so i'm doing some research on different bike cooperatives around the country (god, i'm so glad i went back for a master's and get to spend my time on stuff like this! -sorry for the bit of gloating). i'm looking for examples of bike co-ops, LBSs that do community-service stuff, bicycle advocacy/nonprofit groups, etc... stuff like NYC's "Recycle a Bicycle," LA's "Bicycle Kitchen," or Tucson's "B.I.C.A.S."

i'd really appreciate any info/examples of these types of organizations (wherever they may be around the world, or if they're associated with a college/university or city gov't...whatever).

thanks for your help, everybody!

We have the Bicycle Repair Collective, which I believe is organized as a co-op. They sell parts and accessories, but their main focus is a repair area where members can learn to work on their own bikes and use the full range of shop tools, etc. I think it's been around at least 25 years.

We also have <a href="http://www.citybikes.coop/directions.htm">Citybikes</a> and the Bike Central Co-op, both of which sell parts and accessories, do repairs, and sell refurbished bikes. We have a non-profit called the <a href="http://www.communitycyclingcenter.org/">Community Cycling Center</a>, wich teaches kids how to ride and work on their bikes and distributes free refurbished bikes to kids and adults. The <a href="http://www.trans.ci.portland.or.us/bicycles/pdxorgs.htm">City of Portland Office of Transportation</a> also provides support for cycling.

so i'm doing some research on different bike cooperatives around the country (god, i'm so glad i went back for a master's and get to spend my time on stuff like this! -sorry for the bit of gloating). i'm looking for examples of bike co-ops, LBSs that do community-service stuff, bicycle advocacy/nonprofit groups, etc... stuff like NYC's "Recycle a Bicycle," LA's "Bicycle Kitchen," or Tucson's "B.I.C.A.S."

i'd really appreciate any info/examples of these types of organizations (wherever they may be around the world, or if they're associated with a college/university or city gov't...whatever).

thanks for your help, everybody!

these guys in berkeley can probably help you out with bay area info...

http://www.missinglink.org/

When I lived in Eugene, Oregon in the mid 90's I was a huge fan of the Center for Appropriate Transport. Truly amazing people and project, I volunteered a lot of time an parts there, plus built my first ever cyclo-cross bike. They have a web-site... I'd google it for you but it's time for dinner.

Oh yes.. Eugene...

Burley, the maker of tandem & single bikes and some clothing, is also a co-op.

so i'm doing some research on different bike cooperatives around the country (god, i'm so glad i went back for a master's and get to spend my time on stuff like this! -sorry for the bit of gloating). i'm looking for examples of bike co-ops, LBSs that do community-service stuff, bicycle advocacy/nonprofit groups, etc... stuff like NYC's "Recycle a Bicycle," LA's "Bicycle Kitchen," or Tucson's "B.I.C.A.S."

i'd really appreciate any info/examples of these types of organizations (wherever they may be around the world, or if they're associated with a college/university or city gov't...whatever).

thanks for your help, everybody!

Here's Minnesota
Boulder Options is a youth mentoring program (it's not just in MN)
http://www.bolderoptions.org/run_bike.html

MORC is our citizen's activist group for mountain biking.
http://www.morcmtb.org/

Minnesota Bicycle Advisory Board is a citizens commitee that advises the state dept of transportation on bicyle issues and bicycle advocacy
http://www.mnsbac.org/

This is our local chapter of the national safe routes to school program
http://www.saferoutesmn.org/

St Paul Bicycle Advisory Board. Similiar commitee to the Minn Bicycle Advisory Board, but for the City of St. Paul not the the state DOT.
http://www.ci.stpaul.mn.us/mayor/committeeinfo/bicycle/

Minnesota Pedestrian and Bike Alliance. They operate the Sibley Bike Depot (and other prgrams). The Depot is the closest thing to a Community Co-Op I think we have.
http://www.mnsbac.org/

Twin Cities Bike Club is the largest rec. riding club in town and ends up with a fair chunk of advocacy duties. It's a LAB member club.
http://www.mtn.org/tcbc/index.html

Minnesota Parks and Trails Council is not specifically a bicyle group. However much of what they do impacts cycling and involves cycle advocacy.
They are hosting the National Rails to Trails Conference in Minneapolis in July.
http://www.parksandtrails.org/index.html

In the private sector, QBP and Park Tool are here, so you see their influence helping the above groups or through industry PACs like Bikes Belong and others. They are both somewhat quiet about their advocacy efforts you mostly see them behind the scene helping the above organizations or others I've not mentioned.

Scot

I was think more along the lines of Freewheel Bike on the West Bank- where they have a public shop rental. I love those guys.

I was think more along the lines of Freewheel Bike on the West Bank- where they have a public shop rental. I love those guys.

But I don't think it's advocacy or community outreach as it is a bike shop trying to get bodies over the treshold by offering something those others guys in town don't. From the original post I thought he was looking for cycle advocacy efforts. He'll probably clear it up in a follow up post.
Thanks
Scot

But I don't think it's advocacy or community outreach as it is a bike shop trying to get bodies over the treshold by offering something those others guys in town don't. From the original post I thought he was looking for cycle advocacy efforts. He'll probably clear it up in a follow up post.
Thanks
Scot

-yeah, i'm looking more at non-profits and community-oriented cycling groups and less at bike shops. i really appreciate all the links people have put out there...the reason for all this is i'm trying to learn from example and hopefully get something going in tempe, az. -i'll keep everybody updated.

minnesota is taking over this thread. you forgot one though scot

sibley bike depot
http://www.bikeped.org/Depot.html

definitely more community oriented, although they do have open shop/tool use for members. lots of place have that though. additionally, you could find a similar thing in some form or another at 99% of colleges and universities, often funded by the school. hope the research is going well.

minnesota is taking over this thread. you forgot one though scot

sibley bike depot
http://www.bikeped.org/Depot.html

definitely more community oriented, although they do have open shop/tool use for members. lots of place have that though. additionally, you could find a similar thing in some form or another at 99% of colleges and universities, often funded by the school. hope the research is going well.

I didn't forget them :)
Minnesota Pedestrian and Bike Alliance. They operate the Sibley Bike Depot (and other prgrams). The Depot is the closest thing to a Community Co-Op I think we have.
http://www.mnsbac.org/

Here in Alberta there's a great advocacy group in Edmonton with a shop designed to help you with commuting, not to sell you high end parts. Link is http://www.edmontonbicyclecommuters.ca/

Well, in Lawrence, KS, there's an anarchist library that has -- or used to have -- a bike workshop: Solidarity! Radical Library and Revolutionary Center. They changed location recently, and I'm not sure if the workshop is still active or even allowed where they are now. used to have a website, but it's not working anymore. Contact info is listed here (http://www.undergroundpress.org/infoshops-us.html).

thanks for all the links/info....i scored a trip to the bay area (leave this afternoon!) for a couple days so i'll be stopping in missinglink and also checking out the bikestations at the berkeley and embarcadero BART stops.