Major Taylor Project Ride Leader

What We Need

Cascade Bicycle Club is looking for self-motivated cyclists with a passion for youth development and building community through equity and inclusion. Major Taylor Project (MTP) Ride Leaders bring the knowledge, skills, and empowerment of cycling to Black, brown, and underserved youth between the ages of 12 and 18. MTP Ride Leaders plan and lead group bicycle rides for young people, twice a week, for up to 10 weeks per season. Ride Leaders commit to direct-service in middle and high schools for after-school enrichment. Ride Leaders will route-plan, pre-ride routes, and lead small group rides for middle and high school youth in the greater Seattle and Tacoma area. 

Ride Leaders will be assigned at least one club to coordinate and lead, with an open option for more. MTP club rides provide youth with the opportunity to explore their communities, build relationships with fellow riders, continuously challenge themselves, and have fun. This is a great opportunity for an individual with a passion for cycling, youth development, and dedication to their community, or a youth advocate, teacher, or counselor with an interest in cycling.  

Hirees for this position report directly to Major Taylor Project Managers and are critical team members of the Education Department at Cascade Bicycle Club. 

Bilingual candidates (e.g. Spanish, Vietnamese, Somali, Mandarin) strongly desired. 

 Who We Are

Cascade Bicycle Club, the nation’s largest statewide bicycle nonprofit, is 10,000-members, 52-years-old, and 26-staff strong, serving bike riders of all ages and abilities throughout the state of Washington. We teach the joys of bicycling, advocate for safe places to ride, and produce community rides and events. Our signature programs include the Seattle to Portland ride, the Pedaling Relief Project, advocacy for connected trail networks and on-street bike networks in Seattle and across the Puget Sound Region, the Your Streets Your Say advocacy training program, Free Group Rides, Adult Classes, Let’s Go, and the Major Taylor Project.

The Major Taylor Project (MTP) is a seasonal youth development program hosted within the Education Department at Cascade Bicycle Club. The Education Department and MTP focus on integrating bicycling, healthy living, bicycle safety, road safety awareness, and the importance of working toward individual goals. MTP is especially focused on introducing youth from diverse communities to recreational and transportation cycling, creating an inclusive culture of bicycling. MTP uses the bicycle to help students expand their worldview and encourages them to explore the agency they have to change themselves and their communities. Programming follows the academic year with Fall, Winter, and Spring activities. 

The Major Taylor Project intentionally focuses on serving Black, Indigenous, and youth of color. MTP operates in diverse communities in order to increase access to bicycling and community engagement. Ride Leaders work directly with youth, community organizations, and schools. MTP Ride Leader applicants should be socially sensitive and have the ability to lead conversations relating to racial equity, diversity, and inclusion. Ride Leaders are responsible for creating a safe, and empowering environment for all participants in the program. Ride Leaders applicants should have experience working with, and are passionate about youth, and are excited to share the joy of bicycling!

Cascade Bicycle Club values:

• Equity - We lead with a racial equity lens to eliminate inequities in community health outcomes and in mobility and transportation access. Bicycles are a tool for liberation.
• Climate Justice & Clean Air - Bicycles are clean, healthy, and an affordable solution to help solve the climate crisis, clean our air, reduce transportation pollution, and create sustainable communities.
• Community - We create opportunities for people to come together by removing barriers and fostering a sense of belonging. Bicycles are an integral part of creating connected, equitable and thriving communities.
• Safety - Safety is a right; we champion spaces that foster physical and emotional wellbeing.
• Collaboration - We share power, resources, and knowledge as a means to enrich lives and form mutually beneficial partnerships. We celebrate the existing strengths of our partners and participants and seek to be an accessible asset for others.

For a detailed description of the organization and its programs, please visit http://www.cascade.org

What You’ll Bring 

Duties and Responsibilities

• Plan, coordinate, and implement weekly rides, program activities, and logistics
• Teach bicycle skills and lead supplemental lessons/activities  
• Visual documentation of club operations, e.g. ie,weekly photos and videos of club activities
• Oversee safety and risk management
• Conduct outreach and recruitment activities
• Build a supportive MTP community through facilitation of team building activities and growth-mindset engagement
• Serve as the site specific point-of-contact, bridging communication between school administration, parents, and students
• Record and maintain all relevant administrative data for site programming including: attendance records, volunteer records, completed rides, etc.
• Maintain a clean and organized workspace, fleet, and supportive equipment library

Qualifications

• Desire and skill to work with youth between the ages of 12 to 18
• Ability to ride a bike proficiently for extended periods of time with others
• Group management and facilitation skills
• Patience, punctuality, and accountability
• Must be willing and able to work outdoors in varied conditions
• Basic computer knowledge and skills for online youth engagement
• Must pass a background check, including motor vehicle (driving) record
• Willingness to learn

Desired Qualifications

• Great cycling skills and a knowledge of bike mechanics
• Conflict mediation experience
• Youth development and enrichment experience
• Experience supporting racial, health, mobility, and/or environmental equity and justice programs and outcomes
• CPR, First Aid or Wilderness First Responder certification
• Ability to translate English into other languages
• Valid driver’s license

Job Details

This is a Part-time, Non-Exempt position. This position is completely field-work based, working at various schools and community centers in King or Pierce County. Team members may be assigned to work a maximum of 30 hours/week during club seasons.

Seasons and Hours of Clubs:

• Ride Leader hours vary, with traditional hours of operation ranging between 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.
• Club rides run 2 to 4 hours per club day
• Clubs operate one to two days per week

Billable Hours

• The average club should provide at least 6hr/wk of work (Approximate Hours)
• 1.5 hours of planning
• 30 minutes of administrative work
• 4 hours of club operations including set-up and clean-up
• Ride Leaders are expected to scout and pre-ride routes, billing for these hours

Programming Seasons align with the academic year, with some weekend and summer event opportunities

Ride Leaders are expected to attend all of their scheduled clubs for a complete season

• Seasons are between 8 and 10 weeks, depending on the site
• Ride Leaders can work up to 3 clubs in a season, when available
• Non-health related absences and work conflicts should be communicated at least a week in advance

Seasons (Approximate Schedule)

Fall Programming

• Mid-September to Mid-November
• Limited MTP work availability Late November to Mid-January

Winter Programming

•  Mid-January to Mid-March

Spring Programming

•  April to the end of the school year

Summer Programming

• Mid-June to Mid-August
• Limited MTP work availability Late-August to Mid-September