TLDR; We are open in a *very* limited capacity and can expand our programs and services when A) Arizona isn't no longer a COVID-19 hot spot and B) we have enough volunteers return to man the shop.  

Our pandemic journey at Bike Saviours has been that of trial and error. After a soft reopening with curbside repair and parts shopping, I tested positive for COVID-19. We closed the shop completely to quarantine and evaluate next steps. Once everyone tested negative, we decided to keep the shop closed to the public and sell bigger ticket items to keep the lights on.

So our two paid staff and a handful of volunteers are inside the building 5 days a week building bikes that we sell by appointment using Calendly. One of those days is reserved for just building bikes and no appointments. For our current use, Calendly has worked great and nonprofits get a 20% discount off a yearly subscription. We also have some fancy/rare items for sale on eBay.

Volunteers sign up for a shift using VolunteerSignUp and there are only 5 slots available per shift to avoid overcrowding. Lofty, though, as we usually have 1 or 2 a day.

DIY bike repair and instruction and parts shopping are central to our mission, so just fixing up and selling bikes feels weird. We field several emails, calls, and walk-ups each week and it's painful to say "sorry, we hate these circumstances, too" over and over. There are daily discussions about our capacity to bring back DIY repair and parts shopping and it's looking like we'll use Calendly to handle appointments for donation drop-offs, parts shopping, and bike repair at least until it's deemed safe to gather here in Arizona.

Shop rules are that everyone wears a face covering, mechanics use every other repair stand to maintain distance, and disinfect their tools when finished using them. All the bikes for sale are disinfected between appointments. There is hand sanitizer throughout the shop and reminders posted to wash hands frequently. We use a combination of fans and open doors to provide positive air flow in the rooms where appointments are held in an area separate from the workshop.

We haven't run out yet, but tube and tire supplies are running dangerously thin with little inventory to be found. 

Thank you for sharing your updates and smart ways of handling this crappy situation!

Cheers,
Nicole


On Tue, Oct 20, 2020 at 1:03 PM <thethinktank-request@lists.bikecollectives.org> wrote:
Send Thethinktank mailing list submissions to
        thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org

To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
        http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.org

or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
        thethinktank-request@lists.bikecollectives.org

You can reach the person managing the list at
        thethinktank-owner@lists.bikecollectives.org

When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
than "Re: Contents of Thethinktank digest..."
Today's Topics:

   1. Shop Operations During Covid (momoko saunders)
   2. Re: Shop Operations During Covid (barts@drcrankys.com.au)
   3. Re: Shop Operations During Covid (Cyclista Nicholas)
   4. Re: Shop Operations During Covid (wormsign@gmail.com)



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: momoko saunders <analyst@bikefarm.org>
To: The Think Tank <thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org>
Cc: 
Bcc: 
Date: Mon, 19 Oct 2020 18:24:22 -0700
Subject: [TheThinkTank] Shop Operations During Covid
Hey all,

I'd love to get a quick update on what shops are doing for shop operations during covid. There was an awesome virtual workshop put on a few months ago. What are shops up to now?

At Bike Farm, we're still far from being open in our usual way. We have a parts selling shift for one day of the week. We meet people outside and get a list of items they want to purchase, then volunteers rummage around and find the parts and bring them out for the patron to choose from. We do not allow use of tools which is really hard but most people understand. We do have a selection of tools which we have available for sale for real cheap. This includes random loose allen wrenches, other wrenches, multi tools. Here are the guidelines for this shift.

We also have a shift where volunteers work on bikes in the shop for sale or for our community partnerships. We limit all volunteer groups to 5 people at a time, and we try to keep people in germ bubbles so that if someone does get sick, we've limited the exposure. Everyone wears masks at all times and keeps distant. 

We have a 3rd night which we just added called our infrastructure night. On this night we work on cleaning the shop and making it more functional.

We have a document outlining our covid protocols. I've made a copy of it for the thinktank to view. Everyone in the shop must read and agree to these guidelines before being able to volunteer. 

---

With a vaccine looking like it will not be here and widely available till summer or even fall of 2021, we're looking for more creative ways to provide resources to the community, stay safe, and maybe make some money to pay rent. I'd love to hear if others have come up with creative ways to continue operations during this time.

Hope you all are well, 
-Momoko



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <barts@drcrankys.com.au>
To: "'The Think Tank'" <thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org>
Cc: 
Bcc: 
Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2020 13:21:15 +1100
Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Shop Operations During Covid

At Dr Cranky’s we usually support Bicycle Hospitals run by parent volunteers at schools.

We can’t do that in Victoria, Australia so have tried shifting to remote/contactless operations.

We’ve managed to recycle over 50 bikes during CoVid and log the results online without any contact.

We send basic tool kits and parts to volunteers to use in their homes.

 

See https://www.drcrankys.com.au/uploads/8/6/0/2/86023530/remote_operations_under_covid-19_a4_flyer_vfa_print.pdf

 

 

 

Bart Sbeghen

Founder/CEO, Dr Cranky’s

M 0418 231 686

 

     www.drcrankys.com.au

 

From: Thethinktank <thethinktank-bounces@lists.bikecollectives.org> On Behalf Of momoko saunders
Sent: Tuesday, 20 October 2020 12:24 PM
To: The Think Tank <thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org>
Subject: [TheThinkTank] Shop Operations During Covid

 

Hey all,

 

I'd love to get a quick update on what shops are doing for shop operations during covid. There was an awesome virtual workshop put on a few months ago. What are shops up to now?

 

At Bike Farm, we're still far from being open in our usual way. We have a parts selling shift for one day of the week. We meet people outside and get a list of items they want to purchase, then volunteers rummage around and find the parts and bring them out for the patron to choose from. We do not allow use of tools which is really hard but most people understand. We do have a selection of tools which we have available for sale for real cheap. This includes random loose allen wrenches, other wrenches, multi tools. Here are the guidelines for this shift.

 

We also have a shift where volunteers work on bikes in the shop for sale or for our community partnerships. We limit all volunteer groups to 5 people at a time, and we try to keep people in germ bubbles so that if someone does get sick, we've limited the exposure. Everyone wears masks at all times and keeps distant. 

 

We have a 3rd night which we just added called our infrastructure night. On this night we work on cleaning the shop and making it more functional.

 

We have a document outlining our covid protocols. I've made a copy of it for the thinktank to view. Everyone in the shop must read and agree to these guidelines before being able to volunteer. 

 

---

 

With a vaccine looking like it will not be here and widely available till summer or even fall of 2021, we're looking for more creative ways to provide resources to the community, stay safe, and maybe make some money to pay rent. I'd love to hear if others have come up with creative ways to continue operations during this time.

 

Hope you all are well, 

-Momoko




---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Cyclista Nicholas <cyclista@inventati.org>
To: thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org
Cc: 
Bcc: 
Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2020 06:55:02 +0000
Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Shop Operations During Covid
At RIBs we're actually closed right now due to (mostly) non-covid-19
reasons, but I just wanted to compliment you on your array of solutions.

I feel like this episode has thrown everyone off, all of these kinds of
alternative procedures seeming unnaturally elaborate and intrusive, but
that in reality all our projects were made up of artificial and complex
processes anyway. So, we just design more processes. The pre-covid ones
just felt more natural because we liked them better or were used to
them.

Bike Farm's covid processes look pretty well rounded, especially when
looking over your documents. I really like that you've broken down the
critical elements for support (parts and tools to the public,
refurbishing bikes, revenue creation, space care and development) and
developed models for each. I also like your email thread solution for
checking on unscheduled occupancy numbers, especially that you included
a provision for keeping it (more) private. We've set up a similar
email-thread-based checkin system for our volunteer nights.

Re: unscheduled occupancy thread, I assume yours first-come-first-serve?

Over here, before we closed (hopefully temporarily) we limited people in
the space to the quantity that could be present with a 6ft distance,
made all people interacting physically with the space wash or disinfect
hands before touching things, and required masks at all times even when
waiting out front for a slot. We're also considering getting one of
those wall mounted thermometers and doing temperature checks for
everyone seeking to enter the building, though that isn't required by
our state or local authorities at this time. And we also kept the front
door open but placed a sign (sandwich board) in front to block entry.
Our sign also features a cool rotating dial that shows how many slots
are available at any given time, though it's very simple and requires
staff or volunteers to have the presence of mind to update it with each
person leaving or entering.

We're all smart people! I know it's stressful and tragic going through
all of this, but we can still figure out how to build functional
systems. Good job Bike Farm!

~cyclista Nicholas


On 2020-10-20 01:24, momoko saunders wrote:
> Hey all,
>
> I'd love to get a quick update on what shops are doing for shop
> operations during covid. There was an awesome virtual workshop put on a
> few
> months ago. What are shops up to now?
>
> At Bike Farm, we're still far from being open in our usual way. We have
> a
> parts selling shift for one day of the week. We meet people outside and
> get
> a list of items they want to purchase, then volunteers rummage around
> and
> find the parts and bring them out for the patron to choose from. We do
> not
> allow use of tools which is really hard but most people understand. We
> do
> have a selection of tools which we have available for sale for real
> cheap.
> This includes random loose allen wrenches, other wrenches, multi tools.
> Here are the guidelines for this shift
> <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xu3qCapSPopoQ7VbiqyG1VJdroA6WiJwBSPleTNf6QU/edit?usp=sharing>
> .
>
> We also have a shift where volunteers work on bikes in the shop for
> sale or
> for our community partnerships. We limit all volunteer groups to 5
> people
> at a time, and we try to keep people in germ bubbles so that if someone
> does get sick, we've limited the exposure. Everyone wears masks at all
> times and keeps distant.
>
> We have a 3rd night which we just added called our infrastructure
> night. On
> this night we work on cleaning the shop and making it more functional.
>
> We have a document outlining
> <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EthWNOhjeo4sOQZobhrvykb_gTB4aGRKeMdiL0TUidI/edit?usp=sharing>
> our covid protocols. I've made a copy of it for the thinktank to view.
> Everyone in the shop must read and agree to these guidelines before
> being
> able to volunteer.
>
> ---
>
> With a vaccine looking like it will not be here and widely available
> till
> summer or even fall of 2021, we're looking for more creative ways to
> provide resources to the community, stay safe, and maybe make some
> money to
> pay rent. I'd love to hear if others have come up with creative ways to
> continue operations during this time.
>
> Hope you all are well,
> -Momoko
>
> ____________________________________
>
> The ThinkTank mailing List
>
> Unsubscribe from this list here:
> http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.org




---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: wormsign@gmail.com
To: The Think Tank <thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org>
Cc: 
Bcc: 
Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2020 08:02:43 -0700
Subject: Re: [TheThinkTank] Shop Operations During Covid
Hey Momoko
BRW is open for curbside sales 3 days a week. We allow a max of 4 volunteers inside at a time. We have one day a week that is building bikes and cleaning shop. 
Bike sales have skyrocketed and if it keeps pace it will keep our lights on through this. 

The bicycle kitchen has a huge outdoor space and has been allowing patrons to wrench by appointment if they follow the protocol. They figure that when masked and keeping distance the transfer risk outdoors is much smaller.  
I was considering looking into how tool lending libraries function to see if we could offer a similar service so patrons can put on the parts they purchase. 

Loconte

On Oct 19, 2020, at 19:21, barts@drcrankys.com.au wrote:



At Dr Cranky’s we usually support Bicycle Hospitals run by parent volunteers at schools.

We can’t do that in Victoria, Australia so have tried shifting to remote/contactless operations.

We’ve managed to recycle over 50 bikes during CoVid and log the results online without any contact.

We send basic tool kits and parts to volunteers to use in their homes.

 

See https://www.drcrankys.com.au/uploads/8/6/0/2/86023530/remote_operations_under_covid-19_a4_flyer_vfa_print.pdf

 

 

 

Bart Sbeghen

Founder/CEO, Dr Cranky’s

M 0418 231 686

 

<image001.jpg>

     www.drcrankys.com.au

 

From: Thethinktank <thethinktank-bounces@lists.bikecollectives.org> On Behalf Of momoko saunders
Sent: Tuesday, 20 October 2020 12:24 PM
To: The Think Tank <thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org>
Subject: [TheThinkTank] Shop Operations During Covid

 

Hey all,

 

I'd love to get a quick update on what shops are doing for shop operations during covid. There was an awesome virtual workshop put on a few months ago. What are shops up to now?

 

At Bike Farm, we're still far from being open in our usual way. We have a parts selling shift for one day of the week. We meet people outside and get a list of items they want to purchase, then volunteers rummage around and find the parts and bring them out for the patron to choose from. We do not allow use of tools which is really hard but most people understand. We do have a selection of tools which we have available for sale for real cheap. This includes random loose allen wrenches, other wrenches, multi tools. Here are the guidelines for this shift.

 

We also have a shift where volunteers work on bikes in the shop for sale or for our community partnerships. We limit all volunteer groups to 5 people at a time, and we try to keep people in germ bubbles so that if someone does get sick, we've limited the exposure. Everyone wears masks at all times and keeps distant. 

 

We have a 3rd night which we just added called our infrastructure night. On this night we work on cleaning the shop and making it more functional.

 

We have a document outlining our covid protocols. I've made a copy of it for the thinktank to view. Everyone in the shop must read and agree to these guidelines before being able to volunteer. 

 

---

 

With a vaccine looking like it will not be here and widely available till summer or even fall of 2021, we're looking for more creative ways to provide resources to the community, stay safe, and maybe make some money to pay rent. I'd love to hear if others have come up with creative ways to continue operations during this time.

 

Hope you all are well, 

-Momoko

____________________________________

The ThinkTank mailing List

Unsubscribe from this list here: http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.org

_______________________________________________
Thethinktank mailing list
Thethinktank@lists.bikecollectives.org
http://lists.bikecollectives.org/listinfo.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.org