- TheThinkTank - lists.bikecollectives.org

Examples of business plans?
by Carolyn Szczepanski 28 Sep '11

28 Sep '11

Hi folks- I'm the communication coordinator for the Alliance for Biking & Walking, a coalition of more than 185 state and local bicycle and pedestrian advocacy organizations. The majority of our member organizations are of the standard advocacy model (bike safety classes, encouragement programs, state/local lobbying, policy work, etc) — but there's incredible interest in the energy, power and equity of community bike shops / earn-a-bike / recycle-a-bicycle programs. Several advocates have recently asked me if there are any examples of community bike shop "business plans" that might serve as inspiration or models for, say, a community bike shop in her area of Mississippi. Would anybody be willing to share or provide some feedback? Thanks in advance! A huge admirer of all of your incredible work, Carolyn Szczepanski Communications Coordinator Alliance for Biking & Walking carolyn(a)peoplepoweredmovement.org Submit your best photos of biking and walking in the 2011 People Powered Movement Photo Contest!

3 2

Insurance
by Skipriffle＠aol.com 26 Sep '11

26 Sep '11

I am the president of _www.BikesForTykes.org_ (http://www.BikesForTykes.org) a children's program that refurbishes old bikes into near new condition and then gives them to the underprivileged kids in our area. Even though we are the oldest continuous bike program in the US, we still encounter problems. My question is how most of you handle shop liability and event liability? I see a lot of posting about having kids work on their bikes, however the 'hold not responsible' forms you have people sign just will not do it in a court of law. The only close to 'protected' way is to have shop and event liability through an insurance company and get your 'not hold responsible' forms signed. Even then it is not a 'sure thing'. It all depends on the judge. Has anyone run this by an attorney? What did he/she have to say and where do you get the insurance from? One injury to a child and a parent out to make an example out of any of us and your program is toast!!! I have not got the best answer so I am asking all of you what you have done. Sincerely, Skip Riffle, Pres. Bikes For Tykes, Inc. _www.BikesForTykes.org_ (http://www.BikesForTykes.org) _Skip(a)BikesForTykes.org_ (mailto:Skip@BikesForTykes.org) 238-450-3366 cell

5 4

Help BICAS win $5000, voting ends Friday!
by troy neiman 18 Sep '11

18 Sep '11

Oooo Dang, The heat is on as Community Cycles and BICAS ride head to head to try and capture the most votes for the Clif Bar Challenge. JK Anyhow, BICAS was also chosen as one of the 15 finalists for this contest. Most votes gets 2.5-5k given to the writers favorite bike charity. *Vote for "Stolen Bike, Answers to Maddie" to make a vote for BICAS. * It only Takes a second, seriously (no signing up or nothin) Here is the link to the post - http://www.good.is/post/ http://www.good.is/post/submissions-share-a-bike-photo-and-your-best-bike-s… May the best story (and photo) win! Good luck CC, and to all the other bike orgs.

2 1

Women's Shop Night
by MoBo Bicycle Co-op 16 Sep '11

16 Sep '11

Hello Think Tank Collective! We at Mobo are working on trying to get more women to participate in our women's open shop night. We normally have 1 or 2 women or those who gender identify as female come in. Women's night is held once a month, although we are piloting a 2nd day on a weekend to see if we can get more women in. Some of this is a response to request from members to have more weekend shop and a desire to see another women's night. Do you have a lot of attendance at women's open shop (if you have one?) What are some ways that you've reached out to the women riders in your communities? Thank you! Ellie Jones MoBo Board Member -- MoBo Bicycle Cooperative a project of The Village Green Foundation 1415 Knowlton St. Cincinnati, OH www.mobobicyclecoop.org

3 2

Reddit offering free ad space to nonprofits
by Ryan Feller 15 Sep '11

15 Sep '11

Reddit, a fairly popular online forum/community, is offering $100 in ad credit to nonprofits. They have message boards covering most imaginable topics, including many cycling-related boards (go to http://www.reddit.com/r/bicycling, see list on the right side) and boards for most cities. I'm pretty sure you can set your ads to run on the boards of your choice. It might be helpful if you're looking for a few small donations or more Facebook likes or general buzz for your org. It doesn't explicitly mention that 501(c)(3) status is required to sign up, either. Here's the info: http://blog.reddit.com/2011/09/if-youre-nonprofit-organization-we-have_14.h… Thank you! Ryan Feller, Director Bike Broward (954) 232-3790 www.bikebroward.org ryan(a)bikebroward.org

1 0

Help Community Cycles in Boulder win $5K
by Rich Points 15 Sep '11

15 Sep '11

This takes one second & Community Cycles could make $5000 Vote for Semper Fi by Bicycle #15 * http://www.good.is/post/submissions-share-a-bike-photo-and-your-best-bike-s… PLEASE pass this on!!* -- Rich Points Community Cycles Executive Director http://CommunityCycles.org Rich(a)CommunityCycles.org 720-565-6019 (W) CC is Boulder's only bike shop dedicated to bike commuting. Find us on FaceBook http://facebook.com/home.php#!/CommunityCycles Volunteer orientations are held 6p.m. on the 4th Wednesday of each month.

1 0

Bike Collective Network at Interbike
by Jonathan Morrison 12 Sep '11

12 Sep '11

The Bike Collective Network will be in booth "L4" (http://ib.goexposoftware.com/2010/goExpo/floorPlan/viewFloorPlan.php) this year for Interbike. Yeah, we got bumped. But it will still be fun. It is that time of year again, where we pack rooms at Circus Circus, ride in crazy alley cat races, attend the NBDA seminars for non-profit applicable nuggets of info, check out the cycling industry's 2011 lines, and... then there are the things that stay in Vegas. A group will be driving out from Salt Lake City, Utah on the 21st. If you are planning on going, need help with badges, rooms, etc.,... please let me know offlist. Sincerely, Jonathan Morrison c: 801-688-0183

3 7

Examples of successful flyers?
by Ryan Feller 06 Sep '11

06 Sep '11

Hi all! My collective is planning to make 8-1/2 x 11" (or similar size) flyer to post on public bulletin boards and publicize that we collect bicycles and put them to good use. I know at least some other bike collectives use flyers, and it'd be super helpful to see what works and what doesn't in terms of design and what we should say. Would anyone be willing to scan and send over a couple? Thank you! Ryan Feller, Director Bike Broward (954) 232-3790 www.bikebroward.org

9 9

Stolen and Suspicious bikes
by Graham Stewart 06 Sep '11

06 Sep '11

I'd like to know what policies shops have in regards to bicycles of suspicious origin (possibly stolen). Here at the bike dump we have a strict policy to not trade or buy bikes. But, we also don't ask or check about nice bikes found in alleys, garbage, donated, or pulled out of the river. We don't usually say anything when someone comes in with a nice bike to fix missing the back wheel and seatpost, or tries to sell a Trek 8000 for $20. I know there are lots of stolen bike registries out there, but do any of the co-ops take the time to check? What do you say when someone brings a bike to fix that was likely stolen at some point? Do you ask for or record serial numbers? Obviously, asking where they got the bike from based on profile alone is a really shitty thing to do. Stopping scruffy looking native guys for questioning because they are riding a nice bike is the sort of thing the asshole cops do. Graham at the bike dump in Winnipeg

4 3

Join me on StumbleUpon!
by gothicsurf 06 Sep '11

06 Sep '11

[StumbleUpon] (http://www.stumbleupon.com/to/e/832180075:WZHTXHD0C1QDJAZ1/invite-4/pf/__eN…,) gothicsurf 0 Favorites 0 Followers gothicsurf (http://www.stumbleupon.com/to/e/832180075:WZHTXHD0C1QDJAZ1/invite-4/pf2/__e…,) wants to be friends with you on StumbleUpon. StumbleUpon is a discovery engine that finds you the best web pages, recommended based on your interests. Join today and browse web pages you never would have found before! To learn more, watch this video (http://www.stumbleupon.com/to/e/832180075:WZHTXHD0C1QDJAZ1/invite-4/vt/__eN…) and take a tour! Join for free > (http://www.stumbleupon.com/to/e/832180075:WZHTXHD0C1QDJAZ1/invite-4/home/__…,,) Find us on:& (http://www.stumbleupon.com/to/e/832180075:WZHTXHD0C1QDJAZ1/invite-4/suf/__e…,) & (http://www.stumbleupon.com/to/e/832180075:WZHTXHD0C1QDJAZ1/invite-4/sut/__e…) & (http://www.stumbleupon.com/to/e/832180075:WZHTXHD0C1QDJAZ1/invite-4/sub/__e…,,) & StumbleUpon is a discovery engine that finds the best of the web, recommended just for you. Learn more (http://www.stumbleupon.com/to/e/832180075:WZHTXHD0C1QDJAZ1/invite-4/hf/__eN…) If you do not wish to receive emails sent by StumbleUpon, please click here (http://www.stumbleupon.com/to/e/832180075:WZHTXHD0C1QDJAZ1/invite-4/oo/__eN…) (c) StumbleUpon 2001 - 2011

1 0