Originally Posted by Enthusiast

I've only visited 3 co-ops so far, but there were several differences. One is open a few times a week when volunteers were there, one is open 24hrs a day with coded entry and no volunteers necessarily present, and the other has paid staff and volunteers who kept regular business hours during the week. One co-op's volunteers only teach and assist others in building and repairing bikes, another holds repair classes but has no special guidelines for the role of volunteers, and the other's volunteers are primarily involved in repairing and building bikes for customers. (who have to fall into a low income bracket) One co-op is supported only by the sale of donated bikes and parts, one charges membership fees and has the patronage of a local business owner, one is supported by sales of donated bikes and parts as well as the local cycling advocacy organization. One co-op is even currently embroiled in a power struggle between snooty fixed-gear riders and those who wanted to allow everyone to use the facility.(I know the fixed gear riders sound like they're in the wrong, but the situation is more complicated than can be summed up in a sentence) The primary mission of one co-op is to provide transportation for a large refugee population that has immigrated into town.