Hello All,
For the past few years, I've been an Assistant Coordinator at a volunteer bike shop in Ithaca, NY called Recycle Ithaca's Bicycles (RIBS). RIBS has been around in some form or another since early 1991. Mired in organizational difficulties, I (and most of the others involved) have since moved on and are starting a new bicycle project in the area.
In my other life, I am a student finishing up my degree. I am currently beginning to work on compiling a history of volunteer bike shops as they fit in (or don't) with the various bicycle movements. I am hoping that this will be a substantial document released in a published form and also an online form where it could be continuously updated.. As I've begun to read various histories of cycling, I've found that there is little to mention of the VBS movement. I have yet to read Bike Cult, however. This seems ridiculous as we are and can be a crucial facet of the cycling community. My hopes are that a history could be used as a platform to increase VBS visibility and popularity by establishing a cohesive narrative.
I have a few requests:
I'm looking to talk to anyone and everyone about any facet of the volunteer bike shop movement specifically the history of shops and how they interact with the community. Whether, via phone or email, or if possible, in person, it would a great help. Clearly, this isn't a project I can do via the internet and academic journals.
If you know anyone who was involved in your shop in the early days, that would be a great contact as well.
Also, if your organization has done its own organizational history (as has mine - we still have the same problems as 20 years ago!) that would be welcome as well.
While I have not found any indication of this, I'd imagine a project like this has been done before, if anyone is aware of something similiar, please let me know.
Sincerely,
Alex Rosenblatt
Phone: nine-seven-three-nine-four-three-eight-eight-zero-three