- TheThinkTank - lists.bikecollectives.org

Re: [TheThinkTank] The Cost of Owning a Car
by BovineOaks＠aol.com 19 Mar '09

19 Mar '09

In a message dated 3/19/2009 3:08:18 P.M. Central Daylight Time, rich(a)richpoints.com writes: http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/18/the-costs-of-owning-a-car/ cost to health is not included, or lost of life. but I digress from really big things. Carbon cycles: we have two in this world. One is sustainable: plants bond carbon in the air with water from the ground to make sugar and oxygen, sugar later bonds with oxygen and becomes gas again. The second is not sustainable, We dig carbon out of the ground, (Burn it) Bond it with the Oxygen we need to live. Then we have both less oxygen and no way to put the Carbon back into the ground. A side note: The extra green house gasses will also harm plants and make it harder to have a good carbon cycle, which harms all food, oxygen, and all animals on the planet. How much do cars really cost us? Christopher Wallace **************Feeling the pinch at the grocery store? Make meals for Under $10. (http://food.aol.com/frugal-feasts?ncid=emlcntusfood00000002)

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The Cost of Owning a Car
by Rich Points 19 Mar '09

19 Mar '09

http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/18/the-costs-of-owning-a-car/ -- Rich Points Community Cycles Director http://CommunityCycles.org Rich(a)CommunityCycles.org 720-565-6019 Donate your old car to Community Cycles

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carbon credits
by james blesdoe 19 Mar '09

19 Mar '09

The idea I am proposing is regional, self administered, self funded and self actualized programs. I do not want to wait for government or private bureaucracy to sanction or fund the real value of our cycling activities. A Promise Bikes is actually a commitment made by a bicycle rider to use a bicycle as the primary transportation device in their life. There are several ways participants can enroll in a promise bike program. 1. To pledge to use a bicycle with in a specific geographical area. 2. To pledge to use a bicycle and pubic transportation for all transportation. 3. Agree to log or document miles ridden. 4. Professional cyclist IE. messengers and racers. 5. Documented group rides, critical mass like rides where people use bicycles recreationally and in doing so are choosing to ride instead of drive for and evening. i use critical mass as an example because it is more well known but i really have midnight ridazz in mind. http://www.midnightridazz.com/ is a social phenomena started in Los Angales in 2003 Passing out serialized spoke cards and then riding twenty or thirty miles can add up quickly. Jim

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Women on Bikes
by bike talk 18 Mar '09

18 Mar '09

Hey all, WOMEN ON BIKES this Saturday. just letting you know... also, Thanks for listening. we had 1835 hits on our kpfk podcast shows so far in March, and 2,605 in February. I asked Ali Lexa, the web guy at kpfk, if that's good, and he said: "Hell yeah, that's better than a lot of shows. Look: http://archive.kpfk.org/stats/usage_200902.html Scroll down to Top 250 of 1710 Total URLs You'll see you are 80 out of 250" keep listening, and keep hitting our link at kpfk! it helps. Nick please let me know if you want to be taken off this list. Hear Bike Talk! on kpfk: http://www.kpfk.org/programs/170-bike-talk.html or see what's new with us at biketalk.us

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Bike Lane on Spring Grove/Press Conference!!!
by MoBo Bicycle Co-op 18 Mar '09

18 Mar '09

Dear Fellow MoBo Members, Greg Harris, the newest member of City Council, is planning to introduce a resolution requiring a segregated bike lane on Spring Grove when they initiate the rehab process in the next week or two. He'd like to be surrounded by cyclists when he announces the plan on the steps of City Hall, this coming Tuesday at 1:30 pm. Please invite your other cycling friends and wear MoBo t-shirts if you have them!!! This is the first time that a policy maker has initiated a call to the cycling and pedestrian advocates at Bike Pedestrian Action Committee and he needs some decent visibility if he is going to be re-elected in November. Please come out and support this initiative! All my best, Katie Vogel -- MoBo Bicycle Co-op a project of The Village Green Foundation 1415 Knowlton Ave Northside Cincinnati, OH

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Buying chain in bulk
by BovineOaks＠aol.com 17 Mar '09

17 Mar '09

this chain is good for go carts and mini bikes but not for bikes **************Feeling the pinch at the grocery store? Make meals for Under $10. (http://food.aol.com/frugal-feasts?ncid=emlcntusfood00000002)

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Buying chain in bulk
by Cris Shirley 16 Mar '09

16 Mar '09

Hey! I was referred to this site for buying (bike) chain in bulk. There are several measurements that I don't know what to select: http://www.mcmaster.com/#drive-chain/=1196wd Pitch: (i think this should be 1/2", but maybe it's 3/16) Roller width: ( I thought this should be 3/16ths) Roller diameter: (??) This is what I came up with, I choose steel because it was 1/3 of the price of corrosive resistant steel and 5 times less than Stainless steel. Are these good prices: http://www.mcmaster.com/#drive-chain/=1199db maybe i need to go with the SS which would make this route not worth it Thanks! cris

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Donation tracking
by donaldo donaldson 16 Mar '09

16 Mar '09

Hey Josh, Yeah its a spread sheet that i log all full bicycles in to. But i am not a computer person(ive only had an e-mail add. for 2yrs & iam still scared of it) it was all set up before i landed @ B.W. I could ask more specific questions about it... Basicly, it logs: Make Model Size (inchs/cm) Wheel size Serial number Destinations Under wheel size i usually make a comment if its a hybrid, low bar fram and if its has steel wheels... Our storage area is a block away from our shop, so its important to had some details before we walk customers over there. We do not assign a monetary value to our donations. Thats for the doner to do when they fill out there tax recipet at the time of the drop off. We trak that with a carbon copy to the doner and the original we keep. Oh yeah, yes i am the donald you foated the river with!!! What an epic time that was....hows life man? Feel free to ask more questions..iam still learning and shaping my postion so we could possibly help each other. Its good to hear that yer still up with the BICYCLES!!! Keep up the good work old friend. Donaldo Villarreal Recycling and Reuse Coordinator Bike Works 3709 S. Ferdinand St. Seattle,Wa 98118 (206)725-9408 Ext.3 --- On Sat, 3/14/09, Bike City <bikecityrecyclery(a)gmail.com> wrote: From: Bike City <bikecityrecyclery(a)gmail.com> Subject: Donation tracking To: donaldodonaldson(a)yahoo.com Cc: "Bike City" <bikecityrecyclery(a)gmail.com> Date: Saturday, March 14, 2009, 2:20 PM Hey Donald, Josh here from Bike City Fayetteville, AR. I got your email off the "parts trading" thread. I was wondering how you guys at BW physically record your donations. Is it a spread sheet? Do you assign a monetary value to parts for book keeping? I'm just trying to figure out how to track and record donations-in-kind. Josh p.s. Did you come to arkansas one year and float the buffalo river with us?

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Bike Lane on Spring Grove/Press Conference!!!
by james blesdoe 14 Mar '09

14 Mar '09

Oh I think it is all local and all global. I want to know that is going on in other places, gives us hope and sparks us in thinking about the things we might do. after all it is The Think Tank and by the guide lines of brain storming no idea is to be quashed. now how about them promise bikes?!?!? Jim --- On Sat, 3/14/09, Urban Bike Project Wilmington, DE <urbanbikeproject(a)gmail.com> wrote: From: Urban Bike Project Wilmington, DE <urbanbikeproject(a)gmail.com> Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Bike Lane on Spring Grove/Press Conference!!! To: "The Think Tank" <thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org> Date: Saturday, March 14, 2009, 1:36 PM I don't know how others on the list feel, but I'm against posting area-specific announcements about rides, meetings, and other events that don't pertain to everyone on the ThinkTank. 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 On Fri, Mar 13, 2009 at 4:56 PM, MoBo Bicycle Co-op <mobobicyclecoop(a)gmail.com> wrote: Dear Fellow MoBo Members, Greg Harris, the newest member of City Council, is planning to introduce a resolution requiring a segregated bike lane on Spring Grove when they initiate the rehab process in the next week or two. He'd like to be surrounded by cyclists when he announces the plan on the steps of City Hall, this coming Tuesday at 1:30 pm. Please invite your other cycling friends and wear MoBo t-shirts if you have them!!! This is the first time that a policy maker has initiated a call to the cycling and pedestrian advocates at Bike Pedestrian Action Committee and he needs some decent visibility if he is going to be re-elected in November. Please come out and support this initiative! All my best, Katie Vogel -- MoBo Bicycle Co-op a project of The Village Green Foundation 1415 Knowlton Ave Northside Cincinnati, OH _______________________________________________ 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.… -----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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bike talk on killradio.org live
by bike talk 14 Mar '09

14 Mar '09

Hey! listen in please and call. we're live now (213) 252-0998. topics: is the expo line cancelled? bike summit, the lance armstrong ride, sprinting, muscles, feel my legs ride, artcycle -- please let me know if you want to be taken off this list. Hear Bike Talk! on kpfk: http://www.kpfk.org/programs/170-bike-talk.html or see what's new with us at biketalk.us

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Anyone with Paid Staff have Health Insurance?
by Rich Points 14 Mar '09

14 Mar '09

Hey All, The staff at CC has recently grown to three people. In the interest of taking care of the folks who do such a good job of taking care of the shop we're starting to look into health insurance. I haven't done one Google search yet but I thought I'd check in here first. Let me know if anyone has some leads on health insurance for a small staff. Thanks -- Rich Points Community Cycles Director http://CommunityCycles.org Rich(a)CommunityCycles.org 720-565-6019 Donate your old car to Community Cycles

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Bike Collective Database Project - PHP/MySQL programmer NEEDED!
by R Points 14 Mar '09

14 Mar '09

Hey All, As some of you know I've started building a web based database project that I call the Bike Collective Database Project (BCDP). When complete this system will help facilitate * Stronger program support * Stronger volunteer coordination * Stronger member/donor communications * Stronger fundraising * Stronger administration * Stronger inventory management * Stronger development * Stronger service * Stronger reporting/board communications * Transportable to other collective sites At this point I've built the system out as far as my skills allow. To finish the project I need a PHP/MySQL programmer. I've done several craigs posts here locally and no one has stepped up. If you or someone you know is good with PHP/MySQL and has some free time please get in touch with me. Thanks -- Rich Points Community Cycles Director http://CommunityCycles.org Rich(a)CommunityCycles.org 720-565-6019 Donate your old car to Community Cycles

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Bike Collective Database Project - PHP/MySQL programmer NEEDED!
by Rich Points 14 Mar '09

14 Mar '09

Hey All, As some of you know I've started building a web based database project that I call the Bike Collective Database Project (BCDP). When complete this system will help facilitate * Stronger program support * Stronger volunteer coordination * Stronger member/donor communications * Stronger fundraising * Stronger administration * Stronger inventory management * Stronger development * Stronger service * Stronger reporting/board communications * Transportable to other collective sites At this point I've built the system out as far as my skills allow. To finish the project I need a PHP/MySQL programmer. I've done several craigs posts here locally and no one has stepped up. If you or someone you know is good with PHP/MySQL and has some free time please get in touch with me. Thanks -- Rich Points Community Cycles Director http://CommunityCycles.org Rich(a)CommunityCycles.org 720-565-6019 Donate your old car to Community Cycles

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What information do you track monthly?
by Carl Voss 12 Mar '09

12 Mar '09

Hello from chilly Des Moines! The Des Moines Bicycle Collective is just about to hit its first anniversary. Miracle of miracles, we're still above water. What have you experienced collectives learned is important to track regarding shop activities? We think these things are key (especially for applying for grants): *bikes received *bikes given away *bikes sold *Earn-A-Bike completions *bikes recycled/sent to scrapper *tires recycled/sent to scrapper *volunteer hours Are we missing anything? A couple board members want to create an entry for each bike received (record serial number) and track hours spent on fixing, parts/tires invested. Seems a bit over the top when we're still scratching and clawing for volunteers. But, willing to listen to the voices of experience. Carl carlvoss(a)mac.com Mobile: 515-210-0237

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Managing cash
by Mark Rehder 11 Mar '09

11 Mar '09

How do folks deal with the cash issue? We currently just have a metal cashbox in a desk drawer, and only staff have access to it. But we've doubled our staff over the past year, and have new ones coming on board. Our bookkeeper is a bit concerned about so many people having unchecked access to the cash, especially on busy nights when there can b a couple hundred dollars in small bills. (The box is put away after each shift in a hiding place, and excess cash removed on a nightly basis during the busy season.) Our transactions are currently just written into a book, but it's looking like having a cash register is going to be the smart way to go, both for security as well as tracking transactions. We currently are cash-only, no Interac or Visa. Mark Rehder - Director re-Cycles Bicycle Co-op http://re-cycles.ca

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Networking and Parts
by donaldo donaldson 10 Mar '09

10 Mar '09

Hey yalls, Bike Works in Seattle has a super awesome position in our org. the Recycling & Reuse Coordinator!! Thats me..donald. Its a new position as of a year ago. Ive had the privilege of developing this potion and having a super fun time doing it. Basically i keep track of every and all donations that come through Bike Works. Whole bikes to misc. parts and accessories. When donations come in, i do a evaluation of each bike and box of misc. parts and then decide where its gonna go with in the org., with in the city, or beyond...as of present B.W. has been sending bikes and things to Africa through the Village Bicycle Project. An excellent outlet for our beefy MTB's(Next, Murry,Huffys,Verticals) some cruisers,those bikes and parts that just dont make the cut for our youth programing or the shop and the crazie amounts of knobby tires. As for keeping it local, I send goodies over to the Bikery!! Our buddy down the way.(thebikery.org) We send our bunk tubes to a local bag making company, Alchemy Goods.And If its an unusable metal waste, theres a local hero by the name of Carter who i call up and he comes by to pick all of our taco'ed wheels and busted up frames. Anyways, ive been day dreaming for a year now about how awsome it would be if i could do even more sharing of goods. I spent 4 years of my life in the amazing undergrounds of BICAS in tucson where next to nothing went wasted. If there was a way to get some of the sweet cruisers and excellent art materials to them or some one closer i tottally would..well i guess what iam sayin is, hey Bike Works has a lot of cool stuff, were here if you need us!!! But how we going to move all this great stuff from point A to pioint B? BIKE LOVE FOREVER Donald Villarreal Recycling and Reuse Coordinator Bike Works 3709 S. Ferdinand St. Seattle, Washington 98118 www.bikeworks.org (206)725-9408 Building sustainable communities by educating youth and promoting bicycling. --- On Mon, 3/9/09, veganboyjosh(a)gmail.com <veganboyjosh(a)gmail.com> wrote: From: veganboyjosh(a)gmail.com <veganboyjosh(a)gmail.com> Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Networking and Parts To: "The Think Tank" <thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org> Date: Monday, March 9, 2009, 4:45 PM the moving of bikes and parts is expensive, since they're either packed very densely, and heavy, or not packed very densely and also not packed efficiently. the idea of sharing parts and things has crossed my mind, and while i do think there's a place for it, i think some centralized body that coordinates and/or moves the things is a bit out of our reach at the current state of the bike collective network (if indeed that is who is going to oversee this...) what about some sort of message board or something that is for things like this? some sort of "items wanted/items offered" freecycle style thing that's just for bike collectives? On Mon, Mar 9, 2009 at 4:14 PM, Rigel Christian <rigelc(a)gmail.com> wrote: well, the idea we had discussed/daydreamed about was along the lines of having an organization/network whose task was to coordinate parts transfers to and from co-ops in different regions or even countries. it seems like having a way to move parts whose logistical burden is not borne by the shops would be helpful in getting new donation-based co-ops started up, as well as help filling in the gaps for shops that are experiencing lean times, as parts donations go. On Mon, Mar 9, 2009 at 2:43 PM, Tom Anderson-Monterosso <tommonterosso(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Hi Bike Kitchen! > > I used to work at the Oberlin Bike Co-op in Oberlin, Ohio. We had friendly > relations with Ohio City Bicycle Co-op in Cleveland (35 miles away). Being > in the center of a metropolitan region, they generally received more and > better quality donations than did our co-op. On more than one occasion we > hauled off a pick-up truck load of their surplus three-speeds and > coaster-brake bikes. These bikes were typically of more use in our small, > flat college town than in their big, not-completely-flat city. No money > changed hands; it was all good will. (Thanks, Jim!) We also worked together > on Co-op-to-Co-op Rides. > > More sought-after bits like suntour barcons would probably keep their > assigned monetary value in an exchange, but we wouldn't hesitate to call and > see what they had in their bins. > > Keeping other co-ops in your region aware of any especially large parts > surpluses is a great idea. I suppose just saying, "hey, we're here if you > need us," is a good place to start. > > Tom > > On Mon, Mar 9, 2009 at 4:33 PM, Rigel Christian <rigelc(a)gmail.com> wrote: >> >> Hi, >> >> Me and some of the mechanics at our co-op (www.bikekitchen.org) were >> talking about advocacy, the proliferation of bike collectives, and of >> course as bike geeks tend to do, parts. >> >> I know some collectives have more parts or material resources of a >> certain type than they can handle, and others have less. Are there >> already parts-sharing agreements between co-ops in other areas of the >> world? If another co-op from 50+ miles away called you up asking if >> you had, for example, some suntour indexed 7-speed barcons, how would >> you handle that? >> >> It's just a thought experiment, but I'm curious to find out how other >> groups already share, or if there are ideas on how to more efficiently >> share the parts donations that come in, so as to maximize the >> allocation of available resources. >> >> Cheers. >> _______________________________________________ >> 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.… > > > _______________________________________________ > 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.… > > _______________________________________________ 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.… _______________________________________________ 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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The relative height of Dutch people vs. Immigrants in Holland
by Wendy Monroe 10 Mar '09

10 Mar '09

> My observations on immigrants and Dutch bikes: > > Dutch people are the tallest on average, in Europe. The smallest > adult womens' bike I have seen parked on the street in Amsterdam, is > 50 cm. > There is much unspoken peer pressure to ride these archetypical 45- > lb. black 1- or 3-speed bikes. I am guessing that immigrants > wishing to integrate will try extra-hard to conform by trying to > ride these bikes.. which I suspect is a lousy experience for > them.... no wonder they prefer to take the bus! > > Moroccan immigrants are about my size, 5' 1". They are hard-put to > even reach the pedals on these black bohemoths. > So, they find themselves either stretching ridiculously far to ride > a 50 cm. woman's black bohemoth... or riding kids' bikes with 20" or > 24" wheels. > > Furthermore: I have been tasked with adjusting the entire fleet of > childrens' bikes that the Moroccan immigrant women are riding in > their bike lessons... > NO one was doing this, before I came along, apparently... they had > been learning to ride on bikes with squishy tires and rubbing > brakes, in some cases... > > They have also been learning to ride on bikes with rock-hard €3 > narrow plastic saddles, and ( typically) about 10 lbs. of tire > pressure. No doubt they have been wondering how anyone could > possibly enjoy such an experience as bike riding... if only I could > communicate easily with them...! > > My Dutch is not that great yet, and a lot of the Moroccan immigrants > in our neighborhood are still learning to speak Dutch themselves... > so most of my insights on bike riding among immigrants come from > riding with my Moroccan friend Mina Menaffi, ( whom I met in Dutch > Language class) and who speaks English.. > > I built up a cute little one-speed bike with 20" wheels, a > comfortable womens' saddle, and a coaster brake for Mina. > > We went out riding in Amsterdam... at every intersection she would > be very nervous, and tell me that it was very dangerous. > > Now, I know Mina is a smart person.... I explained that the > mortality rates for cyclists in the Netherlands are the lowest of > any nation in the world... and point out that the system of parellel > bike roads in Amsterdam insures ultra-safety for cyclists, at least > compared to what I was used to in California... Hell, even that Auto > drivers in Amsterdam are deathly afraid to hit cyclists, as the > accident is automatically their fault unless they can prove > otherwise, according to Dutch law. > > None of these arguments helped her feel more safe, however. So > whenever we got to an intersection where cars were present, we > walked our bikes across. And we made sure to ride in some of the > big parks in Amsterdam, such as the Amsterdamse Bos, and > Vondelpark. And we had a lot of fun. As far as I could tell, the > idea of being hit by a car, is what keeps her from riding her bike > to ..Centraal Station from her apartment. There are a lot of > intersections to walk one's bike across... better to take the tram. > > There is the whole learning-to-balance aspect of why immigrants are > reluctant to ride bikes, but that is something that once overcome, > is not a problem ever again. (right?) > > The bike lessons are taught out of the neighborhood community > centers... every neighborhood has one, and where women congregate > there for a lot of other activities.. get-togethers, lessons of > various types... even an Obama Election party.. which I happened > upon, in which the Turkish and Moroccan women were celebrating by > making Turkish Pizzas and dancing to Rai Music! > ... bike lessons are presented as just another fun activity.... > > About coming to visit us in Amsterdam... It appears that my Dutch > consultant and I have found a neighborhood shop space for the bike > center.. it is still tentative at this point... but I am hoping it > would be possible for you and your wife to crash there, if worst > comes to worst... By the time the weather turns warm, we would have > a lot more information... > > We're invited streams of friends and relatives to visit us from the > U.S., and some of them are actually coming... but not sure exactly > when... etc. so I can't extend any promises on space in our > apartment... more info coming soon, hopefully, on shop space an > availability... > > As to whether we are permanent here... > > I am writing a business plan to show to Dutch Immigration... if they > approve it we get to stay for another year. Meanwhile I am laying > the groundwork for setting up a Dutch non-profit corporation... > which is unspeakably complicated, compared to doing the same thing > in California... there is no Nolo Press book to guide a person with > that here. > > Short answer... we are doing our damndest to stay here long-term. > However Dutch immigration policy may be affected by the so-called > 'Krediet Crisis'... we will have to see how bad it gets. > > Regards, > > Wendy > > > > Op Mar 10, 2009, om 6:33 AM heeft Rigel Christian het volgende > geschreven: > >> I think that the mobility thing is precisely what the religio- >> cultural >> proscriptions are trying to avoid. kind of like japanese foot- >> binding. >> its not particularly logical, i guess, but there are certain barriers >> to entry for both driving an automobile as well as use of public >> transportation, that a bike just doesnt have. this makes the latter >> form the most difficult to control. >> >> i'm at a disadvantage here without knowing the lay of the cultural >> land, but i think that if you could find a major women-only cultural >> activity to hawk your bike wares to, so to speak, then that might >> be a >> better sell. the american analog of what im trying to get at would be >> going to the sewing circle and saying "hey, we have bikes for you to >> use if you'd like." maybe that's been tried, but i tend to think that >> ethnic woman-specific cultural activities dont have a whole lot of >> visibility in the broader culture. >> >> incidentally, regarding your earlier invite to show us around, the >> wife and i were talking about our trip tonight and we really dont >> have >> the money to do the trip we'd like. if you have some crash space, >> where we could sleep in a garage or something (we have air >> mattresses, >> sleeping bags, etc) for four or five days, we might be able to >> actually do a ten day europe trip. the cost of housing being what it >> is, even hostels, its otherwise pretty untenable for us at this >> point. >> we might still pull something off, but its gonna take a lot of >> charity >> and couches. >> >> do you two plan on coming back stateside anytime soon? i mean, is >> this location temporary for you or permanent? >> >> On Mon, Mar 9, 2009 at 9:25 PM, Wendy Monroe <wendy.monroe(a)usermail.com >> > wrote: >>> HI Christine, >>> Thanks for the links... they are certainly food for thought. >>> Would it show >>> cultural insensitivity on my part to try to win the immigrant >>> population of >>> Amsterdam Noord over to the cycling lifestyle? >>> One thing I have personally observed... the women who show up at >>> the bicycle >>> lessons are not really enthused about the cycling itself. It is >>> more that >>> they get a chance to hang out and mingle together outside their >>> homes. >>> This research result ( In the German study) does not surprise me: >>> 'Even after comprehensive training and instruction, cycling is for >>> many of >>> them an “uncanny,” “dangerous,” and also “weird” activity >>> predominantly >>> reserved for the ethnic Dutch' >>> Yup, that would explain a few things... >>> I used to think that, given the vast sums of money spent by the >>> Dutch >>> government .. tens of millions of euros each year!!... to encourage >>> immigrant women to ride bikes, a more effective campaign might be >>> to instead >>> send teams of cyclists to rove around major cities in Holland, >>> handing out >>> 20 euro notes, to each woman seen riding along with a head scarf >>> on...every >>> single day. >>> I am also wondering how well an earn-a-bike program might go over >>> in a youth >>> population of Moroccans,... ' where the bicycle has a bad image >>> and little >>> status value..' >>> Would they even show up for such a program? >>> I'm thinking an earn-a-bike program might be a tough sell, unless >>> it is >>> marketed as job-training of sorts, for a future career of >>> repairing scooters >>> and cars. It is a sorry state of affairs, to those of us who came >>> from a >>> California-style bike culture. But it may be the social reality >>> here. >>> Oh Noooo... I just started reading the second article...( thanks, >>> Google >>> Translate!) >>> "The latest controversy reported by the website Elaph.com >>> "(29/12/207) is a >>> sad illustration, verging on the ridiculous, as was the fatwa on" >>> nursing >>> major. "Indeed, the last discovery of a fatwa that forbids Muslim >>> women to >>> practice cycling, because according to the religion that spread, >>> "straddle >>> the saddle of the bicycle engender women as sexual arousal, and >>> the bike >>> becomes this point of view, a prohibited object. " >>> My first reaction being, ' Oh damn, now Men know our Secret!!' >>> (Just kidding.) >>> I don't even know what to say, after reading THAT. I guess I will >>> sign off >>> and read the rest of that article... >>> cheers, >>> Wendy >>> _______________________________________________ >>> 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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Job at Bikes Not Bomba
by arik grier 10 Mar '09

10 Mar '09

JOB OPENING at Bikes Not Bombs: YOUTH PROGRAMMING DIRECTOR Please submit a cover letter and résumé to hiring(a)bikesnotbombs.org before March 23rd. Target start date is May 4th. www.bikesnotbombs.org MISSION Lasting peace and social justice require equitable and sustainable use of resources. BNB provides community-based education and assists development projects with recycled bicycles, related technologies and technical assistance, as concrete alternatives to the militarism, over-consumption & inequality that breed war and environmental destruction. Our organization is part of a worldwide movement for peace and responsible stewardship of the earth. HISTORY BNB began in 1984 as an environmentally conscious campaign in support of social change in favor of the poor in Nicaragua. In 1990, BNB began to pursue its mission in Boston’s most impover ished neigh bor hoods. Today, we operate a thriving Bicycle Recycling and Youth Train ing Center where we offer six unique, high-quality programs that empower and orga nize youth and their families to work towards long- term change. Our programs create real com mun ity, with long-term, positive relationships built across lines of age, race, and class. POSITION Bikes Not Bombs (BNB) seeks to hire a Youth Programming Director to oversee our youth programs. This is a full-time, salaried position with benefits. Salary range is $30,000 – 32,000. The Youth Programming Director reports to the Executive Director. RESPONSIBILITIES * Manage ongoing development of youth program curricula to ensure programs are best fulfilling and strengthening the organization’s mission of youth development, environmental stewardship, and social justice. * In collaboration with Youth Program Team, develop annual goals and objectives for youth programs, and develop and implement tools for effective program evaluation. * Supervise, evaluate, and support the professional development and growth of adult youth program staff (currently one full-time staff member). * Identify volunteer and intern staffing needs for youth programs. Manage volunteers and interns. * Oversee Youth Instructor Program: recruit, hire, supervise, evaluate and support the professional development and growth of youth staff (6-10 during the school year, 12-20 during the summer). * Design, implement, and evaluate Youth Instructor training and leadership opportunities: implement three weeklong training sessions per year. * Oversee recruitment of youth for Vocational Education program; support retention of youth in the program. * Connect teen leaders and program participants to service, opportunity, and support resources inside and outside of BNB. * Oversee use and maintenance of BNB equipment, space, tools, and parts for program activities. * Plan and facilitate regular team meetings. * Build collaborations with fellow youth workers and community organizations in order to maximize programming resources and impact. * Build BNB's collaborations with Boston area schools and community centers, connecting cycling and mechanics to students' academic success, physical and emotional fitness, and sense of civic engagement. * Work with fellow community organizations to host events that further youth empowerment and overall BNB mission. * Plan and coordinate periodic Youth Programs events to further youth development and build the BNB youth community. * Facilitate exchange and interaction between Youth Programs and other BNB departments. * Develop annual budget for youth programs and monitor expenses. * With the Executive Director and other development staff, identify, draft, and report on grants. Help to develop strategies for new revenue streams (e.g., fee for service activities). * Represent Bikes Not Bombs to funders, allied organizations, parents, and the general public in collaboration with development and youth program staff. * Report regularly to Executive Director on program results and needs. The ideal candidate will have the following characteristics and experience: * Ability to be both a creative, strategic visionary and a practical thinker * Self-motivated, highly organized, systems oriented * Strong written and verbal communication skills * Excellent interpersonal skills (one-on-one and in a group format), cultural competency, strong listening skills * Experience in program management and staff/volunteer supervision, with the ability to mentor, motivate, prioritize, and set clear expectations * Experience with and interest in developing youth organizing component of programming. * 2+ years experience working directly with 10-18 year olds * Deep knowledge of Boston neighborhoods, schools, and resources, including the dynamics of the neighborhoods surrounding BNB * Understanding of and commitment to positive youth development * Strong bike mechanics skills and knowledge of safe urban riding * Demonstrated commitment to inspiring environmental stewardship and social justice * Ability to be a compelling advocate for youth both within and outside BNB * Facility with Macintosh computers, and experience using MS Word and Excel * Experience developing and managing budgets * Strong collaborator, able to work with a team and adapt quickly to changing situations * Skills in program evaluation and curriculum development * Must be willing and able to work after-school program schedule and some Saturdays * Multilingual/Bilingual (Spanish, English, Haitian Creole and/or Cape Verdean Creole) candidates highly preferred * Must love bikes! Please submit a cover letter and résumé to hiring(a)bikesnotbombs.org before March 23rd. Target start date is May 4th. Bikes Not Bombs encourages applicants of diverse age, ethnicity, gender, nationality, physical ability, religion, and sexuality. Women and people of color highly encouraged to apply. ------------- Bikes Not Bombs www.bikesnotbombs.org 617-522-0222

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Managing Cash
by Wilbur Ince 10 Mar '09

10 Mar '09

After reading Dave's excellent account of their exploits, I realize what links their experience with ours. You need dedicated talented righteous volunteers to tackle and conquer these projects! Thanks Dave and the many others that have come before us so that we can stand on their shoulders and see farther than we ever have before! Wilbur

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Managing Funds
by Wilbur Ince 10 Mar '09

10 Mar '09

Here in Saint Paul the Sibley Bike Depot uses QuickBooks for managing our finances. We have used this program for 7 years now, and it's a great tool. We use it as a register, and run all sales through the it to collect and report sales taxes. We keep our checking account balance there, and can generate spending reports. For cash control, we do a nightly deposit and send a small till home with the volunteers for the next day business. We keep NO money in the shop after hours, it only took a few break ins to realize that. Once thieves realize that you keep money in the till, you will get visitors! We have just a few designated cash handlers that take care of cash and recording sales. We have more than one person reviewing our finances, and rotate our treasurer position every few years. No sense tempting anyone with embezzlement. We have a checking account, and a credit card account, and a card machine. We are now investing in a cell-phone card machine for our sales at remote locations - mostly student sales at colleges. This has been a great market for us. We partner with the campus organizations, and create a bike club. We work with the college to collect abandoned bikes, and we have sales to incoming students. It's a true reuse and recycling project! Our shop has grown dramatically over the last few years, and the financial controls we put in place have been a life-saver for us! Wilbur Ince Sibley Bike Depot

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Fwd: FW: ACTION ALERT! Bike Path on Expo Line!
by bike talk 09 Mar '09

09 Mar '09

If you're not on the LACBC email list, and you live in L.A., you should email Aurisha(a)la-bike.org to get on it. If you don't live in L.A., sorry about this...disregard, unless you plan to visit. This is an important issue if you want to make a bike path from downtown to Santa Monica. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 9 Mar 2009 20:21:39 -0400 From: aurisha(a)la-bike.org To: nickrichert(a)hotmail.com Subject: ACTION ALERT! Bike Path on Expo Line! [image: Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition] EXPO LIGHT RAIL ACTION ALERT! TAKE ACTION TODAY! BACKGROUND: A new light rail line, called the Expo Line, will eventually extend from downtown to Santa Monica. The project is divided into two phases. Phase I is under construction and will end at Robertson & Venice in Culver City. Phase II will extend the line from there to Santa Monica. Phase II is still in planning phase and a draft environmental impact report was released last week. One of items that have been promised for the Expo Line is a bikeway adjacent to the train line. This would create a continuous bikeway from Santa Monica to downtown if it were built! Recently, the Expo Construction Authority (Expo) decided NOT to include the bikeway in the environmental review for Expo Phase 2, to avoid the burden of doing a federal environmental impact statement. Thus, there is no central authority coordinating engineering and construction of the bikeway. Now, there are serious uncertainties about how, when or if an Expo Bikeway will ever be built! As cyclists, we need to demand that the bike path be built simultaneously with the rail line! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TAKE ACTION NOW! 1) Comment on DEIR! Comments are due March 13th! Comment online: http://www.buildexpo.org/phase2_overview.php<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102496988882&e=001fyCGmEddhsmkqYX295qvmPdIsPwkChJ…> E-mail: phase2(a)exporail.net 2) E-mail key decisionmakers! See contact info below ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- KEY POINTS TO MAKE: · The bikeway must be built simultaneously with the Expo Line. If it is not included in the environmental review, we need a commitment and a plan from Expo on engineering and construction will happen. · If the Expo Bikeway is not built at the same time as the rail line, costs will increase dramatically and construction difficulties will arise if Expo does not provide space for the bike path. · The goal of the Expo Line is to reduce auto use. The bikeway is a critical component for achieving this. It can deliver transit users to stations without car trips and provides a much-needed crosstown commuter bikeway. · Expo will be starting preliminary engineering soon. The bikeway must be included in this. · The Expo Bikeway is a wonderful opportunity to expand our network of safe bike routes for a growing community of cyclists. Send comments via e-mail to ALL people below: Jan Perry Jan.Perry(a)lacity.org Expo Board Chair and LA City Council Member, 9th District Herb Wesson,Jr. councilmember.wesson(a)lacity.org Expo Board Vice-Chair and LA City Council Member, 10th District Pam O'Connor pam.oconnor(a)smgov.net Expo and Metro Board Member, Santa Monica City Council Member Zev Yaroslavsky zev(a)bos.lacounty.gov Expo and Metro Board Member, LA County Supervisor, Third District Scott Malsin scott.malsin(a)culvercity.orgExpo Board Member, Mayor, Culver City Bernard Parks councilmember.parks(a)lacity.org Expo Board Member, LA City Council Member, 8th district Mark Ridley-Thomas seconddistrict(a)bos.lacounty.gov Expo Board Member, L.A. County Supervisor, Second District Forward email<http://ui.constantcontact.com/sa/fwtf.jsp?m=1101346331824&ea=nickrichert@ho…> [image: Safe Unsubscribe]<http://visitor.constantcontact.com/d.jsp?v=001_D6q8SmIH1rsbFWGoTNs9MJiDTciL…> This email was sent to nickrichert(a)hotmail.com by aurisha(a)la-bike.org. Update Profile/Email Address<http://visitor.constantcontact.com/d.jsp?v=001_D6q8SmIH1rsbFWGoTNs9MJiDTciL…>| Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe<http://visitor.constantcontact.com/d.jsp?v=001_D6q8SmIH1rsbFWGoTNs9MJiDTciL…>™ | Privacy Policy <http://ui.constantcontact.com/roving/CCPrivacyPolicy.jsp>. Email Marketing <http://www.constantcontact.com/index.jsp?cc=news01> by <http://www.constantcontact.com/index.jsp?cc=news01> Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition | 634 S. Spring Street | Suite 821 | Los Angeles | CA | 90014 ------------------------------ What can you do with the new Windows Live? Find out<http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/default.aspx> -- please let me know if you want to be taken off this list. Hear Bike Talk! on kpfk: http://www.kpfk.org/programs/170-bike-talk.html or see what's new with us at biketalk.us

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Networking and Parts
by Rigel Christian 09 Mar '09

09 Mar '09

Hi, Me and some of the mechanics at our co-op (www.bikekitchen.org) were talking about advocacy, the proliferation of bike collectives, and of course as bike geeks tend to do, parts. I know some collectives have more parts or material resources of a certain type than they can handle, and others have less. Are there already parts-sharing agreements between co-ops in other areas of the world? If another co-op from 50+ miles away called you up asking if you had, for example, some suntour indexed 7-speed barcons, how would you handle that? It's just a thought experiment, but I'm curious to find out how other groups already share, or if there are ideas on how to more efficiently share the parts donations that come in, so as to maximize the allocation of available resources. Cheers.

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Re: [TheThinkTank] carbon bike credits
by jamesbleds0e＠yahoo.com 09 Mar '09

09 Mar '09

Grey, Thanks for your response, I too have attempted to contact various cap and trade outfits with no response from any of them. You have had more luck. I do not trust the big boys to ever or in time for us to make faster or more dramatic changes to the car based transportation system get us money for using bicycles. The idea I am proposing is a regional, self administered, self funded and self actualized program. I do not want to wait for government or bureaucracy to sanction or fund our various cycle-centric organizations This is a program to collectively do it our selves. Your program is exactly the level that this system will benefit. Community bike shops like the Bike Kitchen earn funds through their wrenching and sales activities. Organizations such as bicycle coalitions and other traditional grant funded non-profits need a ready source of income. The promise side of this will help to identify and unite cyclist in addition to giving validity to our offset claims. Having a box on your web site by June of this year will allow you to sell the carbon credits you have received from local bicycle riders who have enrolled in your promise bike program. We can do this now. go to /promisebike.wetpaint.com This Wiki is for the development of the promise bike carbon credit exchange system.

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Carbon credits generated by riding bicycles
by jamesbleds0e＠yahoo.com 08 Mar '09

08 Mar '09

Hi All, Just yesterday while attending "Bike Summit " an idea of accessing the carbon credits we bicycle riders constantly accrue solidified. The key is the promise bike. Thanks to Bill Wright of The Arcata Bike Library who reserves the nicer library bikes for patrons who promise not to use a car in town. Bill keeps track of the number of promise bikes and then makes claims to local institutions that provide parking for cars. He is providing a value because the bicycle riders do not require a $43,000 parking space. He sent a bill to the local college for millions payable over thirty years. Here is the adaptation of the Promise Bike to carbon credits. When we ride our bikes the miles traveled represent carbon not burnt by making the same trip in a car. When a cyclist enrolls in the local promise bike program phe (a gender neutral pro-noun replacing the cumbersome he/she) creates carbon credits which are donated to a local cycle-centric organization. That local organization can then sell the credits to concerned but still car driving individuals, or when a person fly in an airplane they can buy promise bike carbon credits. This is the basic idea. I see this as having a huge potential for many aspects of our sheared mission. (The replacement of the automobile as the primary transportation choice for humans in general) 1. A method of capitalizing the riding of a bicycle 2. A method of documenting the use of bicycles 3. A source of funding for cycle-centric organizations 4. An opportunity for persons who are concerned but not able for what ever reason to participate directly in the new economy and sustainable lifestyle options. What I propose is we (the bicycle collective) collaborate on a wiki to forge this program. The tasks I see are: 1. What does a carbon credit certificate look like? 2. How do we establish the promise bike program? Where do you go to sign up? How is the integrity of these certificates substantiated? 3. Establishing a monetary value for our carbon credits. I see this as one more organ in our revolution. We are pillars in this community. Roll on Jim

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last Saturday and our website
by bike talk 08 Mar '09

08 Mar '09

Hi Everybody, Our new website has our last eight shows up on it. Thanks for downloading at kpfk.org. We had a great time at the Bike Summit last Saturday, and streamed live for the second time in Bike Talk!'s history. the week after next is Women on Bikes again. Listen for it, and if you're a woman, come on down. Be well, talk soon. Nick -- please let me know if you want to be taken off this list. Hear Bike Talk! on kpfk: http://www.kpfk.org/programs/170-bike-talk.html or see what's new with us at biketalk.us

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