- TheThinkTank - lists.bikecollectives.org

What benefits do you offer your members?
by veganboyjosh＠gmail.com 16 Sep '09

16 Sep '09

Hey Everyone. We're doing a big membership push this winter--we just mailed out about 450 membership renewal letters today--and we're looking at what benefits we offer to members. To be clear, our standard membership is the only one someone could do work-trade for. All of the others are cash based. We're open to the idea of someone working more hours to gain better benefits, but haven't seen that much interest in it from our community, and so haven't come up with a structure for it. Here's what we're thinking about offering: $20 - low income membership. same benefits as the standard membership. $35 or EAB student or paying Mech's class student - basic/standard membership. - Use of bike tools whenever the shop is open, access to experienced mechanics and our library of bike repair books to work on your own bike. - Access to the same during "Members only" time/days. - (Dalyn suggested that the phrase "access to the shop" was too vague, and someone like a lot of our members who don't know what a shop includes wouldn't know that it also includes access to exp'ed mechs.) - Membership in Bike To Shop, once that's up and running. - 3 Free 36-hour bike trailer rental per year $100 membership "Century membership" - Same benefits as standard membership, plus: - Members only Preview day for Major bike sales. - Discount on one paid mechanics class per year. - Unlimited Free 36-hour bike trailer rentals per year. $500 membership "Golden Membership" - Same benefits as EAB Sponsor, plus: - Free tuneup on your birthday. - Free access to one paid mechanics class per year. $1000 membership - "Lifetime Membership" Same benefits as Golden Membership for life, plus: We don't have any Lifetime Memberships just yet, but we're hoping to soon....Perhaps with the right benefits package? I'm interested in hearing what other groups are offering to members. What have you had success or failure with. Anyone have any feedback on our plan? Thanks. Hope you're all doing well. josh.

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Directors and Officers Liability Insurance?
by Boson Au 13 Sep '09

13 Sep '09

Hi all, we're in the process renewing our regular liability insurance and came across the Directors and Officers Liability Insurance. To be on the safe side, we decided to purchase that for now, but we're in the midst of deciding if we need it. in my brief understanding; I'm not part of the committee that determines our insurance policy, it seems to be liability for the directors/officers, ie our decision making body aka collective, which is seperate from general liability. this insurance would cover "us" ie if someone wants to sue me due to my actions in the project, rather than the 'project'. I might have this wrong, I'm not sure. so basically, the question posed by members of the collective was, "do other bike projects do this?" so hence this fragmented email. so, if anyone else ran across this I'd love to know how you handled it and why. If you wanna answer in private, that's cool.. if not, post it? thanks in advance. -Boson Au Velocipede Bike Project Baltimore, MD velocipedebikeproject.org

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experienced bike mechanics as volunteers - issues.
by veganboyjosh＠gmail.com 12 Sep '09

12 Sep '09

Josh here, also from Community Cycles. Sort of in addition to Rich's email, but expanding on it a bit, and bringing in some other cans of worms... We have 3 paid staff members, and the rest are volunteers, or get paid as contractors for teaching one class at a time. I've been doing a lot of reading and thinking about bikebike, and have come to what looks to be some hard decisions. I was brought on as the latest paid staff person, as the "Development Director". Essentially, I'm responsible for 3 things, listed in order of their importance. 1. Membership tracking, coordinating, and communication. 2. Grantwriting and fundraising events, etc. 3. Volunteer Coordination. I'm realizing the more I read about horizontal power structures and consensus based org's that while our issue of volunteers not wanting or able to commit to anything other than dropping by when it suits them could just be that we have a bunch of flaky volunteers, I'm slowly coming to the realization that our model of paid staff and unpaid volunteer staff is flawed. I've started and come super close to sending an email to this list several times asking how we can get more out of our volunteers. I realize the inherent issues of our paid staff requesting more of volunteers. There's all kinds of issues here, but it's the model we're in, and I'm not sure how to address it in a positive, productive way. (Of course, job security for myself and two other people also comes into play, for if we get rid of the paid staff positions, then we've put 3 hard working people out of work.) I'm almost done reading "The Revolution Will Not Be Funded", and would LOVE to continue the discussion we starte at bikebike! online, once some more people have had a chance to read it. (To those of you who asked at bikebike about whether there's any resolution at the end of the book to address whether there's any ways to pay for revolutionary social change org's without funding from foundations, there is. Not some silver bullet magic answer, but they do address the question somewhat.) I'm interested to hear from other org's that have one or more paid staff members how that structure plays out in the dynamics of your staff, volunteer or paid. Do tensions arise? How do you address them? For those of you at the shops with no paid staff, when I bring up that model to friends outside of radical activist circles, the response is often "yeah, but if they're all volunteer run, don't they have jobs aside from the bike shop work? wouldn't having a paid staff person working full time on things allow the org to do more work?" this seems like a logical response. If I personally wasn't working full time at Community Cycles, I would be working full time somewhere else. Two things come to mind. 1. I wouldn't be as happy as I am doing the work for the organization I work for. 2. I wouldn't have as much or any time to devote to Community Cycles as a volunteer. Am I missing something? I'm not looking for a critique of capitalism. Is the major reason why a lot of shops don't have paid staff because of the weird power dynamics it brings? Thanks for taking the time to read this ranting. I hope something fruitful comes of it. Also, if you're still reading this, feel free to call me an idiot. josh. On Fri, Sep 11, 2009 at 12:17 PM, Urban Bike Project Wilmington, DE < urbanbikeproject(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Cool Rich thanks....here is our volunteer structure: > > *Types of Volunteers and Volunteer Structure at UBP* > updated 8/3/09 > > *Drop-In or Unscheduled Volunteers* > -Limited to sorting parts, patching tubes, organizational tasks. > -May be turned away if the shop is too crowded. > > *Scheduled Volunteers > *-Sign up in advance for full shifts in one of the following roles: > -*Greeter* signs people into the shop, answers basic customer questions, > answers phone > -*Parts/Back Room* assists mechanics and customers with finding parts in > the back room, organizes and keeps the back room neat. > -*Sales* assists customers who are looking to purchase a bicycle. > -*Mechanic*(s) assist adult customers who are repairing bicycles. > -*Youth Mechanic*(s) assist youth who are repairing bicycles. > -*Head Mechanic* overseas all activities in the shop and assists Mechanics > with difficult repairs. > > *Core Volunteers* > -Scheduled volunteers who complete 3-4 full shifts per month and 2 tasks > from the Core Volunteer Task Sheet. > -May keep a project bicycle in the shop longer than the standard 2-week > period. > -May attend Core Volunteers only shop time and Core Volunteer meetings. > -Receive discount when ordering parts from J&B Importers catalog > > And this is our experimental Volunteer "Ladder" for moving people up the > chain as it were. The idea being, unskilled volunteers can work up as > slowly or quickly as they want (most greeters end up quickly learning tube > patching during shop time and also basic wheel truing since the truing > station is directly behind the greeter). Same for "skilled but new to the > shop" volunteers. If they really want to work as a mechanic they can see > right in front of them what needs to be done first. > > *Skills Checklist* (head mechanic/volunteer coordinator to sign off on > each requirement) > > *Requirements for Greeter:* > -Attended Volunteer Orientation? Date:______ > > *Additional Requirements for Parts Sorting/Salesperson:* > > -Basic identification of parts > -Pedal removal/installation, Stem/Seat adjustment, Tire Pumping > -Basic Bicycle Sizing Knowledge > > *Additional Requirements for Youth Tire Pumper/Patcher:* > -Wheel Removal/Installation (coaster, freewheel, derailer) > -Tire Removal/Installation, Tube Patching > -"How to work with youth" Basic Training? Date:______ > -3 *full* shifts at other position (date and position): 1)________ > 2)________ 3)_______ > > *Additional Requirements for Mechanic:* > -Attend/Pass Advanced Mechanics Class or Test? Date:_____ > > *Additional Requirements for Youth Mechanic:* > -3 *full* shifts as Mechanic (date): 1)________ > 2)________ 3)_______ > -1 *full* shift as Youth Tire Pumper/Patcher: Date:_____ > * > Additional Requirements for Head Mechanic:* > -3 *full* shifts as Youth Mechanic (date): 1)________ > 2)________ 3)_______ > -1 *full* shift shadowing Head Mechanic (date): Date:______ > -Approval from Collective of Core-Volunteers: Date:______ > > > It's just been hard to convince people with tons of experience that they*really do > * need to (and are required to) be greeter or parts sorter for at least 3 > shifts before they can even think about working with customers. > > Please share thoughts and ideas! > > Brian > > Urban Bike Project of Wilmington > -a 501(c)3 non-profit bike shop- > 1908 N. Market Street (entrance is in the parking lot behind the building) > Wilmington, DE 19802 > > Hours: > Thursday 6:30-9:00 > Saturday 1:00-4:00 > > Visit us online at http://urbanbikeproject.org > > > On Fri, Sep 11, 2009 at 11:28 AM, R Points <poster(a)richpoints.com> wrote: > >> Hey Brian, >> Yeah we have similar issues at Community Cycles. We have a dozen or so >> core volunteers who show up each week for a three hour shift, we call the >> facilitators. Most of these folks have worked in bike shops or are advanced >> shade tree mechanics. By and large most of our facilitators are limited >> when it comes to people skills. In addition, even though these facilitators >> show up on a regular basis it's been almost impossible to schedule them for >> a shift. And a lot of times facilitators show up and don't even work on >> bikes they just hang out. We do have a monthly facilitator meeting which >> has been sparsely attended at best. >> >> Currently we don't have a mechanism for interested volunteers to become >> facilitators or high level volunteers. The result is our facilitator pool >> has become old, stagnant and untrained. To address this we've been working >> on developing a facilitator training process. >> >> The training process, still in it's first draft, is broken into four >> training sessions. The trainings are focused on admin/greeter, daily shop >> ops, mechanics and community outreach. Once you've gone through the >> training you'll be qualified to schedule a three/four hour facilitator shift >> each week at the shop or work on a special project/event. >> >> As you mentioned a lot of enthusiastic volunteers are not particularly >> mechanically inclined. One perk we've talked about is if a new facilitator >> commits to 6 months of shifts they can take our Bike Mechanics 101 class for >> free http://communitycycles.org/programs/classes.html >> >> We'll be launching this new training program at our next facilitator >> meeting at the end of this month. Wish us luck. >> >> Ride On! >> Rich >> >> >> *CC Facili(Tator) Training Manual* >> To become a facilitator or high level volunteer at Community Cycles, you >> need to go through a series of simple trainings. Once you've gone through >> them, you're qualified to represent Community Cycles at events outside of >> the shop. Facilitators gain privilege to order from our wholesalers at 10% >> over cost. >> >> *Criteria* >> >> 1. To be a facilitator you must have completed the training and commit >> to one shift per week for a minimum of a three month period. If you are >> unable to make your shift it is your responsibility to have it covered by >> another facilitator. If you cannot cover your shift please let staff know >> asap that you will not be able to attend. >> 2. Attend a mandatory monthly facilitator meeting at the shop. >> Usually the third Tuesday of each month. >> >> * >> Trainings* >> You'll need to schedule to complete four trainings during open shop >> hours. Each training session is 3 - 4 hours. You must complete the >> trainings within two months of your start date. >> >> >> 1. * Greeter* >> The greeter is one of the most important roles in the shop. >> Functioning as greeter is a quick way for you to get oriented to Community >> Cycles and what we do. We've put together an awesome Greeter manual that >> will help you answer the most common questions we hear in the shop each >> day. >> >> 2. * Kids Bikes and New Donation processing* >> - Strip bikes for parts as needed >> - Check - Frame and wheels for cracks, dings and bends >> - Fix Tubes - patch tubes and replace as needed >> - Replace - Rotten tires, seats, grips, frayed cables and rotten >> cable housing >> - Remove - light and lock hardware, seized rusty chains... >> - Clean - Drive train, wheels and hubs, frame, handle bars... >> - Install - Missing reflectors, valve caps >> - Flatten Bikes >> - Sort parts >> >> 3. * Shadow Facilitator* >> Shadow a certified tater for a shift helping EABers in progress, tune >> ups or sale bikes. Shadow taters will do one tater chore; i.e. clean >> bathroom, take out trash, sweep... After this shift you will be "qualified" >> to help EABers and work on in shop tune ups. >> >> 4. * Grab Bag - Would be taters can choose from any of these >> activities.* >> >> Repeat any of the first three trainings >> Greeter Trainer >> Finisher/Sales >> Community tabling event >> Street team >> UCAR >> CHaRM >> Farmers Market >> North Storage staff assistant >> Tune Ups >> RBC >> Special event >> >> *Super Facilitator* >> Volunteers who demonstrate mastery of bike mechanics and/or volunteer >> beyond one shift per week. Super facilitators gain access to the key code >> on a case by case basis. >> >> - Complete the six week bike mechanics course or other bicycle >> mechanics training course. >> - Demonstrate bicycle mechanic mastery >> - Complete a bike safety instruction course >> - Demonstrate bicycle safety and be capable of teaching a short bike >> safety seminar >> - Volunteer for 2 or more shifts per week >> - Be active on a sub committee of the CC board of directors >> - Work on a special event or campaign. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Urban Bike Project Wilmington, DE wrote: >> >> Hi All, >> >> Since we opened shop I've observed that our best volunteers are those that >> hardly know anything about the mechanical side of bikes but have enthusiasm >> and a desire to learn. They end up being the most patient with customers >> and eventually the best teachers/passers on of bike knowledge. On the flip >> side are experienced bike mechanics. Most, but not all, are pushy, >> completely disregard our "hands off the tools philosophy" and don't >> understand when we ask them to "please attend volunteer orientation" if you >> would like to volunteer as a mechanic here ("but i'm already a mechanic!"). >> >> Recently a bike mechanic of thirty years came in because he heard about us >> and wanted to observe what went on. To make a long story short, he did >> everything BUT observe and I had to ask/tell/almost yell at him several >> times to let people in the shop "do it themselves". The last time I told >> him to "let him do it himself" he responded with "but i have so much >> knowledge to share!", to which I replied "here we let people get that >> knowledge themselves and don't watch over them constantly or take tools out >> of their hands", which he didn't seem to understand ("what if they make a >> mistake and something breaks?!"). To lighten the mood (they'll probably >> laugh, or cry...), bring a hammer out and explain that this is your "rim >> straightener" or "frame alignment tool". >> >> My questions to the other collectives out there: >> >> 1.) Do you have a similar issue? or is it just us, haha >> 2.) How have you gotten experienced mechanics (like the above example) to >> "buy-in" to your system if at first they resisted? >> >> Brian >> >> Urban Bike Project of Wilmington >> -a 501(c)3 non-profit bike shop- >> 1908 N. Market Street (entrance is in the parking lot behind the building) >> Wilmington, DE 19802 >> >> Hours: >> Thursday 6:30-9:00 >> Saturday 1:00-4:00 >> >> Visit us online at http://urbanbikeproject.org >> >> ------------------------------ >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Thethinktank mailing listThethinktank(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-bikecollec… >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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.… > > -- Thanks for supporting Community Cycles, Boulder's first and only non-profit bike shop! Ask me how you can sponsor a Youth Earn-A-Bike student for just $100. www.communitycycles.org

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Community Partners Bike Library
by Jason Tanzman 12 Sep '09

12 Sep '09

Hey everybody, I just wanted to send an email and let folks know about an exciting project that Sibley Bike Depot (St. Paul, MN) is beginning. Sibley received funding in full on Tuesday for a $200,000 program to run a Community Partners Bike Library! The funds were approved by Transit for Livable Communities, a not-for-profit transit advocacy group in charge of allocating a $21 million federal Non-motorized Transit Pilot program in the Twin Cities. This funding will allow Sibley to build up a fleet of 200 bicycles – outfitted for transportation purposes with a rack, fenders, lights, lock, and helmet – to lend out to community members for up to six months. The bike lending will be coordinated through Community Partners – other agencies, such as affordable housing organizations, job placement centers, homeless shelters, and more – who will help identify patrons who will benefit from reliable transportation. Through this program, Sibley hopes to increase the availability of bicycles within working class and poor communities, thus helping to increase access to bicycles and diversify the bicycling movement in the Twin Cities! I am interested to hear any thoughts/feedback/suggestions from anyone who has 1) coordinated a bike library program; or, 2) handled large federal or other government grants (rumored to be a tremendous pain in the ass). Jason Tanzman -- Sibley Bike Depot Volunteer Coordinator 612-232-2737 (cell) 651-222-2080 (shop) www.sibleybikedepot.org Sibley Bike Depot's mission is to be an open, accessible space to educate and empower people to use bicycles as transportation, helping to build a sustainable environment and community. Volunteer with us to help build a bicycling movement in the Twin Cities!

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this list
by Macho Philipovich 12 Sep '09

12 Sep '09

anyone else concerned that the volume of emails has gone way up and the signal-to-noise ratio is way down over the past week or so? in the early days, i understand things were kept fairly open to encourage discussion. that doesn't seem to be a concern anymore, so maybe the list could benefit from some guidelines (rather than 'rules')? it would be nice to avoid flaming, "me too" responses, responses to the whole list that should have gone to an individual, "remove me plz" posts, way off-topic discussion, etc. it hasn't reached a critical point yet, but the problems seem to be similar to ones in the early days of the internet & usenet, so maybe we could borrow a solution from them: a FAQ sent out to new subscribers, and periodically over the list. other thoughts? macho

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biking dog capitalist pig bikes
by an undercover cop 12 Sep '09

12 Sep '09

hey ross, i'm going assume that your final question was in earnest. i'm also going to assume you know full well the answer is "none." (unless someone out there is somehow working on circle a's and bike systems strike bikes in their bike project.) the world we live in is capitalist, therefore bikes are made by capitalists, therefore the bikes we have available to work on are bikes made by capitalists. so, in all seriousness: what difference does it make? -ben > Date: Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:22:06 -0400 > From: "Recycle Bicycle of Harrisburg, Pa" <recyclebicycle(a)verizon.net> > To: "The Think Tank" <thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org> > Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] experienced bike mechanics as volunteers - > issues. > Message-ID: <7CE02DFB260B456181784E9EB9DF3436@VALUED9133F4FA> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" > > Ross from Recycle Bicycle Harrisburg, Pa > > Reference below whether there's any ways to pay for revolutionary social change org's without funding from foundations, there is. Not some silver bullet magic answer, > > Most of our core volunteers are retired and are being paid by that capitalistic system that seems to get bashed on this forum. > I am awed when I see these gray/no hair guys/gals kneeling down and teaching inter city youth bike repair / safety / physics and pushing higher education. > Please send more of those self motivated, financially secure, tool owning volunteers my way. > > Then a question: What percentage of bikes that you work on come from a non-capitalistic factory?

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Community Partners Bike Library
by veganboyjosh＠gmail.com 12 Sep '09

12 Sep '09

Hi Jason, Congratulations. The City of Boulder is looking to start a public paid bike program--similar to Velib in Paris, most likely-- sometime soon. They've scheduled a roundtable discussion about it next week, I believe. I won't be at the meeting with the city, but I was at a previous, not-open-to-the-public meeting with some city staff, when we went over concerns about a potential project here. We did a little research, and I wasn't convinced--nor am I now--that these programs are sustainable in a long term way (more than 2 or 3 years.) I think the maintenance and transport of bikes (from the bottoms of hills to the tops) is more expensive than the program can bring or has brought in any previous program that I'm aware of. Of course, if I'm wrong, I would ABSOLUTELY love to hear about success stories. I'm not talking about first or second generation public bike programs. "First generation" would be the traditional "free bike" programs, where bikes are fixed and just left around busy places for people to use for free. "Second generation" public bike programs are the ones where you have one main check out and check in point. Similar to how one would rent a bike from a bike shop. You wouldn't be able to turn it in across town. I mean the third generation, or "check a bike out from various kiosks around town and turn them in at another kiosk across town" model. Of course, third generational models are all still new enough that they've not been around long enough to have been proven workable or sustainable. Do keep us posted with how it goes with Sibley and the bikes and the process. I'm sure documenting the process will be valuable for other groups looking to do similar work. Thanks, and good luck! josh. On Fri, Sep 11, 2009 at 2:41 PM, Stuart O Anderson <soa(a)ri.cmu.edu> wrote: > This is great news! - Sibley is the place where I first learned to > work with bikes. > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: Jason Tanzman <jason.tanzman(a)gmail.com> > Date: Fri, Sep 11, 2009 at 4:36 PM > Subject: [TheThinkTank] Community Partners Bike Library > To: thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org > > > Hey everybody, > > I just wanted to send an email and let folks know about an exciting > project that Sibley Bike Depot (St. Paul, MN) is beginning. Sibley > received funding in full on Tuesday for a $200,000 program to run a > Community Partners Bike Library! The funds were approved by Transit > for Livable Communities, a not-for-profit transit advocacy group in > charge of allocating a $21 million federal Non-motorized Transit Pilot > program in the Twin Cities. > > This funding will allow Sibley to build up a fleet of 200 bicycles – > outfitted for transportation purposes with a rack, fenders, lights, > lock, and helmet – to lend out to community members for up to six > months. The bike lending will be coordinated through Community > Partners – other agencies, such as affordable housing organizations, > job placement centers, homeless shelters, and more – who will help > identify patrons who will benefit from reliable transportation. > Through this program, Sibley hopes to increase the availability of > bicycles within working class and poor communities, thus helping to > increase access to bicycles and diversify the bicycling movement in > the Twin Cities! > > I am interested to hear any thoughts/feedback/suggestions from anyone > who has 1) coordinated a bike library program; or, 2) handled large > federal or other government grants (rumored to be a tremendous pain in > the ass). > > Jason Tanzman > > -- > Sibley Bike Depot > Volunteer Coordinator > 612-232-2737 (cell) > 651-222-2080 (shop) > www.sibleybikedepot.org > Sibley Bike Depot's mission is to be an open, accessible space to > educate and empower people to use bicycles as transportation, helping > to build a sustainable environment and community. Volunteer with us > to help build a bicycling movement in the Twin Cities! > > _______________________________________________ > 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.… > -- Thanks for supporting Community Cycles, Boulder's first and only non-profit bike shop! Ask me how you can sponsor a Youth Earn-A-Bike student for just $100. www.communitycycles.org

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Traffic skills offerings for new riders through our shops?
by Edward G France 11 Sep '09

11 Sep '09

Oh you crazy guys and gals! Here's a quick process point and a then a serious question below. I appreciate the underlying humor in the bike bickering (The Gross post) here, and now that probably no one is reading this, and that I'm procrastinating more immediate tasks here at Bici Centro (in S.B., California) I'll put in my thoughts. First off, we are all professionals here whether paid/unpaid, sleeping in abandoned buildings or starting a familly with a morgage, and we should treat people at our shop and on this disscussion list with respect ALWAYS, so I would reccomend that lively disagreement emails begin: "I can see how (person x) makes this point, but I really disagree. The point I would like to offer is..." At our shop- and I imagine all of ours, we deal with some real characters, sometimes threatening and belligerent. For this reason in our line of work/volunteerism 'de-escallation' skills are a must. In other words If you can't calmly and politely send out of the shop the mentally ill person who just called one of your volunteers a 'fuck-face' then you probably have no place in a community bike shop, or at least in ours here in Santa Barbara. We should probably illustrate the same interpersonal skills via email. *The Real POINT:* While Jonathan's point about anything getting more people on bikes is a good one, the conversation doesn't end there. Whether a rider is a fashionista buying a bike from urban outfitters (which by the way, is a pretty cool technology, why not let people buy bikes in the colors they want?) or a struggling day laborer, (or a fashionista day laborer, which we have a lot of, actually), New bicyclists can be dangerous not because of fixed gear risks but because of traffic and the challenge or sharing the road. When people bicycle unsafely in endangers them, and all of us, because road rage is real, and motorists who feel disrespected or can't read riders predictibly, are probably more likely to take risks next to cyclists. We're not in Copenhagen after all, and it is about 10 times more dangerous to ride in the U.S. then Northern Europe. We have a paradox that faces us. More riders does equal greater safety for all riders(eventually), but in the meantime, putting people on bikes without a good concept of 'street skills' is unfair to the cyclists we claim to support. (or do you disagree?) In short, and perhaps as a different discussion chain: In what ways do your shops try to connect riders to bicycle safety education. (street skills training specifically). For example in Santa Barbara we partner with our Bicycle Coalition and help fill seats in the League of American Bicyclists Classes, which are paid 10 hour workshops. The format isn't perfect, but we are really working to evolve our education program - going so far as to launch a chicago style 'bicycle ambassadors' program with bike buddies and other non-bike gear resources for aspiring cyclists. Here's our street skills sign up page for reference: http://www.sbbike.org/CycleSmart/apply.html I'd love to see some answers and some (hopefully respectful) disagreement! by the way, My favorite point from the last email chain: > Bikes are poetry, let people read what they like! > > > -- all the Best, -- Ed France, Bici Centro Director www.bicicentro.org 805 617-3255 .......__o .......\ <, ....( )/ ( )"We may go to the Moon, but that is not very far. The greatest distance we have to cover still lies within us." -Charles de Gaulle

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Geared hub agenda!
by an undercover cop 11 Sep '09

11 Sep '09

interestingly enough, the luster seems to be fading from the fixed gear mania here in chicago. i work in the streets, and so i spend a lot of time scoping the bikes folks ride. (so much so that i think people think i'm checking *them* out!) as bikes become more and more popular for joe b. commuter, i see lots and lots of "bros" (identified purely by dress code, haircut and/or millinery) riding slick, brand-new, store-bought single speeds. two years ago, it was fixie conversions. last year it was store-bought fixies (schwinn madisons, raleigh streets, etc.). but this year, i've noticed that they all have single-speed freewheels... which makes the bike even *more* of a fashion statement: "i've got the look without the trade-off!" but shit, that's fine by me. because i know that these dudes (and yeah, it's mostly dudes, but that may be the result of where i work more than anything) aren't riding wildly inappropriate bicycles--thereby endangering themselves and others. my guess is that the local shops' sales forces got wise. probably after a bunch of disappointed yups-to-be traded in their rear wheels. of course, the flip side of the increasing number of jane q. citizen bike commuters is the dilution of solidarity amongst cyclist. not until this year have i been yelled at by bike commuters when i'm working my pedicab, and this season, it's happened twice... but that's a different story entirely.* -ben in chicago *one that ends with the full-force application of my brakes, a mild rear-ending, and "if you're going to tell me how to ride my bike, at least give me a safe following distance, ya knob!" hee.

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experienced bike mechanics as volunteers - issues
by Urban Bike Project Wilmington, DE 11 Sep '09

11 Sep '09

Hi All, Since we opened shop I've observed that our best volunteers are those that hardly know anything about the mechanical side of bikes but have enthusiasm and a desire to learn. They end up being the most patient with customers and eventually the best teachers/passers on of bike knowledge. On the flip side are experienced bike mechanics. Most, but not all, are pushy, completely disregard our "hands off the tools philosophy" and don't understand when we ask them to "please attend volunteer orientation" if you would like to volunteer as a mechanic here ("but i'm already a mechanic!"). Recently a bike mechanic of thirty years came in because he heard about us and wanted to observe what went on. To make a long story short, he did everything BUT observe and I had to ask/tell/almost yell at him several times to let people in the shop "do it themselves". The last time I told him to "let him do it himself" he responded with "but i have so much knowledge to share!", to which I replied "here we let people get that knowledge themselves and don't watch over them constantly or take tools out of their hands", which he didn't seem to understand ("what if they make a mistake and something breaks?!"). To lighten the mood (they'll probably laugh, or cry...), bring a hammer out and explain that this is your "rim straightener" or "frame alignment tool". My questions to the other collectives out there: 1.) Do you have a similar issue? or is it just us, haha 2.) How have you gotten experienced mechanics (like the above example) to "buy-in" to your system if at first they resisted? Brian Urban Bike Project of Wilmington -a 501(c)3 non-profit bike shop- 1908 N. Market Street (entrance is in the parking lot behind the building) Wilmington, DE 19802 Hours: Thursday 6:30-9:00 Saturday 1:00-4:00 Visit us online at http://urbanbikeproject.org

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