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Newsletter - August 2009 Dear Yellow Bike Supporters, There are two major items this month that need your attention (again): Yellow Bike Headquarters Update - We should be signing our City lease within the next two weeks, and picking construction contractors by the end of this month. We need to have all the necessary funds lined up before breaking ground, and we know this is possible with the help of friends like you.
The 21st Street Coop Bike Project - The Coop's new bike shop is up and running. Congrats to Will and everyone else who pitched in to make it happen so fast. 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. BIKE BONDS! - As mentioned above, we've already received $46,500 in pledged microloans toward the $120,000 we need to round out our $300,000 construction budget. We've also been offered one traditional loan, of $35,000, with no collateral but our good reputation. This leaves us just $38,500 shy of being fully equipped to begin this exciting project. Again, we're asking those of you who can: please consider making us a loan of $1,000 or more to help bring this puppy home. We discussed the details of the program at length in last months newsletter, and they're still available at www.austinyellowbike.org/microloan.htm. There you'll also find past and present balance sheets that illustrate our ability to repay these loans within 5 years as laid out by the contract (though we're confident it can be done in 3), and a webform you can use to show interest in participating. If you're undecided, use the webform just to get in touch; it's non-binding, and we'll call you back soon to answer any questions you might have. If you want to help out, but can't swing a large enough loan, consider pooling together with friends, or making a small donation at www.austinyellowbike.org. If you love bikes and you love Austin, don't miss this chance to make a little money and a huge difference! Thank you. Tour de Fat - New Belgium Beer will AGAIN be tearing through Austin on October 17th with their infamous and generous Tour de Fat . The TDF is a whimsical celebration of humankind's greatest invention, the bicycle, and leaves all proceeds to the bike non-profits of each town it visits. YBP and the Austin Cycling Association are piecing together the volunteer teams that will make this thing run. We've already heard back from many of last year's volunteers who are just itching to do it again. Positions are moving fast, so don't miss out! To get in on the fun, and help us earn big bucks, email coordinator Pete Dahlberg. Also, start thinking about a costume, and trading your car for a bike (this deal beats Obama's "Cash for Clunkers" by a mile. Check out the link to see how). If you've already "traded up", think about convincing a friend to do the same. ARTS Local artist Diego Fishburn currently has paintings for sale at Bennu Coffee which are to benefit YBP, and is also selling. T-shirts at Storyville for our benefit. You can see some of Diego's work at http://treehouseflash.com Fundraiser recap - We want to thank LBJ High student Jim Phillips for putting together a great showcase of local bands on August 4th at Emo's, and a very well organized alley cat race before hand. Participants were impressed with the setup and selection of prizes, and all proceeds went to YBP. Later in the week, Jeannette Olivas threw a benefit party at Creekside as a part of the Bicycle Film Festival. It was an awesome week of bike happenings in Austin, and we thank Jim and Jeannette for making us a part of it all. UPCOMING EVENTS - LadyBike - The much-beloved LadyBike workshops have finally returned! Saturday, August 22nd, come on down to our Treasure City shop for some low-testosterone bike talk and tweaking from 9:30 to noon. From here on out, LadyBike workshops will be held one Saturday each month, so stay tuned for future dates.
RadioBike - Listen in to KOOP 91.7 on Wednesday, August 12 at 2:30 to catch a half-hour YBP spotlight on Rachel Portnoy's "Reflections of Community Outreach." The show highlights people and organizations affecting positive change in Austin, so, by inviting us, I guess Rachel's implying that we affect positive change in Austin. Cool, thanks! If your antenna is busted, you can listen online at http://koop.org/index.php. 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. YBP is so excited about this that we're kicking in for the venue rental, so be sure to come out and listen, discuss, and maybe even score an autograph! We'll have more details in next month's newsletter. Mamma Jamma Ride - 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! 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. August's meeting falls on the 20th. 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. COMMUNITY ART SPACE - Aaron Williams of Austin Musicians' Health Clinic has just opened up a large new community art space off of South 1st at 411 W. Monroe. The space will be a major hub for creative Austonians in need of some breathing room, and bike work is a large component of what's been happening there. Aaron is interested in using part of the space for some regular community bike shop hours, just like we're running at Yellow Bike. We're working with him on getting this going, and if any of you would like to get involved, or just want to know when you can stop by to work on your bike, send him an email.
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.
OTHER NEWS AND INFORMATION - Legislative Update - In the wake of Governor Perry's troubling veto, some local heroes are rumored to be working up a Safe Passing revival, Austin-style. Mayor Lee Leffingwell, along with councilmembers Mike Martinez and Chris Riley, will be sticking it to the G-man right here in the hometown of his burned-down home. They're also working on a texting-while-driving ban which, while also forcing us cyclists to stop before we ROFL, may very well save some of our wonderful lives.
SHOP NEWS -
In case you've been living in a cave and haven't noticed, the days continue to be very hot! hot! hot! But we bike afficionados are a dedicated sort and shops continue to bustle at the Yellow Bike Transition shop in the Treasure City parking lot East (1720 E. 12th). Due to some warm-weather migrations by shop coordinators, we're open just three days a week this month, so be sure to check the schedule before stopping by. The Orange Bike Project is closed for Summer, but, as mentioned above, the 21st St. Co-op Bike Project is back up and running with shops on Mondays and Wednesdays. . And YBP is still representing at the Downtown Farmer's Market . Les and his rotating cast of co-coordinators will be there every Saturday from 8am - 12pm. Come on by for a t-shirt, to shoot the breeze, or get some mechanical guidance.
SCHEDULE - Subject to change after the first Tuesday of the month - Check the website before coming by . . .
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