Membership Drive!!

Hello friends! A question we are often asked is "How can I become a member of Bici?" Well, fret no more, tonight I answer that question.

FAQ:

1. How much does it cost? $80 per year
2. What do I get? A wicked awesome membership card. Oh, AND unlimited use of our tools and mechanics. You only pay for parts. Crazy, I know! Did I mention that we have members only nights? Third Thursday of every month is just for you guys! You are also supporting a really great thing in Birmingham.
3. How do I pay? Get us some cash money or write a check. We take both. One day soon we will have a Paypal account and you will be able to pay that way.
4. What don't I get? Us bothering you about money (like NPR...who we love, btw).

If you can't afford the $80, holler at us. We can probably work something out. We need committed volunteers. Nothing is free, but no one will be turned away for monetary reasons.

If you are interested in becoming a member, come by the shop. Answer some questions (so we can remember that you paid!) and you are golden. We can also start taking memberships on Friday night.

Who will be the first member? How cool would it be to be THAT person?

Ready......Go!

bike love

Bicycling for Transportation and Health

My pal April sent me this article from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation about a study out of Portland earlier today.  I thought it was so great that I wanted to share it with you all.

The aim of the study was to see how people utilize their bikes, and to determine whether biking for transportation is a feasible way of achieving the recommended amount of physical activity.  Basically, the researchers put GPS tracking devices on bikes and tracked the number of miles that were rode over a seven day period. They found that 60% of riders were active even more than recommended, and the participants rode mostly for utilitarian purposes rather than for exercise.  

They also found that the majority of riders utilized bike lanes and separate paths, and that this type of infrastructure is an important element for riders.  From the article: "This study underscores active living can be achieved for adults through routine cycling for transport if the environment is supportive".

Hear that Birmingham? Wondering why we're so fat? One explanation: WE NEED A SUPPORTIVE BIKING ENVIRONMENT!

You can find a link to the RWJF article here, and the full journal article here.

Working hard and trying not to get electrocuted!

We had another workday last night, and now have a kickin' bench for you all to work on. The shop is almost ready folks; we look forward to seeing you all there this coming friday for our grand opening bash!

*wes, now that I've taken your picture you owe us some of that membership moolah*

MAY DAY RELAY!

that's right kids. anna, elisa, and i have been working round the clock on getting the shop ready for our may 1st grand opening. special thanks to terry jacks at non stop art, the guys at cahaba cycles, banjo brothers, DTMT, and our good friends at primavera coffee roasters. Also thanks to all the folks who came in to help us finish build out.

the race format is a relay. each racer will circle a highland ave loop (starting and ending at the bici shop). we will probably have heats of three teams, timing each teams' time and the team with the best time wins. pretty simple. we will have some music inside the shop, as well as giving tours, taking donations, and sipping on brewskies. that being said this event is BYOB for those that are of age.

if you have any old bikes, tools, storage shelves, or money you don't really want we promise we will put them to use so bring 'em down.

Some New Trend offer some new kickass discounts!

Come out to the Some New Trend kick off party and score $1 off the donation price of $3 if you ride your bike!

See you there.

Shop build-out

Thanks to all the folks who came out and helped. The shop is coming along nicely and we are pumped about our May 1 Grand Opening. Stay tuned for more details.

GOOD Liveable Streets

There has been much talk lately about Liveable streets, esp now that the Complete Streets Act is in the Senate. GOOD Magazine (which I subcribe to and simply love) had this feature on their website today.

The article

"It’s easy to forget that our streets are alterable. They weren’t set down by God on the eighth day; they were designed by human beings. Unfortunately, throughout the 20th century, most of the human beings designing our streets were traffic engineers. For the most part, they viewed the city from behind a windshield and saw the street as a problem to be solved for automobiles. The result is the American city that most of us know today: sprawling, traffic-choked, hostile to pedestrians and cyclists, dependent on a vast, never-ending flow of cheap oil, and deeply unsustainable.

Streets can and must be more than just a place for the movement and storage of private motor vehicles. The urban street of the 21st century will be a “complete street,” accommodating pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders alike. At the Livable Streets Initiative we are helping citizens re-envision streets as great public spaces. Take, for example, the busy intersection of Amsterdam Avenue and West 76th Street in Manhattan"...

It has an interactive graphic that is really cool-go check it out.

In more local news, Anna and I went to a reception and talk given by Dan Burden on Walkable Communities. It was really hopeful and interesting. He said so many things that are obvious yet completely new to many people (i.e. designing your city to the people instead of the car), and he also showed streets in Birmingham that can be 'reclaimed' using the current dimensions. It is time to reclaim our city from the car!

you can read Anna's notes on the talk here

Bici Build out

Hey everyone,
Just wanted to put out a call for volunteers for demo/building out the space this Saturday from 10am-5pm. Looking for 5-8 well bodied individuals that can help with landscape, demolition, carpet pulling up, peg board installation, and painting, etc.

Let me know through a message to the info address and let me know what tools and stuff you can bring.

Thanks

Alan

Some New Trend

This doesn't have anything to do with bikes, except that both Kevin and Carrie are Bici supporters. oh, and are both awesome!

They are writing a book, Some New Trend, online...one chapter a week.

It will be awesome, so you should go and read it. Now.

go.

Bici Birthday!

It's Anna's Birthday! Happy Birthday Anna-we love you.

birthday bike love

2009 Tour de Cure

Hey there. Fellow cyclists and Bici supporter/friend Jerry Griffes needs some help manning a rest stop at this years Tour de Cure.

Details are April 25 8:00am, The Dogtrack on Derby Road, Irondale, to go with supplies, to man a rest stop involving the distribution of nourishment and good cheer to the riders of the ADA Tour de Cure, concluding early afternoon on the same day that being, April 25.

Labor involved includes but is not limited to the making of sandwiches, slicing fruit, eating fig newtons, mixing energy drinks, talking, singing, and generally providing moral support in a sometimes hectic environ.

Jerry can pick up the carless or they can ride the 30 miles to the rest stop...

I will be out of town, otherwise I would be all over this. Great way to meet cyclists and show some support. Want to ride? It's not too late! sign up and support a great cause and get to ride your bike!

Need more details? Need Jerry's phone number to get in touch with him? comment or shoot us an email at info(at)bicicoop(dot)org.

Bike Love!