December 2010 - TheThinkTank - lists.bikecollectives.org

Advocacy Resources Produced/Used by Community Projects
by Dugan Meyer 15 Dec '10

15 Dec '10

Some folks associated with MoBo Bike Co-op in Cincinnati are trying to put together bicycle advocacy resources into a sort of advocacy toolbox. Our goal is to produce something that could be used to equip or incite community members to do advocacy work/build community around bikes. I'm curious if any shops out there like ours have produced anything like this, and could share advocacy resources/ideas they have used. Those of you who do advocacy work of any kind: what resources/documents/actions do you use? Are community projects, specifically co-ops, producing anything of their own or simply borrowing resources from traditional advocacy organizations/clubs? In the spring we'd like to begin doing some off-site advocacy "workshops"- essentially group events with cyclists and community members who aren't currently connected with our shop community in which we'd provide resources and/or trainings on topics like 'how to organize group rides', 'advocating for better bike laws and planning in your community', 'encouraging new riders', etc. Any resources, ideas, tips you could pass along would be well-appreciated! Thanks. Dugan Meyer MoBo Bike Co-op, Cincinnati

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Program Evaluation
by Laurie Hanselmann 13 Dec '10

13 Dec '10

Hi all, The Bike Depot is trying to come up with an evaluation tool for our Earn A Bike (and eventually Fix Your Bike, classes, and volunteers) program and I was just wondering if anyone else out there has a format and system that works. I looked around on the Wiki but couldn't find much. We are working on a simple pre and post program survey to start with, but with our EAB population are wondering how best to reach them after they have left our program and their probability of them actually following up with us. Also, for any group that is successfully using surveys, what questions are you using? We are looking mostly at health impact and quality of life improvement (able to get a job because of bike, etc.). Are there other evaluation systems you are using that work well? What do you then do with that information? Has it spurred you to change aspects of your program to have a greater effect? As we develop our evaluation system I will be sure to share and post what we have created on the wiki site. -- Laurie Hanselmann Managing Director The Bike Depot 2825 Fairfax St. Denver, CO 80207 Office: 303-393-1963 Fax: 303-393-2607 Laurie(a)thebikedepot.org Find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TheBikeDepot *The Bike Depot is a nonprofit community bike shop that offers a wide range of bicycling programs, services and products. Visit us online at www.thebikedepot.org or come by the shop at 2825 Fairfax St. in Denver, CO 80207.*

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Bike Works in Seattle currently hiring for Executive Director position
by Liz Nixon 09 Dec '10

09 Dec '10

Hello fellow collectivists! Seattle's Bike Works is currently hiring our next Executive Director and I was hoping you'd be able to pass the word along to your network of folks. I've attached the job description, but please let me know if you have any questions I can help answer. Thanks so much for your support, Liz Nixon Development & Office Coordinator Bike Works 3709 S Ferdinand St Seattle, WA 98118 (206) 725-9408 ext 1 <http://www.bikeworks.org> www.bikeworks.org Follow us on <http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bike-Works/139782759674?ref=ts> Facebook and <http://twitter.com/bikeworks206> Twitter <http://twitter.com/bikeworks206> "Building sustainable communities by educating youth and promoting bicycling."

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automated response
by jay 09 Dec '10

09 Dec '10

I'm currently out of the office. Back Friday 12/10. I'll get back to you when I return. Best, Jay Ferm

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tactics for recruiting daytime help?
by Patrick VDT 09 Dec '10

09 Dec '10

Anyone have any tactics for recruiting daytime help? -Retired folks -Students -Unemployed Any help would be great. Whats worked and what has not? P

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Community Cycles on Facebook
by Rich Points 08 Dec '10

08 Dec '10

How are you using your facebook page? http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/CommunityCycles -- Rich Points Community Cycles Executive Director http://CommunityCycles.org Rich(a)CommunityCycles.org 720-565-6019 (W) 303-589-0597 (C) Donate your old car to Community Cycles http://communitycycles.org/get-involved/donatecar.html Volunteer orientations are held 6p.m. on the 4th Wednesday of each month.

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your elevator speech?
by veganboyjosh＠gmail.com 08 Dec '10

08 Dec '10

We all have them. The 15 second schpiel you give when someone comes up to a table, or a friend says "what's that bike thing you work at?" They become such an exercise in repetition that I know I often stop thinking about it and revising it once it gets ingrained enough. I would love to hear everyone's, just for a fresh take. Thanks! josh.

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maintaining bike fleet
by Liza Mattana 08 Dec '10

08 Dec '10

Hey, Does anyone have experience maintaining a fleet of bikes? Our city council members are acquiring 10 bikes, all mtn bikes in fair to good condition, and they would like to contract with our org to maintain those bikes. I'd imagine that their would be more upfront work getting the bikes safe and rideable and that the time spent after that would be less. What do you charge? Flat fee plus parts, supplies? Charge for services performed or just that flat fee? Contract looked over by the agency your working for and your lawyer? Maintenance sheet for each numbered bike to write in what work is needed I'm sure there are many more details! Please let me know if you have any experience with this type of work arrangement--thanks! Liza -- Liza Mattana president www.pedals2people.org Spokane, WA

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New America reCycled Post
by America reCycled 07 Dec '10

07 Dec '10

Hey everyone, We made a post on here awhile back about this project. We're crossing the country on bicycles we built at a bike cooperative in Asheville, making short films about sustainable and autonomous lifestyles. Well, we have our first road post up exploring bike touring itself, playing with ideas about voluntary homelessness and life on the road: http://www.americarecycled.org/?p=618 We'd love to hear feedback from other like-minded individuals about how we're presenting the lifestyle to the world. If you have 5 or 10 minutes to spare, have a watch and give us some feedback. And we're still figuring out how to get this project out to the right people. If you like the post, we'd be so grateful if you'd send it to some friends and link to it if you have a blog or website. Thanks a lot everyone, Noah and Tim

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Youth Bike Summit 2011
by Pasqualina Azzarello 07 Dec '10

07 Dec '10

> > Dear Friends and Colleagues, > > I am pleased to announce the Youth Bike Summit! Inspired by the League of > American Bicyclist's National Bike Summit that takes place each year in > Washington DC, the Youth Bike Summit will address youth, cycling, education, > and advocacy. We are currently seeking speakers, workshop leaders, and > moderators for the three day conference. Please feel free to share and > distribute this information as you see fit. If you'd like to speak or lead a > workshop, please visit Recycle-A-Bicycle's website<http://www.recycleabicycle.org/node/441>. > And be sure to save the date! > > *WHEN: *Friday January 14 - Sunday January 16, 2011 > *WHERE:* The New School in New York, NY > > *DESCRIPTION:* The Youth Bike Summit is a three day gathering geared > toward students, educators, and advocates in New York City and in the > Northeast United States. The conference aims to bring people from > different educational disciplines together to explore, network, and learn > how bicycling can be a legitimate and safe form of transportation for > today's youth. With this mission in mind, the Youth Bike Summit will offer > educational workshops and panel discussions on subjects ranging from how to > advocate for bike lanes to basic bike maintenance. It will also provide > tools and information on fundraising and best practices for schools that > wish to incorporate bikes into the physical fabric of the learning > environment.* > * > *PROGRAM SCHEDULE: ** > * > > - *Friday (6pm-9pm):* Welcome + Registration > > > - *Saturday (9am-6pm):** *The full-day program will consist of > Breakfast, Workshop Sessions, a Keynote Lunch, a "Speed Learning" Session, > and a Tabling Area for Schools, Organizations, Community Groups, Bike Shops, > Sponsors, etc. > > *Workshop Categories:* Environment, Education, Policy, Management, and DIY > (Do-It-Yourself) > * > Workshop Topics May Include:* How to plan a bike-friendly neighborhood,How to get rid of traffic congestion, Cycling > infrastructure, Bicycles as a form of sustainable transportation, Pedal > Power and Carbon Footprint/Impact, How is foreign oil and wars related to > youth and bicycling?, How to start an Earn-A-Bike program, How to start a > Ride Club, How to conduct a Learn to Ride program, Bike Drivers Education, > Bike Maintenance 101, Safe Routes to School, Map making as an organizing > tool, Social Media, Fundraising, Directors Panel/Best Practices, Youth > Entrepreneurship, Social Entrepreneurship, Student Organizing, etc. > > - *Sunday (10am-1pm): *Interactive brunch with moderated breakout > sessions that explore a) cycling issues that youth feel are most important > and b) specific ways to be proactive in addressing these issues. > > *ADMISSION: *$10.00 per person for the three-day event > > *HISTORY: *In March 2010, Recycle-A-Bicycle attended the National Bike > Summit with two high school interns who had completed a comprehensive job > training and Earn-A-Bike program at RAB. Both participants learned they > loved bicycles and expressed an interest in learning more about how > bicycling fits into policy, the environment, social entrepreneurship, and > community-building. Traveling to Washington DC for the first time, the 17 > year old participants explored the nation's capital on an 8 mile bike tour > led by a representative of WABA (Washington Area Bicyclist Association) and > met with elected officials. Needless to say, we learned a lot. As we > debriefed on the bus ride home, we discussed the importance of engaging > youth in the national dialogue of cycling and cycling education. As a > result, the idea of the Youth Bike Summit came into being. Both young > advocates have been active participants in the planning of the conference > thus far. Photos of our trip to DC can be seen here: > http://www.facebook.com/pages/Recycle-A-Bicycle/62453932286?v=photos&ref=ts…<http://www.facebook.com/pages/Recycle-A-Bicycle/62453932286?v=photos&ref=ts…>and in this video by Streetfilms: > http://www.streetfilms.org/voices-from-the-national-bike-summit/ > > *FOR MORE INFORMATION:* More information can be found on Facebook<http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=168859553137603&num_event_invites=0#%…>and Recycle-A-Bicycle's > Website <http://www.recycleabicycle.org/node/441> > > Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and thank you for all the wonderful > work you do! I look forward to hearing your ideas! > > Best regards, > Pasqualina > -- Pasqualina Azzarello Executive Director Recycle-A-Bicycle Ph: 718-858-2972 Fax: 718-858-6201 http://www.recycleabicycle.org

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