Newsletter - September 2009

Dear Yellow Bike Supporters,

The lease is signed, the construction contract is signed, we have an approved site plan, and between our cash and microloan pledges we have the money we need to pay the construction contract.  We still need to raise another $10k through the microloan program for some structural contingencies, but if our pledges have wings we are on the home stretch.  And you know what else?  We're breaking ground next week.    And we have a new satellite shop on the South side!  Read on with glee...

SHOP CONSTRUCTION NEWS -

Yellow Bike Headquarters Update
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

It's really happening.  We got our contractor lined up, our 99 year lease signed with the City of Austin, and are on the verge of getting our building permit.  Look for pre and post photos next month, along with lots of exciting construction updates.

FUNDRAISING UPDATE -

BIKE BONDS! - Having raised over $185,000, we'd originally hoped to borrow another $120,000 to cover the cost of the building, plus materials for some finishing work that we'll do ourselves.  But then we got a miraculous construction bid for $50,000 less than we'd expected (Thanks S&G Contracting Inc!).  With the microloan pledges we've already received, basic construction costs are now covered!  We still need a few more bucks, to cover the fabrication of our mezzanine inside the shop and our outside deck and pergola, which are all being done by YB volunteers. We'd love to have your help on this, too, so keep in touch and sign up here to help with construction on work party days later this Fall.  Or, to help out with that last little nub of cost, please consider making us a donation or loan.  ONE TRILLION THANKS to everyone who's reached out and made this dream a reality!

Tour de Fat - The Austin Tour de Fat is now just over a month away (October 17th from 9am-4pm | view schedule). New Belgium brewery travels the Western U.S. each Summer with this whimsical celebration, leaving proceeds to the bike non-profits of each town it visits. By rounding up volunteers to staff the event, Yellow Bike, Austin Cycling Association, and the Austin Ridge Riders will each earn thousands of dollars while helping to put on one of the year's biggest bike bashes.  We've already heard back from many of last year's volunteers who can't wait to do it again.  To get in on the fun, and help us earn big bucks, email coordinator Pete Dahlberg.  It's important to note that volunteers won't miss out.  There are two shifts, so you'll still get to enjoy the festivities!

New Belgium is also offering you the chance to publicly trade your car for an awesome fully-loaded custom commuter bike with racks, bags, and even a trailer!  Any old car will do, so long as it's the one you currently stress and smog and letharge around town in.  On stage at the TDF, you will renounce your old ways - instantly shedding over two thousand pounds and a lifetime of bills - and ride off transformed, a beacon of hope for a smarter, sexier, and funner way to move.  Go here for details, and submit your plea. 

Battle of the Non-Profits - Rugged clothiers Patagonia have invited us to participate in their Voice Your Choice environmental campaign.  We'll be tabling at their Congress Avenue store from 1-5 pm on the Saturdays of September 26th, October 3, and October 10th, "competing" for your votes with Poder Texas and Ecology Action.  The "winner" gets an environmental service grant of $2,500, and the "loser" gets a measly $1,000.  Everyone wins, but of course we want to win the most - so come grab some wool socks and get your vote on! 

Arts - Local artist Diego Fishburn has recently been putting out some cool stuff for YBP's benefit.  He's got some stylish Ts (-->) for sale at Storyville on the drag.  For the story behind the shirt, go to whyflywhenyoucanride.com.  And to see more of Diego's work, check out treehousesplash.com.  

Century 21 - Our new satellite shop is in need of a computer for record-keeping purposes.  Because of space constraints, a laptop would be best.  If you have an old one kicking around, internet-worthy, please consider donating it to YBP.  Email austinyellowbike@gmail.com if you can help us here. 

UPCOMING EVENTS -

LadyBike - The much-beloved LadyBike workshops are back on a monthly basis! Saturday, September 26th, come on down to our Treasure City shop for some low-testosterone bike talk and tweaking from 9:30 to noon.

TALKING HEADS! - In town to promote his new book, Bicycle Diaries, musical genius and cycling advocate David Byrne will be hosting a panel on bike advocacy at Austin's Paramount Theatre on September 27. Entitled Where We're Going and Where We've Been: Bicycles, Cities, and Transportation in Austin, the panel will include Rob D'Amico (League of Bicycling Voters), Annick Beaudet (City of Austin Bike/Ped Program), Jana McCann (ROMA Design Group), and Mr. Byrne himself.  YBP is so excited about this that we're kicking in for the venue rental, so come out at 7 PM to listen, discuss, and maybe even score an autograph!  The event is sponsored by LOBV, The Yellow Bike Project, Austin Cycling Association, Mellow Johnnys, New Belgium, Ride2Walk.com (Lone Star Paralysis Foundation) and Tyrex Ltd.   Admission is free.

Bike Show - Sept. 25th at The Red Shed Tavern (8504 S Congress), there'll be a classic and custom bicycle show.  Got a bike you'd like to show off?  New, old, pretty, or ugly, ride it on down.  We'll be there doing some far-south outreach and admiring your machines.  Call (512) 280-4899 for more details.

Mamma Jamma Ride - On October 10th, the first ever annual Texas Mamma Jamma Ride aims to raise $400,000 for 10 local agencies that are out to change the odds for thousands of Central Texans in the fight against breast cancer. Among these 10 agencies are the good folks at the Sustainable Food Center, our hosts at the Saturday downtown farmer's market. According to the recent policy paper published by The World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research, the 8 million lives lost annually to cancer could be reduced by about one quarter to one third by reducing obesity through dietary changes and increased physical activity. To learn more and register for the ride go to mammajammaride.org.  

GET INVOLVED -

Give Council Feedback on New Bicycle Facilities - In May over 300 bicyclists showed up for the adoption of the Bicycle Plan Update. Because the plan was backed by a broad coalition of cyclists that who showed up in numbers, the aggressive plan passed council unanimously. While we were excited about the victory, we knew we would need to show support regularly to bring the recommendations in the plan to reality. Now bicycle facilities are being installed faster than ever and we need to give positive feedback to City Council when we like what is happening. This will help Council justify the installation of proposed bicycle facilities that receive criticism on the grounds that street parking or vehicle lanes are affected. 

Within the last year new bicycle lanes have been installed on Dean Keeton, Anderson, Steck, East William Cannon, Amherst, Medical Parkway, Brodie, Latta, West Mary, and Chicon. We have also seen the installations of Austin's first three climbing lanes on South Lamar, MLK and Dean Keeton and the completion of the portion of the Lance Armstrong Bikeway along Cesar Chavez. If you like what you see, email city council and tell them what these facilities mean to you. We hear that there are many great facilities coming but we need your help to change the priorities on OUR streets.

Support the local safe passing ordinance! - On August 27th, City Council directed City Manager Mark Ott to draft an ordinance banning text messaging while driving or cycling, and requiring drivers to pass cyclists and other vulnerable road users at a safe distance of at least three feet.  Legal changes like this are another important piece of the growth aimed at by the Bike Plan, so let Council know that you appreciate this step.  Thank Council members Riley and Martinez and Mayor Leffingwell, especially, for bringing this to the floor and giving us some respite from the careless whims of our wayward Governor.  After you've done that...

Sign it, already! - BikeTexas' petition to Governor Perry is still circulating and now carries over 4,400 signatures. A good showing but, ahem, you know who are and you know what to do!  And after you have...

KEEP supporting local safe passing! - Over the next few months, the proposed ordinance will wriggle through a maze of Boards and Commissions and public hearings on its way to a final Council vote.  The resolution itself is pretty general, so public input and support will be needed to ensure the final product is all that it should be.   Keep your ears peeled at the local bike blogs (ATXBS.com is a good one, and keeps a master list of all the others) for updates on this process. 

Rails with Trails -  Sustainable Neighborhoods of North Central Austin is circulating the following letter to CapMetro.  Consider sending it, or something similar, to boardofdirectors@capmetro.org.

Dear CapMetro Board members, Count me in favor of staff's budget recommendation to use $1.9 Million of federal stimulus (ARRA) funds for the Rails with Trails segment connecting the Highland and Crestview MetroRail stations.
 
This Trail, which Sustainable Neighborhoods voted "Best Project for North Central Austin," is a lynchpin in our neighborhood plan to make MetroRail, MetroRapid and regular bus more accessible to pedestrians and bicyclists. It will also improve safety at what is currently a highly dangerous intersection at Lamar and Airport.
 
I understand that CapMetro has hard fiscal decisions to make.  I think this highly popular project stands on its own merits and is worth keeping.  Please support this project when you vote on the final budget on September 28.Sincerely, <your name>

Waller Creek Tunnel Project - Public meetings are underway regarding a long-term plan for reviving that forsaken riverwalky thing that you see hiding under portions of downtown. The project will hopefully result in a car-free bike route serving East Riverside, UT, and all points in between. A recent Daily Texan article gives a pretty good description of the plan's intentions. Public input will be an important piece of this project, so if you are a stakeholder - and you are - you should think about getting involved. More info and a schedule of upcoming meetings can be found at http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/wallercreek/calendar.htm.

Bicycle Advisory Council - Austin's Bicycle Advisory Council is a citizen body that meets with staff of the City's Bicycle and Pedestrian Program from 6:30 to 8 PM on the 3rd Thursday of each month. September's meeting falls on the 17th. Meetings are held in the 8th-floor conference room at 505 Barton Springs. A BAC meeting is a who's who of the movers and shakers of local bike advocacy. If you're looking to get involved in the kind of growth that Austin needs, this is a great place to start.

TBC Mailing List - This past legislative session was a hot one for Texas bicycle issues, and future sessions will only get hotter. In the Capitol lobby, the Texas Bicycle Coalition (TBC) has got our backs, but they need our help. Let's give 'em a hand, ya'll, and help out where we can! To stay informed on TBC's statewide advocacy efforts, sign up for their email newsletter here.

SHOP NEWS - 

Important: YBP will no longer be at the downtown Farmers' Market, but... ...we've just procured some new satellite space thanks to Aaron Williams of the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians and the Austin Art and Music Partnership. We're warming it up this month, doing a Monday shop only, 4-9pm, so come down to 411 W. Monroe and help us try the place out! It is in a large warehouse, out of the sun, and climate-controlled! We don't have a lot of parts yet, and are still working on the YB vibe, but we do have tools and stands and a lot of experienced coordinators.

And with the angry sun finally chilling the heck out - some - we are back up to four weekly shops at our main transition shop in the Treasure City parking lot (1720 E. 12th, at Salina).  Please note that collective meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month, and so there are no shops on these days.  As always, it's best to check the schedule before stopping by.
The Orange Bike Project is back from the summer break.  Check out their shop on the UT campus at one of their two weekly shop times.

The 21st Street Coop Bike Project's new shop space is in full swing now.  Stop by and check it out, drop off some old parts, tweak your bike, or work on one of theirs....maybe even show up on a regular basis to help others learn.  Like with us, you can do as much or as little as you want.  Check the schedule below for shop hours, and email Will if you've got any questions.  

SCHEDULE - Subject to change after the first Tuesday of the month - Check the website before coming by . . .

WEEKLY SCHEDULE - (Updated for September)