January 2013 - TheThinkTank - lists.bikecollectives.org

Food in classroom
by Patrick VDT 16 Jan '13

16 Jan '13

Do you feed your students during, before or after programs? Are you linking to any type of nutritional programing? If so how long is it per session? Is it a standard course or is it something you have come up with to fit your needs? Thanks Patrick

1 0

Metrics
by Patrick VDT 16 Jan '13

16 Jan '13

Hello everyone, Below is a list of metrics we are tracking or starting to track. I would love any input everyone might have on what im missing. Im also looking for examples of groups who have worked with schools to track attendance and grades etc etc of graduates of programs we/you offer. How long do you track students? What level of support do you get from the schools in managing all this data? Thanks so much, Patrick Financial Percent of funds spent on non-program activities Total program expense Total administrative expense Total fundraising expense Fundraising efficiency Program cost per participant Social Enterprise/Environmental % of revenue coming from shop(s) Quantity of bikes donated to other programs Quantity of computers donated to other programs Quantity of bikes sold in year Pounds of materials recycled/upcycled Customer - Clients/Family/Community/Donors Quantity of program graduates Quantity of program alumni Program attrition rate Quantity of program participants related to program alumni Quantity of parents involved in programs Quantity of youth who participated in multiple programs Quantity of youth who later volunteer with us or another organization Quantity of functional desktop and laptop computers in the home prior to completion of EAC program Quantity of students who have never had their own bike prior to EAB Youth participation by census tract Distribution of participants by gender Distribution of participants by age Impact on attendance or engagement in classwork (For school based programs) Short term impact: perception of improvement in responsibility, teamwork, respect, leadership, positive outlook/attitude, etc.; interest in improving grades; increase in activity (or career interest) related to our subject areas Longer term impact: same, but add number of high school graduates, GPA, college pursuit/completion, career pursuit related to our subject areas, participant perception of the value of programs. Program registrations People - Staff/Volunteer/Board Total quantity of hours volunteered Percent of program instruction by volunteers Percent of total hours by volunteers Quantity of core volunteers Total hours of program instruction delivered

1 0

bike swap
by Dave Ellis 16 Jan '13

16 Jan '13

I've recently taken on turning our local bike swap into a fundraiser here in Helena, MT. Previously it's been a low turnout, low publicity affair. I'm new to really any kind of organizing, but I like my ideas and hope to glean some info from some experienced voices here. Here goes: Commission/consignment: what percentage of a sale have folks found to be a number that doesn't turn people away? Also, a handling fee for those that don't sell their items, thinking about a per person charge, vs a per item charge i. e. bike, clothing, parts, etc. Mostly interested in bringing people in since this first year is intended more for exposure. Pickup time for unsold items: Has anyone experienced difficulties with people not meeting a stated pickup time for items, then demanding their items back. Is this an appropriate situation for a signed waiver or legal document of some kind since some of these items have some value? Thanks much, dave

6 5

Successful youth bike programs + video
by Christine Bourgeois 14 Jan '13

14 Jan '13

Hi all, Just want to share an article about how our successful youth bike programs have positive impact on the community in Santa Barbara county. *http://tinyurl.com/bbxv9f6* Don't miss our NEW short video http://vimeo.com/55427786 Other exciting news: our community bike shop Bici Centro moved to a new location. http://www.noozhawk.com/article/santa_barbara_nonprofits-bici_centro/ All the best, -- Christine Bourgeois 805 699 6301 Education Director Santa Barbara Bicycle Coalition (SBBC) * * *New location for SBBC/Bici Centro* 506 E. Haley St (next to Muddy Waters Coffee Shop) www.bicicentro.org

1 0

AmeriCorps opportunity at the Iowa City Bike Library
by Brian Loring 11 Jan '13

11 Jan '13

Greetings, The Bike Library in Iowa City <http://www.bikelibrary.org/> has an opening for an AmeriCorps. The position is part shop director and part community organizer. This is an extraordinary opportunity to work with some fun people in a progressive university community. Thanks! Brian Loring [image: Inline image 3] <http://www.bikelibrary.org/>

1 1

upcoming bike research/activism event
by Sarah McCullough 10 Jan '13

10 Jan '13

Hey all, I just wanted to share an upcoming event that I am organizing about the many cultures fostered around bicycling. Since bike collective often have some pretty rad cultural happening going on in their space, I thought I'd share this. If you have any questions, let me know. And feel free to share with more people doing great bike work, whether in the library or on the streets (or both!). * Bicicultures Roadshow: The Critical Bicycling Studies Tour de California Call for Participants April 16-17, 2013 in Davis, California What is it? The Bicicultures Roadshow will be a time for activists and researchers to talk, ride, eat, and play as we discuss and experience bicycling cultures. At this two-day conference, we will grapple with the shifting role of bicycle research and activism as it crosses lines between policy, recreation, and radical organizing. The event will take place in Davis, a Platinum Bicycle Friendly Community, home of the U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame, and site of the first bike lanes in the U.S. This event is made possible through support from the University of California Transportation Center. Why Bicicultures? “Bicicultures” refers to the multiple social worlds of bicycling that co-exist, but may not overlap, in shared spaces. Rather than taking bicycling as a unitary object of analysis, we seek to investigate the construction of diverse meanings around the practice of cycling across time and space. What will happen at the event? Rather than following a traditional conference format of breakout sessions and individual papers, this event will emphasize ongoing discussion among all participants. Events may include keynote speakers, roundtable discussions, interactive panel presentations, workshops, field trips, and bicycle rides. We anticipate vibrant discussions about how diverse communities are using and thinking about bicycling as a tool to maintain and reinvent their worlds. Specific topics and formats will be formulated based on participant interest. We anticipate conversations around topics such as race, gender, class, ability, gentrification, activism, public space, embodiment, technology, design, recreation and sport, sustainability, mobilities, and more. How can I participate? We encourage participation from researchers and activists working in urban and transportation bicycling and in sport and recreational cycling, as well as those concerned with bicycling's social and cultural life. To participate, please submit a short piece (~500 words) explaining your interest in bicycling cultures, and what research, project, experience, or knowledge you would like to share at this event. Depending on your inclination, this may take the form of a research abstract, description of activist work, questions for discussion, workshop ideas, etc. Include your name, affiliation (if appropriate), and contact information. Group submissions welcome. Participation may be limited, so please submit by February 10th for full consideration. Submissions and inquiries can be sent to Sarah Rebolloso McCullough at smcc(a)ucdavis.edu and Adonia Lugo at lugoa(a)uci.edu. What makes it a roadshow? Prior to the Davis event, we will also participate in a field investigation of Los Angeles' bicycling worlds in tandem with the Association of American Geographers conference (April 9-14th). This event will include organized rides and a roundtable discussion about the history and future of the LA bike movement. Participants in the Davis event are welcome, though not expected, to participate in LA events. Those who are able to attend all events will enjoy vibrant conversations with people dedicated to the study and practice of bicycling from a multitude of perspectives—from sanctioned bicycle events to autonomous actions, from bicycling street fair to bike repair garages, from cities to countryside. Participants are encouraged to attend as much or as little of the Roadshow as desired, all nine days or just an afternoon. Contact the organizers for more information about the LA components.* -- Sarah Rebolloso McCullough Cultural Studies Ph.D. candidate University of California - Davis Provost Dissertation Fellow 530-601-1149 smcc(a)ucdavis.edu

1 0

Cookbook Volume 3!
by Ainsley Naylor 08 Jan '13

08 Jan '13

Hey all, This is the official callout for the 3rd volume of *Meal To Wheels: Vegan Cooking to Turn Your Cranks*. M2W is a vegan recipe zine prepared for Bike Pirates, both as exposure for our food programming and as a way to encourage new cooks to discover the kitchen and try out new recipes. We encourage our friends and allies to contribute original or modified recipes *which can easily be prepared for large groups* (at least 15-20 people, if not 50!), which are vegan and do not require strange or expensive ingredients or apparatus. We also love recipes which could be a jumping off point for further experimentation in the kitchen. This volume will also have a special Bicycle Touring section (which may end up being a pull out zine format...) so we are also soliciting specific recipes for bike touring as well as prep/packing/nutrition tips for those requiring fuel for long days. Please submit recipes to lunch(a)bikepirates.com by February 15th, and we will have the book prepared some time in March. Every contributor will receive a free copy. Copies of the first two zines are available at BIKE PIRATES or via digital copy if you email me. Thanks! Keep the rubber side down. Ainsley.

1 0

Recycle-A-Bicycle is hiring an Educator - NYC
by Pasqualina Azzarello 08 Jan '13

08 Jan '13

Greetings, Everyone! Recycle-A-Bicycle is hiring an educator to teach bike maintenance and youth ambassadors classes as part of our Greening Western Queens initiative. A job description is attached below. We are looking to fill this position as soon as possible. Please feel free to share! Best, Pasqualina -- Pasqualina Azzarello Executive Director Recycle-A-Bicycle Ph: 718-858-2972 Fax: 718-858-6201 http://www.recycleabicycle.org Follow us on Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/pages/Recycle-A-Bicycle/62453932286> Follow us on Twitter <https://twitter.com/#!/RAB_NYC>

1 0

What has been the role of bikes after Sandy?
by Rich Points 07 Jan '13

07 Jan '13

Hey East coasters, Have you guys seen more people riding bikes after the hurricane? What has been the role of the bike after the storm? I hope it's getting people to ride to work for the first time and maybe create some new commuters. Curious in Boulder. -- -- Rich Points http://communitycycles.org Executive Director (c)303-589-0597 (w)720-565-6019 Community Cycles is Boulder's only bike shop dedicated to bike commuting. Find us on facebook https://www.facebook.com/CommunityCycles

15 17

About working on E-bikes..
by Wendy Monroe 05 Jan '13

05 Jan '13

Hello Think Tankers.. I got so caught thinking about the 'bike is infected forever…' meme that I forgot to mention : E-bikes are problematic to work on. Every off-the-shelf complete E-bike that I have seen so far ( in Amsterdam) , has a proprietary electrical system that only the authorized dealer can get parts for. The Dutch brands Sparta and Batavus require a confidential computer code to be entered into the bike's charge controller by an authorized retailer, to even replace a battery. (Customers are typically not informed of this at point of purchase.. they find out a couple of years later that a battery replacement will cost them €500 ) It gets worse with conversion kits. Each kit has a proprietary motor controller, battery and charge control circuit, and each of these components are incompatible with those of other manufacturers. I have seen a few quality control problems on cheaper kits, that ( I've read that the Stoke Monkey kit has parts that can be bought off the shelf at an electrical supplier, but I have not seen one in person ) My partner is an electrical engineer who has built up ( and attempted to repair ) hub motors and several electrification kits on his own bikes, It appears that mixing and matching a working system from parts of E-bike kits, from different manufacturers, simply can't be done, at least in our experience. I agree that E-bike riders are cyclists too … but procuring parts for an e-bike is a very different experience than with a mechanical bike, and if you don't have parts from the original manufacturer, you might be avoiding some grief to have a policy against working on them in your shop. Does anyone out there have any experience with working on E-bikes they would like to share? Wendy Monroe

4 4

'The bike has been infected forever'… with the electrification virus ( ? ! )
by Wendy Monroe 04 Jan '13

04 Jan '13

Hello think tankers, I'm seeing a lot of this sort of talk in the Netherlands… Is there a broad trend in the States moving this direction, as well? This Extra Energy organization is not thinking in terms of Cheap chinese made imports but rather of very pricey ( typically ) German products. Or perhaps German branded products, manufactured in China…. But I see e-bikes in general as somewhat of a threat to those of us who love non electrified bicycles. Any thoughts on this, fellow Americans? http://extraenergy.org/main.php?language=en&category=information&subcateg=9… Wendy

13 16

Support women.
by Plan B 04 Jan '13

04 Jan '13

Hey Y'all, As you may be aware, one of the overriding characteristics of Plan B, The New Orleans Community Bike Project is our belief and constant practice of "practical radicalism". We believe that one of the most efficient and practicable ways to espouse culture shift is by performing outreach and enacting mutual social aid. We've learned this in a concise manner during our history. We made the original call for Bike!Bike! in 2004, a tradition that has progressed into an enormous gathering that crosses borders and causes global impact. We're proud to host Bike!Bike! X, the tenth gathering and conference and hope to introduce new traditions by expanding programming and offering more than ever before. The Chainbreaker book, written by Shelley Jackson and Ethan Clark is another one of Plan B's babies and it's publishing was a definite push for DIY culture. Due to the generosity of Working Bikes in Chicago, we have a regular supply of raw materials and used bikes that we use to teach classes and further our outreach. We have shared the bikes with new community bike projects in Mississippi and Alabama and are eager to distribute more regionally. We also use the sale of bikes to fund the space and special projects like our recent trip to present at 5^th Annual National Urban Cycling Congress in Oaxaca, Mexico. We co-presented with representatives from several other community bike initiatives from across the US in an attempt to espouse more like-minded initiatives as a force of economic and social justice throughout all of the Americas. Our presentation garnered a lot of interest and we are working with several new initiatives throughout Mexico in a support and advisory role. We know that outreach is working and we expect a strong presence of Mexican allies at Bike!Bike! X. One of the more exciting things that happened at Bike!Bike! 2012 was that race was /finally/a real topic. Contributing factors were a combination of workshops and the presence of more people of color at Bike!Bike! than ever before. The Ovarian Psychos ( http://ovarianpsycos.com/about/ ) were an impressive presence at the gathering and for the first time ever, an organized group by and for women with a strong base of people of color unified many within our group. These sisters don't mess around and they are now committed to launching their own community bike space. Plan B Ladies, Trans and Sissies night ( http://bikeproject.org/programs/ladies-trans-queer ) has committed to help them accomplish this[ and ]that's why we're asking for your support. Our latest initiative is a little different and for the first time ever, we're crowd-sourcing the funding. Our Ladies, Trans, and Sissies night coordinators, Tracey and Alisha, are going from LA to L.A. to support the OP's and bring them resources and materials. The reason I'm sending this out to the ThinkTank and distributing this appeal far and wide (and hoping you all do the same) is that I think for many of us this is an excellent opportunity to contribute to a cause that is greater than any of us and something that's always been prevalent in our discussions of social equity within our milieu. Specifically, the topic is gender and gender oppression, and no matter how much we discuss it at a conference or try to resolve it, the bluntest truth is that the core of the hard work in achieving gender equity is done by women, for women and while males can certainly be allies and supporters, the best situation is to allow women to be self-determined and invest in their own communities devoid of patriarchy and male voices. Won't you join us in supporting gender equity and social justice within the realm of community bike projects? Even if it's $5, anything helps for this important work to be done. The goal of $1000 is on the low side. We'd love to be able to support them fiscally and provide several tools and plant the seeds for this very important space to flourish and cause real change. Here's the link to the indiegogo page where you can read more about it. http://www.indiegogo.com/LTS2OPB I'll be happy to answer any questions in this thread. Please support if you can and help spread the word. Can't wait to see you all in October, 2013! All the best, -- Victor Pizarro Project Organizer Plan B, The New Orleans Community Bike Project

14 16