Riders blossom and beam with pride over their new-found skill, volunteers cheer, and parents tear up to see their child take flight, alone, for the first time. BikeNow! is open to children 8 years and up; meaning there is no cap on the end age!

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People who experience a variety of disabilities have had success at the clinics—including Down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, visual impairments, extreme fear of falling, fine motor challenges, and developmental delays. 

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Typically-developing children learn to ride a bicycle with help from their family and friends. Unfortunately, most individuals with disabilities who try this route are unsuccessful.

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Through careful research into the elemental physics of bicycle riding, Dennis Blong and his team designed and built a unique type of adapted bike that enables the rider and bike to function together as a system. Our new design uses air cylinders to gently cushion the rider while keeping the rider safely upright. As the rider’s skill develops over the course of the week, we gradually reduce the air pressure until the rider is on his/her own. Our bike mechanic and floor director make the necessary adjustments and guide the riders as they progress.

The BikeNow! program works with children, youths, and adults who experience difficulty getting past training wheels and onto conventional two-wheelers.

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BikeNow! is an event started in Medford in 2015 and sponsored by various donors around the valley that was originally founded in Portland, Oregon in 2006 (under ABI's Bike First!). We are proud to have served many children through Bike Now! and are privileged to bring to Medford a program that systematically teaches individuals the skills needed to ride typical bicycles.