Missing Link Bicycle Cooperative in Berkeley, California, was founded
in 1973..
I haven't worked there in years, but there are still people there who
started in 1981!
Ask for Chuck Betz or Phil Woosley in the Annex.. both started in 1981.
Wendy Monroe
On 07 Oct 2009, at 22:14, Alex Rosenblatt wrote:
Thanks to everyone who responded to my original post, I'll be
getting in touch in the next few weeks.I have a quick question for the board as I begin to compile a time
line:Is anyone aware of which shops would be considered among the first
community bicycle organizations in the US?My hunch is Bikes Not Bombs? (1988-89ish) RIBS, in Ithaca, was started in 1991.
What about yours?
Thanks for the support,
Alex
On Fri, Oct 2, 2009 at 3:21 PM, Alex Rosenblatt <rosenblatt.alex@gmail.com
wrote:
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
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