Bicycle drives: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 15:25, 29 July 2012

Bicycle drives or bike collections operate much like canned food drives. An area in a community is flyer'd and either told to put their bikes/parts out at a certain date and time, or instructed to bring them to a certain location on a certain date and time. The following outline is from Pedals for Progress who has collected over 100,000 bikes.

Introduction

Bike drives are a great way to gather bicycles for your organization. To organize a collection you must do the following: (1) event publicity & marketing to the community and (2) managing a presence on the day of the collection.

Best Months

Only months in order (doesn't work other months):

May
October
April
November
June
September

Organizing the Collection:

a) Times: Experience shows that a 3 hour, one-day weekend collection, in either the spring or the fall, is the most effective and minimizes the “waiting around” time. Time slots are as follows: Saturday 9am -12pm and 12pm -3pm or Sunday 1pm - 4pm.

b) Site Selection: The best sites are centrally located, easily identifiable, and associated with a reputable institution. While empty lots can work well, a nearby building is advisable (for bathroom facilities or in case of bad weather). A covered walkway also works well in case of rain. Collections run Rain or Shine!

c) You will need:

A Collection Manager
At least 6 - 8 volunteers
Volunteer Sign in Sheet
P4P Tax Deductible Receipts
Newsletters
Table with chairs
Tarp/Tent in case of bad weather.

d) Site Preparation: Be sure to get to your site at least an hour before the collection start time to post signs, set up the table and to organize the volunteers. Late sponsor arrival combined with and early influx of bikes can disrupt any preliminary site organization, cost time and energy, and fray relationships with volunteers and the public.

Event Publicity / Overall Marketing Strategy

The number of bikes received will depend heavily on the strategy and effort employed in publicizing a collection. If the collection is not adequately publicized, you will get significantly fewer bikes. PUBLICITY IS KEY! Contact: Local Press, churches, temples. Distribute flyers through: corporate office E-mail, flyers, schools and local libraries. IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO HAVE 20 PEOPLE WITH 5 POSTERS THEN 5 PEOPLE WITH 20 POSTERS!

References

P4P 2006 Bike Collection Guide

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''Bicycle drives''' or '''bike collections''' operate much like canned food drives.  An area in a community is flyer'd and either told to put their bikes/parts out at a certain date and time, or instructed to bring them to a certain location on a certain date and time.  The following outline is from [[Pedals for Progress]].
+'''Bicycle drives''' or '''bike collections''' operate much like canned food drives.  An area in a community is flyer'd and either told to put their bikes/parts out at a certain date and time, or instructed to bring them to a certain location on a certain date and time.  The following outline is from [[Pedals for Progress]] who has collected over 100,000 bikes.
 == Introduction ==
-The “used bike collection” is the principal means by which Pedals for Progress collects bicycles for its overseas
+''Bike drives'' are a great way to gather bicycles for your organization.  To organize a collection you must do the following:
-projects, and raises the funds to ship them. To organize a collection you must do the following:
 (1) event publicity & marketing to the community and (2) managing a presence on the day of the collection.
+== Best Months ==
+Only months '''in order''' (''doesn't'' work other months):
+# May
+# October
+# April
+# November
+# June
+# September
 == Organizing the Collection: ==
-a) Experience shows that a 3 hour, one-day weekend collection, in either the spring or the fall, is the most
+a) '''Times:''' Experience shows that a 3 hour, one-day weekend collection, in either the spring or the fall, is the most
 effective and minimizes the “waiting around” time. Time slots are as follows: Saturday 9am -12pm and
 pm -3pm or Sunday 1pm - 4pm.
-b) Site Selection
+b) '''Site Selection:''' The best sites are centrally located, easily identifiable, and associated with a reputable institution. While empty lots can work well, a nearby building is advisable (for bathroom facilities or in case of bad weather). A covered walkway also works well in case of rain. Collections run Rain or Shine!
-The best sites are centrally located, easily identifiable, and associated with a reputable institution. While empty
-lots can work well, a nearby building is advisable (for bathroom facilities or in case of bad weather). A covered
-walkway also works well in case of rain. Collections run Rain or Shine!
-c) Basic Tools and Supplies:
+c) '''You will need:'''
-A P4P Collection Manager will provide organizers with the following:
+* A Collection Manager
-* Pedal wrenches
+* At least 6 - 8 volunteers
-* Adjustable wrenches
-* Three ended Allen wrenches
-* Plastic zip ties for attaching pedals
-* Lubricant
 * Volunteer Sign in Sheet
 * P4P Tax Deductible Receipts
 * Newsletters
+* Table with chairs
+* Tarp/Tent in case of bad weather.
-Please provide at least 6 - 8 volunteers, a table with chairs, and if possible, a tarp in case of bad weather.
+d) '''Site Preparation:''' Be sure to get to your site at least an hour before the collection start time to post signs, set up the table and to organize the volunteers. Late sponsor arrival combined with and early influx of bikes can disrupt any preliminary site organization, cost time and energy, and fray relationships with volunteers and the public.
-d) Site Preparation:
-Be sure to get to your site at least an hour before the collection start time to post signs, set up the table and to
-organize the volunteers. Late sponsor arrival combined with and early influx of bikes can disrupt any preliminary
-site organization, cost time and energy, and fray relationships with volunteers and the public.
 == Event Publicity / Overall Marketing Strategy ==
-The number of bikes received will depend heavily on the strategy and effort employed in publicizing a collection.  If the collection is not adequately publicized, you will get significantly fewer bikes. PUBLICITY IS KEY! P4P will create a poster master and news release to aid you in publicizing your event. Contact: Local Press, churches, temples.  Distribute flyers through: corporate office E-mail, flyers, schools and local libraries. '''IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO HAVE 20 PEOPLE WITH 5 POSTERS THEN 5 PEOPLE WITH 20 POSTERS!'''
+The number of bikes received will depend heavily on the strategy and effort employed in publicizing a collection.  If the collection is not adequately publicized, you will get significantly fewer bikes. '''PUBLICITY IS KEY!'''  Contact: Local Press, churches, temples.  Distribute flyers through: corporate office E-mail, flyers, schools and local libraries. '''IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO HAVE 20 PEOPLE WITH 5 POSTERS THEN 5 PEOPLE WITH 20 POSTERS!'''
-All bicycles received should be in repairable condition, relatively rust free, and accompanied by a cash donation.  We DO NOT accept “bikes for parts” nor disassembled bikes. Frames or bikes with rusted frames should be rejected, a little rust on bright metal such as handlebars and rims is acceptable.  P4P also collects used working sewing machines at it’s bike collections. While bikes are easily repairable, sewing machines are not. It is important to ask if it is in working order, DO NOT ACCEPT if it is not. We '''DO NOT''' ACCEPT sewing machines in cabinets. We also request a $10 donation with each machine.
-== FUNDING ==
-P4P suggest that every bike donation be accompanied by a $10 donation that supports the handling and
-shipping costs. DO NOT ACCEPT BIKES WITHOUT A DONATION. Most collections meet this goal, if the donation
-has been clearly explained in the publicity. P4P’s program, specifically mentions the donation policy and
-highlights the tax-deductibilty of both cash and material donations. The bikes are shipped a very long way!
-The actually cost of collecting, processing and shipping a bike is $30 per bike. Requesting donations cuts
-down on the delivery of “trash” bikes, broadens P4P’s income base and permits P4P to scale-up to a significant
-scale, and builds credibility with corporate and foundation funders. P4P is an IRS 501 (c) 3 tax-exempt
-organization, eligible to receive tax-deductible donations and a registered charity in Connecticut, Kansas,
-Massachusetts, New Jersey , Pennsylvania & Vermont.
-== BIKE PROCESSING ==
-Processing is done to compact bikes as much as possible, facilitating tight packing and minimize damage during
-shipping. It is straightforward requiring little skill and no previous experience. As the bikes arrive, please
-have volunteers ready to write a receipt and collection donations from each donor and then the bike should
-be processed for shipping by your volunteers. (please see attached step by step illustrations)
-== SHIPPING BIKES ==
-P4P is located in Western NJ. If you are within 100 miles of the Pedals for Progress storage facility, we will
-make arrangements to pick up the bikes from the collection site. If you are further away special arrangements
-will have to be made with our office. If you have the ability to deliver the processed bikes to our storage
-facility, that is of great assistance.
-== REMEMBER! ==
-Collecting the bikes is the easy part. It is only half of the story. Ensuring long-term success requires
-raising funds along with receiving bikes. Pedals for Progress cannot ship bikes without money. If you
-accept bikes without the $10 donation, your organization must find an alternative source of funds
-(such as a local sponsor). It is recommend to include the donation information in your publicity so that
-it is clear to the donors. That way people will be able to make their decision ahead of time. History has
-taught us that bikes which come without donations are of poorer quality and do not have a high resale
-value. The goal is to collect the best bikes possible for our overseas partners. Asking for the donation
-insures our success and our partners.
@@ Line 84: / Line 45: @@
 [http://www.p4p.org/PDF/2006collectionguide.pdf P4P 2006 Bike Collection Guide]
+[[Category:Acquiring bikes and parts]]