September 2008 - TheThinkTank - lists.bikecollectives.org

BikeBike Workshop Call Out
by Ann Altstatt 18 Sep '08

18 Sep '08

Dear Bikey Ones, This year's Bike!Bike! conference in San Francisco is right around the corner! As one of the folks dealing with workshops and registration, I am sending this long email to let you know how exciting this event is going to be. . . oh yeah, and we still need your help to make it even better! We have an exciting list of workshops on the schedule, but we would still like to offer even more options. *Here is a list of workshop topics which already have been proposed:* - Becoming incorporated/tax stuff (Ed France, Bici Centro, Santa Barbara) - Free Hub Membership Tracker (Alon, Bike Kitchen, San Francisco) - University Bike Co-ops Forum (Ildiko, CCSF, Daniel, UCSC Bike Co-op, Davis Bike Church, etc.) - Productive Paperwork (Casey, Fargo Moorhead Community Bike Project) - Working with the City to get space (Nathan, Austin Yellow Bikes) - Mobile bike shops (Sachi, Austin Yellow Bikes) - Starting a Community Bike Shop (RaRa, Portland Bike Farm) - How do you organize your space? (everyone bring a picture of their shop - "this is what we do with fenders", etc.) - Tour of Box Dog Bikes/For-Profit Co-ops (Dan, Box Dog Bikes) - Volunteer Retention Forum (Ed of SB, etc.) - Starting a Bike Share Program (Lynda from Queens) - Cut the Red Tape: Navigating the "Shared Governance" System in Colleges (Ryan, Cabrillo Bike Coop) - Bike Trailer Building (Aron, East Bay) - Chloroplast pannier building (Sachi, Austin Yellow Bikes) - Lowbagger bike touring (Quentin, Bike Church Santa Cruz) - Planning a Bike Tour: SF to Santa Cruz (Josh, SC Bike Church) - Wheel building (Ellie, Bike Church Santa Cruz, and Daniel, UCSC Bike Co-op) - Frame construction/repair (Josh, Bike Church Santa Cruz) - Youth-based earn-a-bike programs (Community Cycles, Boulder) - Bicycle Touring for Social Change/Fostering Sustainable Communities (Nora Dye and "Within Reach" folks) - Understanding bicycle-focused international development work: Case studies in Nepal and Namibia (Mario, SF Bike Kitchen/Wrench Nepal) - International Bike Projects: Tanzinia (David, Neighborhood Works, Philly) - Adult Education (Ed France, Bici Centro, Santa Barbara) - Youth programming funding (Free Ride, Pittsburg) - Youth forum (John from Sacramento, Jami from Pittsburg, Justin from Chicago, etc.) - Envisioning the Future of Bicycle-based Urbanism (Jonathan, Davis Bike Church) - Up the Punks: counter-cultural roots in the era of "green capitalism" (Kyle, Bicas/Bike Church) - Forming a Community Bike Coalition (Daniel, New Haven Bike Collective) - Non-Violent Communication (Ani, the Kickstand, Gainsville) - How To Set-Up Ladies/Trans Shop time (Alissa, Bike Saviours, Tempe Arizona) - Round Table discussion on gender issues in shops/projects (Chole from Bike Church Philly and Kanako from Bike n' Bike, Olympia) - Forum on project demographics - Who are We Serving (Ami from SF Bike Kitchen, Emilyn from Bike Church Santa Cruz, etc.) - Being a guy ally/supporting women/trans/queer folk (Ian and Quentin from Bike Church Santa Cruz, etc.) *And here is our wish list of topics we'd still like to see covered:* - co-op and collective structures- grant funding how to's and pros/cons - cutting threads/taps and dies - bike fit - welding/choppers - lights/generators - basic bike systems - bearings, wheels, cables, etc. - how to set up classes/classes vs. open shop time - political advocacy - getting bike lanes, working with local gov't, etc - safe routes to schools programs - working with schools, bike shops in schools - panel on racism in projects - working with a language barrier - how to be a white ally - how diverse is our staff/volunteers, how to attract diverse staff/volunteers -your great and novel workshop idea you see missing, there are so many possibilities. . . * We also are very interested in finding folks interested in helping with existing forums/workshops on:* youth in bike shops race and racism shop demographics/who are we serving? volunteer retention how to be a guy ally If you would be interested in facilitating or collaborating on any of these topics, please do let us know! Here's who to contact: Emilyn, Ian and Ann (emilynrose(a)yahoo.com, ian.paleale(a)gmail.com, annaltstatt(a)gmail.com) Thanks and I look forward to seeing everyone soon! Ann Altstatt The Bicycle Church Tool Cooperative Santa Cruz, CA

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Campus bike programmer's 1st Conference
by Tim Potter 17 Sep '08

17 Sep '08

I know this comes close on the heels of the Bike!Bike! conference, but please consider our 1st conference hosted by UC Davis, CA, this Nov. 1 -2: <http://www.bikes.msu.edu/ubikes/> http://www.bikes.msu.edu/ubikes/ You can also just join our listserv if you're unable to attend to connect with other campus bike programmers around N. America; we've got about 75 on our list at this point. Hope the Bike!Bike! conference goes great; wish I could be there. Tim ******************** Tim Potter Coordinator MSU Bikes Service Center B10 Bessey Hall/ Michigan St. University Along the N. River Trail, 300 ft. west of Farm Ln. Bridge E. Lansing, MI 48824-1033 Ph: 517/432-3400 Fax: 517/432-2743 Email: <mailto:bikes@msu.edu> bikes(a)msu.edu Web: <file:///C:\Documents%20and%20Settings\tbpotter\Application%20Data\Microsoft \Signatures\www.bikes.msu.edu> www.bikes.msu.edu Home Dept: <file:///C:\Documents%20and%20Settings\tbpotter\Application%20Data\Microsoft \Signatures\www.transportation.pp.msu.edu> www.transportation.pp.msu.edu

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[Updated Invitation] Bike Collective Network Booth at Interbike @ Wed Sep 24 – Fri Sep 26, 2008 (The Think Tank)
by Jonathan Morrison 16 Sep '08

16 Sep '08

Details for the following event have changed: Title: Bike Collective Network Booth at Interbike Time: Wed Sep 24 – Fri Sep 26, 2008 (Timezone: Mountain Time) Where: Sands Expo Center Calendar: The Think Tank Description: Read this: http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=prlHsC-DLLuQ_ogqq3iszfg&hl=en You can view this event at http://www.google.com/calendar/event?action=VIEW&eid=ZTFtZm5iaGlvcThyMmVvdW… You are receiving this courtesy email at the account thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org because you are an attendee of this event. To stop receiving future notifications for this event, decline this event. Alternatively you can sign up for a Google account at http://www.google.com/calendar/ and control your notification settings for your entire calendar.

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off mailing list, please
by julie vincent 16 Sep '08

16 Sep '08

Hi there, Although your discussions are politically interesting, the sheer amount of random people emailing me is clogging up my inbox. Please remove my name from your mailing list. I do not even live in the US and a large majority of the topics you discuss have nothing to do with me or anyone in my region or country... I was just looking for bike info relating to Burningman, that's all. Clearly I don't belong here! Thanks for understanding and good luck with it all. YOu're doing a good thing. Sincerely, Julie Vincent __________________________________________________________________ Ask a question on any topic and get answers from real people. Go to Yahoo! Answers and share what you know at http://ca.answers.yahoo.com

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8000 miles pedaling for the dignity of the immigrant
by Erik D Stockmeier 16 Sep '08

16 Sep '08

The following is a post from the blog of Flor Crisostomo, an undocumented worker who has taken sanctuary in a Chicago church for the past several months and has been blogging on her experiences... thought it might be of interest to some of us! The blog is interesting on its own (outside of bikes) and each post is translated into english. http://floresiste.wordpress.com/ Mario Castellon, ¡si se puede! Mario, 8000 miles pedaling for the dignity of the immigrant On Wednesday September 2 at 8 o'clock in the morning we received a visit from a thin, tired, and bearded youth. The only thing that he brings is a bicycle with a few flags, loaded with a small carrier of clothes and spare bike parts. What I noticed in his tired face was a big grin of tranquility, peace and a tremendous humility, which these days almost nobody carries. His name is Mario Castellón, and he has traveled more than 8,000 miles by bicycle since May 31, 2008. His starting point was his home country, El Salvador. His purpose is to help the pro-immigrant fight, bringing the message to the world and the communities through which he passes. Mario wants to bring attention to the importance and significance of more than 12 million undocumented immigrants in the long-awaited IMMIGRATION REFORM. After welcoming him with a cup of Mayan coffee and Mexican bread, talking for a couple of hours, I started to get to know him a little more. He is a very nice person, with immense faith that leads him to believe the situation will change. He told me of such strong experiences that he has gone through, starting in Guatemala when some police wanted to rob him thinking he brought dollars. After, in Mexico he saw the treatment of the undocumented Central Americans. At the arrival of the United States border he saw companions trying to cross to this country in half-dead conditions. Already, in this place he saw the good and bad of those that understand his message and also that of the xenophobes that still think we live in the time of Hitler or of the KKK. He has slept underneath bridges and in parks, but he says, "everything is worth it, to bring this message to the government of our countries of the support and commitment that we need of the North American government." We know that it is election time and the press does not cover this type of news. He and I know what we face and what the yellow press wants. He and I understand that the work that we do is so that our message reaches where it has to go, and little by little we are getting there. We both know that the young and the new North America is desperate with a spirit very full of Faith and Dignity. To him, like me, we have united in the same cause and we are representing it in the form we think is correct. For so many reasons he deserves more than my respect. We hope that he will bring a little attention, that they will give him a hand with the rest of his journey; Tennesse, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, California, Arizona, New Mexico, San Antonio to the finish where he lives in Dallas, Texas. Thank you Maria, may God bless and protect you. You, like I, together with the 12 million of us that we know ¡¡¡SI SE PUEDEEE!!! *FLOResiste is writen by Flor Crisóstomo. Blog translation is done by Dalia Rubiano Yeddia, Eva Nagao, Willy Barreno, Jesus Carlin and Jhonathan F. Gómez. Design and updates by Willy Barreno, Jesus Carlin and Jhonathan F. Gómez. Edited by **Jhonathan F. Gómez.*

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Bike Theft and Selling Locks
by Sandra Medd 16 Sep '08

16 Sep '08

hi I am also looking for low cost or donation bike locks. The youth in my area (west end/central) need locks. We are willing to purchase, but because we need so many, they would have to be cheap. any ideas?Sam @ spence neighbourhood youth outreach> Date: Mon, 15 Sep 2008 09:54:18 -0500> From: graham.stewart(a)winply.ca> To: Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org> Subject: [TheThinkTank] Bike Theft and Selling Locks> > 1. Are there any shops out there who buy locks in bulk and re-sell > them? The rationale for doing this would be that providing a > good-quality low-cost lock to people visiting the shop would reduce the > likelihood of having their bike stolen. I see the rampant bike-theft > here as one of the common reasons people stop cycling or don't want to > invest time or money in their bike.> > My questions are, where do you get locks from, and how is the program > run? Are their any other initiatives you take to reduce the problem of > bike-theft?> > Graham @> The Bike-Dump in Winnipeg> > _______________________________________________> Thethinktank mailing list> Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… _________________________________________________________________

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Running your bike collective website on Joomla!
by Rich Points 15 Sep '08

15 Sep '08

Bike Collectives, Just wanted to shoot this note out before Bike Bike that I'll be presenting a workshop called "Getting the most out of your website with Joomla and a custom bike collective database". The system I'm working on, along with Jonathan from Salt Lake, can be easily shared between sites. The only requirement is that you be using the current version of Joomla!. I'm writing to encourage you to move your sites to Joomla! as it is a powerful tool even without the Bike Collective Database. Find out more about Joomla! http://joomla.org If you won't be able to attend Bike Bike but are interested in the Bike Collective Database let me know and I'll send you my notes. Peace -- Rich Points Community Cycles Director http://CommunityCycles.org Rich(a)CommunityCycles.org 720-565-6019

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Bike Theft and Selling Locks
by dragonfly＠mac.hush.com 15 Sep '08

15 Sep '08

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Hi, Matt. I would not worry too much about the potential that you will turn your EAB kids into bike theives if you explain good and bad locking jobs to them. If they are at your bike shop, watching older people provide loving mentorship and lots of free labour and enthusiasm to encourage something they love, they are getting quite the innoculation against growing up to become theives. They see people working hard to fix and care for their bikes, and they meet a lot of the bike-dependant people in their community, and they know that people can recognize each other's bikes. They know and understand the value of a bike, a value that is deeper and stranger and more about love and freedom than it is just about the monetary value of that bike. I know a good locking job from a bad one, and so do the people on this list. I've never stolen a bike, and that probably hold true for (almost?) everyone on this list. We don't steal not because we don't know how, but because we are people of (reasonably?) good character. The kids who come into places like their community bike shop are putting themselves into situations where they hang out with good adults (or ordinary adults behaving well). This, rather than any technical ignorance, is why they likely will not steal bikes. They are, or are becoming, good people. Your walking tours sound great. What a good idea. They work so hard for their bikes, it sucks when those bikes get stolen. Sasha On Mon, 15 Sep 2008 11:04:38 -0400 veganboyjosh(a)gmail.com wrote: >not to hijack the sourcing locks question, but does anyone include >in their >curriculum/EAB/youth classes some kind of locking information? i >know >there's the video of the guy in NYC grading lock jobs on the >street, and in >one of our classes here (community cycles in boulder, co), we >start the >class with a walk around the neighborhood, to point out some of >the lock >jobs that are less than stellar. > >it's a weird balance, because in order to teach someone good lock >technique, >it's easiest to show them examples of how not to do it, which is >basically >teaching them to think like a bike thief...how to do this without >actually >encouraging them to become bike thieves? it's not a major concern, >but one >that came up while we discussed the issue. does anyone else have >experience >with this? > > > >On Mon, Sep 15, 2008 at 8:57 AM, Matt <mattface(a)gmail.com> wrote: > >> We sell inexpensive U-locks. THey are not top quality, but they >are more >> than adequate for the type of theft we have here, and they are >relatively >> affordable. >> >> >> >> On Sep 15, 2008, at 10:54 AM, Graham wrote: >> >> 1. Are there any shops out there who buy locks in bulk and re- >sell them? >>> The rationale for doing this would be that providing a good- >quality >>> low-cost lock to people visiting the shop would reduce the >likelihood of >>> having their bike stolen. I see the rampant bike-theft here as >one of the >>> common reasons people stop cycling or don't want to invest time >or money in >>> their bike. >>> >>> My questions are, where do you get locks from, and how is the >program run? >>> Are their any other initiatives you take to reduce the problem >of >>> bike-theft? >>> >>> Graham @ >>> The Bike-Dump in Winnipeg >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Thethinktank mailing list >>> Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >>> >>> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- >bikecollectives.org >>> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Thethinktank mailing list >> Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >> >> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- >bikecollectives.org >> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Note: This signature can be verified at https://www.hushtools.com/verify Charset: UTF8 Version: Hush 3.0 wkYEARECAAYFAkjOsSQACgkQ5O7ahKJmrRlMNgCgia0xaX0+0yqxTL+sCBreQhJrMpMA njAx5BMIMmRovIBPSqFmtgexViLJ =Ge8L -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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Re: [TheThinkTank] rickshaw cart?
by dragonfly＠mac.hush.com 15 Sep '08

15 Sep '08

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Hello, Everyone. I'm still in that weird time-warped world of new parenthood, so I have not mananged to post our pictures and specs for the mobile bike shop we made earlier this spring and summer. We did not use a rickshaw cart. We made a bike trailer, and we used rubbermaid tubs containing smaller tubs, all nicely labelled with the contents-- contents labelled in English, French, and Cree. We strap the tubs to the trailer. I'm told that it is working pretty well. Now that it is up on reserve, I haven't seen it in months. But I'm told it is working. One tub is getting pretty dirty, but we designed it so that the really messy stuff would mostly mess up only one tub. We have a laminated checklist on the inside lid of each tub, and a master list, also laminated, to help with restocking the shop. (Yes, folks, we needed to leave some space for PAPERWORK even in our mobile shop--volunteer hour binder, manuals, etc.) (Ideally, we would have a different way of coping with the bike stand; it is OK, but it could be better. We'll keep thinking about that.) If the tubs needed to be moved to another type of vehicle-- car, truck, train, bus, snowmobile, boat, etc.-- that would work, too. Doing it in tubs does localize and simplify cleaning tasks. It is also easier to store the mobile shop at someone's house or at a shop, etc., as you can reconfigure how all the tubs are stacked depending on what space you have available, and if the trailer is relatively flat. It is going to be hard for you to store a rickshaw-shop, but it will look so pretty-- please send pictures. The trailer cost under $100 to make. The tubs, some of them we had in our houses, some we bought. It was a reasonably economical way of doing everything. Filling it with tools and supplies was the expensive part-- we put ads requesting unused tools or small donations to buy tools in lots of places-- free weeklies, neighbourhood papers, and lots of church newsletters and school newsletters, posted our needs on boards at local co-ops and grocery stores, at Mountain Equipment Co- op and other sporting goods stores-- they were helpful. People were generous to us; we were lucky. If we had not had so much loving help from so many people, it would have cost us much more. We made a book to go inside the mobile shop listing who gave us what, so that we could remember their contribution. I added writing thank you notes to them to the list of baby- related thank you notes I am still writing, three months (! Outrageous! I'm suprised people are still talking to me!)) later. I had more help with the bike thank-yous, so they are done already. We did send pictures of the bike shop to everyone who had helped us, so that they could use it for their own promotional purposes, or just to make them happy. My best wishes to you. Good luck. I am excited by all these mobile shops that people are making! We put a great first aid kit-- kindly donated by the good people at St. John's Ambulance-- in ours so it could also be used at races, should anyone up there decide to have races. Apparently that is going over well. My best to all of you Sasha On Mon, 15 Sep 2008 12:04:57 -0400 Erik Ryberg <ryberg(a)seanet.com> wrote: >Maryland is a long way away from Mexico, but I have bought two >Mexican >cargo trikes in Nogales, Mexico (right over the border from me) >for >$220.00 each (yes that is two hundred and twenty dollars) and >ridden >them off the shop floor and back into the U.S.. Here's the link: > >http://www.bicicletasmercurio.com.mx/carga.htm > >They aren't super high quality but they are definitely good >enough! > >Erik > >Matt wrote: >> I have Haley Trike which I think is quite well suited to the >task of >> carrying tools for a mobile bike shop. They are built to order, >and you >> can order them with many custom box options, and the optional >umbrella >> holder can actually hold a post for a bike stand provided it's >the right >> diameter. if you have a bike stand you would like to use, give >Stephen >> the post diameter, and I'm sure he could add a mount for it for >a >> reasonable price. http://www.haleytrikes.com/options.html >> >> Matt >> >> >> On Sep 15, 2008, at 11:00 AM, adam schwartz wrote: >> >>> Here at the Renaissance Community Youth Bike Shop in the DC/MD >area, >>> we are looking to develop a mobile bike repair stand for >events, >>> farmers markets, festivals, etc.. Does anyone know where we >can >>> acquire a pedal rickshaw cart like found in most "developing" >parts of >>> the world. >>> >>> -- >>> Adam Schwartz >>> Program Coordinator, The Renaissance Youth Bike Shop >>> Center For Educational Partnership >>> 6200 Sheridan Street, Riverdale, MD >>> adamgs(a)umd.edu <mailto:adamgs@umd.edu> >>> (301) 405-3213 >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Thethinktank mailing list >>> Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >>> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- >bikecollectives.org >> >> >> ----------------------------------------------------------------- >------- >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Thethinktank mailing list >> Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- >bikecollectives.org > > >-- >Erik B. Ryberg >Attorney at Law >445 West Simpson Street >Tucson, AZ 85701 >phone: (520) 622-3333 >fax: (520) 792-6677 >_______________________________________________ >Thethinktank mailing list >Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- >bikecollectives.org -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Note: This signature can be verified at https://www.hushtools.com/verify Charset: UTF8 Version: Hush 3.0 wkYEARECAAYFAkjOrUQACgkQ5O7ahKJmrRlDWgCgjjcAAvwM8hRhQtYhj8gCUb/rH34A n3Bt0ncDfBWZYos2JmB9yz7fQ0AL =Xf2X -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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rickshaw cart?
by adam schwartz 15 Sep '08

15 Sep '08

Here at the Renaissance Community Youth Bike Shop in the DC/MD area, we are looking to develop a mobile bike repair stand for events, farmers markets, festivals, etc.. Does anyone know where we can acquire a pedal rickshaw cart like found in most "developing" parts of the world. -- Adam Schwartz Program Coordinator, The Renaissance Youth Bike Shop Center For Educational Partnership 6200 Sheridan Street, Riverdale, MD adamgs(a)umd.edu (301) 405-3213

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