Cyc-ology 101: The Major Taylor Project

<<Sounds of bike riding>>

Narrator Says:

On the surface, it looks like any other club at a high school.

Students learning the ins-and-outs of cycling, how to safely ride, how to clean the bikes, and how to fix chains and flat tires.

But this club is about more than occupying time for the youths involved.

In fact, it probably wouldn’t exist if not for a man who died almost 80 years ago, but continues to inspire interest in cycling today.

Marshall Taylor, nicknamed ‘Major’, was born in Louisville, Kentucky in 1878.

At age 18 he won his first professional cycling race at Madison Square Garden, lapping the field in a half-mile race.

Three years later, he won the world one-mile cycling championship becoming the first African American to do so.

Today, his legacy lives on in many ways, not the least of which is introducing the kids in the project that bears his name to cycling, and therefore to safety, fitness, and community service.

Major Taylor Project Director Ed Ewing Says:

The vision of the project was to introduce kids of color to the sport of cycling, and to create access and awareness, and increase knowledge, not only of cycling but of Major Taylor and tell the story about Major Taylor. And you look at cycling and tennis and golf and hockey, it's a very one-color sport, for lack of a better term. To have the opportunity to help kids explore and introduce them to alternative sports is a great thing.

Narrator Says:

King County, with the support of former County Executive Ron Sims, donated to the Major Taylor Program in its nascent stages.

Part of the skills students are taught is how to get around using just their bikes, thereby promoting health and fitness as a way of life.

Another part of the effort teaches the kids how to incorporate Metro Transit trips into their trips to school and elsewhere, not to mention their way around a bike.

Major Taylor Participant Oliyad Beyene Says:

You could say I learned how to fix bikes and how to fix my tubes and change tires. And the things that help me are how I ride my transportation; I ride my bike always to school. Sometimes I have to fix my bike and sometimes I have to get tips.

Major Taylor Participant Ray Mccullah Says:

Well, what I’ve learned from the club was, you get to learn how to make bikes, how to fix bikes; fix flats, all that kind of stuff. Ride 'em no matter how far you go. And I just completed the STP a few days ago, and I would have to admit that I was tired after, but during it I wasn't tired at all.

Major Taylor Participant Nuvia Moreno Says:

I learned the different new programs like flying wheel, STP, I also learned about how the rules on the bike are the same as laws in a car. I learned how to fix a bike, a few of the things we're learning behind us is new. They taught us how to change a flat tire, check the brakes, the chain before you use it.

Narrator Says:

Currently 45 youths participate in the Major Taylor Project, and aside from this one at Global Connections High School in Sea-Tac, there are also clubs in White Center and Magnuson Park.

The students from Global Connections recently participated in the ‘Seattle To Portland’ bike ride.

The 200-mile ride is organized by Cascade Bicycle Club, which is also a major supporter of the program.

The students as well as the Major Taylor Project’s leaders say on top of the cycling knowledge, they also learn lessons for life.

Major Taylor Project Director Ed Ewing Says:

The kids get a sense of accomplishment, and get a sense of what is possible. They get a chance to explore the neighborhoods, which they live in and which they don't live in. And with that comes a very, very strong sense of empowerment. It's amazing to see the nervousness of the kids when they first start the program and then six weeks into the program, or even three or four weeks into the program them coming out of their shell and asking questions, and start to relate this project to their lives, and how their friends and their families start asking about it. And then it's another level to see their performance improve in school.

Major Taylor Participant Ray Mccullah Says:

I guess the first STP that I’ve done was awesome because I was kind of a little skeptical at first that I couldn't do it. But then I thought to myself I can do this if I just put my mind to it. You shouldn't give up just because something's hard. You should just push yourself through it. And if you set your mind to something you can accomplish that goal. Let's say someone's goal was to go to college, if they set their mind to it, they can go to college.

Major Taylor Participant Nuvia Moreno Says:

What I like about are the trips we go on the new bikes. They're new, good bikes for me. Everything's new: the gears, the shifts, everything's new. Also I’m meeting new people I didn't knew [sic]. So, I’m expanding my knowledge about how bikes work, about how bikes are usually better than cars. You get around places easier, you get to know new places between the city.

Narrator Says:

For more information or to learn how you can help with the Major Taylor Project, visit the website on your screen.