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.
The Tecumseh BIA in Tecumseh, Ontario is having a Bike Rack Sculpture competition as part of their Gallery Without Walls.
They would like submissions of functional sculptures, bike racks that are also art.
The application deadline is April 30th, and they'd like drawings and a maquette; the other critera for submissions are on their website.
The winners will be chosen by May 15th, and they'd like the racks completed by August 15th. There is $2000(Cdn)"and further details" for each of the winners.
"Open to all artists", is what they say, but if you're not Canadian you'll have to figure out if you can do this.
Their contest is modelled on the one from Louisville Kentucky, and the sculptures from that place look great. Even if this contest is not feasible for you, setting up something similar in your city might be.
Sending them a note supporting the idea might also help Tecumseh's bike boosters.
Interbike is the big cycling industry tradeshow that happens in Las Vegas every year. As is fitting, Community Bike Organizations across North America will be there so check us out at the Bike Collective Network: Advocacy Booth #3506.
The Bike Collective Network is now offering hosting and functional websites to Community Bike Organizations. So if you or the organization you love needs a website, let us know.
Bike!Bike! is such an incredible meeting of the minds. Nathan Wilkes (Austin Yellow Bike Project) did a great presentation on how Community Bike Organizations can use Technology. His implementations of website design, newsletters, and custom tracking software have created incredible growth at the Austin Yellow Bike Project.
We also had a great workshop and discussion on the needs of all the different shops. This was more of an information and contact info gathering session. With the ideas gathered at that session we intend to write open-source (free) software that other organizations can use to help keep track of volunteers, bikes, accounting, and all the other clerical work that keeps us from working on bikes.