[Bikecoop-announce] Braking News at The Bike Project - August Newsletter and Events

[Anthony Cherolis]

Hey all you bike fanatics - or at least bike fanatic sympathizers,

Like usual, August is an extremely busy month at The Bike Project.  Here are
some tidbits for you.  Feel free to share.

   - Due to demand far outstripping the volunteer capacity, The Bike Project
   can't guarantee that there will be fixed up ready-to-ride bikes available
   for purchase.  Several valuable TBP volunteers build bikes in their spare
   time, and they are usually purchased on the same day they are finished.  So
   before you send your friends to TBP for cheap used bikes, let them know they
   will most likely have to join TBP and repair their own used bike.
   Fortunately this is almost always cheaper than purchasing an already fixed
   up bike.
   - The first lot of University donation bikes were picked up August 1st.
   A big thank you to all the volunteers that made this happen!  The influx of
   bikes was just in time for the August rush of incoming students.  The next
   pickup will be early in September and we'll once again need to round up
   volunteers.
   - The Bike Project is in the process of donating twelve rehabilitated
   youth bikes to Safe Routes to School.  Another big thank you to the
   volunteers that made  this happen!
   - TBP is coordinating a large purchase of blinky lights in conjunction
   with funding from with several community organizations.  The plan is to
   distriibute the lights "gratis" to hundreds of University students, local
   school kids, and community members.  TBP wants to see bikes in the dark and
   not on the hoods of cars!
   - Champaign County Bikes recently released an extremely useful CU Bike
   Map.  Preferred bike routes are color coded.  The map is a boon to beginners
   and experienced commuters alike.  The Bike Project is one of the sponsors of
   CCB's educational campaign, and we're very excited about the popularity of
   this map.  Get your copy at one of many locations throughout CU - see the
   CCB website for more information (
   http://www.champaigncountybikes.org/routes.html).
   - The Bike Project is growing at an amazing rate.  Get involved now as a
   volunteer and help the organization develop to its full potential to benefit
   bicycle commuters, amateur mechanics, and the community at large.  Several
   folks have taken the plunge lately and are helping to staff hours during the
   week to make shop access more convenient.  More volunteers are always needed
   - and bike mechanic experience is minimal.  You learn while you volunteer!
   - *Do you need to renew your membership?*  If you don't have an
   automatically renewing online subscription membership, you may need to make
   sure your membership is current.  Ask Jen if you are a current member (
   emailjenhan at gmail.com).  If you need to renew, you can do so easily
   online (http://www.thebikeproject.org/index.html#join).

*August TBP Safety Tip* - Ask before you use an unfamiliar tool.  There have
been a rash of broken and stripped tools at TBP over the last month.  Aside
from the inconvenience of having to purchase new tools, a broken tool can
cause injuries as well.  We want to minimize skinned knuckles and flying
metal bits, so ask before you crank down on that pesky stuck bit or
doohickey.  Perhaps one of TBP experts could offer some advice.
*Upcoming Bicycle Advocacy and Volunteer Opportunities:*
**
1)  *Urbana Sweetcorn Festival - This Weekend* - TBP is helping to round up
volunteers for this high visibility bike parking corral at the festival.
The city is providing the racks and the tables.  We just need to provide
warm bodies.  Be a hero as you hand a free sweetcorn coupon to folks that
cycle to the event! Sign up for a time slot here -
http://www.champaigncountybikes.org/sweetcorn.html.

2) *Meeting for Lincoln Ride Organizers* - 6:30PM, Wednesday, August 20th
@ 409 W. Hill Street, Champaign - If you're interested in helping to
coordinate this ride, please attend this important planning meeting.
Contact Sharon Michalove for more information - sdmichalove at gmail.com.

3) *Quad Day at the University of Illinois* - Sunday, August 24th from Noon
- 5PM.  Volunteers are needed to staff the TBP table.  You don't have to be
University affiliated.  Hand out TBP flyers and tell folks how great the
co-op is.  TBP now has a University of Illinois RSO, this means that
students can request funding for University specific bike stuff.  Contact
Tony for more information - acherolis at gmail.com.

 4) *TBP General Meeting* - Sunday, August 24th at 5PM @ the TBP - *Right
after Quad Day*.  Food (likely pizza) and drinks will be provided.
Important things are happening, come be a part of it.  Volunteers are needed
for an extra set or two of co-op hours for this Fall.  Its been mentioned
that there might be "members only" hours added to the schedule to provide a
slightly calmer enviroment for bike fixing and mechanic mentoring.

Hope this freakishly good weather keeps rolling!

Tony Cherolis
Volunteer @ The Bike Project
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