Founded in 1971 by the Associated Students of the University of California Davis, the Bike Barn was first established as a repair facility where the students, faculty, and staff of the university could come and fix their bikes or have repairs done for them.

However, they ended up as a traditional bike shop, and Bike Forth (formerly known as the Bike Church) has stepped in to fill the need in our community in the past five years or so.

On Wed, Oct 7, 2009 at 1:14 PM, Alex Rosenblatt rosenblatt.alex@gmail.comwrote:

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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St.louis Bicycle Works got its 501c3 in the summer of 1988, for a couple years prior it just ran out of a garage.

I believe but cant promise Stl Bicycle Works and BNB are the longest running kids programs?

P

St.louis Cranksgiving Nov 15th at Atomic Http:www.stlbikeworks.com

Date: Wed, 7 Oct 2009 16:14:48 -0400 From: rosenblatt.alex@gmail.com To: Thethinktank@bikecollectives.org Subject: [TheThinkTank] One more question and Re: A History of Volunteer Bike Shops

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

Your E-mail and More On-the-Go. Get Windows Live Hotmail Free. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222985/direct/01/

Missing Link Bicycle Cooperative in Berkeley, California, was founded
in 1973..

http://www.missinglink.org/

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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