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Bike Collective Network

The mission of the Bike Collective Network is to strengthen and encourage communication and resource sharing between existing and future community bike shops. Collectively we can improve a bigger wheel as opposed to re-inventing smaller ones.

Join over 600 like minded individuals from over 300 similar organizations across the world on The Think Tank email list.

Bike Collective Wiki

This wiki is here to help bike collectives collaborate and share ideas. Whether you are an advocate, mechanic, or just someone who likes to ride -- anyone can freely edit the content of this site. A history of all changes ensures that nothing is lost. See FAQ about contributing to this wiki.

Many thanks to our selfless moderators, who have to deal with the spam bots!

This wiki is currently home to 1,118 articles and counting! Click here to see a list of the most popular pages!

Starter Kits

Just starting out? Looking to expand? Follow hundreds of similar organizations by using and contributing to these free online resources...

Community Bicycle Organizations

Before you do anything crazy, start planning! Set clear goals and the path to meeting those goals will also become clear.

1. Legal Filings
2. Insurance
3. Fundraising
4. Publicity
5. Over 300 examples of Community Bicycle Organizations and International Bicycle Aid Organizations.
6. Common Activities:
   • Community Bike Shop: Providing bicycle tools, parts, used bikes and mechanical expertise to the public.
   • Earn-a-Bike: Programs that allow people to literally earn a bike through learning or volunteer work, sometimes focused exclusively on youth.
   • Valet Bike Parking: Providing corralled areas where volunteers watch your bike while you enjoy an event.
   • Safety Education: The League of American Bicyclists has a nicely pre-packaged program called Smart Cycling which includes a Bike Rodeo Kit.
   • Mechanical Training: Park Tool has a nicely pre-packaged program called the Park Tool School.
   • Helmet Distribution
   • Bicycle Art: Following Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle old bikes and parts are turned into works of art.
   • Bicycle Advocacy: Many Community Bicycle Organizations concentrate on the grass roots elements of educating and getting people on bikes. However some organizations, or at least some of their members, are also involved in traditional bicycle advocacy.
   • Women's Only Night: Encouraging more women and transgender people to get involved and learn in a comfortable space without men.
   • Commercial Bike Racks: Providing outdoor bike racks and installation.
7. Organization Building Resources:
   • Alliance for Walking and Biking has contributed to this wiki, and also has an incredibly valuable Resource Library for members.

Community Bike Shop

Providing bicycle tools, parts, used bikes and mechanical expertise to the public.

1. Bike and Part Donations: acquisition, sorting and re-sale.
2. Shop Location
3. Staffing: paid, volunteer or both.
4. Shop Organization
5. Shop Recycling
6. Volunteer Handbook
7. Layout
8. Rules
9. Hours
10. Capital Improvement Plans
11. Proper Bike Fit

Earn-a-Bike

Programs that allow people to literally earn a bike through learning or volunteer work, sometimes focused exclusively on youth.

• Examples:
  • Earn-A-Bike Training Manual by Bikes Not Bombs
  • One Revolution at a Time by Recycle-a-Bicycle
  • Tools for Life by Recycle-a-Bicycle
  • Community Cycles Youth Earn-A-Bike Curriculum
• Teaching Methods

Conferences/Gatherings

• Bike!Bike! is an annual international conference of nonprofit bike collectives and other bicycle projects.
• Bike!Bike! Southeast 2012 is in Birmingham, Alabama, March 23-25.
• Youth Bike Summit is organized by Recycle-a-Bicycle in New York City every year.

Past Conferences

• Bike!Bike! in San Marcos, Tx, June 2011
• BiciBici! in Davis CA, April 2011
• Bike!Bike! in Toronto, Ontario August 2010