---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jason Tanzman <
jason.tanzman@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Sep 11, 2009 at 4:36 PM
Subject: [TheThinkTank] Community Partners Bike Library
To:
thethinktank@bikecollectives.org
Hey everybody,
I just wanted to send an email and let folks know about an exciting
project that Sibley Bike Depot (St. Paul, MN) is beginning. Sibley
received funding in full on Tuesday for a $200,000 program to run a
Community Partners Bike Library! The funds were approved by Transit
for Livable Communities, a not-for-profit transit advocacy group in
charge of allocating a $21 million federal Non-motorized Transit Pilot
program in the Twin Cities.
This funding will allow Sibley to build up a fleet of 200 bicycles –
outfitted for transportation purposes with a rack, fenders, lights,
lock, and helmet – to lend out to community members for up to six
months. The bike lending will be coordinated through Community
Partners – other agencies, such as affordable housing organizations,
job placement centers, homeless shelters, and more – who will help
identify patrons who will benefit from reliable transportation.
Through this program, Sibley hopes to increase the availability of
bicycles within working class and poor communities, thus helping to
increase access to bicycles and diversify the bicycling movement in
the Twin Cities!
I am interested to hear any thoughts/feedback/suggestions from anyone
who has 1) coordinated a bike library program; or, 2) handled large
federal or other government grants (rumored to be a tremendous pain in
the ass).
Jason Tanzman
--
Sibley Bike Depot
Volunteer Coordinator
612-232-2737 (cell)
651-222-2080 (shop)
www.sibleybikedepot.org
Sibley Bike Depot's mission is to be an open, accessible space to
educate and empower people to use bicycles as transportation, helping
to build a sustainable environment and community. Volunteer with us
to help build a bicycling movement in the Twin Cities!