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Major Taylor Project

The Major Taylor Project is an after-school cycling program for young people aged 11-18 integrating bicycle riding, healthy living, cycle maintenance, road safety awareness, and the importance of working toward individual goals.

Named after Marshall “Major” Taylor, the turn-of-the-last-century African-American U.S. and world bicycle sprint champion, the project is focused on introducing young people from diverse communities to the sport 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 is focused on instilling cycling in young people’s minds as an enjoyable option for exercise, recreation, and transportation.


What we do

The Project is currently running four after school bike clubs in low income neighborhoods in and around Seattle.

We lead weekly road rides at each of the clubs in the spring and fall. During these rides we teach students about aspects of cycling like crash avoidance, stretching, nutrition, visibility, and route planning.

In the winter and late summer we run Earn-a-Bike maintenance programs at each club, where students are given donated bikes to work on and taught maintenance skills ranging from fixing a flat tire to unpacking a hub. At the end of the five week session they get to keep the bike they've been working on.

Our students also have the opportunity to explore multiple aspects of the cycling world by participating in weekend field trips like riding track bikes at the Marymoor Velodrome; mountain biking with Trips for Kids at Saint Edward State Park; racing with Seattle Cyclocross; and volunteering at big events like Bike Expo.

Students who are interested train for and participate in big riding events like Chilly Hilly, Flying Wheels, and Group Health Seattle to Portland.

Who we work with

Media Coverage

  • Read about the program in The Seattle Times.
  • Watch coverage of the program on King 5 News.
  • Click image below for a video aired on KCTV as part of "Inside Transportation."

Contact

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

Giving/Sponsorship:
Kathy McCabe
Development Director
(206) 204-0587

2009 Major Taylor participants