Cycles of Change works to improve the health and sustainability of our neighborhoods by increasing the use of bicycles as transportation, connecting youth with the extraordinary living systems of our local area, and building a diverse community of visionary young leaders.

The organization began in 1998 at Roosevelt Middle School in East Oakland and has grown steadily to sites in Oakland, Alameda, and Berkeley.

Cycles’ programs are as follows:

• The Bikemobile: Hosts fix-a-thons at schools, community centers, parks, and local events across Alameda County where we help youth repair their bikes, teach mechanics and safety, and provide accessories and decoration supplies.
• The Bike-Go-Round: Teaches the basics of safe urban riding to small groups of new students and community members, while connecting them with their local environment.
• The Bikery Community Bike Shop: Makes healthy and reliable transportation accessible to all through their earn-a-bike programs, tools and advice for people fixing their bikes, repair classes, and safe riding instruction.
• Safe Routes to Schools: Educates elementary school students in safe riding techniques, so that they can build the skills and confidence to bike safely to school.
• After School Bike Clubs: Middle and high school riders earn their own bikes and go on rides to local fun spots.
• Watershed Stewardship: We developed a six-week course for science classes called “Watershed Guides.” This year our youth ambassadors will working with businesses and schools to keep pollutants out of our storm drains.

By taking part in Cycles’ programs, youth and adults gain strong and lasting connections to the living world and the larger community. These connections become a foundation for reshaping the relationships between people and land to make our urban neighborhoods healthy and sustainable.