- TheThinkTank - lists.bikecollectives.org

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 02 Jul '20

02 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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Re: [TheThinkTank] Selling Bikes Via Online ; Thethinktank Digest, Vol 165, Issue 10
by Robert Rands 29 Jun '20

29 Jun '20

Does any one have suggestions for selling bikes online? Using eBay or another format? An ecommerce platform? Using local pickup. ~Robert Rands, SoPo Bicycle Coöperative, Reynoldstown (Atlanta) www.sopobikes.org On Saturday, June 13, 2020, 08:04:06 PM UTC, <thethinktank-request(a)lists.bikecollectives.org> wrote: Send Thethinktank mailing list submissions to thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to thethinktank-request(a)lists.bikecollectives.org You can reach the person managing the list at thethinktank-owner(a)lists.bikecollectives.org When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of Thethinktank digest..." Today's Topics: 1. Re: If You Are Signed Up for Fridays Workshop (Kevin Dwyer) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2020 15:05:30 -0600 From: Kevin Dwyer <kevidwyer(a)gmail.com> To: The Think Tank <thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org> Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] If You Are Signed Up for Fridays Workshop Message-ID: <CADX0RX9D3op1BYobyf88WkQZiw32TkLHwPYaad62_4n7U1jXLA(a)mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" Thanks for setting up the meeting and the thought provoking content. Our local trails group developed the attached document for bicycle retailers in conjunction with the SLCo Health Department. Thanks for your great work. Kevin On Fri, Jun 12, 2020 at 12:02 PM <rgrossman7(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Yes. Zoom opens at 2:45 Central time. Workshop starts at 3pm. > > The Freehand link takes us to where the work will be done. We will be > using both Zoom and Freehand at the same time. > > Sent from my iPhone > > On Jun 12, 2020, at 12:17 PM, Chlo? Rose <winter.snowy.rose(a)gmail.com> > wrote: > > ? > It sounds like you're in the waiting room and that you'll be admitted to > the meeting by the host. > > On Fri., Jun. 12, 2020, 13:15 Jim Bledsoe, <gamesbledsoe(a)gmail.com> wrote: > >> i am on the zoom link and only seeing charts and circles >> is there something i need to do? >> >> On Thu, Jun 11, 2020 at 11:56 PM Robert Grossman <rgrossman7(a)gmail.com> >> wrote: >> >>> Check your emails for the new Zoom Link. It may have ended up in your >>> spam folder. >>> >>> -- >>> 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 >>> ____________________________________ >>> >>> The ThinkTank mailing List >>> >>> Unsubscribe from this list here: >>> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o… >>> >>> ____________________________________ >> >> The ThinkTank mailing List >> >> Unsubscribe from this list here: >> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o… >> >> ____________________________________ > > The ThinkTank mailing List > > Unsubscribe from this list here: > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o… > > ____________________________________ > > The ThinkTank mailing List > > Unsubscribe from this list here: > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.o… > >

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Back2Bikes, Melbourne Australia is s advertising for Workshop Manager Job sharing
by Geoffrey Smart 29 Jun '20

29 Jun '20

Hi Everyone, If anyone is reading this in Australia and knows of any suitable people needing a position in these difficult times I invite them to apply for the above mentioned position Details of the position are listed in the attached document. For those who do not know you need to be in Australia already as there is no entry for non residents for the foreseeable future. We continue to work but with less volunteers to achieve social distancing and with very strict entry and cleaning regimes. The demand for our services has increased enormously over the last few months. We would look very favourably on someone who is not currently eligible for the government Jobkeeper or Jobseeker schemes given they have the skills necessary for the position. Regards Geoff Smart Back2Bikes

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Outdoor public repair stands
by Kim Schaffer 26 Jun '20

26 Jun '20

Hi all, Has anyone had success with installing and maintaining outdoor repair stations in your community? I am interested in exploring what it would mean to install outside our bike shops, and I am understandably hearing concerns around vandalism/required upkeep. Thank you for any thoughts! Kim Schaffer ******************************* Kim Schaffer, Executive Director Community Bike Works www.communitybikeworks.org cell: 484.554.8971 [cid:image002.png@01D63FE8.C9116010]

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Insurance Recommendation: Halp
by Josh Bisker 24 Jun '20

24 Jun '20

Hey pals, a time-sensitive question for you, especially folks in the North East: our nonprofit fiscal sponsor stopped offering general commercial liability insurance for us, and we need to get some -- and fast! We have a contract coming up with the City of New York where they need us to show them our insurance documents, like poste haste. Yikes! Do you have an insurance situation that you like, and can you hook us up with your insurance company or broker? Time is of the essence for us, so I'm reaching out to you and a few other folks. Halp! Feel free to give me a call - 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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Callout for cycling-inspired street-graffiti photo / KS Project
by andrei 17 Jun '20

17 Jun '20

We are in the planning stage of our 3rd *Kickstarter* publishing venture, this time centered around *bicycles / women / emancipation*. And we are looking for a particular kind of contribution. Conceived here, in Montreal, but with collaborators all over Europe and Americas, our two previous Kickstarter projects (here http://tiny.cc/3k4ymz and here http://tiny.cc/zl4ymz) were very much concerned with strong social issues - Spanish Civil War, women combating fascism and their role in resistance. This new undertaking looks to bring together the utilitarian object that is the bicycle with practical paper-based artifacts, like calendars and playing cards. These two are then editorially balanced by a book, designed to celebrate the bicycle as a symbol and facilitator of the women’s emancipation movement. Send us a cycling-inspired street-graffiti photo. Or multiple photos / of multiple graffiti, from your city walls, ideally including permission or, at least, the artist name, if known, in order to credit the work. Please specify which name you’d like to be credited to in your email. We will integrate them in the calendar design, and will feature the name or image of the organization of your choice on the Kickstarter crowdfunding and our own social media platforms. We will offer a generous number of free calendars for you to use as fund raisers. You also get an additional discount on the combo award (calendar - deck of cards). You have until July 30th 2020 to send in your photos. Your contributions can be sent to: skillsofbike at gmail.com or Andrei at bookata.com Happy biking, happy shooting.

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Boise Bicycle Project is hiring a Shifting Gears Program Coordinator
by Emily Summerhays 15 Jun '20

15 Jun '20

BBP is seeking a Shifting Gears Coordinator to lead our programming partnership with the Idaho Department of Corrections. Reports to: Executive Director Classification: Full Time Exempt, plus Benefits Salary Range: $31,200 - $33,280 depending on experience Weekly Schedule: Will included some nights and weekends In 2017, BBP created Shifting Gears, a groundbreaking program to teach incarcerated women how to fix kids' bicycles while earning a bicycle for future transportation needs. In 2020, BBP secured grant funding to expand Shifting Gears to the Idaho Department of Corrections men’s facilities. This program is called Project Kickstand and lives under the umbrella of Shifting Gears programming. Because men incarcerated at this facility generally serve much longer sentences than the women in our Shifting Gears program, there is a new opportunity to build in a certified vocational training program that will lead to future job placement while significantly increasing the amount of bicycles BBP provides to teens. BBP’s Shifting Gears Coordinator will manage all aspects of both the men’s and women’s programs. Key Role Objectives: - Work with inmates to produce bicycles for BBP’s youth and teen programming - In partnership with the Department of Labor, create a bicycle mechanic apprenticeship curriculum for male inmates, and lead ongoing education - Oversee Boise Bicycle Project’s inventory management (onsite inventory as well as incoming and outgoing inventory to the prison facilities) - Maintain the women’s Shifting Gears program while exploring opportunities to expand the program - Conduct all administrative duties in regards to the program which include - Relationship management with IDOC staff - Billing and invoicing - Inventory record-keeping - Record-keeping of participants, their contributions, and release information Benchmarks: - 10-20 men to fully complete the job training program and earn a bicycle annually. - An additional 10-20 men with short sentences earn a bicycle and are release without the completion of the job training program - 75 to 100 teens receive refurbished bikes annually (distributed in the community in partnership with the Youth Programs Coordinator) Key Performance Metrics: - You meet work deadlines on time - You meet or exceed quarterly goals (created with Executive Director) - You adapt to feedback and follow through on performance changes within 2 weeks The ideal candidate: - 2 years bicycle mechanic experience (professional certification preferred). - 2 years experience working with volunteers - Proven experience with verbal and written communication, and organizational tools such as spreadsheets and word processors - Identifies as a member of and/or has experience working with marginalized communities (communities of color, Native communities, LGBTQ+, rural communities, working class/poor people, women, trans and femme folks, people with disabilities, et - Past nonprofit experience will be prioritized - Past prison work or social work experience will be prioritized - BBP is a dynamic organization with a lot going on at all times. You must be - Adaptable - Agile - Committed to teamwork - Able to take feedback and direction - Confident to work independently - Fun HOW TO APPLY - Review our organization’s mission, vision, and values prior to applying: https://www.boisebicycleproject.org/about/mission Email the following to emily(a)boisebicycleproject.org - your resume - cover letter (please address how you identify with BBP’s mission statement) - a list of 3 past volunteer experiences - 3 work related references and contact information Boise Bicycle Project is an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment including the decision to hire, promote or discharge are based on merit, competence, performance, and organizational needs. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as an individual with a disability. -- Emily Thompson Summerhays Pronouns: She/Her/Hers (what's this? <https://www.glsen.org/sites/default/files/GLSEN%20Pronouns%20Resource.pdf>) Development Director Boise Bicycle Project 1027 S. Lusk Street Boise, Idaho 83702 208.429.6520 boisebicycleproject.org

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If You Are Signed Up for Fridays Workshop
by Robert Grossman 12 Jun '20

12 Jun '20

Check your emails for the new Zoom Link. It may have ended up in your spam folder. -- 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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Re: [TheThinkTank] Outdoor public repair stands
by David Coppley 12 Jun '20

12 Jun '20

Hey Kim, Just responding about your Thinktank posting about outdoor bike repair stations. I work for Intercity Transit in Olympia, WA. We experimented with a public tool station mounted at our main transit center. It was removed maybe a month or so after it was installed. It quickly became a bicycle chop-shop for folks in our community, particularly outside of our hours of operation. Two things I would recommend for a public tool station are... 1) Make it secure, but movable. Or it could be in a lockable closest/cage/space. It is difficult to foster a positive use of this resource when no staff is around. 2) Have clearly posted rules about use. I'd recommend listing allowed repairs, or time limits. We had regulars who would camp out at the stand making it unusable for others needing quick fixes. David David Coppley Walk n' Roll Program Assistant Intercity Transit 360-705-5817 (office) 360-701-8379 (cell) PO Box 659 Olympia, WA 98501 dcoppley(a)intercitytransit.com<mailto:dcoppley@intercitytransit.com> Follow us on Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/WalkNRollIT/> & Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/walknrollit/> [WalkNRoll_HZ_RGB]

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