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?
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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