Chuck,
A couple years ago, the Fort Collins Bike Co-ophttp://fcbikecoop.org/programs/earnabike.phpstarted requiring EAB (earn-a-bike) volunteer time to be completed at an external non-profit organization instead of in our shop. This has turned out to be a great decision as it requires less supervision from our volunteers and provides hundreds of volunteer hours to the community each year. We haven't pursued any educational component, but have considered requiring recipients to watch a 30 minute bike safety video. This would cover problem topics in our community like riding on the right side of the street, using lights and other basics.
This model does eliminate the ability for recipients to learn about basic bike mechanics before they receive their bike. To address this, we recommend recipients utilize our open-shop to learn how to fix and maintain their bike.
-Doug Cutter
On Sun, Jan 15, 2012 at 8:17 AM, Chuck Fox hmltntheater@usadatanet.netwrote:
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Does anyone have experience with an earn-a-bike program where the bike recipients earn a bike not by learning bike mainteence skills, but by completing some other task or assignment? For example, by participating in an after school program, or volunteering for a community project, or agreeing to take part in an educational program on drug awareness/nutrition and fitness/sex education. i.e. Have you found creative ways to use a bike as a bridge to address other important issues, for young people or adults? Thanks! Chuck
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Yep, for their EAB hours, we have our volunteers do anything our shop requires. This may range from sorting parts, stripping frames, deconstructing wheels, to helping organize 500 m of cable housing. We like to stress that everyone has the ability to help in some fashion, and that wrenching ability is not paramount to being able to ride a bike.
The above tasks also require huge amounts of time, perfect for using up all of the volunteer hours.
Best, Leslie Durham Bike Co-op.
On Sun, Jan 15, 2012 at 12:43 PM, Doug cuttercrew@gmail.com wrote:
Chuck,
A couple years ago, the Fort Collins Bike Co-ophttp://fcbikecoop.org/programs/earnabike.phpstarted requiring EAB (earn-a-bike) volunteer time to be completed at an external non-profit organization instead of in our shop. This has turned out to be a great decision as it requires less supervision from our volunteers and provides hundreds of volunteer hours to the community each year. We haven't pursued any educational component, but have considered requiring recipients to watch a 30 minute bike safety video. This would cover problem topics in our community like riding on the right side of the street, using lights and other basics.
This model does eliminate the ability for recipients to learn about basic bike mechanics before they receive their bike. To address this, we recommend recipients utilize our open-shop to learn how to fix and maintain their bike.
-Doug Cutter
On Sun, Jan 15, 2012 at 8:17 AM, Chuck Fox hmltntheater@usadatanet.netwrote:
**
Does anyone have experience with an earn-a-bike program where the bike recipients earn a bike not by learning bike mainteence skills, but by completing some other task or assignment? For example, by participating in an after school program, or volunteering for a community project, or agreeing to take part in an educational program on drug awareness/nutrition and fitness/sex education. i.e. Have you found creative ways to use a bike as a bridge to address other important issues, for young people or adults? Thanks! Chuck
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Hi Chuck,
Our popular EAB program (called Pedal Power http://bicicentro.org/youth) is an after-school program of 18 hours of "driver education" for junior high school students. Participants learn basic bike maintenance (fix a flat, lubricating a chain, adjusting brakes), good handling skills, signage, rules of the road and go on fun rides around town. Program is taught by a League Cycling Instructor (LCI).
If they want to learn more about bike mechanics, they can ride to Open Shop at the local High School. Best,
participants (3)
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Christine Bourgeois -
Doug -
Leslie Peteya