Community Partners Bike Library

WHAT WE DO
ACHIEVEMENTS
BECOME A PARTNER
EVENTS
TESTIMONIALS
PHOTOS

WHAT WE DO

The Community Partners Bike Library collaborates with 20 diverse organizations in the Twin Cities Metro area to make bikes and education accessible to under-served communities, encourage lifelong bicycle-use and increase livability, health and access throughout the Twin Cities. We loan bikes through social service, government, non-profit and community institutions directly engaged with low-income community members, in particular those traditionally marginalized from the cycling world, including immigrants, women and communities of color.

2011 was the second year of the program and funding has been extended for 2012. Our program currently provides:

A fully accessorized refurbished bike (and helmet) on loan for up to six months, with child trailers available to participants with small children
On-going mechanical support throughout the loan period
Classes customized for each Community Partner site in safe cycling, bike maintenance, and more
Classes and one-on-one support for adults learning to ride a bike for the first time ("Learn to Ride")
Group bike rides
Support in purchasing and maintaining a bicycle for long-term use at the end of the loan period
Leadership development and capacity building for Community Partners and participants

At the end of the bike loan, participants have a range of options for continuation. Many participants choose to return their bike and enroll in the Bike Library program again in the future, but there are more options available to interested participants. They may purchase their Bike Library bike at a deep discount, join Sibley's Earn-a-Bike program, buy a refurbished bicycle from Sibley Bike Depot with a one-time 25% discount coupon given to Bike Library participants, or renew their Bike Library loan for winter riding. Winter riders attend a workshop to learn about safety, routing and maintenance practices for winter biking; we also put studded tires on Bike Library bikes for winter riders.

* Please note: The Community Partners Bike Library is not able to loan bikes to individuals not affiliated with one of our Community Partners. If you need a bike but cannot afford to purchase one, please check out our Earn-a-Bike Program.*

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ACHIEVEMENTS

Growth since 2010:

Fleet increased from 151 bikes to 220 bicycles and 14 trailers
Community Partners increased from 10 to 19
Participation increased from 151 to 220 people

Increased Programming in 2011:

Provided 22 Open Shops offering free mechanical repair services to Bike Library patrons
Provided 8 educational classes including Learn to Ride, Riding in Traffic and Winter Riding
Provided 10 Basic Bike Mechanics classes
Led 8 group rides for Bike Library participants

Successes:

- Taught 27% of the participants how to ride a bike
- Bike Library participants collectively rode at least 30,000 miles during the 2011 season
- 95% of participants reported health benefits
- 89% reported that using the bicycle saved them money
- 83% said they improved their bike riding skills by participating in the Bike Library

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BECOME A PARTNER

Would your organization be a good fit to partner with the Bike Library? An organization considering Bike Library participation should have the following characteristics:

Interest in addressing transportation needs of clients/patrons, and in bikes as alternative transportation

Works with clients/patrons/community members who have income at or below 200% of federal poverty guidelines

Commitment to building strong communities where all members can thrive

Works with low-income communities

Interest in addressing transportation needs of clients/patrons or communities it works with, and has a location within the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area

Program staff to coordinate regular check-ins with patrons and act as liaisons during the loan period; this includes brief regularly check-ins with each individual patron as well as staying in touch with CPBL staff and providing them with timely feedback

Strong community networks in which liaisons and patrons can share and publicize transportation choices, and willingness to creatively publicize and promote the Bike Library program

Ability to work with other Community Partner organizations

Commitment to a minimum of 8 eligible patrons with a goal of at least 50% identified female

Commitment to helping to organize and staff: 1. A Bike Orientation/fit in the spring (2 hours) and 2. A bike Return in the Fall (1 hour) (+ follow-up with patrons who do not attend Bike Return)

Ability to coordinate or secure a meeting space to hold classes or workshops

If you are interested in partnering your organization with the Community Partners Bike Library, please:

Consult this pdf for guidelines on becoming a partner

Complete this form and submit to the director claire@sibleybikedepot.org

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EVENTS

Bike Library Shop Night II

Thursday, March 1, 5-8pm: the Community Partners Bike Library is hosting a second winter Shop Night at our Minneapolis space at 2310 Snelling Avenue. We will be doing maintenance on the Bike Library bikes, eating delicious food and having conversations about biking! All are welcome and there will be activities for all skill and experience levels! Hope to see you there.

For a map to our Minneapolis location click here.

The Bike Library invites volunteer support for our 2012 program!

The Community Partners Bike Library offers opportunities for volunteers with diverse talents. If you would like to volunteer your time and talents as a mechanic, translator or interpreter, photographer, filmmaker or film editor or staff Bike Library orientations and classes in the spring, please call 612-889-1685 or email marianne@sibleybikedepot.org.

Check out our Newsletters!

TESTIMONIALS

“I used a bike instead of taking the bus, and saved money. I went to the library, college, store and many places. I became healthy and learned a lot like how to ride in the street with traffic.” –bike library participant

“Perla Montoya, who is a Community Health Worker at CLUES in Mpls, said she's grateful for the Community Partners Bike Library because she can't afford to buy her own bike and that she plans to use the bicycle to commute from her home in St. Paul to her job in Minneapolis.” –MPR interview

“The Bike Library Program has given me a great deal of satisfaction, both by opening up a new field of interest for myself, and by allowing me to help others with transportation needs.” -volunteer

"Many women from Waite House who are participating (in the Bike Library) are biking for the first time, and they say that their self esteem has improved. It’s very frustrating to have to always ask others for a ride, but with a bike you feel independent. It doesn’t matter the weather, you can just go, you know you can.

Muchas mujeres participantes de la Biblioteca de Waite House están pedaleando por la primera vez, y ellas dicen que ha mejorado su autoestima. Es muy frustrante tener que pedir “rides” (que se llevan otra persona en carro), pero con una bici se puede ir. No importa el clima, sabes que puede.” -Waite House Bike Library Participant

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pdf: