- TheThinkTank - lists.bikecollectives.org

mobile shop- bed frame on wheels
by Bob Giordano 15 May '09

15 May '09

an easy trailer to make (weld or no weld) is to put the front end of a bike onto a bed frame, and attach 2 rear wheels (with forks or rear triangles). we use that and also a long john bike to go to mobile workshops. by the way, it's been a great money generator- we charge a sliding fee: $45 an hour for non-profits, up to $75 an hour to businesses. free for groups with no budget at all. we carry basic stuff, and stay away from major overhauls- instead giving out our brochure or suggesting local retail shops if they do not want to learn themselves. -bob giordano, free cycles missoula >> Are there other shops out there with mobile shop rigs that might have some good tips for me, or maybe a list of the tools and parts that you carry and how you store them? >> That would be great! >> Thanks, >> Scott >> Free Ride!

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mobile shop
by Scott Gibson 15 May '09

15 May '09

Here in Pittsburgh we are working on a new internship program partnering with a youth employment non-profit called Urban Youth Action. It is called the Mobile Bike Repair Project. It will be a 6 week paid summer job for 4 youth. We will train them and then have them haul out a mobile shop to public events like farmers markets, fairs and festivals to fix up bikes and give out helmets. I started a new thread for this because we are in process of getting together our mobile shop and I need some help. We just ordered a Bikes At Work trailer and I am thinking about what will be on it and how we will store it. Are there other shops out there with mobile shop rigs that might have some good tips for me, or maybe a list of the tools and parts that you carry and how you store them? That would be great! Thanks, Scott Free Ride!

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Collaborations between your organization and others?
by Will Wolfe 14 May '09

14 May '09

I'm here in Austin Texas where the future is looking strong for Austin's Bike Collective Community. With the help of The Austin Yellow Bike Project and a non-profit student housing cooperative, College Houses Inc. we are building a community shop from the ground up, raised from the earth for the sole purpose of providing a space for the people to learn the mysteries of the bicycle. We are still raising money to get a few more tools on the shelf. Check out the recent press and please spread the message to all interested parties. front page! http://www.dailytexanonline.com/21st-street-co-op-expands-bike-shop-1.17444… more about us and a PayPal account courtesy of the wonderful folks at Yellow Bike. http://www.austinyellowbike.org/shop_21st_street.htm Come and see us sometime here in Austin, -Will Wolfe --- On Tue, 5/12/09, rachael spiewak <rachael(a)sopobikes.org> wrote: From: rachael spiewak <rachael(a)sopobikes.org> Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Collaborations between your organization and others? To: "The Think Tank" <thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org> Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2009, 2:55 PM Here are a few: International Rescue Committee -- they send us teenage interns from their job readiness program. This is one of our favorite partnerships. One of our first IRC interns made our documentary, which helped us score grant $$ and helps make new shop participants feel like they already know us (oh, you're the girl from the video I watched!), and he's working on creating a community bike shop in Clarkston (where IRC and a bunch of other refugee and immigrant resettlement services agencies are located, so you can imagine how powerful a community bike shop would be in that town). Metro Atlanta Taskforce for the Homeless -- we got a bike shop going in their facility through their onsite Americorps program and with the help of another one of our teen interns. There's kind of a long story about a Whole Foods 5% Day/store boycott that has to do with this project buried in our blog. Atlanta Bike Coalition -- here's one for partnering with your local bike advocacy organization. We work together all the time on whatever it is that we're up to. A good example would be a blinky light giveaway put on by ABC that took place at Sopo. We also use each other's communication channels to get the word out about events and issues that should cut across memberships. Morehouse College's Office of Community Service -- we started recruiting our summer Youth Mentors through this office. Wonderroot Community Arts Center -- we have our meetings at this facility, they put on benefits for us in their show space, we're borrowing their veggie oil bus to get to Bike!Bike! this year, we help each other with nonprofit management issues, and more. Other area co-ops -- most of them are good about including us at networking luncheons at the food co-op, radio shows about co-ops on our community radiostation, collecting donations for us (REI mostly), etc. Hope that helps!! Rachael//Sopo On Mon, May 11, 2009 at 9:07 PM, <veganboyjosh(a)gmail.com> wrote: Howdy all, Hope the spring to summer transition is greeting all of you with good weather and lots of competent willing volunteers to handle the influx of traffic.... I'd love to hear about collaborations you've found with outside organizations, either bike related or not. What potential sources for programming and resources have you come across? I'm interested in hearing both successes and failures. Thanks! josh Community Cycles Boulder, CO _______________________________________________ Thethinktank mailing list Thethinktank(a)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.… -- Sopo Bicycle Cooperative 404-425-9989 www.sopobikes.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Hours of operation: Tues, Wed, & Thurs 7 pm - 10 pm Sat & Sun 2 pm - 6 pm -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ Thethinktank mailing list Thethinktank(a)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] mobile shop
by recyclebicycle＠verizon.net 14 May '09

14 May '09

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Yes! magazine article on community bike shops
by Dave Bourgeois 13 May '09

13 May '09

Here's some good press for all of us: http://yesmagazine.org/article.asp?id=3441 Bike Kitchens: Building Community, Bikes by Rob Forbes

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Re: [TheThinkTank] NYTimes.com: In German Suburb, Life Goes On Without Cars
by tom emm 13 May '09

13 May '09

On Wed, May 13, 2009 at 1:31 PM, Tom Emm <tom48236(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > > > --- On Wed, 5/13/09, tom48236(a)yahoo.com <tom48236(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > > From: tom48236(a)yahoo.com <tom48236(a)yahoo.com> > Subject: NYTimes.com: In German Suburb, Life Goes On Without Cars > To: tom48236(a)yahoo.com > Date: Wednesday, May 13, 2009, 1:25 PM > > This page was sent to you by: tom48236(a)yahoo.com > Message from sender: > hey there , take a look at this. > > SCIENCE / ENVIRONMENT | May 12, 2009 > In German Suburb, Life Goes On Without Cars > By ELISABETH ROSENTHAL > A young development in Vauban illustrates a trend of planning communities to > thrive without automobiles. > > > 1. Vitamins Found to Curb Exercise Benefits > 2. Op-Ed Columnist: Rogue Diva of Doom > 3. Op-Ed Columnist: They Had It Made > 4. In German Suburb, Life Goes On Without Cars > 5. Spirits of The Times: Absinthes to Go Mad Over > > » Go to Complete List > > Advertisement > 500 Days of Summer, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel. This > is not a love story. This is a story about love. > Watch the new trailer! > Click here to view trailer > > Copyright 2009 The New York Times Company | Privacy Policy >

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Job Opening for Shop Manager at Community Cycles Boulder Colorado
by Rich Points 13 May '09

13 May '09

Community Bike Shop Manager Community Cycles http://CommunityCycles.org in Boulder, Colorado is looking to hire a full time shop manager. The ideal candidate has several years of bicycle shop, mechanical, retail, managerial and non profit experience. Experience working with youth a plus, and a familiarity with older bicycles and parts is required. General responsibilities include but are not limited to: * Run and oversee our community bike shop and its programs * Manage youth and adult volunteers * Inventory and Ordering * Oversee sales and their promotion, including daily/petty cash management * Report to the board * Checking in repairs/estimates * Quality Control * Bilingual Spanish/English a plus $24,000 Annual Salary We will be accepting resumes until May 27th. Send resumes, references and inquiries to resume(a)communitycycles.org <mailto:resume@communitycycles.org> Please paste your resume into the email body as well as an attachment. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE. -- Rich Points Community Cycles Director http://CommunityCycles.org Rich(a)CommunityCycles.org 720-565-6019 (W) 720-565-0155 (H) Donate your old car to Community Cycles http://communitycycles.org/get-involved/donatecar.html

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how to deal with enthusiastic but 'wrong' volunteer mechanics?
by Bob Giordano 13 May '09

13 May '09

We also have created a team like atmosphere, and everyone helps everyone out. Yes, it can be tough to correct someone in front of another, so language and tone are important. Nothing wrong with saying something like, 'oh, here's a tip i've learned, it could be done this way...' training, info sharing, books, classes all help. Sometimes when I see that somone is vesting a lot of time in helping others, i'll ask them later if there is anything about bike mechanics that they are curious about or want to learn. That opens doors to more learning by all. >> ________________________________ >> Date: Tue, 12 May 2009 22:10:53 -0600 >> From: veganboyjosh(a)gmail.com >> To: thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >> Subject: [TheThinkTank] how to deal with enthusiastic but wrong >> volunteer >> mechanics? >> >> Sorry for dominating the emails, folks. Community Cycles is in all kinds >> of >> transition, and we're looking for help. >> >> I don't know all the details right now, so I'll keep this general. >> >> We've been lucky enough to have a volunteer show up who's very motivated >> and >> enthusiastic about our mission and our programs. This person has gotten >> really involved in existing programs and even helped work on and start a >> new >> one. >> Recently, this person was asked by another shop visitor a mechanical >> question, since it was clear that the volunteer was more staff like, and >> less client. The answer given was very incorrect (one of the details I'm >> missing is what the quesiton/answer were), but this was witnessed by >> another >> very competent experienced mechanic, who was uncomfortable correcting >> the >> misstatement in front of the group. >> In another situation, the same volunteer was seen making very basic >> mistakes when working alone on a bike. From what I understand, the big >> one >> was being asked to install cables on a bike, and neglecting to include >> housing. >> >> We would like to continue having this person as a part of our team, but >> we >> also need to make sure the advice and work they do is correct, safe, and >> appropriate. >> >> One other wrinkle, is that the two incidents were witnessed by two >> different >> staff members, both very skilled mechanics. >> >> How to approach the volunteer? Any help or experience you folks have >> would >> be greatly appreciated. >> >> Thanks! >> >> josh.

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how to deal with enthusiastic but wrong volunteer mechanics?
by veganboyjosh＠gmail.com 13 May '09

13 May '09

Sorry for dominating the emails, folks. Community Cycles is in all kinds of transition, and we're looking for help. I don't know all the details right now, so I'll keep this general. We've been lucky enough to have a volunteer show up who's very motivated and enthusiastic about our mission and our programs. This person has gotten really involved in existing programs and even helped work on and start a new one. Recently, this person was asked by another shop visitor a mechanical question, since it was clear that the volunteer was more staff like, and less client. The answer given was very incorrect (one of the details I'm missing is what the quesiton/answer were), but this was witnessed by another very competent experienced mechanic, who was uncomfortable correcting the misstatement in front of the group. In another situation, the same volunteer was seen making very basic mistakes when working alone on a bike. From what I understand, the big one was being asked to install cables on a bike, and neglecting to include housing. We would like to continue having this person as a part of our team, but we also need to make sure the advice and work they do is correct, safe, and appropriate. One other wrinkle, is that the two incidents were witnessed by two different staff members, both very skilled mechanics. How to approach the volunteer? Any help or experience you folks have would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! josh.

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What to do with the nice stuff?
by Jonathan Morrison 12 May '09

12 May '09

Everyone wants the nice bikes / parts, only those that don't know any better aren't savy yet (and that never lasts long if they hang around a shop). So what does your shop do with the nice stuff in regards to work-trade? We are trying to develop a policy in SLC. I have heard some shops don't allow trade over a certain dollar value... I have heard some shops set work-trade at an unskilled labor rate of $5... Sincerely, Jonathan Morrison Executive Director Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective 2312 S. West Temple Salt Lake City, UT 84115 w: 801-328-2453 c: 801-688-0183 f: 801-466-3856 www.slcbikecollective.org Get Addicted to Crank! http://www.slcbikecollective.org/crank/ The mission of the Salt Lake City Bicycle Collective is to promote cycling as an effective and sustainable form of transportation and as a cornerstone of a cleaner, healthier, and safer society. The Bicycle Collective provides refurbished bicycles and educational programs to the community, focusing on children and lower income households.

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Collaborations between your organization and others?
by veganboyjosh＠gmail.com 12 May '09

12 May '09

Howdy all, Hope the spring to summer transition is greeting all of you with good weather and lots of competent willing volunteers to handle the influx of traffic... I'd love to hear about collaborations you've found with outside organizations, either bike related or not. What potential sources for programming and resources have you come across? I'm interested in hearing both successes and failures. Thanks! josh Community Cycles Boulder, CO

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Collaborations between your organization and others?
by james blesdoe 12 May '09

12 May '09

??summer influx ?? in sunny so cal we never get a rest we are booked, and have been for a year, one week out it's a mad house --- On Mon, 5/11/09, veganboyjosh(a)gmail.com <veganboyjosh(a)gmail.com> wrote: From: veganboyjosh(a)gmail.com <veganboyjosh(a)gmail.com> Subject: [TheThinkTank] Collaborations between your organization and others? To: "The Think Tank" <thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org> Date: Monday, May 11, 2009, 6:07 PM Howdy all, Hope the spring to summer transition is greeting all of you with good weather and lots of competent willing volunteers to handle the influx of traffic... I'd love to hear about collaborations you've found with outside organizations, either bike related or not. What potential sources for programming and resources have you come across? I'm interested in hearing both successes and failures. Thanks! josh Community Cycles Boulder, CO -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ Thethinktank mailing list Thethinktank(a)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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Why tribes, not money or factories, will change the world - TED talks, Seth Godin (2009)
by Doug Franz 11 May '09

11 May '09

This presentation makes me think a lot about what we are all doing, changing the world. It’s a very interesting and insightful presentation. Please watch it. Doug Franz President Coatesville Community Bike Works Feed: TEDTalks (video) Posted on: Sunday, May 10, 2009 10:34 PM Author: Seth Godin Subject: TEDTalks : Why tribes, not money or factories, will change the world - Seth Godin (2009) Seth Godin argues the Internet has ended mass marketing and revived a human social unit from the distant past: tribes. Founded on shared ideas and values, tribes give ordinary people the power to lead and make big change. He urges us to do so. <http://feeds2.feedburner.com/~r/TEDTalks_video/~4/KSp4GlqIQHc> View <http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TEDTalks_video/~3/KSp4GlqIQHc/538> article... Enclosures: <http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TEDTalks_video/~5/-MeVD1nobbg/SethGodin_2009…> SethGodin_2009.mp4 (57 MB) <http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TEDTalks_video/~5/-MeVD1nobbg/SethGodin_2009…> http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TEDTalks_video/~5/-MeVD1nobbg/SethGodin_2009…

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Seth Godin on the tribes we lead | Video on TED.com
by hitrim＠yahoo.com 11 May '09

11 May '09

*Please note, the sender's email address has not been verified. This presentation makes me think a lot about what we are all doing, changing the world. Itâs a very interesting and insightful presentation. Please watch it. Doug Franz President Coatesville Community Bike Works ******************** If you are having trouble with any of the links in this message, or if the URL's are not appearing as links, please follow the instructions at the bottom of this email. Title: Seth Godin on the tribes we lead | Video on TED.com Copy and paste the following into your Web browser to access the sent link: http://www.emailthis.clickability.com/et/emailThis?clickMap=viewThis&etMail… $summary Copy and paste the following into your Web browser to SAVE THIS link: http://www.savethis.clickability.com/st/saveThisPopupApp?clickMap=saveFromE… Copy and paste the following into your Web browser to forward this link: http://www.emailthis.clickability.com/et/emailThis?clickMap=forward&etMailT… ******************** Email pages from any Web site you visit - add the EMAIL THIS button to your browser, copy and paste the following into your Web browser: http://www.emailthis.clickability.com/et/emailThis?clickMap=browserButtons&…" ********************* Instructions: ----------------------------------------- If your e-mail program doesn't recognize Web addresses: 1. With your mouse, highlight the Web Address above. Be sure to highlight the entire Web address, even if it spans more than one line in your email. 2. Select Copy from the Edit menu at the top of your screen. 3. Launch your Web browser. 4. Paste the address into your Web browser by selecting Paste from the Edit menu. 5. Click Go or press Enter or Return on your keyboard. ********************

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Re: [TheThinkTank] diluting the market
by james blesdoe 11 May '09

11 May '09

your friend is wrong if a person gets one of the junkers from you and starts riding they will need new stuff or a new bike later and go to a bike shop, spending money, If you replace a car driver with a bike rider the new rider will spend money in bike shops. no instead of diluting the market, even if you give the bikes away you are adding to the cycling world and creating more chances for the bike shops to do business. --- On Sun, 5/10/09, Liza Mattana <pedals2people(a)gmail.com> wrote: From: Liza Mattana <pedals2people(a)gmail.com> Subject: [TheThinkTank] diluting the market To: "The Think Tank" <thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org> Date: Sunday, May 10, 2009, 8:13 AM Hey, I have a question about reselling bikes and what to charge people. We're located in Spokane, WA and the bike "boom" is just starting to hit us. Those great deals on craiglsist and at Goodwill don't exist any more. We accept some quality bike donations from people, mostly older mtn bikes, and we sell some as-is and some refurbished. We sell these bike for around $75-100. A friend of ours who works at a bike shop in town said that with our low prices, we were diluting the market. Do you all think this is right? In our defense, we feel these bikes are donated and we want to pass on a good deal. We don't want to squeeze people for every penny. thanks, Liza -- Liza Mattana president www.pedals2people.org Spokane, WA -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ Thethinktank mailing list Thethinktank(a)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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diluting the market
by Liza Mattana 10 May '09

10 May '09

Hey, I have a question about reselling bikes and what to charge people. We're located in Spokane, WA and the bike "boom" is just starting to hit us. Those great deals on craiglsist and at Goodwill don't exist any more. We accept some quality bike donations from people, mostly older mtn bikes, and we sell some as-is and some refurbished. We sell these bike for around $75-100. A friend of ours who works at a bike shop in town said that with our low prices, we were diluting the market. Do you all think this is right? In our defense, we feel these bikes are donated and we want to pass on a good deal. We don't want to squeeze people for every penny. thanks, Liza -- Liza Mattana president www.pedals2people.org Spokane, WA

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Work Bench Types
by Rich Points 06 May '09

06 May '09

Community Cycles is expanding into a larger space, not to be confused with "enough" space, our main shop area will now be about 1,000sqft. As we reconfigure the shop we're trying to determine what kind of work benches to go with. Right now we have one main 8 ft bench with a pegboard where the common every day tools are kept, screw drivers, allen keys, box wrenches... This bench also has a vice and stores crates of parts below. We keep other specialty tools like crown race pullers and the like out of the mix and require them to be checked out. We've seen quite a few shops who have smaller benches with a set of dedicated tools at each, Salt Lake, Fort Collins, Bike Kitchen San Fran... We've also seen places like Free Ride in Pittsburgh that have one super long bench with dedicated sections. I can see the benefits of both set ups. At the same time I realize the configuration of a building often dictates how you set up the shop. We've got a 24ft wall where we can put the bench(s) in the new shop. I envision each work station requiring 6 X 10ft which would allow four stations in the space. The individual benches would be 2.5ft wide and 3-4ft long. A long bench would have pegboard the whole way and each work station could be marked by colors or something. Small individual benches can be moved for special events or large bike donations whereas the long bench is somewhat permanent. I see the long bench as a way to maximize the storage space. What do you guys think? Is there a perfect work bench for a bike coop with a little bit of space? Ride On! -- Rich Points Community Cycles Director http://CommunityCycles.org Rich(a)CommunityCycles.org 720-565-6019 (W) 720-565-0155 (H) Donate your old car to Community Cycles http://communitycycles.org/get-involved/donatecar.html

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Tax implications of paying people
by Urban Bike Project Wilmington, DE 06 May '09

06 May '09

Hello! Thanks to everyone who replied to the fork storage question, it was really helpful to see photographs. Now for another issue. We may get funding/reimbursement for rehabbing bikes, then distributing them in a free bike program. There is currently not enough time or space in the shop to do this during regular shop hours. What we thought to do was pay mechanics an hourly or per bike stipend to come in when we're closed and work on the free bikes. What sort of things do we have to keep track of/worry about in regards to the money. There could be any number of people working on the bikes and I would hate to, tax-wise, consider each of them an employee, especially when the per year total would probably be a few hundred dollars at most. Is it enough to keep track of who we paid and where the money went and put the onus on our mechanics to report it on their personal tax return? Thanks! Brian Urban Bike Project of Wilmington -a 501(c)3 non-profit bike shop- 1908 N. Market Street (entrance is in the parking lot behind the building) Wilmington, DE 19802 Hours: Thursday 6:30-9:00 Saturday 1:00-4:00 Visit us online at http://urbanbikeproject.org

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Today's Bike Talk!
by bike talk 02 May '09

02 May '09

With Todd "wildman" Lyons, Bobby Carter, "flatland" rider, and Michelle Mowery, Senior Project Coordinator in the Project Grants, Bikeways and Enhancement Division of the *Los Angeles* Department of Transportation. PLUS news on the LA City Council Meeting yesterday on bikes, specifically the hummer incident and bike funding in LA. Chickenleather intends to provide audio from the meeting. Stephen Box' blog is here: http://soapboxla.blogspot.com/ Also: upcoming rides and events, like the AIDS/Lifecycle benefit at Bike oven next Saturday. -- please let me know if you want to be taken off this list. Hear Bike Talk! live on www.killradio.org, 10am-noon Saturdays. Hear the podcast at kpfk.org: http://www.kpfk.org/programs/170-bike-talk.html See what's new with us at www.biketalk.us

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the time: 10am
by bike talk 01 May '09

01 May '09

forgot the time of the meeting: 10am. also, http://tinyurl.com/dm2jtz for description -- please let me know if you want to be taken off this list. Hear Bike Talk! live on www.killradio.org, 10am-noon Saturdays. Hear the podcast at kpfk.org: http://www.kpfk.org/programs/170-bike-talk.html See what's new with us at www.biketalk.us

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Cycling tent
by Amber Barnes 01 May '09

01 May '09

Saw this while perusing for a solo tent and thought some of ya'll might find it interesting too. It's a bike touring tent that actually uses your frame and wheels in lieu of tent poles. http://www.rei.com/product/732405

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Support Cyclists at Van Nuys Meeting today
by bike talk 01 May '09

01 May '09

Today, Cyclists needed at the City Council meeting to protest the way the LAPD treats cyclists on the streets and the LAPDs failure to support cyclists safety on our streets. 6262 VAN NUYS BOULEVARD (3 blocks north of the Orange Line) LA, CA 91401 Contact info for this ride: Stephen Box - 323.962.6540 Bike Talk Tomorrow: "wildman" Todd Lyons, Flatlander Bobby Carter, Michelle Mowery, Senior Project Coordinator in the Project Grants, Bikeways and Enhancement Division of the *Los Angeles* Department of Transportation, and you. -- please let me know if you want to be taken off this list. Hear Bike Talk! live on www.killradio.org, 10am-noon Saturdays. Hear the podcast at kpfk.org: http://www.kpfk.org/programs/170-bike-talk.html See what's new with us at www.biketalk.us

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Insurance
by 1304bikes 01 May '09

01 May '09

Hi all, we here at 1304bikes in Raleigh are getting ready to possibly move out from the building of our fiscal sponsor. We have applied for our own 501(c)(3) status, and are going to start shopping around for insurance. The thing is, we have no idea what to look for in coverage, and what is an acceptable price range. If anyone would be willing to share how much they pay a year and what it covers, we would greatly appreciate it. We are incorporated as a non-profit, and all our bikes are either given away to children, earned through our Adult EAB program, or given out through other established non-profits. We do not sell anything, and don't have a business license, so we may not need any sort of business insurance if such a things exists. Thanks for the help! for 1304bikes, -Doug -- 1304bikes 2419 Mayview Rd. Raleigh, NC 1304bikes.org

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Insurance
by JGammell＠holmesmurphy.com 29 Apr '09

29 Apr '09

Greetings, Doug & Others - I sit on the board of the Des Moines Bicycle Collective, and by day I am an insurance broker focusing on bicycle retailers & related business. I'll share my thoughts to the group, and please feel free to comment. Anyone that hangs a shingle in business exposes themselves to liability in varying degrees, from simple slip & falls on premises, to more complex & costly products liability exposures. Even as a non-profit that doesn't necessarily accept payment for a manufacture a product , there is a payment of sorts in the form of volunteerism for product. Ultimately, an organization that puts a product in the hands of the public bears some product liability. Here in DSM, we sell/give away a number of older & vintage bikes, and the manufacturers of these bikes have long since ceased to exist. That makes your local co-op the last stop in who's responsible for that bike if someone is injured. As with any business endeavor, I would recommend purchasing insurance to cover this exposure. Insurance pricing from co-op to co-op can fluctuate based on any number of variables: square footage, type & age of building you're in, city, state, limits of coverage, etc. Directly comparing pricing can be a little misleading. Most co-ops would fall into a range of 800-1300 for Property & Liability coverage. More importantly, though, is that you're confident that the policy you choose has the coverage you need (coverage for other people's property, personal effects, property off premises, etc.) and is competitively priced for your location/city/state. The only way to do so is to get quotes from multiple carriers. You're not only protecting the co-op as a sustainable entity, but the board members and volunteers. I hope you find the information helpful. Don't hesitate to respond with questions. Regards - Jed Gammell jed gammell, cic account executive & bicycle program director - \o/ holmes murphy & associates p) 515.223.6853 f) 515.221.7155 "it is not enough to understand, or to see clearly. the future will be shaped in the arena of human activity, by those willing to commit their minds and their bodies to the task." - robert kennedy >From: "1304bikes" <1304bikes(a)gmail.com> >To: "The Think Tank" <thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org> >Date: April 29, 2009 08:01:03 AM CDT >Subject: [TheThinkTank] Insurance > >Hi all, we here at 1304bikes in Raleigh are getting ready to possibly move >out from the building of our fiscal sponsor. We have applied for our own >501(c)(3) status, and are going to start shopping around for insurance. The >thing is, we have no idea what to look for in coverage, and what is an >acceptable price range. If anyone would be willing to share how much they >pay a year and what it covers, we would greatly appreciate it. > >We are incorporated as a non-profit, and all our bikes are either given away >to children, earned through our Adult EAB program, or given out through >other established non-profits. We do not sell anything, and don't have a >business license, so we may not need any sort of business insurance if such >a things exists. > >Thanks for the help! > >for 1304bikes, >-Doug > >-- >1304bikes >2419 Mayview Rd. >Raleigh, NC >1304bikes.org >

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Storing Bicycle Forks
by Urban Bike Project Wilmington, DE 29 Apr '09

29 Apr '09

Who's got a good way of keeping forks organized and accessible? We've been hanging them on water pipes, but most people cannot reach and its hard to tell what size they are looking up from the ground. Thanks, Brian Urban Bike Project of Wilmington -a 501(c)3 non-profit bike shop- 1908 N. Market Street (entrance is in the parking lot behind the building) Wilmington, DE 19802 Hours: Thursday 6:30-9:00 Saturday 1:00-4:00 Visit us online at http://urbanbikeproject.org

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