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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.

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 1,135 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. Figure out the necessary Legal Filings
2. Get Insurance
3. Figure out what kinds of Fundraising
4. Publicity
5. Learn from the successes and failures of other Community Bicycle Organizations and International Bicycle Aid Organizations.
6. Common Activities of Community Bicycle Organizations:
   • Community Bike Shop: Providing bicycle tools and expertise to the public.
   • Earn-a-Bike: Thanks to a program started by Bikes not Bombs, you can teach the next generation how to use tools and appreciate their bicycle. Some organizations expand on that idea by taking kids riding too, like Trips for Kids charters.
   • Valet Bike Parking: Getting more people to ride while advertising the organization by watching peoples bikes at different events around town.
   • Safety Education: Giving someone a bike and teaching them how to ride safetly go hand in hand. The League of American Bicyclists has a nicely pre-packaged program called BikeEd.
   • Helmet Distribution
   • Bicycle Art: Following Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle old bikes and parts can be turned into works of art! Resource Revival and BICAS are great examples. Ohio City Bicycle Co-op has examples here:[1]
   • 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 Night: An open shop time only for women and transgender people. We provide free training and a welcoming, comfortable space in the male-dominated field of bicycle mechanics.
   • Commercial Bike Racks: Why not help businesses be more friendly by helping them find and install outdoor bike racks. Some go a step further and sponsor the Bicycle Benefits program for their city.

• Discounted Computer Resources

Community Bike Shop

Providing bicycle tools and expertise to the public.

1. Get Bike and Part Donations
2. Secure a Shop Location
3. Find the right people for Staffing be it paid, volunteer or both.
4. Establish the Shop Organization
5. Establish Shop Recycling
6. Write a Volunteer Handbook
7. Layout
8. Rules
9. Hours
10. Capital Improvement Plans
11. Bike and Part Sales
12. Proper Bike Fit

Earn-a-Bike

• Teaching Resources
• Teaching Methods
• Bike Rodeo Kit
• Teaching Cue Sheets

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