[TheThinkTank] formalizing shop use

[rachael spiewak]

This conversation makes me wonder..
*how many people do you serve during a given shop session?
*how many volunteers do you have per session?
*how big is your shop/work space?

Our shop is pretty small, but we have a parking lot and year-round decent
weather, so we can spread out a bit.  Our sign in sheet, which doesn't get
signed by everyone, reflects around 30 - 40 people coming through with
around 7 people identifying as being available to help/volunteer.  Sometimes
we get overwhelmed by people needing help, but we've never considered a
waiting area or waiting list (people DO wait for a volunteer to become
available to help them, but it's not a formal process).  I'm wondering how
our space/resources/activity compares.  Is this issue about to creep up on
us?  Should we start getting ready now to accommodate more people?  I had
already begun to expect demand to rise as it gets warmer out and as gas
prices go up, but y'all are freaking me out a little.

(My ideal solution is a community bike shop in every community, by the way.)

-rachael/sopo/atlanta,ga

On Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 1:55 PM, Stuart O Anderson <soa at ri.cmu.edu> wrote:

> >  - do you have separate sign-up sheets for quick repairs vs. say
> building
> >  a bike up from scratch?
> We've experimented with a single list versus a split list for looking
> for a bike versus working on a bike.  I personally prefer a single
> list, since it prevents having to police what people do once they are
> in the shop - i.e. I don't have to worry whether truing your wheel is
> going to be  a quick task for you or not.
>
> >  - do you offer a comfy area to wait for those who need to?
> We have a shelf with bike books/magazines/pamphlets, some chairs, and
> some water.  Mostly people just stand around though.
>
> >  - do you let people work on bikes without a volunteer?
> Yes - we have one person greeting people at the door while other
> mechanics work with people.  Each mechanic works with 1-3 people
> depending on the level of assistance needed and the mechanic's
> preferences.  When a mechanic is sure they can take an additional
> person they let the greeter know to let someone else in.
>
> >  - if so, do you make them "prove" that they know how to use the tools
> >  properly or respect the shop?
> No.  They check out the toolbox with an id, and the easy to break
> expensive tools are locked up, but generally if you say you know what
> you're doing we'll let you go at it without interference.  In fact
> during really busy days we'll let people check out a set of tools with
> the explicit understanding that they will not be able to ask questions
> and that they will work outside the main shop area.  Sometimes this
> leads to people taking apart a bottom bracket all over the floor and
> not knowing how to put it back together, but it also saves a lot of
> frustration and waiting for people who just need to adjust a brake and
> know what they're doing.
>
> We also let people call ahead to get on the waiting list.
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-- 
Rachael Spiewak, MSW
Executive Director
Sopo Bicycle Cooperative
404-425-9989
www.sopobikes.org
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Hours of operation:
Tues/Thurs 7 pm - 10 pm
Sat/Sun 2 pm - 5 pm
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