People call me Erin DeLallo. I’m a bike messenger in Portland, which has a kind of double meaning — bikes are both my work and my passion. I also volunteer at Bike Farm, Portland’s all-volunteer bicycle education collective. I’ve chosen jobs that don’t pay much because it’s low-cost to empower others and I bring that same philosophy to my volunteer work at Bike Farm.

Bike Farm is a community-powered, non-hierarchical space where people work together to reclaim and repair bikes that might otherwise be discarded. We reduce waste and promote safe, sustainable transportation. Many Portlanders, especially unhoused or low-income individuals face barriers to reliable transportation. At Bike Farm, we give bikes a second life and help people move through the city on their own terms.

Helping people of all backgrounds take ownership of their transportation is about more than mechanics; it’s about breaking down barriers to mobility and building self-reliance. I bring my years as a bike messenger to every lesson, meeting people where they are. Watching someone ride out on a bike they fixed themselves is incredibly rewarding. Every reclaimed bike carries more than wheels on a frame; it carries freedom and possibility.

Bike Farm isn’t just a do-it-yourself workshop; it’s a hub for mentorship, collaboration, and lasting community. Even those who didn’t expect to love bikes leave empowered. In a city where getting around means opportunity, learning to repair and care for your own bike can be life-changing.