It's always been a dream of mine, ever since I spent a year in urban Atlanta with Americorps, to open up a not-for-profit bike shop for inner city kids (under 18). Kids would come in, spend a few weeks building their own bike for free. It would be staffed by volunteers who would hold classes, help the kids build their bike, and maybe even hold some rides. It would also be a general hang out place for these kids, and work on their bikes in a safe and fun environment. All of this would ideally be free of charge to the kids, or at least substantially subsidized by grants/fundraising.
Though it's been a dream, I think I am ready to go after it.
Does anyone know of a similiar program? What do you think the LBS would say (though, you know, I've never seen a LBS in the hood)? Anyone aware of any federal/state/city grant money I could go after? Has anyone ever started a non-profit organization? Any pitfalls/advice? Do you think bike companies would donate used or overstock frames, bike parts, tools, etc?
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We had a program like this in Lansing, MI. I think it's still there. I'll check on it for you when I get home later in the week. Please PM me if I forget. I'd love to help in any small way to help you get this going.
Dchiefransom
We had a presentation on this at our club meeting this month. I'm not a good bike mechanic, or I could be of more service. You might contact these people for suggestions.
Back alley Bikes in Detroit does this. I think it started from the same program that Roody talked about in Lansing.
http://www.adamah.org/resources/backalleybikes.html
Here is some information about it
you can email them at backalleybikes@riseup.net
Good luck with your dream.
BearsPaw
Philadelphia has a similar program:
http://www.neighborhoodbikeworks.org/
Just like what you had in mind, kids can come in and build their own bikes, which they eventually earn.
They have a work space, tools, etc and they let anyone come in and use it at certain times. People can work on their own bikes, and buy parts they need for a cash donation. The parts, were donated too, and I think that is one source of their funds.
I went there this past week, and got a brake and cables, and put it on right there. They helped me install it, since I had never done it before. It cost $10.
donnamb
Portland's 2:
http://www.communitycyclingcenter.org/
http://www.npdxbikeworks.org/
jwc
Our local Boys and Girls club had a bike program. The bikes were an introduction to cycling. They were painted bright orange so they could be easy to identify and were free to use for a day.
After a week, all the bicycles were MIA. Program was discontinued.
sgtsmile
Not quite what you are refering to, but interesting none the less, is this program in Vancouver, headed up by Alison Sydor.
http://www.sprockids.com/program.html
Waterloo has this:
Cycling - Recycle Cycles is a bicycle resource centre which provides inexpensive, reconditioned bicycles for children and adults, and facilities for individuals to repair their own bikes.
Link seem broken, and I am not sure if they are up anymore.
Guest
Contact the Park Tool guy in Chicago (go through the Park Tool website to get his info)- Christopher Wallace. He has a Sat morning workshop he holds on the south side of Chicago (near south side). It's an awesome program. He may even be able to give you tips for getting a grant to run the program.
Koffee
buzzman
http://www.bikesnotbombs.org/
DCCommuter
DC has a very similar program in the Chain Reaction Youth Bike Shop. See http://shawecovillage.org/taxonomy/term/3
heliumb
Here's a link to Houston's. Great program.
http://www.thirdwardbikes.org/
geo8rge
I see nothing noble with so called non profits, especially the ones with highly paid staffs. Americorps is part of the US gov. Volunteers are for the most part unreliable, if you want people to do what they are told, when they don't want to, you have to pay them.
You might model your plan after:
For profit:
http://bicyclehabitat.com/index.cfm
Not for profit:
http://www.times-up.org/
http://www.transalt.org/
Da Tinker
There's another program in Houston: http://elvesandmore.org/
It's a Christmas oriented program that gives bikes & accesories to underpriveledged kids. They basically buy an entire production run of bikes from a Taiwanese plant.