Major Taylor Project

Empowering underserved youth through cycling by promoting positive physical, emotional and social development


The Major Taylor Project (MTP) is a year-round, youth development cycling program produced by the Cascade Bicycle Club Education Foundation, integrating bicycling, healthy living, bicycle maintenance, road safety awareness, and the importance of working toward individual goals. MTP is focused on introducing youth from diverse communities to the recreation of cycling and creating an inclusive culture of bicycling that will continue to future generations.

Bicycling provides young people with the means to explore their neighborhoods — and the neighborhoods beyond. The Major Taylor Project promotes cycling as a form of exercise, recreation, and transportation.


Who Was Major Taylor?

Marshall "Major" Taylor was the first African American professional cyclist. Born in 1878, Major Taylor's professional racing career spanned 13 years and included the world one-mile track cycling championship in 1899. He remained committed to his passion in the face of adversity and continues to be a source of inspiration to all athletes.


What we do

Students participate and explore various forms of cycling, including touring, urban riding, velodrome racing, mountain biking, and cyclocross racing. Students also have opportunities to volunteer at Cascade events, and complete Cascade's 206-mile Group Health Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic. The ten-week Spring curriculum consists of weekly rides and lessons on road safety, traffic laws, nutrition, map-reading, route design, stretching, and the impact of cycling in their communities. Students may also participate in the six-week Earn-A-Bike maintenance course offered in the Fall and Spring. All club locations are designed to serve underserved youth in low-income and disadvantaged neighborhoods.

Major Taylor Project - 2012 from Fox Wilmar Productions on Vimeo.


Who we work with

MTP is currently running five afterschool bike clubs in low income neighborhoods in and around South King County.

  • Global Connections High School, Seatac, WA – 77% of all reporting students receive free or reduced lunch
  • YES Foundation of White Center in partnership with Evergreen High School Community Schools Collaboration, White Center, WA– 63-73% of all reporting students are on free or reduced lunch
  • Sand Point Transitional Housing, Seattle, WA - Provides over 94 homeless families with transitional housing units
  • Chief Sealth High School, Seattle, WA – 54.5% of all reporting students receive free or reduced lunch
  • Union Gospel Mission (UGM) / Seattle Urban Academy, Seattle, WA – A community where at-risk high school students develop academic, social, and spiritual maturity to graduate to higher education

Major Taylor in the news

  • Read about the program in The Seattle Times.
  • 2011 Major Taylor Spin-A-Thon Exceeds Fundraising Goal in the West Seattle Herald
  • Major Taylor mountain bikers in Cyclingnorthwest
  • 20 Major Taylor kids participate in the STP in The Seattle Times


Contact

Partnership/Program:
Ed Ewing
Major Taylor Director
(206) 778-4671

Giving/Sponsorship:
Tarrell Wright
Development Director
(206) 240-2235