HI Bill,
I read the book about the Arcata Library Bike program... bought it
electronically off LuLu in January. Found it inspiring, actually.
In our case, we would be lending out three wheeled cargo trikes ...a
day at a time, I am thinking, rather than for weeks or months. I'm a
little worried about them being stolen or driven into a canal.
I'm thinking that, since the potential borrowers would not have credit
cards ( they are almost unknown in Holland, except for fairly rich
folks) The only way to ensure the return of the bikes
without asking for a hefty cash deposit, would be to hang on to
borrowers' passports or national ID cards. Not very friendly... but
I'm not sure what else to do...
Lending Trailers... that is also a good idea! Occasionally you see
people pulling them with their bikes.
One thing that you NEVER see in Amsterdam.... is an XtraCycle. It
appears to be a cultural imperative here for people to always carry
loads in front of them. Maybe to prevent theft?
I would like to have a bike with a Free Radical on it to lend, so
locals can try actually riding one... they certainly are a much less
expensive ( and lighter!) cargo-carrying solution than a Bakfiets.
Road bikes... Around here, those appear to be primarily carbon-fiber
midlife crisis bikes for older men in Spandex. Steel racing bikes are
'for English-speaking people,' I have been told at various bike
shops. (???)
And... probably most bikes one sees here are one-speed with coaster
brakes. I hope to fix up as many donated older ones as possible and
give them to people who don't have bikes yet.
Yes, I was also thinking of having tools available for a walk-in DIY
repair show ( with advice)
And.. yes,, I love the Repair Manifesto too! I want to have a copy of
posted on the wall of the Repair area.
( Platform 21 is an artists' space here in Amsterdam.)
thanks so much, everyone!
Wendy
Op Mar 6, 2009, om 2:20 AM heeft Bill Wright het volgende geschreven:
A bike library - one that loans out bikes for everyone - serves the
whole stratus off the population. Cargo bikes and commute bikes and
other bikes. This works well for us a LibraryBikes.org in Arcata,
California.A bike library also provides the current bikers a chance to try
other types of equipment without need to purchase. Cargo bikes for
one, trailers are good to, and road bike and fixed gear equipment
are in high demand too.Your bike library can have tools workstands available too. Reuse
and recycling of donated bikes are the best and highest use of old
equipment also, and skills of everyone involved improve. Check out
our how to book at www.LibraryBikes.orgi hope you get your wishes, Good luck. Bill
From: wendy.monroe@usermail.com To: jamesbleds0e@yahoo.com; thethinktank@bikecollectives.org Date: Thu, 5 Mar 2009 07:27:47 +0100 Subject: [TheThinkTank] Am I missing any great programs from my
proposal?Op Mar 5, 2009, om 2:22 AM heeft jamesbleds0e@yahoo.com het volgende
geschreven:beer and pizza...get some tools..find a corner...and invite folks
into...eat the pizza you make ...they bring the beer and their
bikes..to work on..do it once a week...and before you know itThanks James, Totally, That's how I would do it if I were still
living in Berkeley... the situation in Holland is like a bizarro
parallel universe, however... they have Money here! HOwever, the people I hope to attract to the program are likely to
be Muslim, and could be offended if I offer them beer.Here is the situation: The City of Amsterdam wants me to write a wish list for the
community bike center, and is apparently willing to fund it with
thousands of euros. They are a little annoyed that I haven't
presented them with a budget yet.. but I am taking the time to
craft a program that will likely be a winner, so other similar
programs will be requested by other cities across Holland....If this happens, I hope you Think Tankers will consider coming to
Holland to check out the situation... some of you will be needed
here. (Jason? Hello?)The Neighborhood Think Tank is asking me.. 'What activities do you
want to do?' and 'What groups in the community do you propose to
serve?'I want to make good use of any resources I get,... American-style
Community bike programs in Holland are completely unknown, and
successful programs to get immigrants on bikes here are very likely
to be funded, as there is a lot of money riding on this issue in
Holland.The Dutch government spends €60 million a year STUDYING THE PROBLEM
as to why the Moroccan immigrants here prefer to ride public
transportation over riding bikes.Please Help me out, guys.. these are the programs I have proposed
so far:Earn-a-bike Bike Library ( free short-term loan of cargo trikes ) Recreational bike rides arranged for immigrant mothers and kids, in
which everyone gets to keep their bikes afterwards.Does anyone have a suggestion for additional programs? ( am I
missing any obvious ones, in other words?)Thank you!
Wendy Monroe
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