I just got approved for a bicycle loan! I'm getting a Sweetpea! Yippee!

Unitus Community Credit Union has launched their bicycle loan program, available at BicycleLoan.com. If you're a Unitus member, you can apply for $250-$2500 of financing toward a new bicycle and accessories.

Here's my story. I have a 23.5 mile round trip commute each day, from the Southgate neighborhood of Clackamas County to the BTA office in Chinatown. Since I started working here last August, I have been commuting on a 1982 Schwinn World Sport (see photo), which belonged to my mother when I was a young'n. It's pretty sweet, but my body has been suggesting it's not a perfect fit. Considering the weight it carries every day (me, plus all the junk I bring to work), frame breakage is a real concern. In light of my tax refund and stimulus money, I was starting to think about getting a new ride.

It was about this time our Safe Routes to School Director Angela Koch told me that Unitus would be moving forward with her suggestion that they provide bicycle loans to customers. I jumped at the chance to be a guinea pig for the program. Since I joined in 2000, Unitus has impressed me with their stellar customer service, impressive range of member services, and super interest rates. A bike loan will likely get more people riding bikes, and our local handbuilt bicycle community will see a surge in business as their bikes become accessible to more people.

With a loan to back me up, I made the huge decision to get a handmade Sweetpea Bicycle, and Natalie and Austin at Sweetpea were totally supportive of the bike loan program as well. Over the last month there has been a lot of communication between the involved parties, and cooperative problem solving.

The pieces finally came together this morning with the launch of the BicycleLoan.com website. My loan application took about five minutes, and I was instantly approved for $2500 towards my new Sweetpea. Like all my other experiences with Unitus, the process was easy, fast, and friendly.

Bicycle loans–only in Portland, right? Hopefully not for long…

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