July 2020 - TheThinkTank - lists.bikecollectives.org

More Results From the Safe and Effective Shop Operations Workshop
by Robert Grossman 24 Jul '20

24 Jul '20

Hi Everyone, Here are some of the possible solutions that were put together by participants during the Safe and Effective Shop Operations Workshop. Thank you for your patience with me getting these out while I finish my last Masters class. These are based around the three categories of Volunteer Management, Capacity for Providing Services, and Safe operations. It considers what services can be offered, the activities involved, and the cultural context. *VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT* - *More emails for volunteers * - Separate from full list - *Sending home bikes for repair with experienced volunteers* - Distributive model: have "certified" volunteers who can do some repairs/ bike distribution in their neighborhoods - Being okay doing less, but with more effort - Different volunteers have different comfort/saftey levels. Making sure the most vulnerable/concerned are protected - Tool Library - *Assigned Contributions* - People used to be able to choose where they wanted to contribute but choices are limited due to health/safety and various concerns/needs around what health and safety is *ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY FOR DELIVERING SERVICES* - *Fixing bikes for people without fees* (fundraiser helped) - No more than three mechanics opposed to 8. Fourth person is the greeter or bouncer. - Limited advertising for fear of being overwhelmed - *Come back to mission statement for guidance or to pivot* - *Online live classes* - Focus on certain aspects of bike such as derailleur adjustment, etc. - Alternative to Zoom: Jitsi <- open source, Google Meet (These all have call-in function with regular phone) - Online is easy for people with means to reliable internet and smartphones / computer - *"Zoom Shift" * - Open q&a time for community members - Podcast has a lower barrier to access than Zoom? - concerns about equity - some ppl have more access and understanding of online tools than others *SAFE SHOP OPERATIONS* - *Offering pay-for-service repairs rather than DIY* - With transit shut down in some places, more people are biking. - Dr & Nurses get a discounted rate. - Cleaning in evening. - Sanitizing rentals between customers. Or let them sit for a few days. - repair service can be on sliding scale - *Only key volunteers allowed in shop* - Not accepting new volunteers - *Programming changes* - Summer camp canceled or reduced People are worried about what's happening and what's going to happen in future / fall. Especially in the US. That's totally understandable. It might be best if your organization spent an hour or two building scenarios of what the future might look like to assist with planning. Here's an article talking about how to do it https://www.wired.com/1995/11/how-to-build-scenarios/. Please reach out if you have any questions. Hang in there. You've all got this. -- Robert Grossman www.robertgrossmandesign.com https://twitter.com/rgrossmandesign https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertgrossman7 <https://www.linkedin.com/in/rgrossman7> https://www.flickr.com/photos/robkeebler/albums

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How is your bike co-op supporting racial justice? // ¿Como están apoyando la justicia racial en su colectivo?
by Aida Mas Baghaie 17 Jul '20

17 Jul '20

---- Español a continuación ---- Hey buds, We've been chatting about ways to support racial justice, indigenous sovereignty & the revolution through our work at the Bike Kitchen, and we were hoping to hear about what you're all doing these days. Some questions that have come up during our conversations include: - How can bike co-ops support movements for racial justice & indigenous sovereignty in a meaningful and sustained way? - Are you fundraising/donating money, if so how and for whom? - Are you providing low barrier repair services, bikes, etc.? Are you doing this at protests/rallies/actions? If so, what COVID precautions are you taking? - How are you communicating your support? (i.e. are you reaching out directly to organizers to offer free repairs, fundraising, etc.? Are you writing statements of support?) - How are you ensuring that the work you're doing is serving these movements without becoming a burden/co-opting the movement? - Would you be interested in participating in a virtual conversation about this? Really interested to hear what everyone's been up to. Sending you all much love, support and solidarity. <3 aida ---- Español ---- Hola amigxs, Hemos estado charlando sobre formas de apoyar la justicia racial, la soberanía indígena y la revolución a través de nuestro trabajo en el Bike Kitchen, y nos gustaría saber qué están haciendo ustedes. Aquí les dejo algunas preguntas que surgieron: - ¿Cómo podemos apoyar los movimientos por la justicia racial y soberanía indígena de forma sostenida? - ¿Están recaudando fondos / donando dinero / bicicletas, etc.? ¿Para quién? - ¿Están reparando bicicletas en manifestaciones? ¿Qué precauciones está tomando en cuanto a COVID? - ¿Cómo están comunicando su apoyo? (es decir, ¿están contactando directamente a los organizadores de movimientos sociales para ofrecer bicis gratuitas, recaudación de fondos, etc.? ¿Están escribiendo declaraciones de apoyo? - ¿Cómo se aseguran de que el trabajo que están haciendo sirva a estos movimientos sin convertirse en una carga / cooptar el movimiento? - ¿Te interesaría participar en una conversación virtual sobre esto? Tengo muchas ganas de escuchar y aprender de sus experiencias. Les envío mucho amor, apoyo y solidaridad. <3 aida

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Trends and Insights from the Safe & Effective Operations Workshop
by Robert Grossman 16 Jul '20

16 Jul '20

Hello Everyone Here are some of the trends that came up around Safe Operations from the discussions held during the Safe & Effective Shop Operations Workshop held on June 12th. These came from over twenty different organizations across the United States, Canada, and Australia. This is just one part of what was discussed. Stay tuned as there are still info around Volunteer Management, Capacity for Providing Purposes to come, and more. *SAFE OPERATIONS * BUSINESS SHIFTS - Online sales & Instruction - Pricing changes - Rethinking of business models IDEAS FOR THE FUTURE - Making shops mobile PEOPLE MANAGEMENT - Utilizing appointment systems - Focusing more on the local community - Fewer people coming to the shop - Some shops need more staff to meet demand SAFETY PRACTICES - Some shops are working with health officials to build best practices - Protocols for prioritizing individual and group health - Enhanced clean-up & disinfection practices - Rethinking airflow (HVAC, fans, swamp coolers) - Personal protective equipment (gloves & masks) - Distancing - Some shops are not allowing customers inside *INSIGHTS* - Organizations are going to need an online component to stay relevant - Organizations without a clear vision to fall back are going to suffer harder - Re-opening as business-as-usual is going to lead to virus spread That's all for now. Hope everyone is healthy. All the best, -- Robert Grossman www.robertgrossmandesign.com https://twitter.com/rgrossmandesign https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertgrossman7 <https://www.linkedin.com/in/rgrossman7> https://www.flickr.com/photos/robkeebler/albums

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Capacity for Providing Services Trends & Insights from Safe Shop Operations Workshop (Robert Grossman)
by Geoffrey Smart 13 Jul '20

13 Jul '20

Hi All I was unable to join that session and appreciate you writing up the findings. I would add that we made the following observations at a recent Zoom meeting that seem to be in accord with those observations. We are experiencing less diversity in the workshop for 2 almost opposite reasons We had to exclude some people due to their refusal to take social distancing seriously. Women who are already a minority have mainly self excluded due to their perception of the risk of attending. One of our women has volunteered to reach out to volunteers who have not attended recently and encourage them to attend. We just entered partial lockdown again so this has not helped. Geoff Smart Back2Bikes <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campai…> Virus-free. www.avast.com <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campai…> <#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>

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Capacity for Providing Services Trends & Insights from Safe Shop Operations Workshop
by Robert Grossman 10 Jul '20

10 Jul '20

Hello Everyone, Here are some of the trends and insights around Capacity for Providing Services from the Safe and Effective Shop Operations Workshop. *CAPACITY FOR PROVIDING SERVICES* *Challenges* - Trend: Shops are facing an increased need from their communities while facing major internal challenges to be able to safely help - Examples: Not all volunteers have access to digital resources, airflow, and more people moving to bicycles transportation alternative - Insight: An inaccessible resource is not a resource *Tech Interventions* - Trend: Shops are moving services online - Examples: Online stores, repair videos, volunteer management Systems, and Zoom calls for repair help - Insight: Moving to digital excludes community members *Possible New Ways of Working* - Trend: Shops are being more structured about who is in the shop and when - Examples: Not allowing members with at-risk family, alternate hours shifts, limiting time spent in shop, and having customers wait outside - Trend: Shops are limiting their capacity for work to reduce transmission risk - Examples: Reduced hours, reduced amount of stations, elimination of drop-in hours - Insight: Shop staff are becoming pods Hope this can help your organizations consider how they are operating and in making decisions. Hang in there. -- Robert Grossman www.robertgrossmandesign.com https://twitter.com/rgrossmandesign https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertgrossman7 <https://www.linkedin.com/in/rgrossman7> https://www.flickr.com/photos/robkeebler/albums

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Volunteer Management Trends and Insights from the Safe Shop Operations Workshop
by Robert Grossman 08 Jul '20

08 Jul '20

Hello Everyone, Here are some more of the trends and insights around volunteer management from the Safe and Effective Shop Operations Workshop. *VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT* *Technology Intervention* - Trend: Shops are managing volunteers through digital platforms - Examples: CSI, Mailchimp, Zoom - Insight: Technology gap will cut off key volunteers - Insight: Shops not embracing digital tools will have more work cut out for them *Challenges* - Trend: There are fewer volunteers who are comfortable coming into the shops to help - Insight: Shops who operate indoors are a health hazard to volunteers - Insight: Leadership who are doing all the communication and setting up digital tools for volunteers are not using their time effectively. *New Ways of Working* - Trend: Shops are limiting volunteers in their shops - Examples: Some shops are keeping their volunteers outdoors to guide traffic or do repairs - Insight: Social distanced volunteers inside shops are a health risk -- Robert Grossman www.robertgrossmandesign.com https://twitter.com/rgrossmandesign https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertgrossman7 <https://www.linkedin.com/in/rgrossman7> https://www.flickr.com/photos/robkeebler/albums

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Wheel sizing system?
by Katheryn L 06 Jul '20

06 Jul '20

Hi all, Katheryn from the Bike Kitchen in Windsor, Ontario here! Question for the community shop hive: does anyone have any ideas for effective and accurate systems for sizing wheels in your shop? We’ve got piles of used wheels with no markings or tires to identify them with that often get mislabelled (most commonly a 700c and 27x1 1/4 mixup) which is causing issues when we resell them. Does your shop have a sizing system that is easy to use for students or volunteers without much technical knowledge to size and sort wheels with? Pictures would be appreciated if you’ve got a physical setup. Thanks in advance! Katheryn Loewen Program Director and Lead Mechanic The Bike Kitchen

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PT Volunteer Coordinator in Portland, OR
by Angel York 06 Jul '20

06 Jul '20

The North Portland Tool Library is hiring a part-time volunteer coordinator. Job description and application at: http://northportlandtoollibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Volunteer-Co…

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Thethinktank Digest, Vol 166, Issue 2
by Lawrence Mohammed 02 Jul '20

02 Jul '20

Blimey Josh...not in the US but what has been going on there, triggered by George Floyd's death, has lit a fuse around the world and (thankfully) we're seeing a lot of structural injustices being highlighted and examined right now. re: "the Mechanical Gardens' visible support for and engagement with the BLM movement makes us unappealing to insurers. Carriers consider BLM and, I quote, "the whole George Floyd thing" to be a "touchy" and "hot button issue" (these are actual quotes from brokers! wtf!) and thus our involvement makes us an unattractive risk to take on." I'm making the assumption that the Mechanical Gardens have a code of conduct or policy that states your non-negotiable values and is aligned for the greater good, community building and non-violence?...personally, I'd seek out another Insurer who shares your values...or....if you feel the EDC's values are closely aligned with your own, I'd also share the challenge with them...maybe they could recommend an Insurer or share a statement of solidarity that could act as leverage? I'd also lean into rather than away from the Insurer/s who've stated this to find out more. Insurance is all about risk after all. Aligning with all those who support racial equality and justice should be less risky, not more so. I'd frame every conversation in terms of risk and what is being done to mititgate that risk Warmest regards, *Lawrence Mohammed* Director & Head Mechanic Pro Bike Service C.I.C. *+44 (0)77 222 58587* *probikeservice.co.uk <https://probikeservice.co.uk>* *facebook.com/probikeservice <https://www.facebook.com/professionalbikeservice>* /[Location, NOT delivery address] Pro Bike Service C.I.C. Multi-Storey Car Park Lesney Avenue Olympic Park London E20 3BS *map location <https://what3words.com/upset.habit.funds>* / On 02/07/2020 21:03, thethinktank-request(a)lists.bikecollectives.org wrote: > the Mechanical Gardens' visible support for and engagement with the > BLM movement makes us unappealing to insurers. Carriers consider BLM > and, I quote, "the whole George Floyd thing" to be a "touchy" and "hot > button issue" (these are actual quotes from brokers! wtf!) and thus > our involvement makes us an unattractive risk to take on.

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Insurance Woes, Continued!
by Josh Bisker 01 Jul '20

01 Jul '20

I mentioned an insurance conundrum a couple weeks ago, and it hasn't worked itself out; now I'm at the "calling all ships" stage -- please give a gander below. *Also a new turn in the story: structural racism!* Brokers have told us that getting a new insurance policy in NYC is especially hard right now, not only because of COVID, but also because of all the Black Lives Matter activity here. They said told that the Mechanical Gardens' visible support for and engagement with the BLM movement makes us unappealing to insurers. Carriers consider BLM and, I quote, "the whole George Floyd thing" to be a "touchy" and "hot button issue" (these are actual quotes from brokers! wtf!) and thus our involvement makes us an unattractive risk to take on. In other words, our denial from the insurance industry is a manifestation of systemic, structural racism, and it's erecting an unjust barrier to bike equity. *The short story:* We're on the threshold of a deal for space with a powerful city agency, the EDC, but we can't proceed b/c we don't have insurance. And we can't get insurance b/d we're in NYC and seem like a risk. *The solution we're seeking right now* is for another organization to add the Mechanical Gardens as an "additional named insured" to their current general commercial liability insurance policy; in that capacity, we would be able to add the EDC as a temporary insured party for the two-week pilot we're trying with them. An alternative: for an organization to just temporarily add both the Mechanical Gardens and the EDC to their policy in the manner the EDC stipulates in their contract for the duration of this 2wk program. If your coverage goes up, we'd pay the difference. *SO: *Any ideas, and/or any takers? *The longer story: *Right now the Mechanical Gardens has hit a wall, right at the threshold of an amazing opportunity. We've been negotiating with the New York City Economic Development Corporation, a hugely powerful quasi-public agency in NYC, for space to stage this <https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en/projects/145159-mechanical-gardens-bik…>. The EDC is offering us space to pilot the program: two weeks to train volunteers to build 50 bikes (donated new from Kent), that the EDC will then send to hospital workers at at the front lines of COVID-19. For this pilot, we're hiring a group of BIPOC LGBTQ youths from a local ride club as apprentice mechanics, teaching them basic wrenching skills that will prepare them for resilient bike industry jobs and for community resiliency actions. The program will be sensational, and address a complexity of social justice goals all at once. *But: we're in a bind.* Our nonprofit fiscal sponsor, the Alliance for Global Justice, no longer provides insurance for our operation, but the EDC needs us to have insurance, and needs to be temporarily added to the policy themselves, as stipulated in the draft agreement they sent over. We are hitting a brick wall trying to procure local coverage for ourselves. This all is time-critical, because our program with the EDC cannot go forward unless we have the ability to show them insurance and add them as a named party on the policy. Nonprofits are shying away, insurers are effectively blacklisting us, commercial shops are punting, and we're running low on options. This could be a tremendous opportunity to contribute valuably and substantively to the movement for black equity and social justice in NYC, and to further help universalize bike riding for all New Yorkers. Halp. I'm available and eager to talk about any solutions we might have: 914-500-9890 xo Josh Josh Bisker 914-500-9890 New York Mechanical Gardens Bike Co-op <http://bikecoop.nyc/> 596 Acres <http://596acres.org/> Bindlestiff Family Cirkus <http://bindlestiff.org/>

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