Bike Forth and prosper!

Whenever I mention the collective formerly known as “The Bike Church” to fellow students, I am met with confusion.  While some have no idea what I’m talking about (“Do you mean the Bike Barn?”), most have heard the name, but not much else.

It has been my general experience with the cooperative communities of Davis that “outsiders” feel uncomfortable about trying to “break-in”.  This is unfortunate for both parties:  the co-operative loses another potential contributing member, and the individual cannot take advantage of the resources available to them.  One of the ways to combat this (usually misplaced) intimidation-based aversion is a solid understanding of who and what these communities are, hopefully resulting in enough curiosity (coupled with comfort) for them to try something new.

It is in this vein, therefore, that I present to you the nuts and bolts (or perhaps the cables and chains) of the Bike Collective at Davis!

The original meetings started in January of 2005, taking place at the Domes.  Over the next few years a culture developed around the Church:  everything from resources such as the Bikebrary, to large shindigs like the Burning Bike Festival.  In fall of 2008, however, Student Housing made known its decision to evict the Bike Church from campus.  Despite the support of ASUCD (student government) and the passionate efforts of the acolytes, ministers (new and old volunteers) and friends of the Church, the winter/spring quarters of 2009 saw the bike church’s vacating of its location at the Domes.  With the physical help of the community (sometimes under the guise of a scavenger-hunt!) and financial support of the Solar Community Housing Association, everything moved downtown to what is now known as Bike Forth!, on the corner of L and 4.  With this move also came a new name:  The Bike Collective.

The Bike Collective is currently funded by donations.  People who use its services are asked to pay a small fee to help with upkeep and to cover downtown Davis rent.  Another, not so monetary way to contribute to the Collective is to donate old, broken bikes.  While you might never ride the thing again, these old machines can be scrapped for useful parts, or (better yet) “resurrected” into a new two-wheeled contraption by someone with the inclination.

But what exactly IS the Bike Collective, anyway?  Most simply put, it’s a toolshare—a place where the means to fix your bike are available at a low cost.  The purpose of the Collective, however, runs much deeper than these physical utensils.  It is a network of people dedicated to the empowerment of cyclists and the accessibility of bike repair.  Becoming self-sustainable, while living sustainably?  Enlightenment never looked so green!

Just one example of the resources that the Collective provides to the public is “Women/Trans/Femme” which takes place every Tuesday from 5-7pm.  This is a gender- positive bike education opportunity; its main purpose is to provide a safe learning environment for anyone, specifically people for whom bike repair is not traditionally a “normal” thing (i.e. women, transgender people, etc.).  Every session covers a single topic in bike repair.  On the agenda for this week:  brakes.

If you’d like to become even more involved in the Bike Collective than just using its resources, consider becoming an acolyte!  There are weekly workshops that meet Mondays at 5:30pm-7:00pm at Bike Forth!, but you must RSVP in order to attend, as there are ten spots.  In-depth topics that vary from week to week help you gain a deep understanding of bike repair.  After acolyte training (7:00pm-whenever on Mondays), the Bike Collective has started having an “Open Bike Night”, where ANYONE can come and bask in an atmosphere of bike-y fun!  The night is meant to be anything, from a social hour to workshops, or even a movie.  It’s a new event, so if you have suggestions, let them know!

It’s really easy to be nervous about things of which we are uncertain.  If there’s one thing that I’ve learned in the process of becoming an active member of these cooperative communities, it’s that you shouldn’t limit yourself due to this natural aversion.  If a group of people seems impossibly passionate, chances are that they have that much more to share with you, and are that much more ready to do so.

The Bike Collective is not here to preach or convert.  It won’t judge you for your motor-vehicular habits.  Its purpose is to increase your knowledge and know-how in a safe environment.  The only thing it asks for in return?  Whatever you can give in the way of your support, your participation, or your word of mouth—without its members, a cooperative falls flat of its true potential.