Newsletter - October 2008

Dear supporters of Yellow Bike,

Welcome to the October edition of our newsletter.  As usual, the dedicated volunteers at YBP have many exciting events and programs to announce.  Read on for the details. 

- The Yellow Bike Project (YBP)

YELLOW BIKE AT THE FARMER'S MARKET - Exciting news!  Your friendly neighborhood community bike shop has set up a permanent booth at the Saturday downtown Farmer's Market.  We have tools, a couple of work stands, and expertise on hand for anyone needing cycling support at the market.  Our goal is to bring together our two favorite things: bicycles and food!  We want to make it easier for everyone to ride their bikes to the market to do their weekly shopping, and will be helping folks with bike racks, homemade panniers and basket options in the near future.  Please come by, bring your bike challenges, and tell us your story.  We will be set up on the West end of the market near the Information Booth.  Thanks to  Mellow Johnny's Bike Shop  for providing convenient and close storage space for our supplies, and to the Sustainable Food Center and Suzanne Santos for donating the Austin Farmer's Market booth space; their support is key to making this shop possible.

TOUR DE FAT - Yes, it's time for one of the best bicycle subculture events of the year:  on Saturday, October 18th New Belgium Brewery's Tour de Fat rolls through town again ... it's kind of a bike-themed tent revival crossed with a circus that celebrates the "positive societal offerings of the bicycle" and focuses on the fun to be had by traveling under human power.  The event is FREE, but ALL proceeds from merchandise, beer sales, and parade entry go to local bike non-profits: Austin Yellow Bike Project, Austin Cycling Association and Austin Ridge Riders.  Head on down to Festival Beach West  (2100 Bergman Avenue map | poster) early to be in the bike parade, or come later just for the beer and good times.  Registration for the parade begins at 9am, and departs the grounds at 10:00am.  Beer starts flowing at 11:00am, and the festival ends at 4:00.  Click here for a full schedule of events.

One of the reasons this event goes off so smoothly and makes money for local bicycle non-profits, while staying free to attend, is because folks from the local bike community step up and volunteer to help with different jobs. We still need volunteers; it's only a small time commitment and you can still take part in the revivalations... email Simon at youractionsdefineyou@gmail.com for info on pitching in.

BIKE LANE CLEARANCE - Last month we announced Stuart Werbner's new initiative to empower local cyclists to keep sections of local bike lanes safe and debris-free.  There is an organizational meeting planned for Saturday Oct. 25, 2:30pm at the YBP Treasure City Location.  "We will gather to discuss the Adopt a Bike-lane program, volunteer to adopt bike-lane sections, and possibly ride to nearby areas of interest. Also, small dustpans and brushes will be handed out to those interested."  For more info, you can contact Stuart at stuwerb@gmail.com .  

BIKES TO SCHOOLS - Over the next couple months we will be donating bikes to middle school students participating in the Safe Routes to Schools program as well as a bike safety course at Woolridge Elementary.  You can help!  We need complete 24" and smaller 26" bikes.  You can drop off bikes during open shop hours at Treasure City.  You can also volunteer at any open shop to help overhaul the bikes.  No experience is necessary, just patience and a willingness to learn.

MEALS ON WHEELS AND MORE EMBRACES THE BIKE - The Meals on Wheels program is now offering bikes with coolers to bike meals to the homebound in East Austin.  We applaud this new approach to their noble mission "to nourish and enrich the lives of the homebound and other people in need through programs that promote dignity and independent living," and hope their program is pleasantly surprised by how many people are interested in biking as an alternative.  Check their website for more info: http://www.mealsonwheelsandmore.org/volunteer/bike

YELLOW BIKE CAR CRUSHER - At YBP, we're working to get cars off the road in more ways than one.  Our main focus is still on bicycles as transportation and getting unused bikes back on the road.  But we also don't mind getting a few gas guzzlers out of circulation while we're at it.  If you've got a motor vehicle you want out of your life, why not double your carbon/karmic credits by donating it to benefit YBP's New Headquarters fund?  Email us (austinyellowbike@gmail.com) to get the ball rolling.  Thanks to those who have already donated and to long-time YBP collaborator and Austin Bike Zoo-keeper Jeremy Rosen for coordinating the program.

TREASURE CITY SHOP NEWS - So they hit us again.  One of our volunteers arrived at the shop on September 15th and found the top left portion of the facade behind the tree was ripped open, the cash box was busted open and empty, and again, the laptop is gone.  We're putting out one last call to the community for an old laptop - nothing fancy, just needs to have a wireless card.  We don't have room in our small shop for a full-sized computer, so we're looking for laptops only, please.  We've beefed up security at the shop, and will be storing our valuables in a very secure shipping container from now on, so this should be the last time we lose our computer.  Anyone able to donate their old laptop, please email us at austinyellowbike@gmail.com.

On a brighter note, we continue to host four open shops a week at our Treasure City shop.  Stop by to work on your bike, peruse our selection of ready-to-ride bikes or volunteer and gain new skills while rehabbing donated bikes.  We had so much fun at the Friday shop last month that we're staying open late Friday nights again this month with Treasure City Thrift, with a weekly bike-in movie commencing at 9pm.  For more info on this and other Treasure City events, see http://www.treasurecitythrift.org/.

SCHEDULE - Subject to change after the first Tuesday of the month - Please note that we will be closed for some special events on Oct. 10th (Fri), 18th (Sat), and 31st (Fri).  Check the website before coming by . . .