3rd try...I guess there were too many quoted messages and it was
too big for the mail server. Sorry if anyone gets this twice.
Last post from me, Just wanted to let everybody know what's going on
with the W & S program. Thanks for everybody who weighed in on the
topic.
Basically the program is way scaled back from what we
had thought it was at first. Corporal Witte will be collecting bikes
from the impound and using our shop space to fix them up. He will
purchase a standard bike tool kit and stand as well as all of his own
parts. We will keep a separate area for bikes that he is working on
(maybe 10-15 at a time) until he can give them out to kids on his
beat. We all expressed concern that the kids really should be learning
something and not just getting a handout but this is the program as it
stands now.
What we get out of the deal:
Equal time-share rent (we estimated) for how long he uses the space vs. us.
Really good press.
Adult bikes from the police impound.
An
"in" and knowledge for possibly receiving a much larger W & S grant
in the future. This could be used to hire a coordinator for an
Earn-A-Bike or or other program.
An "in" with Job Corps participants who need community service
hours. If there is something we need moved or done we got a lotta
hands that can help.
Time to set up shop without feeling pressured to run a program we really don't know about or have a solid grasp on.
I feel the most important points are the first and last. We
need rent and to pay for liability insurance. This is basically free
money. All we do is share the space we already have. We also have
plenty of time to develop a curriculum and procedures for an
earn-a-bike (so the kids can actually learn) and write a solid grant
proposal for funding.
Brian signing off from fabulous Wilmington, DE. Happy New Year everyone!
--
Urban Bike Project of Wilmington
1908 N. Market Street (entrance is in the parking lot behind the building)
Wilmington, DE 19801
Phone - 302-654-5304
Visit online at http://urbanbikeproject.org