new hours and member policies
2008 was a very busy year (our sixth!), and, as we've discussed recently, we are making some changes to better serve our members and the public in the future. Here is an initial outline of the new hours, policies and fees that begin today, and a bit about the reasoning behind them. Please be patient as we update all the pertinent web pages, and check back for more changes over the winter, as this process will also involve new class curricula, member discounts, and rates for volunteer credit.
The biggest change is instituting a charge for members to use the shop for their own work. This was a serious decision, both philosophically and logistically, and was based on what we have learned about OCBC's actual role in the community, and on our core values of "respect, resourcefulness, and reciprocity." The goals of this new policy are to give good education and service to all, to use all our resources (tools, stands, staff, and volunteers) efficiently, and to reward people equitably for gaining skills and volunteering.
Having more equitable fees for the full range of members' needs is another reason for this change. We have found that some folks never return after taking their classes, so they miss out on the chance to practice what they learned; while others never come in to volunteer, and so don't learn skills they need before tackling their own major repairs.
While it means more work, charging for shop use -- coupled with new "advanced repair clinics" and more organization in the shop -- will enable OCBC to help more people use bikes in more meaningful and lasting ways.
So new members' fees look like this:
- Shop time for members' personal uses will be charged at $5/hour, which can, of course, be paid with volunteer credits.
- A new membership is now $100 for the series of 4 Maintenance Classes, and includes 2 hours of personal shop time.
- Membership renewal is still $40, and includes 2 hours ($10) of credit for shop time.
"Membership Mondays": Members who have completed or tested out of the basic maintenance classes
can drop in (or reserve a workstand) to work on their own bikes, or can
volunteer on tasks they are familiar with. By Spring we will be adding "advanced
repair clinics" on topics which correspond to, but are not covered in each
week's maintenance classes. Non-member (retail) sales and volunteers
will be by appointment only.
Tuesday: As formerly, closed except for programs, and evening Repair Classes (7-9pm).
Apprentice Wednesday: As formerly, from 5-9pm, time for current and former students to practice what they have learned (and earn volunteer credits) by working with a more experienced member on bikes for the co-op. Untrained volunteers may help out where able. No retail sales.
Thursday beginning in March: retail sales from noon-9pm, members may work on their own bikes by appointment.
Friday: closed except for programs.
Saturday: retail sales from noon - 4pm,, Repair Class from 4-6pm. Members' shop use by (limited) appointment.
Sunday: Closed, as always.
We hope these changes will help everyone get more out of the resources OCBC offers, and wish everyone a Happy New Year!
How to share the road
AS WCPN's Sound of Ideas show on Friday Sept. 19th concerned bicyclists' sharing the road, here is our list of suggestions to them, followed by recommendations we made to the City in 2005:
Cyclists and motorists should read Ohio Bicycling Street Smarts, an excellent, free publication from the Ohio Dept. of Transportation available at all Cleveland Recreation centers, and at the Ohio City Bicycle Co-op.
This booklet includes the sections of the Ohio Revised Code that
apply to interactions with cyclists: especially important are the Green text (which) displays law affected by the Better Bicycling in Ohio Act of September, 2006.
Here is the central issue:
4511.55 Riding Bicycles
- Every person operating a bicycle on a roadway shall ride as near to
the right side of the roadway as practicable, but may ride to the left
of hazards, e.g., when fixed or moving objects are in the way; when
there are surface hazards; when it is unsafe or otherwise impractical
to do so - such as when the lane is too narrow for the bicycle and an
overtaking vehicle to travel safely side by side; or when a slow moving
vehicle is permitted to leave the curb lane, as described in 4511.25
above. Persons riding bicycles
must obey all traffic rules applicable to vehicles, and exercise due
care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same
direction. Persons riding bicycles on a roadway shall not ride more
than two abreast in a single lane, except on paths or parts of roadways
set aside for that purpose.
Police should
take the time to stop cyclists who are riding illegally, and motorists
who endanger cyclists. This is important especially for cyclists riding
on the wrong side of the road, or at night without lights -- it would
be appropriate to issue warnings (and a copy of Street Smarts) for
first offenses, as many cyclists are ignorant of the law, and their
behavior mainly only endangers themselves. Motorists who drive
aggressively towards cyclists should be charged with the most serious
infractions possible, as they can kill or maim literally with a tap of
their foot.
State legislators should mandate that Drivers' Education
curricula include a significant bicycle awareness component, and that
all state drivers' tests contain at least three questions pertaining to
motorists' responsibilities towards cyclists.
Municipalities should post 25mph speed limits wherever reasonable, and enforce them strictly.
This would improve the quality of life for all inhabitants, besides
cyclists: pedestrians, road workers, children, small animals, and other
motorists who chose to obey the law.
Specific recommendations for Cleveland submitted to the Mayor's Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee from the Ohio City Bicycle Co-op can be found here.