ReBicycle Lenawee (on Fb) used to offer the option of 10 hrs community
service to get a bike rebuilt by our talented group of wrenches
(generally box store bikes that have had the equivalent of $80-$120
worth of service done to them). That has given way to helping the
person in need select a bike from our inventory of 130 used bikes and
helping them learn how to fix them up. Giving bikes to folks is like
public housing, it doesn't work. If they have some skin in the game,
they're more apt to take care of it. Initially, years ago, we had
given bikes away, only to learn the person sold it for $10 to buy cell
phone minutes or smokes. We never took time to verify the comm service
was actually done, if the form was signed, we accepted it... am sure
we got swindled more than once. Our goal is to empower folks with the
skills needed to maintain their bikes... and while we're working with
them we can learn about their back story and quiz them on bike
safety/rules of the road. It's time well spent. Most of the bikes in
our Build a Bike pgm to go homeless or probationers/parolees. They're
eligible for 1 bike/year. When we have the resources, we include a
helmet (if they'll wear it-most wont), a light set and a cable lock.
We just rec'd a grant from a local group ($1,000) to provide
lights/lock/lids to those in need!
The folks at Midway Bike Supply in St. Paul, MN are great to work
with, parts are reasonably priced, various quality options as we're
not going to put more expensive components on a box store bike.
Jim
Re-Bicycle Lenawee
Adrian, MI 49221

On 3/21/19, Judith Feist <judith@backalleybikes.org> wrote:
> Any workshops out there have Adult Earn-a-Bike programs? How are they run?
> Are they successful? Do they differ from your regular volunteers?
>
> I'd like to get something started here and wanted feedback on other folks'
> programs.
>
> At FMCBW we had a program where folks could buy a bike out right and then
> work on it during open shop times (if anything needed replacing that was
> included in the price), OR they could volunteer 15 hours (i think) and we'd
> get them a bike and help them fix it up (same thing, replacement parts
> where included, if needed).......We have a bunch of adult bikes and,
> depending on the shape they are in, we'll fix 'em and sell them at the Hub,
> or minor adjustments are done and we sell 'em cheap at our monthly garage
> sales...
>
> Personally, anytime I see a full suspension out in the wild I want to leave
> a note on it that they could trade it in towards an Adult bike that we'd
> help them fix up....but that might be just me...
>
>
> Also, Happy Spring all! I hope you're well!
>
> --
> Judith C Feist
> Co Director, the Hub at Back Alley
>
>
> *"*Radical simply means 'grasping things at the root'"- Angela Davis
>
> "A woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle." -Gloria Steinem
>
> I think [the bicycle] has done more to emancipate women than anything else
> in the world...It gives a woman a feeling of freedom and
> self-reliance.~Susan B. Anthony
>


--
Re-bicycle Lenawee
313 E. Maumee St.
Adrian, Mi 49221

A local non-profit organization dedicated to providing refurbished bicycles
to members of Lenawee county.
____________________________________

The ThinkTank mailing List

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