TheThinkTank January 2013

thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org

66 participants
37 discussions

Bike Drives with Church Partners
by Jason Tanzman 29 Jan '13

29 Jan '13

Cycles for Change in St. Paul, Minnesota collects most of our bicycles through Bike Drives. Many of these have been coordinated in partnership with churches. We've found churches to be supportive of our work and focused on social justice. We've worked with a couple smaller churches and collected 20-30 bikes, and we also partnered with a much larger suburban church about 2 years ago and collected 150 bikes - which was almost more than we could handle. I highly recommend collaborating with churches for Bike Drives. In my experience, we've connected with a "social justice ministries" committee, rather than a youth doing service for confirmation, as Rich mentioned, but I'm sure both are opportunities to explore. Other groups we've worked with to coordinate Bike Drives include: business, including REI which has been an amazing partner, doing bike drives at each of their three metropolitan stores; a local Lions Club, which brought in 90 bikes; Eagle Scouts, who have done some very successful bike drives. This is from a few years ago, but Working Bikes Coop in Chicago had a pretty incredible operation coordinating dozens of Bike Drives and collecting bikes from throughout the Chicago metro area. Jason Tanzman -- Development and Outreach Director 612-232-2737 (cell) 651-222-2080 (shop) www.cyclesforchange.org The mission of Cycles for Change is to be an open, accessible space to educate and empower people to use bicycles as transportation, helping to build a sustainable environment and community. Volunteer with us to help build a bicycling movement in the Twin Cities!

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Deal with the devil!
by Scott Conlin 28 Jan '13

28 Jan '13

'Like' Ron. Well said. We find that kids are appreciative of any bike and we'd like to see more on them no matter where they are from. Riders who get free bikes many times start progressing toward better built bikes, because they find joy or utility in it. I think what we do here even in bike friendly Colorado as market expanding work. The big brands interested in just selling biles at $750+ could learn from this IMO. Scott Longmont, CO Recycle <recyclebikesforkids(a)gmail.com> wrote: >_______________________________________________ >Thethinktank mailing list >Thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org >To unsubscribe, send a blank email to TheThinkTank-leave(a)bikecollectives.org >To manage your subscription, plase visit: >http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.…

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Insurance_for_youth_welding_programs_thr ough bikes
by christopher＠holisticcycles.com 27 Jan '13

27 Jan '13

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Deal with the devil!
by Doug Franz 27 Jan '13

27 Jan '13

Ron, thanks for the apology, but you’re right. I shouldn’t be telling kids their bike is worth 10 cents a pound. After all, it’s their bike! In general, I’m more sensitive than that, but I can always be better. The goal is to help them see the difference between Wally’s bikes and “bike shop” bikes, but they won’t hear the message if I bully them into it. Thank you for keeping me straight. Doug Franz, President BikeWorks_3_wText <http://coatesvillebikeworks.org/> coatesvillebikeworks.org like us on facebook! <http://www.facebook.com/CoatesvilleBikeWorks> http://www.facebook.com/CoatesvilleBikeWorks <mailto:doug@coatesvillebikeworks.org> doug(a)coatesvillebikeworks.org 610-383-4349 From: Recycle [mailto:recyclebikesforkids@gmail.com] Sent: Saturday, January 26, 2013 10:02 PM To: doug(a)coatesvillebikeworks.org; The Think Tank Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Deal with the devil! Doug. Thank you for the response. I shouldn't have taken you to task publicly. For that I apologize I do think there is a place for WM bikes, mainly as a stage bike for kids who will outgrow them in a season, I too struggle with those who feel entitled but that is parents not kids. Ron Sent from my iPhone

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Deal with the devil!
by Doug Franz 26 Jan '13

26 Jan '13

The strangest thing happened last night. I was at an open house for another charity here in Coatesville, talking up our charity because it's my job, and I was introduced to the District Manager of Wal*Mart. I'm not a Wal*Mart fan. I understand they fill a need in society, and obviously lots of people don't subscribe to my point of view or else they wouldn't be as successful as they are. But for me, I would rather give up other luxuries to afford the more expensive products at my neighborhood store than buy them from the Wal*Mart in town. I actually feel some joy when one of our kids asks me what his Wal*Mart bike is worth, and I answer "10 cents a pound!" Anyhow, this woman explained to me that Wal*Mart doesn't have a system for handling the bicycles that get returned to them or that arrive with defects from the manufacturer. She asked me if they could be sent to us as a donation. I explained to her that we accept bicycle donations, but typically the Wal*Mart bikes get stripped for parts and recycled. She asked if they could send them to us anyhow. I pointed out that we incur some costs in the processing of this material, and if we decide to fix some of them up there is the costs of the parts. She asked if they could send a check along with the bikes. So, we made a deal. Wal*Mart stores in her district will send us bikes they can't use, along with $20 per bicycle. We have 35 bikes arriving next week. This will be interesting. . . . Doug Franz, President BikeWorks_3_wText coatesvillebikeworks.org <http://coatesvillebikeworks.org/> like us on facebook! http://www.facebook.com/CoatesvilleBikeWorks doug(a)coatesvillebikeworks.org 610-383-4349 I respect your right to manage the amount of email you receive. If you want to be removed from this email list, please reply to ONLY ME, with "unsubscribe" in the subject line.

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Insurance for youth welding programs through bikes
by summitcyclingcenter＠yahoo.com 26 Jan '13

26 Jan '13

I've built a couple of simple bike trailers. Thanks for the photos. I really like your design. I would like to see your hitch and tow bar design. Sent from my HTC EVO Design™ 4G from Boost Mobile ----- Reply message ----- From: christopher(a)holisticcycles.com To: "The Think Tank" <thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org> Subject: [TheThinkTank] Insurance for youth welding programs through bikes Date: Fri, Jan 25, 2013 12:16 I build trailers without welding at all, some handle up to 1200 pound. I weld other trailers because I can. My thoughts are this, if I am teaching kids to think about designing, engineering, constructing things; I want them to be able to do it in the future with the tools they or their parents may all ready have at home or tool they can buy inexpensively. Some kids may have a welder at home, More kids will have a drill. I built my trailers with a drill and a conduit bender. I normally haul 350 to 400 pounds of gear with it. It can be made small to haul groceries or large to carry a sofa. We are currently making one to carry 12 bikes and the gear to teach a mobile bicycle safety course at schools. Christopher WallaceHolistic Cycles140 Harrison StOak Park, IL. 60304 -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Insurance for youth welding programs through bikes From: Nozomi Ikuta <nozomi(a)affordablebikesrecyclery.com> Date: Wed, January 23, 2013 8:28 pm To: The Think Tank <thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org> That was my thought exactly -- this is where our thoughts headed when we thought about welding. Cargo trailers, that is! On Wed, Jan 23, 2013 at 5:20 PM, <christopher(a)holisticcycles.com> wrote: what about building trailers Christopher Wallace Holistic Cycles140 Harrison StOak Park, IL. 60304 -------- Original Message -------- Subject: [TheThinkTank] Insurance for youth welding programs through bikes From: "Bronwyn Potthoff" <bpotthoff(a)gwi.net> Date: Fri, January 18, 2013 8:55 am To: <thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org> Hello, We’ve been unsuccessfully trying to secure insurance to initiate a welding/fabrication program through the Community Bicycle Center. Ideally, we’re helping youth develop technical job skills through creating low-rider and chopper bicycles --- but the point of the program is not about bikes, it’s about learning the welding and fabrication skills necessary to create a tricked-out ride. The major obstacle we hear from insurance companies is that we’re creating a high-risk “Frankenstein” product (or “functional art”) that is extremely hard to insure. As soon as we chop a bike, the manufacturer’s warranty is null and void (for good reason!) The actual welding with kids is not a huge issue – it’s what happens if a weld breaks or a kid injures him/herself going off jump with a bike that is not build to handle such stressors. Waivers and disclaimers will only go so far and are not bullet-proof. Because we’re a commercial entity, it’s obviously not covered under any homeowner’s insurance policy (which would be what covers you if you’re helping your nine year-old neighbor weld a sick mutant bike). Also, vocational school insurance functions differently – I checked that too. I may end up having to change the program so that our “product” is not a bike, but something less risky such as a static sculpture. Regardless, does anybody have any experience with securing insurance for commercial (aka nonprofit) welding work with kids during which a “product” gets fabricated? [Keep in mind, all programs are free AND the product created is also free --- no bill of sale is involved] I’ve touched base with other programs around the country that do similar work, but have not heard back. Thanks!! If it makes more sense to talk through this via phone, my number is 207 282 9700. Bronwyn Potthoff, Resource Development/Community Relations Director Community Bicycle Center(mailing) P.O. Box 783(shop) 284 Hill Street Biddeford, Maine 04005t: 207.282.9700 www.communitybike.net Providing Opportunities for Youth to Grow _______________________________________________ Thethinktank mailing list Thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org To unsubscribe, send a blank email to TheThinkTank-leave(a)bikecollectives.org To manage your subscription, plase visit: http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… _______________________________________________ Thethinktank mailing list Thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org To unsubscribe, send a blank email to TheThinkTank-leave(a)bikecollectives.org To manage your subscription, plase visit: http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… _______________________________________________ Thethinktank mailing list Thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org To unsubscribe, send a blank email to TheThinkTank-leave(a)bikecollectives.org To manage your subscription, plase visit: http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.…

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Bicycle Registry
by Cycle Re Cycle Cycle-Re-Cycle swm 26 Jan '13

26 Jan '13

Hello All, Our community, non-profit bike shop, Cycle-Re-Cycle, is looking into the logistics of starting a community bicycle registry. The local police department doesn't have anything like it and bicycle theft is pretty rampant in our community. We keep serial numbers and descriptions on all bikes we sell, so it seems that the next step is just to print stickers with a sequential number on it to adhere to all the bikes leaving the shop. Has anyone ever started a bicycle registry like this? Thoughts or tips? Thanks Cycle-Re-Cycle Benton Harbor, MI

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Insurance for youth welding programs through bikes
by christopher＠holisticcycles.com 26 Jan '13

26 Jan '13

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Insurance for youth welding programs through bikes
by christopher＠holisticcycles.com 23 Jan '13

23 Jan '13

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Bikes Not Bombs has some temporary jobs available
by Sarah Braker 23 Jan '13

23 Jan '13

Hi Everyone, Bikes Not Bombs in Boston is gearing up for our annual Bike-A-Thon, our biggest fundraising event of the year, and we're hiring two temporary/part-time jobs. One is a Phone Outreach Coordinator, the other is Route Coordinator. Specific job descriptions are here: https://bikesnotbombs.org/hiring-route-coordinator and https://bikesnotbombs.org/hiring-phone-outreach-coordinator Please apply if interested or pass along to folks you may know. Thanks! -- Sarah Braker Communications Manager Bikes Not Bombs 284 Amory St., Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 617-522-0222 ext. 104 www.bikesnotbombs.org <http://www.bikesnotbombs.org/youth> Donate online <http://bikesnotbombs.org/support> to support our work! Follow us on Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/bikesnotbombs> and Twitter<http://twitter.com/bikesnotbombs> !

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TheThinkTank January 2013