- TheThinkTank - lists.bikecollectives.org

bicycle valet
by james thompson 13 May '08

13 May '08

Riders, New to the list and wanted to share a super fun event we did at a local music venue here in Denton, TX: bicycle valet. Our community bike shop volunteers exchanged tickets for bicycles and placed everyone's ride in a safe place to be retrieved by us at their liesure. No locks or dark alleyway telephone poles required for safety, no fumbling for the right angle on that off-brand U-lock. The parking lot was pleasantly unfull until a late hour. We canvassed at our valet table. Event promoters supported the fewer-cars evening by offering free cover and beverages. The college-age crowd was quite fond of the idea, and I can fairly say we had a blast. Show up earlier than you would for a normal music venue (bar staff graciously helped our solo volunteer through the first rough half hour). Folks, this is fun, but it was work. We valeted seventy bicycles, dozens more locked up themselves, and this at a venue of probably no more than two hundred people. You need at least four people to do this: one ticketeer, one valet, and one security gaurd for the bikes, and one to keep the security gaurd company. Make sure the venue (bar or not) restricts access to the parking area. Make a "map" with ticket numbers and bike locations, no bike without a ticket or license, and ask each picker-uper to describe their bike in detail. And your valet needs to be comfortable on kamikazes (fixies w/no brakes). Remember to turn people's lights off, and take tips for your organization. Bring a good bicycle pump with presta/schraeder capabilities and a gauge. Something we didn't anticipate, the two a. m. crowd produces wobbly folk. It was frankly discussed that some of the less experienced riders might have fared better driving home. Rather than have this devil's argument, make sure you're at a venue of a size you can manage (we were) and that you can get everyone home safely (we did, but I fretted a bit near the end). I'll leave it to my colleagues to add anything else, or make corrections. In Solidarity, James Thompson Shop Manager Querencia Community Bicycle Shop Denton, TX

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Re: [TheThinkTank] KRGV News Story
by tom emm 12 May '08

12 May '08

> > <div> > > > <b>$4-a-gallon gas boosting bicycle sales, repairs</b> > > > <a href="http://www.krgv.com/Video/News/991153.wvx">Watch Video</a> > > BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Across the country, high gas prices are > > kicking bicycle sales into high gear. <P> > > Bike dealers say they're seeing customers dusting off their old > > two-wheelers -- or buying new ones -- to cope with rising fuel > > prices. <P> > > A spokesman for the Washington. D.C.-based League of American > > Bicyclists says there's a definite increase in people riding bikes. <P> > > He says, "it's due to a mixture of things but escalating gas > > prices is one of them." <P> > > About 18 million bicycles have been sold annually in the U.S. > > over the past few years. The National Bicycle Dealers Association > > says that adds up to about six billion dollars in annual sales. A > > spokesman says bike shops across the country are reporting strong > > sales so far this year. And more people are bringing in bikes that > > have been idling at home. <P> > > A Bismarck, North Dakota, man who opened a shop in April says he > > sold more than 50 bikes in the first month -- double his > > projections. He says everyone who walks in the store is talking > > about gas prices. <P> > > (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) <P> > > Comments: > ------------------------------------------ > > </div> >

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Yahoo! News Story - Gas prices knock bicycle sales, repairs into higher gear - Yahoo! News
by biker 11 May '08

11 May '08

biker (biker(a)nomail.com) has sent you a news article. (Email address has not been verified.) ------------------------------------------------------------ Personal message: Gas prices knock bicycle sales, repairs into higher gear - Yahoo! News http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080511/ap_on_bi_ge/work_bikes_3 ============================================================ Yahoo! News http://news.yahoo.com/

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Soliciting donations
by dragonfly＠mac.hush.com 11 May '08

11 May '08

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Hi, Rafael. These are awesome ideas. Sasha On Sun, 11 May 2008 08:01:51 -0400 bike against <bikeagainst(a)gmail.com> wrote: >Words of wisdom from Gary; we should listen and figure something >out. > >In similar matters, lately i've been thinking quite a bit about >brainstorming / negotiating / launching a Bike Collectives / Tool >manufacturers sponsorship / marketing campaign to get some really >good >deals on tools and other shop supplies by running ads on all >possible >bicycle publications and related websites with " if we don't >break it, no >one will... " type captions; WE as in Us, Community Bike Projects >of the >U.S. > >WHY ? > >NO local bike shop uses their freewheel removing tools 10,15,20 >times in a >day; we do. > >No LBS cuts as many cables or as many yards of housing in a >regular shop day >like we do. > >No LBS uses their chaintools 25+ times in a day... etc,etc. > >In general, not a single tool is used at any LBS as many times per >day as >tools are used and abused at community bike projects. > >Where floor pumps are used, nowhere they get used 50+ times in a >day... > >( i know i can't speak from all the Bike Projects out there,but to > get the >point across i must generalize, you get the idea ) > > > - WE ARE THE ULTIMATE TESTERS - > >Sure, companies have their testing departments / procedures / >staff... but >when Bike Collectives,etc look into any of these companies >products to try' >em out, that's it, that's the real deal. > >We know more than the average wrench which products work AND are >durable and >which aren't... > >I believe this ads could be very appealing to home mechanics >trying to get >the most for their money, hell, maybe even pro/race/team mechanics >looking >for the most bombproof /race-tour worthy equipment could be >interested in >hearing what we have to say about such and such products... > >The ads could feature some of the largest, busiest Co-ops and such >out >there; a different one every month or so, while at the same time >these ads >will help promote our organizations and perhaps also help younger >community >shops to get more recognition and respect from their communities >for their >efforts. > >Mix in a few good facts about the featured organization complete >with >numbers and all and you have a state of the art marketing tool: > >Number of bikes recycled in 2007: 483 > >Number of bikes sent as aid to countries with limited or no access >to bikes: >1500 > >Number of bikes donated to charity: 300 > >Number of bikes relocated into the community through Earn-A-Bike >program: >224 > >Total number of bikes diverted from the Landfill in 2007... > >ETC, ETC... (maybe also things like: years in operation: # number >of >volunteers: # etc. or even some fun facts like what's the weirdest >thing >you've found inside a bike you worked on or something... ( in my >case, i >once found a mummified mouse in the BB and someone else found a >love letter >in a seat post ) > >This will show the general public and the companies WHAT we do >with THESE >tools... > >I realize there's a lot more to it, but this is the main concept. >Thoughts >? > >On the topic of department store bikes, i wanna make stickers that >say " >Friends don't let friends ride Walt-Mart bicycles"... >perhaps we could come up with a shared design that we can all use >and just >add your Project's Name / Logo on it, that way is the same >sticker nation wide and BAM !! we start the Dept, store bike >awareness >campaign... who knows, if done neatly, it could catch some major >mainstream >media attention ( not only indymedia ! ) who wants to join ? > >Sorry this mail was sooo long. > >Wear the grease under your nails with pride. > >Cheers to all, see you in Sunny Cali. > >-R > > >-- >Rafael Cletero >Project Coordinator >Fort Collins Bicycle Co-op >ph (970) 484 38 04 >www.fcbikecoop.org -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Note: This signature can be verified at https://www.hushtools.com/verify Charset: UTF8 Version: Hush 3.0 wkYEARECAAYFAkgm/tsACgkQ5O7ahKJmrRn/tACeKss57AHvVJRCzAtH6A6raSMmtG4A oK+yLeF5mFRBFeT+jGgXt6z81YfA =lpch -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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Insurance/Liability
by Jason Tanzman 09 May '08

09 May '08

I'm new to this list but it seems like an awesome community of shared knowledge! Here is another question that our shop is dealing with - insurance and liability questions. We have recently expanded to a substantially larger space; in the past we operated out of a large garage/warehouse area, with very low rent, one paid staff member (hired as independent contractor), and no insurance. We are growing substantially and we want to make sure we protect all of our customers/volunteers/clients from issues if someone was hurt on one of our bikes or at our shop. But - it seems really expensive, how do community bike shops pay for it? How much do you pay per month for liability insurance? Do you have volunteer lawyers giving legal advice? Do you pay workman's comp for your staff, or do you hire staff as independent contractors? We want to make sure we do this right and protect our people, but it's expensive and hard. Any information is helpful!! -Jason

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Re: [TheThinkTank] pay rates, minimum hours
by Jason Tanzman 09 May '08

09 May '08

At Sibley Bike Depot in St. Paul, MN, we pay our folks $10-12/hr, for both mechanics and our volunteer coordinator. A follow-up question - do most shops hire people as independent contractors or as staff?

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Re: [TheThinkTank] Fancy Parts
by dragonfly＠mac.hush.com 08 May '08

08 May '08

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Hi, Everyone. This thread is great. Your are all so knowledgable it makes me happy. Does anyone know what the tax rules are for Canadian shops who want to raise money selling "fancy parts"? Sasha On Thu, 08 May 2008 10:28:16 -0400 Stuart O Anderson <soa(a)ri.cmu.edu> wrote: >Colin's experience is similar to ours. Because our nonprofit >status >comes from another organization that we're part of, our income is >combined with theirs in deciding whether we cross that limit. We >do >cross it and pay sales tax on all our sales. Being a non-profit >means >that the organization isn't owned privately or publicly by folks >who >make a share of the organization's profit - a non profit is still >free >to pay its employees and charge as much as the market will bear >for >its goods/services. > >>From the IRS website, the requirements for tax exemption are at: >http://www.irs.gov/charities/charitable/article/0,,id=96099,00.html > > >The bit that says what a 501(c)(3) may actually _do_ is below: > >The exempt purposes set forth in section 501(c)(3) are charitable, >religious, educational, scientific, literary, testing for public >safety, fostering national or international amateur sports >competition, and preventing cruelty to children or animals. The >term >charitable is used in its generally accepted legal sense and >includes >relief of the poor, the distressed, or the underprivileged; >advancement of religion; advancement of education or science; >erecting >or maintaining public buildings, monuments, or works; lessening >the >burdens of government; lessening neighborhood tensions; >eliminating >prejudice and discrimination; defending human and civil rights >secured >by law; and combating community deterioration and juvenile >delinquency. > > >There's also a section that says you're not allowed to 'inure' >(pay) >people associated with the organization to excess. So, if you're >selling dura-ace brakes on ebay for as much as you can, but using >the >money to pay your volunteers for their time at a reasonable rate >and >improve you're shop (both activities being part of your >'charitable >purpose') then you're all set. > >Stuart > >On Thu, May 8, 2008 at 9:40 AM, Colin Dixon, Phoenix Bikes ><colin.phoenixbikes(a)gmail.com> wrote: >> Income from sales is usually not tax exempt income - unlike >donations - so >> that may complicate things. and it is a bit dicey to give >something to >> someone and then have them give a 'donation' in return. >> That said, usually states have a level below which you don't >have to file >> sales tax. In VA, I believe its $10,000 a year. >> therefore, If you don't sell over $10,000, you don't need a >license to sell >> stuff and don't need to file. If you do sell over, you need to >both register >> to sell stuff (can still be a non-rpofit), and to file monthly >to pay sales >> tax. >> Could be a little off on this, but I think this is the gist. >> - colin >> >> On Thu, May 8, 2008 at 9:08 AM, Justin Pogge <xecax(a)hotmail.com> >wrote: >>> >>> we have a special display for nicer parts that we want a larger >donation >>> for. we have a number of parts hounds that come to our shop to >see what new >>> goodies we have. selling parts like this really helps us out >financially and >>> lets us have more wiggle room when it comes to people not >having very much >>> money to donate for the bicycle that they fix up in our shop. >plus, our >>> mechanics can benefit from these parts by donating to their own >coop and >>> getting parts for much less than they would at a LBS. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> ________________________________ >>> > From: bbohs(a)purdue.edu >>> > To: thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >>> > Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 23:05:10 -0400 >>> > Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Fancy Parts >>> > >>> > If you want to indulge in profit, I hear you too. Make your >classifieds >>> > intellectual to me, and I'll try to make them open for fair >trade. Let me >>> > know. Thank you for helping out the community, even for >individuals who are >>> > as accomplished as some. Thank you >>> > >>> > >>> > Brent Bohs >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > On May 7, 2008, at 10:58 PM, Brent Bohs wrote: >>> > >>> > Thank yo man, you seem to understand how this works. I you >have >>> > profitable items, sell them at what you want. Otherwise, >name a price and >>> > let the masses indulge in your success. Let them know. We >can all benefit >>> > from riding and people that help the whole ordeal are saints >to me, man. >>> > You know you are doing so much for others. Give me a shout! >765-418-1272, >>> > if you want to help the biking community more, I'm sure I can >help you out. >>> > We, at this co-op, don't enrich ourselves, but we sure >enrich any biker we >>> > find in free or cheap parts, labor, and well-being, as we are >trying to >>> > promote biking as a safe and justifiable alternative to car >traffic. >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > Brent >>> > >>> > >>> > On May 7, 2008, at 5:10 PM, james blesdoe wrote: >>> > >>> > HECK NO!!! >>> > >>> > You sell them as you see fit. Nonprofit means you can't >enrich your >>> > self, but your organization is supposed to make a profit In >this economy >>> > that is becoming easier all the time -at least at the Bicycle >Kitchen that >>> > is the case. >>> > >>> > roll on >>> > >>> > Jim >>> > >>> > Erik Stockmeier> wrote: >>> > Question! >>> > >>> > What the heck does everybody's shop do with fancy items of >special worth >>> > to collectors? For example... perhaps you come upon a >donation of half a >>> > dozen 70s unused campi sidepull break sets. Your stock of >breaks is full, >>> > so throwing them in the bin or selling them for 5$ or >shlepping them on a >>> > Roadmaster seems like a waste. Is it ethically ok for a non- >profit to >>> > occasionally indulge collectors as a source of surplus >income? What about >>> > legally for a 501c3? Is it necessary to launder them through >a "buyer" who >>> > sells them at profit and donates the difference? >>> > >>> > Erik >>> > _______________________________________________ >>> > Thethinktank mailing list >>> > Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >>> > >>> > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- >bikecollectives.org >>> > >>> > >>> > ________________________________ >>> > Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! >Mobile. Try >>> > it now._______________________________________________ >>> > Thethinktank mailing list >>> > Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >>> > >>> > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- >bikecollectives.org >>> > >>> > _______________________________________________ >>> > Thethinktank mailing list >>> > Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >>> > >>> > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- >bikecollectives.org >>> >_________________________________________________________________ >>> With Windows Live for mobile, your contacts travel with you. >>> >>> >http://www.windowslive.com/mobile/overview.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_R >efresh_mobile_052008 >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Thethinktank mailing list >>> Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >>> >>> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- >bikecollectives.org >> >> >> >> -- >> Colin Dixon >> Phoenix Bikes >> Barcroft Park >> 4200 S. Four Mile Run Drive >> Arlington, VA >> www.phoenixbikes.org >> (703) 575-7762 >> c: (202) 494-9553 >> _______________________________________________ >> Thethinktank mailing list >> Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- >bikecollectives.org >> >> >_______________________________________________ >Thethinktank mailing list >Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank- >bikecollectives.org -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Note: This signature can be verified at https://www.hushtools.com/verify Charset: UTF8 Version: Hush 3.0 wkYEARECAAYFAkgjEXoACgkQ5O7ahKJmrRncbACfVeAHwblq48+ECCZlAeELN2VnB6IA njU+NlS2EAEQ/vclPqFglwxW/7qy =7xLb -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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Re: [TheThinkTank] using the bicycle kitchen's POS system? was :Electronic Tracking
by Jessica McPherson 08 May '08

08 May '08

Did you ever get in touch with that guy Josh Moody from the L.A. bicycle kitchen who presented at bike bike? It sounded like he had written a POS system, don't remember if it was open-source or web-based. Jessica (Free Ride, Pittsburgh) ----- Original Message ---- From: Stuart O Anderson <soa(a)ri.cmu.edu> To: The Think Tank <thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org> Sent: Thursday, May 8, 2008 1:04:14 PM Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] using the bicycle kitchen's POS system? was :Electronic Tracking I've been thinking a lot about building a secure web based open source POS system. If anyone else is interested in this sort of project, or is already working on something like it, please get in touch with me. Stuart On Thu, May 8, 2008 at 1:13 AM, Brent Bohs <bbohs(a)purdue.edu> wrote: > Thank you very much man, we're setting up a co-op around here and are > working on a good inventory system for all our parts and frames and such, > thanks for your input in all this!! It helps us all! Keep in touch. > Brent Bohs > > > On May 8, 2008, at 1:10 AM, Gern Blanston wrote: > > Hi, > Yes, Jim Bledsoe is from the Los Angeles' "Bicycle Kitchen". > Here in LA we have three individual community bike shops: > the Bicycle Kitchen near Hollywood, the Bike Oven in Highland Park, and I'm > with the BikeRoWave in Santa Monica. > The BikeRoWave choose to get a POS software called Retail ICE that is going > to be installed this week. We pieced together the rest from ebay, and some > donations. We bought a touch screen and a bar code scanner, to make things > easy for the staff. We looked at Intuits 'QuickBook POS' that retails for > over $1500, but the Inventory Committee decided to go with the Retail ICE > system that comes with tutorials and learning dvd's which was $75. It is > cheaper if you don't buy the added dvd's. Total for the whole package was > under $700. > That includes: The POS software(looks very powerful, with bookkeeping and > tax functions), a touch screen moniter, a hand wand scanner, a full sized > Scanner/printer. We had a cash drawer and a receipt printer donated to > use. We are not accepting credit card payments so no need for the card > scanner. I'm really excited for the system to get going, as I envision it > helping in soo many ways. Sales, inventory, taxes, contacts, all will be > streamlined. As the Inventory Manager/C.F.O. I am looking forward to > getting my work load down. > I'll provide a more detailed description of Items in the system and a report > on its operation soon. I am extreamly busy but will try to answer any > questions as soon as I can. I can be reached at getgern(at)gmail.com > > _______________________________________________ > Thethinktank mailing list > Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… > > > _______________________________________________ > Thethinktank mailing list > Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… > > _______________________________________________ Thethinktank mailing list Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

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using the bicycle kitchen's POS system? was :Electronic Tracking
by andrewsawtelle＠riseup.net 08 May '08

08 May '08

Yeah, at bikebike in Pittsburgh back in August Josh Moody from the LA Bike Kitchen was talking about their whole POS system and how they could probably make it available to people who want to use it. I've CCed their main contact email so maybe they'll let us know. Andrew Recycle-A-Bike, Providence RI http://www.recycleabike.org Velocipede Bike Project wrote: > This is convenient because we at velocipede are at the same point. I know > that the bike kitchen said they would send out they're software at bike > bike, but I haven't heard back from them....is anyone from the bike > kitchen(in LA) on this list? > > -beth > velocipede bike project > Baltimore, MD > >> I know that this has been discussed before but I didn't see what I was >> specifically looking for in the archives. We are growing faster than >> our paperwork can keep up and are in need of a better system for >> tracking both inventory/bikes-in/bikes-out/donations type stuff as >> well as Work-Trade volunteer hours. I know that there is mention of >> developing a "community bike software suite", does anyone know where >> at in development that is? From what I saw in the archives, some >> places do have databases set up for tracking this stuff, is there any >> chance that could be shared as a template with the wider community? >> Thanks, Andrew >> FM Community Bicycle Workshop >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Thethinktank mailing list >> Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org >> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… >> > > > _______________________________________________ > Thethinktank mailing list > Thethinktank(a)bikecollectives.org > http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.… >

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Pay Rates, minimum hours
by Stuart O Anderson 08 May '08

08 May '08

As a follow up to my last post, among those shops that pay people for their services, how much do you pay? At Free Ride we pay: $15/hr for teaching classes $10-13/hr for fixing up bikes (we pay more to fix bikes that start off being worth less) also, how much time do you expect volunteers to put in in order to be members of your group, if that's how you organize? At Free Ride we require: at least 24 hours every 3 months to be on the collective council Stuart

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