April 26, 2012

Hello Cargo Bike Enthusiasts,

We are currently reaching out to other people in the bike world to increase awareness of the Human Powered Network (HPN). Our aim in contacting you is to reach someone in your community who is interested in being a part of an intensive Apprenticeship Program.  This program focuses on preparing individuals to create their own local, bicycle-based business/social enterprise.

Based on Human Powered Machines (HPM) 20 years of experience with cargo bike design and philosophy, the Network seeks to create an association of fabricators who will build a strong, decentralized alternative to the standard, centralized non-local production of bikes. Our dream? To have many smaller scale frame builders cooperating and acting as an entity that is comparable to a large bike manufacturer.

A diverse group of apprentices has been through the program in the last three years. The HPN is designed to give them support that will come in many forms. At the outset, the Tiered Kit System (TKS) will enable them to kick-start their new initiative. The TKS is a process whereby HPN associates may order to sell any of HPM’s product line, built to varying levels of completion. When they have developed their own fabrication facilities capable of building complete bikes they will have the right to the designs (think open source hardware).

Please print the attached PDF and freely distribute the information on the Apprenticeship Program to anyone in your community who may be interested.

For the Network

Jan VanderTuin