- TheThinkTank - lists.bikecollectives.org

Austin Yellow Bike's Volunteer/patron logging software
by Christopher Chan 25 Mar '14

25 Mar '14

Hello, We're trying to find software to manage sign-in for volunteers and patrons. I know that Austin Yellow Bike has something, and various other shops use modified versions. Is there some place where it can be downloaded? (Don't suppose there's an online version control repository of it, for us software developers?) I'm also starting work on a rental database if anyone is interested. In addition to other projects, we run a bike rental program, as well as loan out bikes for special needs kids. This software will be web-based, mobile-friendly (through a browser, not an app) barcode-scanner friendly, and will be integrated with Google Calendar and to allow online bookings and Paypal for deposits/payments, if anyone is interested. Thanks, Christopher Chan *Executive Director* Edmonton Bicycle Commuters' Society edmontonbikes.ca *BikeWorks North ** 9305 111 Ave * T5G 0A2 * 780-757-9100 *BikeWorks South ** 8001 102 St * T6E 4A2 * 780-433-2453 *Cell ** 780-756-7560 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada @edmontonbicycle <https://twitter.com/edmontonbicycle> facebook.com/EdmontonBicycleCommuters<https://www.facebook.com/EdmontonBicycleCommuters>

3 2

Think Tank Google or Yahoo Group?
by Bayley Vanderpoel 23 Mar '14

23 Mar '14

Hi all, Is there a think tank google or yahoo group back end to this distribution list so I can search prior threads? I have a lot of questions, but I'll bet they've already been answered before I joined the list. If not, would there be any consideration to begin one? Who from the think tank would I have to ask? Bayley

3 3

RBP is Hiring: Mechanic/Educator Wanted
by Reno Bike Project 20 Mar '14

20 Mar '14

Use this area to offer a short teaser of your email's content. Text here will show in the preview area of some email clients. ------------------------------------------------------------ http://us3.campaign-archive1.com/?u=896cc830d9fae0be048de1d03&id=a17865c53c… ** Mechanic/Educator Wanted ------------------------------------------------------------ Status: full time (30-40 h/wk) Application Deadline April 1, 2014 Submit Resume's to: noah(a)renobikeprojet.com or at 541 E. 4th Street. Reno, NV 89512 Reno Bike Project is seeking an experienced mechanic who can teach as well as repair bikes. RBP is a non-profit community bike shop dedicated to creating an affordable resource for the community to learn, buy and repair bicycles. Our team works one-on-one with the public to educate and assist them in bike repair, as well as offering a full repair shop. PROFILE This is not your typical Mechanic position in your typical shop. This job consists of two major roles; fixing bikes and teaching others to fix bikes, but you may be asked to assist with a wide scope of activities and you will be required to wear many different hats. We serve a wide range of people from bicycle hobbyist to college students to Reno's homeless population in repairing their bicycles, answering questions and other general customer service duties. You will be required to conduct repairs to the highest quality on a wide range of bicycles since we work on bikes of all varieties and ages. We feel that the repairs we carry out on our customers' bikes represent us as a shop; therefore any repair should be completed to the best of your ability. Besides operating a full service repair shop our organization is committed to helping people learn about bicycle repair/maintenance and offers 6 public workstations that are available during open hours for the public to utilize our tools and the knowledge of our staff to repair their own bike. People from all walks of life and skill levels use our shop to fix their bikes and sometimes that can be a challenge so patience and a good attitude are mandatory attributes for this job. If you enjoy helping people one to one and wish to help provide our community with a valuable resource then this might be the job for you. Job Description: Mechanic/Educator The Mechanic/Educator’s primary duty is to work with the Shop Manager to handle service and builds but may be asked to assist customers in all aspects of customer service. The Mechanic/Educator is the main resource for customers checked into the public workstations. The following reflects management's definition of essential functions for this job but does not restrict the tasks that may be assigned. Management may assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons. 1. Perform bicycle repair, maintenance, and walk-in services on customers' bicycles as needed. 2. Deliver professional, accessible, and helpful customer service to a diverse customer base. 3. Support daily bike shop operations. 4. Responsible for properly taking in service work including correctly filling out service work orders, scheduling an appropriate amount of repairs and completing those repairs in a timely manner. 5. Advises and assists customers with their product selection without bias. 6. Develops and maintains knowledge expertise of all merchandise in department to effectively assist customers with accurate information. 7. Assists with bike sales and any other bike floor duties as needed. 8. Maintains a clean and safe workstation. 9. Performs other duties as assigned by the bike shop manager. 10. Help with shop maintenance and construction projects. 11. Work with the Volunteer Coordinator on a weekly basis to manage shop volunteers. ** COMPENSATION: Negotiable depending on skill level and experience. ------------------------------------------------------------ ** Heading 4 ------------------------------------------------------------ Variable content blocks: Variable content sections (http://renobikeproject.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=896cc830d9fae0be04…) are noted with plus and minus signs so that you can add and subtract content blocks and also a drop-down selector that allows you to choose which type of content block to display. ============================================================ About Us Reno Bike Project (RBP) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community bicycle shop and advocacy group committed to creating a nationally recognized, cycling-friendly community through advocacy, education, and cooperation in the Truckee Meadows. Reno Bike Project achieves its mission by: * Making cycling more accessible through recycling and recirculation of used bikes into the community at affordable prices. * Holding bike mechanics workshops and encouraging self-sufficiency by providing a space for community members to repair their own bicycles rather than incur maintenance costs. * Promoting and holding events to encourage bicycle activism. * Working with public officials and other organizations to advocate for cycling rights and growth in the Truckee Meadows. * Complementing other local groups to encourage youth safety and cycling-related arts and culture, and contributing to Reno's continual growth as a diverse and vibrant community. * Keeping an open mind to all cycling needs and ideas and helping to facilitate positive growth. 541 E. 4th St, Reno, NV 89512 | Wed. - Fri. 10am - 6pm, Sat. 10am-5pm | 775-323-4488 ** Like us on Facebook (http://renobikeproject.us3.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=896cc830d9fae0be0…) ** Follow us on Twitter (http://renobikeproject.us3.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=896cc830d9fae0be0…) ** View our photos on flickr (http://renobikeproject.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=896cc830d9fae0be04…) ** unsubscribe from this list (http://renobikeproject.us3.list-manage2.com/unsubscribe?u=896cc830d9fae0be0…) | ** update subscription preferences (http://renobikeproject.us3.list-manage.com/profile?u=896cc830d9fae0be048de1…) This email was sent to thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org why did I get this? (http://renobikeproject.us3.list-manage.com/about?u=896cc830d9fae0be048de1d0…) unsubscribe from this list (http://renobikeproject.us3.list-manage2.com/unsubscribe?u=896cc830d9fae0be0…) update subscription preferences (http://renobikeproject.us3.list-manage.com/profile?u=896cc830d9fae0be048de1…) Reno Bike Project · 541 E 4th St, Reno, NV, United States · Reno, NV 89512 · USA Email Marketing Powered by MailChimp http://www.mailchimp.com/monkey-rewards/?utm_source=freemium_newsletter&utm…

1 0

Job Posting - Mecahnic / Collective Member at OCB VANCOUVER
by allison karow 19 Mar '14

19 Mar '14

Hi old friends!! Here is a job posting for a mechanic / collective member position at Our Community Bikes in Vancouver, BC. Please consider applying if you are Canadian or can obtain a Canadian work visa! Our shop is really fun and great, we get super busy in the summer, so we are hiring for May 1st. Feel free to send me a private message if you have questions about work visas.

2 2

Shop Proceedures
by Tegan Moss [B!KE] 18 Mar '14

18 Mar '14

Hi All, There has been a call from our board of directors to produce a shop proceedures manual. This would include everything from opening and closing to running payroll. I am curious if anyone has an example of a shop proceedure manual they would be up for sharing? Thanks, Tegan -- B!KE: The Peterborough Community Bike Shop 336 Rubidge St, Peterborough ON (705) 775-7227 communitybikeshop.org

3 2

Re: [TheThinkTank] Building Bikes as Corporate Team Activity?
by summitcyclingcenter＠yahoo.com 17 Mar '14

17 Mar '14

I was contacted some time ago by a company several years ago that did workshops that used assembling bicycles as an exercise in building corporate teamwork. I was called in to inspect the assembled bikes for safety and fine tune them. This was done at local hotel. I was well paid. The assembled bikes were donated to the local chapter of the Boys and Girls Club. After 3 days, the training company moved to their next client. From my viewpoint, It was a nice windfall, but nothing was done to foster a cycling lifestyle. Some children got bikes. Some employees got some teamwork skills. I paid some bills. I leave it to you to decide how it sits with your philosophy. Sent from my HTC EVO Design™ 4G from Boost Mobile ----- Reply message ----- From: "Adonia Lugo" <adonia.lugo(a)gmail.com> To: "The Think Tank" <Thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org> Subject: [TheThinkTank] Building Bikes as Corporate Team Activity? Date: Fri, Mar 14, 2014 11:21 am Dear collectivistas, I'm looking for advice from folks who use bike repair as a community building tool. What do you think about building bikes as a corporate team building exercise? I work for the League of American Bicyclists, and someone pitched a project to us called Bikes for Goodness Sake that does this; they have teams build kids' bikes and then give them away at the end of the day. The dude doing this, Mark Smith, wants to partner with the League in some capacity to help hire a staff person who could coordinate these activities around the country, including hiring local mechanics to do quality control and connecting with local kids' groups. Does this seem weird to you? I told my boss I'd ask around about this model because something about it raises my hackles a little. I like the idea of paying local mechanics to participate, and it seems like there could be a more formal relationship with co-ops or community bike shops as partners. Then maybe participating in an activity like this could be an avenue for the corporate types to get involved with the bike community. At the same time, I'm wary of a model that frames needy kids as some tool for corporate team building. Let me know if you have any questions or thoughts. Thanks! -- Adonia E. Lugo, Ph.D. Bicycle Anthropologist www.urbanadonia.com

2 1

Baltimore youth bicycle program
by bykecollective 16 Mar '14

16 Mar '14

Hi, I am starting a non-profit youth bicycle program in Baltimore, and would like to send word out for support from then bike collective community. The Baltimore Youth Kinetic Energy (BYKE) Collective is a youth empowerment organization designed to develop personal and professional skills through learning bicycle mechanics, safe ridership, community values and respect. For our video and more information, check us out at http://fusionpartnerships.wordpress.com/sponsored-projects/baltimore-youth-… Like us on Facebook for updates! Thanks, Chavi Rhodes, MPH Baltimore Youth Kinetic Energy Collective bykecollective(a)gmail.com (410) 989-3806 https://www.facebook.com/BYKECollective https://twitter.com/BYKECollective

1 0

Re: [TheThinkTank] Building Bikes as Corporate Team Activity?
by Henry Dunbar 15 Mar '14

15 Mar '14

Regarding having to rescue corporate bike builds when they get cheap bikes, I think this is where the League can be of great service. When we were approached last year about participating in the exercise, i asked where they were getting the bikes, the corporate HR person said, "I don't know. Amazon." After picking up the phone from the floor, I begged her to let me buy them through our supplier. She agreed, and though they got fewer bikes, we were all better served by the experience. The League can help educate potential partners that they do us no favors by buying the cheapest bikes available and then dumping them on a local coop. -- Henry T. Dunbar Executive Director Phoenix Bikes 703.575.7762 Shop 703.517.5017 Cell phoenixbikes.org We are One of the Best, as featured in the 2012-13 Catalogue for Philanthrop<http://www.catalogueforphilanthropy-dc.org/cfpdc/index.php> y.

1 0

Re: [TheThinkTank] Building Bikes as Corporate Team Activity?
by Henry Dunbar 14 Mar '14

14 Mar '14

I think each local group will need to tailor these to get what they can. I could see the League as being a broker to match up Corporations with local youth programs. Then the onus is on them to cultivate the relationship. We did this last year with a major construction company. We actually asked them to do the exercise with adult bikes that were donated to us to put in our sale stock. They still had to be gone over by youth and staff mechanics as a quality control check, so the kids learned from the experience, and got the rare (at least in our shop) chance to work on new bikes. Plus we benefited from the revenue boost of getting 12 very gently used bikes to sell, and started a great relationship with a company that we hope will pay dividends later. I agree with Karen that we're not about just giving bikes to kids. -- Henry T. Dunbar Executive Director Phoenix Bikes 703.575.7762 Shop 703.517.5017 Cell phoenixbikes.org We are One of the Best, as featured in the 2012-13 Catalogue for Philanthrop<http://www.catalogueforphilanthropy-dc.org/cfpdc/index.php> y.

3 2

Brief, clear traffic safety sheet?
by Paul Nagel 14 Mar '14

14 Mar '14

Hello, We're about to donate our first small batch of refurbished bikes to a women's shelter along with locks, lights, and helmets. We would also like to include a simple paper that communicates some bike safety essentials, as we might not have the opportunity to do an in-person discussion. This sheet should mention riding with traffic, being visible, staying aware. Clear visuals should be clear as literacy or attentiveness may be an issue in some cases. Guides such as "Bicycling Street Smarts", we feel, would not be read by most recipients in this situation, and the important points would be lost among the detail. Does anyone know of a simple, clear sheet already available? We don't believe everything can be boiled down to a single sheet, but hope that we can communicate some important basics in this way. Thank you, Paul Nagel The Bicycle Tree shop: (714) 760-4681 811 N. Main St. Santa Ana, CA 92701 http://www.thebicycletree.org info(a)thebicycletree.org

2 1