It seems like just yesterday that the six Scraper bike students were learning how to change a flat tire. Now, those students are proficient at basic bike maintenance skills and are riding out around the park on their newly customized, colorful bikes!

The Scraper bike is a trend that originated in the San Francisco Bay area, and is distinguished by a creatively spray painted BMX bike frame and wheels decorated with colorful duct tape or aluminum foil on the spokes. Cascade’s Scraper bike program engages kids ages 9 through 12 who live in the low-income and transitional housing in the neighborhood by our offices. The goal of this earn-a-bike program is to develop a creative and kinetic learning environment that implements bicycle maintenance skills supported by a do-it-yourself paint and tape decorating. At the end of the program,  ”Scraperz Kids” earn their own BMX Scraper bike, a lock and helmet.

On the final day of their eight-week scraper bike club, they used the chain breaker tool to replace their old chains, removed the painters tape after the spray paint was dry and put on the last finishing touches.

No earn-a-bike program is complete without a lock it or lose it demo. Each scraper graduate practiced and executed the proper way to securely lock up their bikes.

Equipped with a new helmet, combo lock and a handy patch kit, each student is now prepared to start riding their bikes in the bright spring weather.