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.org 

i 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 it 

Thanks 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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