Free Cycles Missoula was simply 100 free-roaming green bicycles on the
streets of Missoula from '96 to'98. Yes, some were vandalized and
maintenance was challenging, but the energy and excitement that was
created and lasting was invaluable to bike 'culture' here. It was not
sustainable but an incredible boost, with volunteerism thru the roof and
next steps for infrastructure and bike programs sprouting all over.
The bikes need to be simple, sound, distinct and beautiful. Roving
ambassadors upkeep the bikes and talk with people. A hub is essential.
Library method or coin release can work well... but quickly one finds
that losing a few bikes beats the red tape of other systems. (losing the
whole fleet is another story though)
Being an isolated small community may be a huge asset for making it work.
'Isolated' means less likely for bikes to go to other places. Small means
relationships can be forged to take care of the bikes. We involved the
very people that might be apt to disrespect the bikes. Having said all
that, free roaming bikes go well beyond transport and speak to community
development, participation, trust and interaction. These values seem a
bit fragile these days but people seem hungry for new models and methods.
Other thoughts- gps and tracking options can help or maybe the the key; a
$20 coaster brake makes many bikes instantly easy to ride and maintain;
anti-theft nuts and bolts can be hugely beneficial; constant dialog so
important; bikes must be moved by pedal power; a hub can be a shed,
shipping container or tiny house; 'at-risk' youth can be the maintainers;
complimentary programs essential; losses to be expected and learned
from...
--
Bob Giordano, Director
Free Cycles Missoula
Missoula Institute for Sustainable Transportation
www.freecycles.org, mist@strans.org, 406-880-6834
Beth Barnes wrote:
> Thanks Thomas, I am not getting involved in this effort as there are too
> many unanswered questions and I have serious misgivings, just observing
> wishing they would ask many of the questions you have. It is northeastern
> Vermont on Canadian border, still a couple feet under snow. In two years
> of being here from long beach ca I can count the number of folks I've seen
> on bikes in one hand (other than the bike club riders and some tourists)
> Changing the non bike culture will take more than dumping 100 second hand
> bikes, just my feeling. Really learning a lot from everyone's comments.
> Thanks.
>
>
>
>> On Apr 9, 2015, at 5:09 PM, Thomas Martin
thomas.martin6@pcc.edu
>> wrote:
>>
>> Hi Beth:
>>
>> I think we need more information. knowledge of Location, geography,
>> history of town, previous AT efforts, demographics and power structures
>> will give us a better understanding of what you and the group is up
>> against.
>> While it may present an opportunity for bicycling, just dumping 100 or
>> so bikes without infrastructure for maintenance, repair, storage, and
>> access control will quickly be a nuisance to the community.
>> I'm wondering if a larger conversation can happen with the townsfolk,
>> before bikes are dropped in downtown. Maybe couch it as a leveraging
>> tactic: "A benefactor/donor etc. is committing to establishing a
>> community bike program, but they need some commitment from the
>> community". This will take some work in researching for asks, what the
>> community has done in the past, what recreational and economic
>> opportunities there are, identifying allies, working with critical
>> voices, etc.
>>
>> It seems that an organizer (grassroots) or planner (an enthusiastic city
>> or county employee) could have a decent case study to develop. This
>> point person would ideally work with interested community members, and
>> not just be a lone voice in a city council meeting.
>>
>>
>>
>> Tom Martin
>> Bike Program Coordinator
>> Portland Community College- Cascade
>> Room SC-03
>> 705 N Killingsworth St
>> Portland, OR 97217
>>
>>
>>> On Thu, Apr 9, 2015 at 8:38 AM, Beth Barnes
islow4bikes@gmail.com
>>> wrote:
>>> Could you weigh in, please. We have a small, remote rural town with no
>>> real bike/Ped infrastructure...yet. A group wants to introduce about
>>> 100 used bikes for people to use for free in an already ailing, small
>>> downtown. Free bikes? What will that do to local, struggling bike
>>> businesses? Bikes but no supporting infrastructure? Thank you for your
>>> thoughts. Makes little sense to me.
____________________________________
The ThinkTank mailing List
<a href="http://lists.bikecollectives.org/options.cgi/thethinktank-bikecollectives.org">Unsubscribe from this list</a>
