Park District Police Donate Bikes to Oakland Non-Profit after Theft

The East Bay Regional Park District police department on Tuesday donated 35 bicycles to an East Oakland non-profit that recently lost several dozen bikes to theft.

The Park District bikes are former evidence from criminal cases or unclaimed property from the lost-and-found. The District ordinarily keeps such bikes in storage until they’re auctioned, destroyed or in some cases, donated.

“Our job is to serve the community, and this is the least we can do,” said Park District Police Officer Ryland Macfadyen. “This group was a victim of crime, and we really felt it was important to help them out any way we could, especially since they serve young people.”

Cycles of Change is a non-profit organization that started in Oakland’s San Antonio neighborhood in 1998, taking young people on after school bicycle adventures. The group also provides after-school Bike Clubs, as well as programs for youth and adults across the East Bay in bike repair, bike safety, and environmental projects like creek restoration and community gardening. Cycles of Change also has a community bike shop, called The Bikery, located in the San Antonio neighborhood, working to make biking more accessible, especially for low income communities of color.

On Jan. 7, 2016, a rented U-Haul parked in front of the group’s headquarters was stolen. It contained 52 bicycles and 350 helmets intended to teach bike safety to Oakland middle- and high-school students as part of the Alameda County Safe Routes to Schools program. Macfadyen, who oversees evidence for the Park District police department, read about the theft in the newspaper and wanted to help. He contacted Cycles of Change and arranged the donation.

Anyone wishing to donate to Cycles of Change, or learn more about their programs, can go to www.cyclesofchange.org or call (510) 842-1006. The Bikery is located at 1246 23rd Ave. Oakland 94606.

Contacts: Eugene Kang, Cycles of Change: (510) 842-1006, eugene@cyclesofchange.org

Ryland Macfadyen, police officer, East Bay Regional Park District

Carolyn Jones