes out on the road with the next group of students who have already been eagerly asking about them.”

The donated bikes will be used for the Major Taylor Earn-a-Bike maintenance program, which teaches kids how to fix up gently-used bikes that they eventually take home and keep. Through the program, students learn how to identify all the parts of their bikes, fix flat tires, adjust their brakes, maintain their drivetrains and unpack a hub.

This new batch of bikes brings this year’s total of donated bikes to 180.

“The used bikes have been the fuel for the program,” said Epstein. “One of the great effects from this donation is that once students have their own bikes, it frees up the [loaner] club bikes, which allows for more students to participate in the program.”

Donate a bicycle:

If you have a bicycle in good working condition that you would like to donate to the program, contact the Major Taylor Program Assistant at mtpa@cascadebicycleclub.org or 206-957-6960.