PhoenixBikes
Introduction/Definition/etc
From an initial visit, learning a little about
what it is and how it operates,
and comparing with some of the others
ones like VeloCityBikeCoop
TheBikeHouse and hopefully MRCoop
20100810 9.43 am Jerry
Photos
http://picasaweb.google.com/danceswithcars/PhoenixBikes?authkey=Gv1sRgCKrdpqKGhMCxcg
Body
Other Sources
There are probably several published
articles in papers/ magazines articles about
PhoenixBikes in Arlington, from what was
displayed on the walls near the office
as it's been around for at least a few years,
and I'm learning more a youth program
than a coop/ open shop.
Activities
They also run rides and there was a whiteboard
a senior adult person, Jesse with the days agenda,
a ride at 11 am, some tasks, and probably some other
things I'm not recalling...
Size and Layout
First of all, it was small and crowded,
by comparison the newer VeloCity
but has walls unlike the TheBikeHouse
out back of a city row house...
Help Opening
I volunteered to help move almost all of the bikes
in various forms of repair out of the shop area
into the outside tree shaded lawn type area
and nearby fenced basketball/ tennis court?
to have room to get to the stands and tools,
and a separate walled office area
with one desk, racks of container bins
of used parts books, computer, videos,
fridge and microwave, filing cabinets,
etc.
Another old computer in the shop area,
apparently used like a Point Of Sale
ticket type system, and likely some
internet access for looking up parts
and other technical information.
VeloCityBikeCoop is more an open and co-located
shared space but has not entirely filled up,
as only started in May, but got a large
collection of donated and some used bikes
to sell already but wonder about suggesting later
about glass walling part of the one side
some... Early on we moved the third
plywood, pegboard and 2x4 tool station
that was blocking the access and view of the
shop and had a glassed parts case in
front of it, out to the mid desk and files
area toward the front and then a front
entrance table with some program literature
and dog treats, etc by the sidewalk
garage type doors....
A picture or floorplan / layout would be
worth a thousand words here...
Participants
Much more kids running around,
and they are participants, learning,
earning a bike volunteering,
most left for the 11 am ride
during my visit.
I noticed the volunteer board
with photos and information about
the adult volunteers, back in
probably 4 - 5 workstations inside
and at least 2 portable stands
outside where a couple people
started doing stuff like
adjusting front derailliers
and later wrapping handlebars,
asking advice where needed,
and myself interjecting
even where not needed...
Generalized Overview
It seems that much of the time
at a Bike Coop or Youth Program
is spent on donations and interactions
with people visiting needing something,
maybe use a tool to get themselves
going along the way, or looking to buy
a bike, or some repairs,
dads and moms with kids, adults, and
through bikers from the W&OD trail
across the street.
The day I visited there was also a
Arlington Alexandria Coalition for the Hhomeless
Kickball event going on,
and the Rec Center was busy operating
Saturday morning too., with a water fountain,
soda and snack machine, iirc...
Multilevel parking garages for the playing field
game crowds and rec center, but I didn't
drive so don't know much about parking.
There were several outside bike racks near Phoenix,
the bikes on display went along one of those,
and the adjacent fence, and more visitor
bike parking along the far side.
Opening Shop
As we were taking the bikes out
one of the older kids wanted to do
a project with each and every one of them,
not deciding which and focussing
on one thing at at time...
Easy to relate to, each bike is unique,
many might not fit a particular rider,
unlike cars, bikes need to really fit,
more like shoes and chairs,
but each has its own character or
personality, and I've never seen some of the
combinations of wheel sizes
bike manufacturers and alterations
seen with Phoenix...
Probably part of kid and city cultures...
And Various States of Repair and Disrepair
As a repair shop, some bikes had stuff coming off,
loose brake or deraillier cables,
most had some low or flat tire issues,
and some needed to be carried
instead of rolled, so all states
of repair and disrepair, project
bikes and donations to be sure.
Material Flow
At VeloCity, I've started thinking about
how things flow out of the place as well,
taking in donations and eventually
the space will fill, it's near capacity
now, but might be packed more tightly,
racks in the ceiling have wheels
overhead, luckily high ceilings,
and long hallways along edges for bikes
but as donated bikes are parted
where does the scrap metal go,
say for recycling or art works.
A Free Bin like discount racks
at stores, or MicroCenter electronics
clearance tables...
Tools
Aside from the standard tools,
most novices don't know about
3 way tools, Park Tools and likely others
makes it easier to find the right size,
in a 3 way start/ triangular shape
out to the ends are allen wrenches,
or sockets, 8, 10 and 12 mm
I'm guessing, for example.
A new to me model of Park Trueing Stand
I'd never seen before, a classic metal TS-3?
The Gestalt of It
But after a while orienting myself
to the physical shop surroundings,
and reading some of the policy boards,
the rules, as it were, how kids treat
each other with respect and what is expected,
and notes on the board of
nice comments and donations
from visitors, it really is community,
someone visiting for the first time
might not fully comprehend,
hoping on coming back soon
and seeing how things change,
people grow and develop skills
adjusting for living and biking...
Conclusion
Summary of experience or similar
Discussion
A place for feedback on the page presented
Page History
20100810 Jerry
- Jerry created this page to write out some learning, differences
- and similarities between the bike coops/ youth programs
- and farmers market and event bike clinics
- as the email to VeloCityCoop volunteers was getting
- unmanageably long, and sharing the experiences
- across organizations...
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