I've been wanting to respond to this thread for a while and now have some time to do so.  I'd like to take this conversation in a different direction.

At Community Cycles in Boulder we have a "traditional" non profit structure.  We have paid staff, a board of directors, we sell bikes, pay rent, have a membership program and other traditional non-profit kinds of structure.  This is of course very different than the way some of the anarcho-punk shops are run.   It's clear that we have very different ways about getting people on bikes but the result is the same; bikes are diverted from the waste stream and they get used.  And I think we all want people to reap the benefits a bike-centric lifestyle can offer.

I'd love to see more research about how our work affects peoples lives.  I'm sure we all have stories about people who've come to our shops and it transformed their lives.  But for each story we hear there are probably a dozen others we haven't.  At Community Cycles we do a follow up survey six weeks after someone completes the Earn-A-Bike program.
http://www.communitycycles.org/index.php?option=com_rsform&formId=10&Itemid=99999

This gives us some indication of how the bikes are being used but it doesn't paint a complete picture.  I'm personally very interested in how bikes can help people get out of debt and poverty.  The average annual cost of owning and operating an auto is around $9K.  Minimum wage in Colorado is $7.24 an hour, at 40 hrs a week that's $14K annually.    I'm interested in knowing more about what it looks like when someone living in poverty switches from the auto to biking, walking, mass transit, car-sharing....

I'm also interested in the affects of people living bike-centric lifestyles has on local economies.  Living car-free, I do 98% of my daily activities within a three mile radius.  In this area I spend my money at all the usual places; grocery stores, hardware stores, coffee shops, restaurants, specialty shops...  Some of them are local some are chains but the collection of local sales tax is the same.  What is the impact on local schools, libraries, infrastructure and other local government services?  What happens to local non profits, community organizations and businesses when more people live bike-centric? 

And then there's a whole array of topics that we could study; quality of life, health, academic changes in school children, community engagement,  air and water quality, corporate power... Like I said we may run our shops differently but our work has the same affect on peoples lives.  I think the more we understand these changes the better we can advocate for bike-centric lifestyles.

Thanks for reading.

Ride On!

Rich




On 8/27/2010 11:36 AM, andrew bushaw wrote:
First of all thank you all for your input. I guess I see this project as being a good way to inform future decisions on federation of sorts. I think I'm pretty much sold on doing this research as my thesis. As mentioned previously, this will focus mostly on organizational structures and financial arrangements to determine both quantitatively and qualitatively a picture of the movement that is being built. My hopes are that this will be useful to both new shops trying to figure out which arrangements would best suit their particular context as well as the other stated goal of identifying potential needs involved with building something larger. I think some really good points have been made on this thread about some of the difficulties in that endeavor, namely the autonomous and decentralized nature of CBS's as a whole. However, I don't think that these charecteristics necissarily precludes possible organizing of something larger, and may in fact turn out to be an asset, but it is certainly an important to keep in mind. Federations have been used succesfully for coordination of decentralized, autonomous organizations throughout history, and I think there is definitely potential for com bike shops in one way or another.  I would definitely be interested in being in on more specific discussions of the larger entity, but will keep most of that out of my research as that is something that needs to be hashed out amongst people, not in theory. Anyways, thanks again for all the input and encouragement and I look forward to info gathering over the next year.
-Andrew

On Fri, Aug 27, 2010 at 12:02 PM, fallen.arrows <tito@fallenarrows.biz> wrote:
ainsley, im on the same page.  working on getting some of sopo's ideas formalized and onto collectives/wiki.  count me in on, let me know what needs doing.


tito @
Fallen.Arrows
Direct to Garment Printing Services
858 Dekalb Ave
Suite C
Atlanta, Ga 30307

cell. 678.907.3892
work. 404.635.6367

www.fallenarrows.com
www.fallenarrows.biz

Fallen Arrows Print and Design is a custom order no-minimum-necessary print shop in Atlanta, Georgia that is dedicated to building a creative community.


On Tue, Aug 24, 2010 at 10:55 AM, <thethinktank-request@bikecollectives.org> wrote:
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Today's Topics:

  1. Re: Thethinktank Digest, Vol 48, Issue 9 (fallen.arrows)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2010 07:52:29 -0700
From: "fallen.arrows" <tito@fallenarrows.biz>
To: thethinktank@bikecollectives.org
Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Thethinktank Digest, Vol 48, Issue 9
Message-ID:
       <AANLkTin2Ngz3L_OgTEQ9V34OXjHigEMbFUWFtHpWWauP@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Andrew and ainsley, myself and sopo are into it. Andrew, I spoke with sara
about an international incubator program. I'm currently on vaca, but ill be
home soon and we can go from there. Glad there is lots of positive energy
around this issue. tito

On Aug 22, 2010 2:13 PM, <thethinktank-request@bikecollectives.org> wrote:

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Today's Topics:

 1. Community Bike Shops and academic research. (andrew bushaw)
 2. Re: Bike!Bike! 2010 Notes (Angel York)
 3. Re: Bike!Bike! 2010 Notes (Geoffrey B)
 4. Re: Community Bike Shops and academic research. (Ainsley Naylor)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 10:15:53 -0500
From: andrew bushaw <andrew@fmbikeworkshop.org>
To: The Think Tank <thethinktank@bikecollectives.org>
Subject: [TheThinkTank] Community Bike Shops and academic research.
Message-ID:
      <AANLkTim-s=uFDzPMRXW_8=0pEzfm=rUr2zLGk7tLaEg8@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Community Bike folk,
I'm trying to settle on a topic for a masters thesis and I'm interested in
doing research into the organizational, legal and funding structures of
community bike shops. I know that at bikebike minneapolis there was a
session called "Plan Voltron" about creating a "cooperative of cooperatives"
and some of the folks from our bike shop that made it to toronto  mentioned
this was also a topic of conversation this year. My first thought is that a
qualitative and quantitative overview or survey of community bike shops
would give a solid base for further work on this idea by identifying needs,
wants, strengths, characteristics, etc. that would be useful to organizing
linkages between shops.
My main focus of study so far has been the "worker centers" movement, which
seem to parallel community bike shops in some interesting ways, such as
being relatively new, decentralized, and fast growing. I think this (
http://smlr.rutgers.edu/Unions/FineWorker.pdf) study that was done of
workercenters would serve as a good model for one of community bike shops
since it's central aim is to be useful for further movement building. So,
now to the questions:
1. Does anyone know of any research done on community bike shops, academic
or otherwise?
2. Would you see this as potentially useful information? Useful enough to
participate in a survey of your shop?
3. If so, what kinds of things would you like to see research on?

I would be doing this using both traditional research methods as well as
more "strategic investigation" techniques, meaning that perspective would be
from within the movement as a participant and their would be a specific
strategic "usefulness" for the end result.

Wish I could have been at bikebike to pitch this idea personally, but I know
sara talked to a few folks about it.

Thanks,
Andrew
FM Community Bicycle Workshop
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Message: 2
Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 10:27:07 -0700
From: Angel York <aniola@gmail.com>
To: The Think Tank <thethinktank@bikecollectives.org>
Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Bike!Bike! 2010 Notes
Message-ID:
      <AANLkTim_QhQAniD_j9G_bmrbam5Fc06pN2kOE9v4BC2K@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Howdy,

It would be great, kickass, wonderful, and awesome if this wiki page
<http://www.bikecollectives.org/wiki/index.php?title=Bike%21Bike%21_2010
>could
get populated before you forget the fine details of how Bike! Bike! 2010
went.  I'm on the edge of my seat waiting to hear how it went and what y'all
learned.

Angel York

On Wed, Aug 18, 2010 at 11:56 AM, Godwin! <goodgodwin@hotmail.com> wrote:

>  Hey folks, we talked a little about this during the thinktank workshop
and
> I know Ainsley was going to send out a notice to everyone that attended
but
> I thought I'd try to get the ball rolling while its still fresh in our
> minds.
>
> I have added an item for each workshop in the Bike!Bike! 2010 wiki page
for
> notes. If you attended a workshop it would be great if you can put any
notes
> you took into that workshop, or even if you just remember what happened
that
> would be helpful as well. If there is already a writeup for that workshop,
> it would be helpful if you reviewed it and edited if you can make any
> improvements.
>
> If you're not sure how to use the wiki, do what you can or ask someone.
> Someone else will likely re-format as long as the text is there.
>
> You can find the page here<
http://www.bikecollectives.org/wiki/index.php?title=Bike%21Bike%21_2010>
> .
>
> Thanks everybody!
> godwin.
>
>
>
> PS Ainsley: I hope I'm not stepping on your toes here, but also if you're
> planning on sending out another email to all participants it would still
be
> helpful to include this as there are probably a lot of people not on the
> thinktank that could help out.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Thethinktank mailing list
> Thethinktank@bikecollectives.org
> To unsubscribe, send a blank email to
> TheThinkTank-leave@bikecollectives.org
> To manage your subscription, plase visit:
>
>
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>
>
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Message: 3
Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 13:47:26 -0400
From: Geoffrey B <vous.je@gmail.com>
To: The Think Tank <thethinktank@bikecollectives.org>
Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Bike!Bike! 2010 Notes
Message-ID:
      <AANLkTinrJ3z_9y8WffqcKqXWpX-1AZmtS4+S4MCjpjbR@mail.gmail.com<AANLkTinrJ3z_9y8WffqcKqXWpX-1AZmtS4%2BS4MCjpjbR@mail.gmail.com>
>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

My name is Geoffrey, one of the bike bike coordinators for the Toronto 2010
thingy.

Let me tell you, lots of Canadians came out to party and celebrate bicycles.
Few workshops were cancelled and fewer had no facilitation. Each workshop
had about fifty people attending. Four workshops where held at a time. Food
was organic, vegan and glutton free.

The mobile shop workshop was my favorite cause i learned about not having a
shop and be committed to helping people ride a safe bike. I think about
forty people came in from Montreal, Canada. They will be committing a
regional bike bike named velo velo in the end of September. The next bike
bike 2011 will be held in San Marcos, Texas.

Bike Bike delegates from the states where surprised to see how many cyclists
ride our narrow urban streets.

First night we had dinner picinic style in the park. Next night we had a
scavenger hunt matched with outdoor movie night in park followed by a
midnight swim on the shores of Lake Ontario. After the workshops on
Saturday, we took some delegates out on a tour of all the DIY bike spaces in
Toronto, five in all. Then after the tour we put on a  party that stretched
the night away with hot steamy dance dance fun.

On sunday we had a group discussion about the4 next bike bike. We asked
Fargo to hold a winter bike bike. Some talk of New York hosting a regional
bike bike. I think LA wanted a bike bike in 2012 but that is up for the talk
in Texas. New Orleans group Plan B wishes to host the tenth anniversary of
bike bike 2013.

On a personal note. Bike Bike would have been nothing without the help of a
pack of dedicated volunteers that operated the kitchen and supplied people
with breakfest, lunch and dinner for four days.

Hopes and dreams to the flying cyclists of America and beyond.
Geoffrey B
Bike Pirates


On Sun, Aug 22, 2010 at 1:27 PM, Angel York <aniola@gmail.com> wrote:

> Howdy,
>
> It would be great, kickass, wonderful, and awesome if this wiki page
> <http://www.bikecollectives.org/wiki/index.php?title=Bike%21Bike%21_2010
>could
> get populated before you forget the fine details of how Bike! Bike! 2010
> went.  I'm on the edge of my seat waiting to hear how it went and what
y'all
> learned.
>
> Angel York
>
> On Wed, Aug 18, 2010 at 11:56 AM, Godwin! <goodgodwin@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>>  Hey folks, we talked a little about this during the thinktank workshop
>> and I know Ainsley was going to send out a notice to everyone that
attended
>> but I thought I'd try to get the ball rolling while its still fresh in
our
>> minds.
>>
>> I have added an item for each workshop in the Bike!Bike! 2010 wiki page
>> for notes. If you attended a workshop it would be great if you can put
any
>> notes you took into that workshop, or even if you just remember what
>> happened that would be helpful as well. If there is already a writeup for
>> that workshop, it would be helpful if you reviewed it and edited if you
can
>> make any improvements.
>>
>> If you're not sure how to use the wiki, do what you can or ask someone.
>> Someone else will likely re-format as long as the text is there.
>>
>> You can find the page here<
http://www.bikecollectives.org/wiki/index.php?title=Bike%21Bike%21_2010>
>> .
>>
>> Thanks everybody!
>> godwin.
>>
>>
>>
>> PS Ainsley: I hope I'm not stepping on your toes here, but also if you're
>> planning on sending out another email to all participants it would still
be
>> helpful to include this as there are probably a lot of people not on the
>> thinktank that could help out.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Thethinktank mailing list
>> Thethinktank@bikecollectives.org
>> To unsubscribe, send a blank email to
>> TheThinkTank-leave@bikecollectives.org
>> To manage your subscription, plase visit:
>>
>>
http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.org
>>
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Thethinktank mailing list
> Thethinktank@bikecollectives.org
> To unsubscribe, send a blank email to
> TheThinkTank-leave@bikecollectives.org
> To manage your subscription, plase visit:
>
>
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>
>


--
Geoffrey B
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Message: 4
Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 14:12:35 -0400
From: Ainsley Naylor <needleandthread@gmail.com>
To: The Think Tank <thethinktank@bikecollectives.org>
Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Community Bike Shops and academic
      research.
Message-ID:
      <AANLkTik-Cd7QQHxdve7dKhhqS9vXHWCXSNXYjwm8oU9R@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

sounds great. the *collective of collectives* is going to be a main-focus
for me within this community for the coming year. lots of ideas and projects
that need to be hatched and hashed out.

talk to VeganJosh about the spreadsheet he has started whcih has a very
large collection of data on 150+ bike collectives.

also somewhat related: what about a Bike!Bike! collective that helps
facilitate work from year to year? website, money, scholarships, archiving,
history-writing? We realized last week that B!B! needs to have a mission
statement and an anti-oppression policy, among other things. anyone want to
be a part of this work?

bike love,
ainsley.
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