January 2010 - TheThinkTank - lists.bikecollectives.org

Dealing with intoxicated users
by Clifford McCarten 07 Jan '10

07 Jan '10

Hey Folks, Quick question: How do you deal tactfully/respectfully with users of your space who are visibly intoxicated or smell strongly of booze? It's our policy to not allow people to work in this state (for personal safety, amount of oversight required, and comfort levels for other users of the space). This policy, however, is never really enacted. I suppose we don't (I don't!) feel comfortable asking people when I suspect their intoxication may lead them to react abrasively. Any specific lines or strategies you use? Cheers, Clifford McCarten Co-Director, B!KE: The Peterborough Community Bike Shop 400 Wolfe St, Peterborough ON K9J 2P3 (705) 748-6681 http://www.communitybikeshop.org

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Bikes on trains
by Clifford McCarten 05 Jan '10

05 Jan '10

FYI - I tried to take a Toronto > NYC Amtrak earlier this year, and was told "No Bikes" by the Amtrak folks. Maybe it's different for different lines, but in any case, make sure you check ahead! Clifford McCarten Co-Director, B!KE: The Peterborough Community Bike Shop 400 Wolfe St, Peterborough ON K9J 2P3 (705) 748-6681 http://www.communitybikeshop.org

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free online donation/purchase processing
by Sharlyn Grace 01 Jan '10

01 Jan '10

Hi all, I remember some groups talking at bike!bike! about a free service they used to take in money online. Right now, we use google checkout, and we lose a portion of our donations this way. What free services to folks have that don't take a percentage of the donation? Also, are their any good systems for setting up an automatic payment for classes? For example, sometimes people who sign up for our paid eight-week classes don't end up showing up and giving us a check on the first day, and then we're either under-filled or scrambling to make up the student. I would like to get their inquiry emails, answer their questions, and in my replies, include a link to a secure site (not open to the public, so we can monitor class enrollment) where the soon-to-be student pays the class fee upfront, when they sign up. Then the option to back out will be gone, and people won't reserve seats they don't actually end up using or paying for. It might be okay to have a "store" for classes, alternately, as long as we can only "sell" a certain number at each time. However, I like the secret page idea because then we can keep an eye on if four buddies sign up for the same class or it's six men, no women, etc. and control enrollment (as well as directing people towards classes we now will fill on-time). Thanks! Sharlyn

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