Thanks to everyone who responded to my original post, I'll be getting in
touch in the next few weeks.
I have a quick question for the board as I begin to compile a time line:
Is anyone aware of which shops would be considered among the first community
bicycle organizations in the US?
My hunch is Bikes Not Bombs? (1988-89ish)
RIBS, in Ithaca, was started in 1991.
What about yours?
Thanks for the support,
Alex
On Fri, Oct 2, 2009 at 3:21 PM, Alex Rosenblatt
<rosenblatt.alex(a)gmail.com>wrote:
> Hello All,
>
> For the past few years, I've been an Assistant Coordinator at a volunteer
> bike shop in Ithaca, NY called Recycle Ithaca's Bicycles (RIBS). RIBS has
> been around in some form or another since early 1991. Mired in
> organizational difficulties, I (and most of the others involved) have since
> moved on and are starting a new bicycle project in the area.
>
> In my other life, I am a student finishing up my degree. I am currently
> beginning to work on compiling a history of volunteer bike shops as they fit
> in (or don't) with the various bicycle movements. I am hoping that this
> will be a substantial document released in a published form and also an
> online form where it could be continuously updated.. As I've begun to read
> various histories of cycling, I've found that there is little to mention of
> the VBS movement. I have yet to read Bike Cult, however. This seems
> ridiculous as we are and can be a crucial facet of the cycling community. My
> hopes are that a history could be used as a platform to increase VBS
> visibility and popularity by establishing a cohesive narrative.
>
> I have a few requests:
>
> I'm looking to talk to anyone and everyone about any facet of the volunteer
> bike shop movement specifically the history of shops and how they interact
> with the community. Whether, via phone or email, or if possible, in
> person, it would a great help. Clearly, this isn't a project I can do via
> the internet and academic journals.
>
> If you know anyone who was involved in your shop in the early days, that
> would be a great contact as well.
>
> Also, if your organization has done its own organizational history (as has
> mine - we still have the same problems as 20 years ago!) that would be
> welcome as well.
>
>
> While I have not found any indication of this, I'd imagine a project like
> this has been done before, if anyone is aware of something similiar, please
> let me know.
>
>
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Alex Rosenblatt
> Phone: nine-seven-three-nine-four-three-eight-eight-zero-three
>
>
>
>
>