Cosmoline

I just saw this video about the place on youtube and it looks fascinating.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyNo-P7BNp0

https://www.derailerbicyclecollective.org/

Apparently they're an ad hoc non profit community shop that helps people repair and build bicycles. The officials are trying to shut them down, of course. Does anyone know of similar operations in other towns? It seems like a really good idea.

davidmcowan

I've been down there. REALLY cool place. They haven't gotten well organized yet but are working up to it. I showed up with a 50 dollar donation check and the ability to help them wrench a little but there was no one there that knew where I should put the check. I think I could have just hung around and helped folks out but I was a little discouraged. They had roughly 20-25 people all working on getting their bikes revved up for summer. VERY cool idea and a VERY cool place.

vulpes

There's one in L.A. called the Bicycle Oven. https://www.bicyclefixation.com/bikeoven.html

Cosmoline

It's a rare place where nobody takes your money right away.

davidmcowan

p.s. I didn't get to watch the video at work but now I did. They have moved to a much larger space that is 4 times as kick a$$ as the one in the video.

bmclaughlin807

I've been there a couple times. Now that I'm currently unemployed I'll probably stop by and see if I can help out.

Wogster

I see from the video what the problem is, with the officials, much of the work takes place in the alley the shop is off of, which blocks other users of the alleyway, that probably leads to regular complaints. The shop looks to be in a residential area, so residents probably don't like the noise. Heck if I lived next door and had 20-30 people around talking and making noise all day, when I was trying to sleep (I work nights), I would probably complain too. The shop, may not have all the proper permits.

Now if the shop was in a warehouse or old factory, and if the shop was large enough that they could do all work inside, and store all the bikes and parts within the shop, and made sure they have all proper permits, then the officials probably wouldn't bother them. If they want donations, they probably should look into charitable status as well.

Roody

We have the Kid's Repair Project, a private non-funded one-man operation. An adult cyclist (usually a homeless-type utility cyclist) volunteers to help a kid repair a free bike. The kid gets a safe bike that works. The adult learns how to keep his own bike running good. The old guy who runs the Project gets a lot of satisfaction.