City of Auburn expands bike programs: Ride Revolution classes, Auburn MTB nights and pump track now in use
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Summary
City recreation staff described a suite of biking programs including Ride Revolution (grant-funded teen training), Auburn MTB summer rides, a 140-bike fleet and a new pump track that opened last year.
Kirsten Lang, recreation coordinator for the City of Auburn, described several bike-focused programs the city runs or supports, including Ride Revolution, a grant-funded training program for teens; regular Auburn MTB summer ride nights; and a pump track that opened last year.
Lang said Ride Revolution is funded through Cascade Bicycle Club and WSDOT, with Clean Air Act funds underwriting the grant. The program teaches teens to ride and navigate their community over about 30 hours of instruction; upon completion participants receive a free bike, helmet and lock. “It really provides them with a sense of independence and freedom,” Lang said. She added Auburn is in its second year of funding for the local Ride Revolution offering and the fall cycle had just started at Rainier Middle School.
City bike resources and programs: Lang said the city’s bike fleet now exceeds 140 bicycles and that the Auburn MTB summer-ride program typically runs twice weekly for six weeks in July and August, drawing large nightly attendance (Lang said attendance averages “200 plus people a night” at open-park rides). The city partners with Psychotherapy Racing (a local nonprofit partner) for BMX programming and youth engagement.
Infrastructure: Lang and the hosts discussed the pump track and nearby trails. “Check out the Pump Track,” Lang said; the track opened last year and the trails opened the year before, she said. The pump track requires riders to use technique rather than continuous pedaling and the city has been seeding grass and stabilizing surfaces since construction.
Why it matters: the programs combine active-transportation training for teens, recreation opportunities for adults and infrastructure designed to grow cycling participation. Lang noted practical barriers the programs address, such as teaching teens how to carry a bike on public transit racks and providing equipment for participants who otherwise might not ride.
Next steps and access: Ride Revolution will rotate among secondary schools in Auburn; program slots, eligibility and schedules are posted through the City of Auburn Recreation pages and through Cascade Bicycle Club materials. Lang encouraged would-be participants to contact the community center or check the city’s calendar for details and registration information.
