- TheThinkTank - lists.bikecollectives.org

Online Collaboration Tool
by Jesse Doud 01 Apr '13

01 Apr '13

Hi everyone! During a bike tour of New Zealand over the past three months, I visited the collectives and kept hearing about this tool called Loomio. Now I've settled in Wellington and started working with the team building the software. Loomio.org started when members of the occupy wellington movement found that some individual voices were drowning out others in general assembly meetings and started making a free online tool that would promote equity and direct democracy in decision making amongst groups. A year later and they have 3000 groups signed up from all over the world, most recently Wellington city council. The feedback we're getting is that it reduces the amount of emailing to come to decisions. I think that could be a helpful tool for bike collectives, not as a replacement to meetings, but as an additional consensus building resource for the in-between, internety times. Here's the website: https://www.loomio.org/ Here's a demo of how the tool works: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIEyNNcXbZA Anywho, I'm obvs really jazzed to be on the loomio team, just wanted to put it out there amongst you fine folks! Cheers, Jesse

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Help: The ULTIMATE program handbook!
by Chauncey Tudhope-Locklear 30 Mar '13

30 Mar '13

Hey there friendly people, I am in the process of putting together an internal program handbook that will provide any new instructors an outline/understanding of our programs. I'm looking for #1. Your general feedback of the table of contents #2. A copy of your organization's similar handbook #3. A list of additional fun games/activities that you think should be in this handbook. I'm looking to pack a dozen or so descriptions/illustrations of games and activities that instructors can use to teach classes. For instance, a bike scavenger hunt where you hide different bike/tools parts in a given area and they have to fine each one and do a certain task before they can move on to the next activity. Below is the table of contents-- * The ReCyclery Ultimate Program Handbook Table of contents-- 1. Overall mission and vision of The ReCyclery. 2. How programs serve our mission and vision. Program Values-- fun, safety, experiential, environmental stewardship, riding skills, 3. Program delivery philosophy (What is the ReCyclery way to teach cycling education? What is our method?) -Direct participation -fun games/activities that involve/use skills being taught 4. List of types of educational programs (safety and riding skills) and HOW TO DO IT! (Lesson Plans, activities, games, instructions, safety considerations) -2 hour workshops/classes -Day long classes -3-5 day long camp sessions (3-5 hours) -2-4 day bike trips -Series classes -unicycle -womens bike night -welding -DIY panniers class 5. Tricks of the trade for Instructors (other ideas, games, ropes course activities etc.) 6. Setting up and running programs (marketing, insurance, recruiting participants, registration, etc.)* * * * * -- Sincerely, Chauncey Tudhope-Locklear (Executive Director) The ReCyclery 1925 Blaine St. STE #500 Port Townsend, WA 98368 360-643-0734 (personal cell) www.ptrecyclery.org "Health and Sustainability through Bicycles"

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Policy on Profiteering from Community Bike Shops
by Vernon Huffman 28 Mar '13

28 Mar '13

This is the proposed policy we are now considering in Corvallis, Oregon. Pricing/Sorting Policy Only Shop Managers may set prices on bicycles and bicycles parts and decide whether bicycles should be stripped, recycled, or repaired. Discrepancies between Shop Managers' pricing and pricing techniques are expected. Shop Managers must use their best judgment, be impartial, and avoid making decisions where they may have a conflict of interest. We believe that bicycles are valuable and prices should be set which respect that value. We do not want collectors scooping up deals to quickly flip and resell. We are not a thrift store and we are not out to undercut the prices and profitability of the bike shops. They are among our best allies. We want people to come out and use our shop to build the bike they'll want to ride every day. We want to empower people to apply whatever they have toward obtaining a bicycle that fits well and works reliably. General Rules/Practices for determining prices: * Parts Pricing Chart * Range on used items; shop managers may use their discretion to go outside range * Fixed prices on resale of new items which shop managers may not deviate from * Free parts if the bike was bought from us and works on it in the shop * Limited to individual usedparts worth less than $20 * Excludes “as is” bikes * High-quality parts * Special, particularly high-quality or rare parts should be individually tagged with a price. * We don’t hide parts from the public, but special parts may be designated for a specific bicycle when appropriate. * Adjusting Prices * Any Shop Manager can raise or lower the price of any bike or part below $200. * The price on any bike or part above $200 prices can only be lowered by consensus of two shop managers * Shop managers may not purposefully over-value a bicycle to save it or because they are attached. INCENTIVE POLICY In order to promote its mission of increasing bicycle ridership in the Corvallis area and to encourage and reward its volunteers for their efforts, the Corvallis Bicycle Collective offers the following program for its volunteers: Any volunteer who has finished building, repairing, or overhauling two working bicycles for the Collective may take and keep the bicycle of lessor value or a different bicycle of equal value. The Collective, may permit a volunteer to offer the equivalent effort of shop volunteer duties in lieu of rebuilding one or both bicycles. No volunteer may take more than one bike per year under this program, nor any bike valued in excess of $300. The Collective, may offer free, used replacement parts to continuing volunteers as may be required for the operation of a bicycle owned by the volunteer. Anybody who buys a bike or receives an incentive bike, other than one marked “as is” from the CBC may add or replace any parts or accessories worth less than $20 each to that bike in our shop at no additional cost. This is to give incentive for people to do the work in our shop. As a learning shop, we all benefit from others working there. If you know what you're doing, we want to watch. If you don't, we want to hear your questions.

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Policy on Profiteering from Community Bike Shops
by troy neiman 28 Mar '13

28 Mar '13

We have had this problem over the years also. We have developed a 1 bike a year policy to try to avoid this with occasional exceptions for stolen bikes, etc. We also have a max on our work trade credit that people can earn of $160. We figure that people can get a good, quality bike for that kind of money but they cant work off the full price of really fancy bikes that we need to sell to help pay our overhead. We dont really have a limit on how much parts people can work for. We have such a high demand for our Work Trade program that we try to get everyone that needs a bike or a repair the opportunity to do so but if people seem to be abusing that then we will give others the priority for work credit over the abuser. We do also sell used parts on the super cheap. We have had minimal problems with this over the years. We have a few people that fix up bikes on the side and come to us to buy parts and bikes. The problem with this is that they often scoff at our already super low prices because they are wanting to make a profit which is not our problem. I will often times give people working on their bikes a much better deal than these guys that are repairing for profit but if they are willing to pay for the parts then we dont really care what they do with it. The other problem is these garage repair guys will come in and try to buy all of our best parts for rock bottom prices. For example, our kickstands are $1 but this guy would come in and buy all 10 of our long aluminum kickstands and then we have only crappy steel and too short kickstands for people that live on their bikes with all their gear and need a good kickstand. So now its sort of a one kickstand, 2 tires, etc at a time and nicer parts and better condition cost more (steel kickstands+$1, Alum=$3). Seems to work pretty well because its still a great deal for people that need to fix their bikes and we get a little more cash flow from these guys even if we have to listen to them whine about the prices. Then there is the ebay crowd which probably made a lot of money off of us for years but now we either sell it in the shop for a still cheap but more fair market value price or we will sell some vintage campy whatever on ebay ourselves and have more cash flow for our programs. ----- Original Message ----- From: Edward Kirkwood Sent: 03/25/13 07:51 AM To: thethinktank(a)lists.bikecollectives.org Subject: [TheThinkTank] Policy on Profiteering from Community Bike Shops I am curious if any of you have had problems with folks using community bike shops to run their own repair business? We currently have some folks who are abusing the privilege of purchasing parts with sweat equity volunteer time and then selling those parts to folks outside the shop. How does your shop police that? Allen Kirkwood

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Volunteer perks and parts
by troy neiman 27 Mar '13

27 Mar '13

Hey all, We are looking into providing discounts on new parts (special order opportunitys) for our long term volunteers. Does anyone else provide this? If so, how does that work for you? How do you track the hours and the volunteers that are able to have this perk? Have you had any problems or people taking advantage of this? What other kinds of perks do folks provide to volunteers? Different levels of volunteering get different perks? Thanks, Troy Neiman BICAS Tucson

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Liability Insurance up in July
by Eric Montgomery 27 Mar '13

27 Mar '13

www.brockvillebikeministry.com is now in our second year. We supply youth ten to twenty years of age the opportunity to do a complete rebuild of the bike of their choice. We teach them weekly all summer long, feed them and supply them with lights, bell, locks, and a helmet along with their bile for free. We would like to get insurance quotes for this year. Is their group insurance available to.us.

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Looking for some volunteer testers
by Godwin ! 26 Mar '13

26 Mar '13

Hey folks, we've been hard at work over the past few weeks putting together a new website for Bike!Bike! and we are looking for people to try their best at breaking it (or just come up with ways to improve it). The site isn't just going to be for this year's conference but is an organization registry and will help organizer and retain information from all Bike!Bike!s, annual and region, past and future. We're looking for a mixture of people who have experience testing and don't, and also have experience running a Bike!Bike! conference and don't. We really just need people to create fake users, organizations, and conferences, register for conferences, administer them, ect. We need people to find bugs, but also look for ways to improve the site in any way. If you're interested, please keep the weight off this list and contact me directly, I'll give you all details you need. Thanks!!.godwin

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Volunteer Coordinator Position
by Tim Buckingham 26 Mar '13

26 Mar '13

As you can see, Broke Spoke is growing like a weed, we have been hitting this list hard the last few days. We are an all volunteer run organization and have the opportunity to create a short-term funded position. We have kicked it around a lot and are looking at a Volunteer Coordinator who will do a lot of behind the scenes work. Including: - Volunteer Recruitment - Volunteer Communications - Volunteer Trainings - Scheduling - etc Shop that have a position such as this or outreach coordinator shop manager, can you send me job descriptions? Cheers Tim

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Policy on Profiteering from Community Bike Shops
by Edward Kirkwood 25 Mar '13

25 Mar '13

I am curious if any of you have had problems with folks using community bike shops to run their own repair business? We currently have some folks who are abusing the privilege of purchasing parts with sweat equity volunteer time and then selling those parts to folks outside the shop. How does your shop police that? Allen Kirkwood

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Volunteer Background Checks
by Tim Buckingham 25 Mar '13

25 Mar '13

At Broke Spoke (Lexington) we are working to improve our volunteer process and how we create shift managers and dull out keys. What type of checks (if any) do other shops use prior to handing out shop keys to volunteers? Any background, employment history, references, etc? Some of these might be barriers as we work with a lot of folks who are in recovery centers, shelters, etc. Any help is greatly appreciated. Cheers Tim

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Sackville Bike Co-Op
by Michael Watkins 25 Mar '13

25 Mar '13

Hello Everyone I'm Michael Watkins one of the co-founders and coordinators of the Sackville Bike Co-op. After discussing some stuff with Amanda Hachey of La Bikery in Moncton, I was hoping to give everyone our Co-op's elevator speech while asking for some help. The Sackville Bike Co-op is a small not for profit startup run out of the Mount Allison University Students' Union looking to open our doors to the public this spring. Through the Co-op we will be providing students and members of the Sackville community with access to low cost rental bikes throughout the season, and in future we hope to start providing community workshops on bike repair, safety, and general maintenance. Through this co-op we hope to lessen our communities dependance on fossil fuels while simultaneously providing access to safe and healthy transportation for everyone, including those without alternate means. However, my current question/request is for advice on procuring a legally vetted waiver form to place the safety of our members into their own hands while they use our bicycles. If anyone on the mailing list can provide me with some advice, or better yet an already vetted form that would be so greatly appreciated. Thank you so much for any help, and with any luck the Sackville Bike Co-op will be up and running before we know it. Thanks again -Michael --- Michael Watkins Mount Allison University '13 BA Double Major in History and Biology Sackville Bike Co-Op Coordinator Mount Allison Students' Administrative Council email: mewatkins(a)mta.ca Facebook: Sackville Bike Co-Op

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Wait list managment
by Patrick VDT 25 Mar '13

25 Mar '13

Hello everyone, Im curious to find out how people are managing wait lists for programs. More specifically, are you picking students for your programs or is it first come first served on a sign up list. If you are picking students, what criteria are you using? We are starting to get more attention than we want to handle at this point. So we have programing slots for 350 students but we have 5-600 students sign up for the wait list. Up until this point we have always done first come first served. But we are trying to avoid telling a kid : Thanks for signing up, we will see you in 8 months when we have an opening. Thanks Patrick

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Revolve Community Bike Shops seek Shop Manager
by Elizabeth Bejan 21 Mar '13

21 Mar '13

Sorry about the duplication...Job description is attached The Shop Manager will coordinate operations of the Revolve Community Bike Shops, located at 5100 Troost in Kansas City, MO and 554 Central Avenue; Kansas City, KS. The Shop Manager will primarily work out of the Kansas City, KS location. The Shop Manager will offer guidance and technical support in all areas of shop operations, including but not limited to: refurbishing bicycles for sale; tearing down bicycles for parts; maintaining inventory, equipment, and supplies; organizing volunteers; and administering business aspects of the shop. The Shop Manager will report directly to the Executive Director and help supervise the Part-Time Mechanic working at the 5100 Troost location. Revolve, Inc. (www.revolvekc.org) is a 501(c)3 organization that offers bicycle safety education and several Earn-A-Bike programs; in addition, Revolve sells donated, refurbished bicycles to support its mission of redistributing refurbished bicycles to those who cannot afford a bicycle. See photos and newsclips of what we do at: www.facebook.com/RevolveKC.org. Read a recent *Kansas City Star Magazine *cover story on us here: http://revolvekc.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/KC-Star-Mag-Article.pdf *Minimum Qualifications:* [image: *] Experience working on a wide range of bikes; familiarity with bikes and components from the1960s through the 1990s a must [image: *] Minimum of one year bike shop mechanic experience [image: *] Passion for bikes and bicycling as transportation *Desired Qualifications:* [image: *] Excellent shop organization skills [image: *] Strong written and verbal communication skills [image: *] Ability to work collaboratively with community members and community partners [image: *] Demonstrated ability to work with diverse people while observing sensitivities and differences [image: *] Ability to foster an environment of empowerment and cooperation [image: *] Experience organizing volunteers and staff [image: *] Familiarity with relevant safety and health issues [image: *] Experience in sustainable business practices [image: *] Familiarity with Microsoft Office, Google Docs office suite, and social media [image: *] *Ability to speak Spanish a huge plus* *Job Tasks:* [image: *] Build bicycles for sale from donated supplies of bikes and bike parts [image: *] Oversee shop operations, repair bikes, and conduct sales [image: *] Oversee volunteers [image: *] Maintain an organized and safe workspace [image: *] Manage the inventory of new and used equipment [image: *] Answer questions and provide information to the public about programs and services [image: *] Coordinate closely with staff and attend relevant meetings [image: *] Submit regularly scheduled report of activities and shop operations [image: *] Maintain updated records and files of bikes and inventory *Salary:* [image: *] Commensurate with experience. Manager will work a set schedule of 40 hours/week (generally Tuesday through Saturday), with occasional over-time. We are ready to pay to offer competitive pay to a bike mechanic who speaks Spanish. *Benefits: * [image: *] Discount on purchases of new bike-related items from bike store partner and discounts on used parts from Revolve [image: *] 13 Days of Paid Time Off per year for use as vacation, sick, and holiday pay (hours are proportional for first year) [image: *] F lexible Winter Schedule We'll put mechanically-inclined significant others to work as our PT Bike Mechanic. -- reuse, reduce, recycle, Revolve! Elizabeth Bejan, MSW Executive Director, Revolve 816-835-3310 (cell) www.facebook.com/RevolveKC.org www.revolvekc.org Revolve acts on the belief that the bicycle is the simple solution for healthy lifestyles, and affordable, earth-friendly transportation. We get Kansas City cycling!

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(no subject)
by Elizabeth Bejan 21 Mar '13

21 Mar '13

The Shop Manager will coordinate operations of the Revolve Community Bike Shops, located at 5100 Troost in Kansas City, MO and 554 Central Avenue; Kansas City, KS. The Shop Manager will primarily work out of the Kansas City, KS location. The Shop Manager will offer guidance and technical support in all areas of shop operations, including but not limited to: refurbishing bicycles for sale; tearing down bicycles for parts; maintaining inventory, equipment, and supplies; organizing volunteers; and administering business aspects of the shop. The Shop Manager will report directly to the Executive Director and help supervise the Part-Time Mechanic working at the 5100 Troost location. Revolve, Inc. (www.revolvekc.org) is a 501(c)3 organization that offers bicycle safety education and several Earn-A-Bike programs; in addition, Revolve sells donated, refurbished bicycles to support its mission of redistributing refurbished bicycles to those who cannot afford a bicycle. See photos and newsclips of what we do at: www.facebook.com/RevolveKC.org. Read a recent *Kansas City Star Magazine *cover story on us here: http://revolvekc.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/KC-Star-Mag-Article.pdf *Minimum Qualifications:* [image: *] Experience working on a wide range of bikes; familiarity with bikes and components from the1960s through the 1990s a must [image: *] Minimum of one year bike shop mechanic experience [image: *] Passion for bikes and bicycling as transportation *Desired Qualifications:* [image: *] Excellent shop organization skills [image: *] Strong written and verbal communication skills [image: *] Ability to work collaboratively with community members and community partners [image: *] Demonstrated ability to work with diverse people while observing sensitivities and differences [image: *] Ability to foster an environment of empowerment and cooperation [image: *] Experience organizing volunteers and staff [image: *] Familiarity with relevant safety and health issues [image: *] Experience in sustainable business practices [image: *] Familiarity with Microsoft Office, Google Docs office suite, and social media [image: *] *Ability to speak Spanish a huge plus* *Job Tasks:* [image: *] Build bicycles for sale from donated supplies of bikes and bike parts [image: *] Oversee shop operations, repair bikes, and conduct sales [image: *] Oversee volunteers [image: *] Maintain an organized and safe workspace [image: *] Manage the inventory of new and used equipment [image: *] Answer questions and provide information to the public about programs and services [image: *] Coordinate closely with staff and attend relevant meetings [image: *] Submit regularly scheduled report of activities and shop operations [image: *] Maintain updated records and files of bikes and inventory *Salary:* [image: *] Commensurate with experience. Manager will work a set schedule of 40 hours/week (generally Tuesday through Saturday), with occasional over-time. We are ready to pay to offer competitive pay to a bike mechanic who speaks Spanish. *Benefits: * [image: *] Discount on purchases of new bike-related items from bike store partner and discounts on used parts from Revolve [image: *] 13 Days of Paid Time Off per year for use as vacation, sick, and holiday pay (hours are proportional for first year) [image: *] F lexible Winter Schedule We'll put mechanically-inclined significant others to work as our PT Bike Mechanic. -- reuse, reduce, recycle, Revolve! Elizabeth Bejan, MSW Executive Director, Revolve 816-835-3310 (cell) www.facebook.com/RevolveKC.org www.revolvekc.org Revolve acts on the belief that the bicycle is the simple solution for healthy lifestyles, and affordable, earth-friendly transportation. We get Kansas City cycling!

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Hollering again - call on financial planning for community bike shops
by Mary Lauran Hall 18 Mar '13

18 Mar '13

Hey everybody, I'm giving a shout again just because, you know, the internet is overloaded with cats and you might have missed it. The Alliance is hosting a call on financial planning for community bike shops on Wednesday. All are welcome! Deets below. Feel free to join and/or pass along to someone who might benefit. *Financial Planning for Community Bike Shops* *Wednesday, March 20, 2013* *4:00 PM to 5:00 PM eastern* *Register online here<http://www.peoplepoweredmovement.org/site/index.php/site/EventRegistration-…> * Financial planning and fundraising are challenging for all advocacy groups, but it can be particularly difficult for community bike shops, which deal with the seasonal increases and decreases of ridership as well as the cost of purchasing parts and tools. Join leaders from three community bike shops as they discuss key concepts of financial planning and give examples of how their shops have created stable funding streams. Please note that *this call will begin at 4 PM ET* instead of the normal 2 PM ET. Panelists will include: - Momoko Saunders, Bike Farm, Portland, OR - Rambod Behnam, Bikerowave, Los Angeles, CA - Nathan Wilkes, Yellow Bike Project, Austin, TX - ... and featuring Noah Chubb-Silverman of Reno Bike Project, who's going to share Reno's super detailed budget with us and will be around to answer questions. Ride on! Mary Lauran -- Mary Lauran Hall Communications Manager Alliance for Biking & Walking mlhall(a)peoplepoweredmovement.org (202) 449-9692 x2 P.O. Box 65150 Washington, DC 20035 *We've got big plans for 2013. Join or renew<http://www.peoplepoweredmovement.org/site/index.php/membership/welcome/> with the Alliance today!*

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Bike System funding - Bike tax?
by scott＠gknightride.org 18 Mar '13

18 Mar '13

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Bike System funding - Bike tax?
by Ryan Kragerud 18 Mar '13

18 Mar '13

Hey there, Bicycle Longmont is working on a bike system funding project and we're in the research phase right now. Who out there is aware of innovative ways communities, states/provinces, are funding bike improvements? We've heard of Bike taxes, like in Colorado Springs where $4 is added to the price of every new bike sold, We've heard of options where local sales tax derrived from bike sales go toward infrastructure/bike projects. Also - Oregon and Maine have surcharges on traffic infractions that go toward statewide funds that include grants that make biking and walking to school safer and to programs for adult and children bike education. Anyone aware of other sources of info on this topic? Thanks, Ryan Kragerud, President Bicycle Longmont

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Wanted: Bicycle Mechanic/Educator at Reno Bike Project
by Reno Bikes 14 Mar '13

14 Mar '13

BICYCLE MECHAINC/EDUCATOR -- 20-30H/WEEK ABOUT RENO BIKE PROJECT Reno Bike Project (RBP) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community bicycle shop and advocacy group committed to creating a nationally recognized, cycling-friendly community through advocacy, education, and cooperation in the Truckee Meadows. Since our inception in 2006, RBP has grown from a basement operation to a full cycling community center and advocacy group. We are constantly striving to achieve our mission of getting more people on bikes, and last year alone we distributed over 1,000 bikes back into the community through our shop and various programs. We sell used bikes, used and new parts, and have public workstations that provide affordable access to the tools and expertise cyclists need to maintain their own bikes. PROFILE This is not your typical Mechanic position in your typical shop. This job consists of two major roles; fixing bikes and teaching others to fix bikes, but you may be asked to assist with a wide scope of activities and you will be required to wear many different hats. We serve a wide range of people from bicycle hobbyist to college students to Reno's homeless population in repairing their bicycles, answering questions and other general customer service duties. You will be required to conduct repairs to the highest quality on a wide range of bicycles since we work on bikes of all varieties and ages. We feel that the repairs we carry out on our customers' bikes represent us as a shop; therefore any repair should be completed to the best of your ability. Besides operating a full service repair shop our organization is committed to helping people learn about bicycle repair/maintenance and offers 6 public workstations that are available during open hours for the public to utilize our tools and the knowledge of our staff to repair their own bike. People from all walks of life and skill levels use our shop to fix their bikes and sometimes that can be a challenge so patience and a good attitude are mandatory attributes for this job. If you don't deal with people well do not apply. But if you enjoy helping people one to one and wish help provide our community with a valuable resource this might be the job for you. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES The following reflects management's definition of essential functions for this job but does not restrict the tasks that may be assigned. Management may assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons. • Perform bicycle repair, maintenance, and walk-in services on customers' bicycles as needed. • Deliver professional, accessible, and helpful customer service to a diverse customer base. • Support daily bike shop operations. • Responsible for properly taking in all service work including correctly filling out service work orders, scheduling an appropriate amount of repairs and completing those repairs in a timely manner. • Advise and assist customers with their product selection without bias. • Develop and maintain knowledge and expertise of all merchandise in the shop to effectively assist customers with accurate information. • Assist with bike sales and any other bike floor duties as needed. • Maintain a clean and safe workplace. • Perform other duties as assigned by the bike shop manager. • Help with shop maintenance and construction projects. The candidate we seek will possess: • Excellent mechanical skills required (minimum two years hands-on, professional bike shop experience). • Strong customer service skills. • A self-directed, energetic, flexible and personable attitude. • Excellent organizational skills. • The ability to work independently and as part of a team. • The ability to multi-task in a fast paced environment and the ability to work some weekends and holidays to support business needs. COMPENSATION: Negotiable depending on skill level and experience. HOW TO APPLY please reply with resume noah(a)renobikeproject.com -- Wed-Fri 11am-6pm Sat 10am-4pm 541 E. 4th Street. Reno, NV 89512 775.323.4488 donate via paypal: http://www.renobikeproject.com/index.php/donate/ Follow us on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/renobikeproject/ Please let us know if you would like to unsubscribe to our email list.

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Community Bike Shop Revenue Stats (thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org)
by Matthew VanSlyke (Google Drive) 14 Mar '13

14 Mar '13

I've shared an item with you: Community Bike Shop Revenue Stats https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AqIsLxDspWYcdFM1blZmeFNIMmJLNF… It's not an attachment -- it's stored online. To open this item, just click the link above.

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Shop Managers wanted for Bike Project
by Phil Graff 14 Mar '13

14 Mar '13

Hello, Bike-related employment opportunities! The Bike Project of Urbana-Champaign is currently hiring for two shop manager positions: a part-time manager for our Downtown Urbana shop, and a full-time manager for the Campus Bicycle Shop. (The manager at the Campus Bicycle Shop will be a University of Illinois employee; the Campus Bicycle Shop is a collaboration with the University.) See both job announcements at http://www.thebikeproject.org/jobs/ . Below are vitals for each position, followed by the full text of the job announcements. The application deadline for both positions is 5 pm CDT, March 18, 2013. Part-time Shop Manager (Downtown Urbana location) http://www.thebikeproject.org/jobs/part-time-manager-2013/ Date Posted: March 8, 2013 Position: Part-time Shop Manager (20-25 hours/week) Organization: The Bike Project of Urbana-Champaign Start Date: April 15–May 15, 2013 (negotiable; earlier preferred) Duration: One year (renewable annually) Location: Champaign-Urbana, IL Full Time Shop Manager (Campus location) http://www.thebikeproject.org/jobs/full-time-manager-2013/ Date Posted: March 8, 2013 Position: Full Time Shop Manager (40 hours/week) Organization: The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Start Date: April 15–May 15, 2013 (negotiable; earlier preferred) Duration: One year (renewable annually) Location: Champaign-Urbana, IL Text of the job announcements: ========================================================================== The Bike Project of Urbana-Champaign Downtown Urbana Shop Manager Position Description Date Posted: March 8, 2013 Position: Part-time Shop Manager (20-25 hours/week) Organization: The Bike Project of Urbana-Champaign Start Date: April 15–May 15, 2013 (negotiable; earlier preferred) Duration: One year (renewable annually) Location: Champaign-Urbana, IL The Shop Manager will coordinate operations of The Bike Project’s downtown Urbana shop. The Shop Manager will offer guidance and technical support in all areas of shop operations, including but not limited to: repairing and building bicycles; maintaining inventory, equipment, and supplies; organizing volunteers; and administering business aspects of the shop. The Bike Project of Urbana-Champaign (www.thebikeproject.org) is a volunteer-run organization that offers space, tools, and support to repair bikes, share knowledge, hold classes, and advocate for bikes in Urbana-Champaign. We collaborate with community sustainability organizations, bike shops, and bicycle advocates in order to promote bicycle education in mechanical proficiency, commuter safety, and environmental awareness. Minimum Qualifications 1. Experience working on a wide range of bikes; familiarity with bikes and components from the1960s through the 1990s a must 2. Minimum of one year bike shop mechanic experience 3. Passion for bikes and bicycling as transportation Desired Qualifications 1. Excellent shop organization skills 2. Experience teaching bicycle repair techniques 3. Strong written and verbal communication skills 4. Ability to work collaboratively with community members and community partners 5. Demonstrated ability to work with diverse people while observing sensitivities and differences 6. Ability to foster an environment of empowerment and cooperation 7. Experience organizing volunteers and staff 8. Experience coordinating events 9. Familiarity with relevant safety and health issues 10. Experience in sustainable business practices 11. Familiarity with Microsoft Office, Adobe design products, Google Docs office suite, and social media Job Tasks: 1. Build bicycles for sale from donated supplies of bikes and bike parts 2. Oversee shop operations, repair bikes, and conduct sales 3. Maintain an organized and safe workspace 4. Manage the inventory of new and used equipment 5. Answer questions and provide information to the public about programs and services 6. Coordinate closely with staff and attend relevant meetings 7. Submit regularly scheduled report of activities and shop operations 8. Maintain updated records and files of bikes and inventory Wage: Rate is $15.00/hour. Manager will work a set schedule of 20 hours/week, with occasional additional time, up to 5 hours/week, negotiated as needed. Benefits: Discount on purchases of new bike-related items To Apply: Please submit the following documents in .doc or .pdf format by 5 pm CDT, March 18, 2013 to thebikeproject.apply(a)gmail.com: 1. A cover letter responding to the following prompt: “The Bike Project was founded in the spirit of Do-It-Yourself, inclusivity and cooperation. How does your experience relate to actively advancing these principles and what are your goals in this position?” 2. A resume 3. Three work-related references including names, current addresses and telephone numbers See more information and updates at: www.thebikeproject.org/jobs/part-time-manager-2013 See all Bike Project job announcements at: <http://www.thebikeproject.org/jobs> www.thebikeproject.org/jobs ========================================================================== University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign in collaboration with The Bike Project of Urbana-Champaign Campus Bicycle Shop Manager Position Description Date Posted: March 8, 2013 Position: Full Time Shop Manager (40 hours/week) Organization: The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Start Date: April 15–May 15, 2013 (negotiable; earlier preferred) Duration: One year (renewable annually) Location: Champaign-Urbana, IL The Shop Manager will coordinate operations, workers, and volunteers in the Campus Bicycle Shop (CBS), a teaching, do-it-yourself bicycle repair shop. This position includes outreach and expansion of organizational presence on a University campus and in the surrounding community. Located on the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the Campus Bicycle Shop is a collaboration between the University and The Bike Project of Urbana-Champaign (TBP). The Bike Project ( www.thebikeproject.org) offers space, tools, and community to repair bikes, share knowledge, hold classes, and advocate for bikes in Urbana-Champaign. The volunteer-run organization collaborates with community sustainability organizations, bike shops, and bicycle advocates to promote bicycle education including mechanical proficiency, commuter safety, and environmental awareness. The Shop Manager will be an employee of the University of Illinois. The Shop Manager will work with TBP to carry out shop and outreach operations, liaison with various departments of the University of Illinois, and play a vital role in nurturing connections between the University and local community. Minimum Qualifications 1. Bachelor’s degree or higher 2. Minimum of one year experience fixing and maintaining bicycles in a community do-it-yourself environment 3. Demonstrated experience with and knowledge of bike repair and bike mechanics 4. Passion for bikes and bicycling as transportation Desired Qualifications 1. Experience organizing volunteers or staff 2. Experience coordinating events 3. Excellent written and verbal communication and public relations skills 4. Experience teaching 5. Familiarity with related sustainability, safety and health issues 6. Experience in sustainable business practices 7. Familiarity with Microsoft Office, Adobe design products, and Google Office programs 8. Ability to work collaboratively with students, staff, faculty and off-campus community members 9. Demonstrated ability to work with diverse people while observing sensitivities and differences 10. Ability to foster an environment of empowerment and cooperation Job Tasks 1. Oversee shop operations including shop upkeep, bike repair, and sales and safety 2. Recruit, schedule, and organize volunteers 3. Direct part-time student employees 4. Field inquiries from and provide logistical information to patrons about programs and services 5. Coordinate training seminars and workshops 6. Organize off-site events including volunteer recruitment, bicycle education, and promotions 7. Maintain event information and contacts in database 8. Act as liaison between TBP and the University units 9. Attend committee meetings and report on shop operations 10. Handle any monies, receipts and associated paperwork 11. Maintain inventory of new and used equipment and manage restocking from appropriate sources 12. Participate in assessing the needs of Campus Bicycle Shop and The Bike Project through giving and receiving feedback 13. Maintain updated records and files as well as policy and procedure manual Salary: $40,150/year. Employee will also receive unlimited access to city transit network with University ID card. To Apply: Please submit the following documents in .doc or .pdf format by 5 pm CDT, March 18, 2013 to thebikeproject.apply(a)gmail.com: 1. A cover letter responding to the following prompt: “The Bike Project was founded in the spirit of Do-It-Yourself, inclusivity and cooperation. How does your experience relate to actively advancing these principles and what are your goals in this position?” 2. A resume 3. Three work-related references including names, current addresses and telephone numbers See more information and updates at: www.thebikeproject.org/jobs/full-time-manager-2013 See all Bike Project job announcements at: www.thebikeproject.org/jobs<http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thebikeproject.org%2Fjobs&sa=D…> ==========================================================================

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Community Bike Shop Revenue
by Matthew VanSlyke 13 Mar '13

13 Mar '13

Hi All, I'm working up a budget for a new shop in New York State and I'm looking for a bit of info. I've put together a decently detailed business plan. I want to get a feel for how good (or bad) my numbers might be. So, a few questions: *Which, if any, of your programs/courses/trainings do you charge people for? * I anticipate running Earn-A-Bike, mechanics classes and a summer program - either on my own or in partnership with existing day camps for kids. I see NBW (Philly) does it as a revenue generator ( http://neighborhoodbikeworks.org/programs/summer-cycling-day-camp/). If you run similar programs, do they generate revenue? *What kind of sales volume do you have?* - I'm talking about repurposed bikes, parts and merchandise. Of course I anticipate the answer to this question to contain a lot of qualifiers like the size of your operation, your hours, number of staff, volume of inventory, geographic location, etc, etc, etc. I understand that but some ballpark numbers would help. Maybe an estimation of how many bikes you sell per month and approximately how much revenue is generated from the sale of parts. *How often do you offer mechanics classes?* Again I know this is very much dependent on staff and volunteer availability. I have estimated that with my 8 workstations I could offer a 10-12 week course (adults) for as many as 16 students (working in two-person teams) - provided I have at least 4 volunteer mechanics to assist. *How often do you offer Earn-A-Bike classes? *Once again, I know this is very much dependent on staff and volunteer availability. I like the curriculum you follow at Community Cycles ( http://www.bikecollectives.org/wiki/index.php?title=Community_Cycles_Youth_…) and this is very similar to what I have in mind. So to you folks specifically and to others who also run EAB programs, is there any revenue generation here or is this strictly on the expenditure side of the equation for you? *How do you charge for service/repair work?* I anticipate using a sliding fee schedule and/or a list of suggested donations for the most common repairs. Can you ballpark the amount you receive for the most common repairs you perform? *How much revenue do you generate from open shop hours? *I know this is very much dependent on shop hours and available work space. But again, rough numbers will help me. I'm digging through the archives and obviously I'm finding a lot of really useful info. Thanks to all of you who have spent the time to post to the Wiki. It has been immensely helpful to me during this start up time. If you know of links that would help me get my own answers to these questions please pass them along. And if you can answer more specifically that would be excellent. Thanks so much, Matt -- *Matt VanSlyke* *Development Director New York Bicycling Coalition www.nybc.net 315-525-9554*

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Call next week: Financial planning for community bike shops
by Mary Lauran Hall 13 Mar '13

13 Mar '13

Hey Think Tank tinkerers, The Alliance is hosting a call on financial planning for community bike shops next week. All are welcome! Deets below. Feel free to join and/or pass along to someone who might benefit. I sent this out in an earlier chain, so if you're seeing this twice let's just call it deja vu. *Financial Planning for Community Bike Shops* *Wednesday, March 20, 2013* *4:00 PM to 5:00 PM eastern* *Register online here<http://www.peoplepoweredmovement.org/site/index.php/site/EventRegistration-…> * Financial planning and fundraising are challenging for all advocacy groups, but it can be particularly difficult for community bike shops, which deal with the seasonal increases and decreases of ridership as well as the cost of purchasing parts and tools. Join leaders from three community bike shops as they discuss key concepts of financial planning and give examples of how their shops have created stable funding streams. Please note that *this call will begin at 4 PM ET* instead of the normal 2 PM ET. Panelists will include: - Momoko Saunders, Bike Farm, Portland, OR - Rambod Behnam, Bikerowave, Los Angeles, CA - Nathan Wilkes, Yellow Bike Project, Austin, TX - ... and featuring Noah Chubb-Silverman of Reno Bike Project, who's going to share Reno's super detailed budget with us and will be around to answer questions. Ride on! Mary Lauran -- Mary Lauran Hall Communications Manager Alliance for Biking & Walking mlhall(a)peoplepoweredmovement.org (202) 449-9692 x2 P.O. Box 65150 Washington, DC 20035 *We've got big plans for 2013. Join or renew<http://www.peoplepoweredmovement.org/site/index.php/membership/welcome/> with the Alliance today!*

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Manger Position - Community Bike Project Omaha
by Stuart Shell 13 Mar '13

13 Mar '13

*Community Bike Project is seeking a part-time manager to oversee its bicycle service and retail operations in Omaha, Nebraska. Please see the attached description and respond to info(a)communitybikeproject.org.*

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Chatham Eco Fest
by Lyndy 11 Mar '13

11 Mar '13

Hello, I have been sending out emails left and right to reach out to Environmental Organizations of every kind across Pittsburgh, PA. Here is a formal invitation to those organizations in the surrounding area who would like to come join us! Chatham University is hosting our Eco Fest on Saturday, April 6th from 1-5pm, in celebration of our brand new, home made Bike Share program, sponsored by Free Ride! We want to reach out to local environmental organizations, clubs, businesses and small vendors to help expose and connect them to other organizations. We will provide spaces for individual organizations to establish their identity and to present their media or other displays. Our own Chatham students are invited as well as local student run Environmental organizations. We may not have enough tables for everybody so we suggest bringing a card table with you, as well as a blanket or lawn chairs. All tablers will be in our beautiful grassy quad. We encourage bringing information about past projects or campaigns to promote the Environmental Lifestyle. If you have a portfolio of sorts or just a spheal to tell visitors that would be awesome as well. In our Dilworth hall, housing for grad students and also Environmental professors, we will set aside a room to more intimately share past projects and discuss more ideas for promoting the Environmental Lifestyle in the future, through each organization’s individual focus. We invite your organization to come and reserve a space. Let us know if you are interested! ~Lyndy Palmer lpalmer(a)chatham.edu Chatham University Office of Sustainability Bike Works Mechanic chatham.edu 1 Woodland Rd Pittsburgh, PA 15232

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Bicycle Parking.
by Tigre Bici 05 Mar '13

05 Mar '13

Hello people. We are looking to implement some bike parking on campus but we just got the news that we won't be able to have the inverted U on stainless steel so we are looking for any insides on what kinf of material doesn't require a lot of maintance and can resist a lot of heavy use, the idea is to keep the inverted U's since are the once that we consider more reliable on securing the bikes. Any thoughts? Experiences? Saludos! Raquel Treviño -TigreBici

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