Submitted by group leader, Chris Pranskatis.
Thanks again for the wonderful opportunity to [champion] a table at the brainstorming session on Thursday. I’ve broken the summary of our work session into 4 sections.
A. Rediscovering an old friend. (Introductory remarks).
B. Wiping away the dust and climbing aboard. (My personal goals, questions and aspirations surrounding the project).
C. Taking the first pedal stroke. (Ideas born of the work session).
D. Smiling and riding. (Gathering momentum and moving forward: The next steps).
A. Rediscovering an old friend.
A bike mentorship program is not a new idea. Just type the words “Bike Mentor” into a search engine and pages replete with results instantly appear. Bike mentorship programs and other forms of newcomer initiatives exist across the country, from Seattle, WA to Charlotte, NC. Ironically though, the city of Fort Collins lacks an organized and comprehensive bike mentorship program despite its Silver Medal designation from the League of American Bicyclists as a bike friendly town. I am convinced that if we organized a program to get more people on bikes, and to continue using them, then we’d stand a better chance of developing and fostering the cycling culture and infrastructure that many of us cherish so deeply today. If nothing else, then perhaps we can help someone to rediscover an old two-wheeled friend. It is for this reason that I championed a table focused on newcomer initiatives, and more specifically, a bike mentorship program here in Fort Collins.
B. Wiping away the dust and climbing aboard.
I had a few of my own ideas before attending the work session. I envisioned a very comprehensive program that paired both newcomers and veterans with bike mentors that matched their particular needs and concerns. I saw a team of volunteers with each one specialized in a particular discipline, from family and senior citizen, to courier and urban chic. My grandest aspirations called for a comprehensive program with custom itineraries, guided tours, an informative web site, blogs and more. I imagined the mentorship program as a catalyst for much greater cycling culture and growth. Eventually though, I began to ask a few questions.
1. What were some of the successes and pitfalls that similar programs had experienced?
2. How large, or small, would we want to develop this program?
3. What are the liabilities?
4. Would we need funding, and if so, then what would be the mechanisms?
5. Would people actually want to use this program?
6. How would this integrate with other programs?
Suddenly the questions burst forth like a perennial mountain stream. Thursday’s meeting provided a wonderful opportunity to climb aboard and to begin the preliminary research.
C. Taking the first pedal stroke. (Ideas born of the work session).
Sixteen people signed in at our table, and a few more dropped by without getting a chance to sign the register. All totaled, we probably entertained 20-25 people during the course of the night. About half of that number, (most the original attendees), remained at our table for the entire duration of the meeting and expressed various ideas that they would like to see implemented in a bike mentorship program.
- Develop the program for all demographics.
- Family.
- Children.
- Brand new riders.
- Women specific.
- Seasoned veterans looking for helpful advice.
- Transplants interested in getting a feel for their new town and culture.
- Office commuters.
- Students.
- Potential racers.
- Just for fun.
- Assemble a team that is specialized in each discipline.
- See list above.
- One of our attendees commutes with a small child and offered to help others that desire to do the same.
- Another attendee recently moved to Fort Collins and expressed an interest in working with people who recently relocated.
- Develop fun programs to get people riding. Make mentorship experiential. (More fun by doing and less student-teacher oriented).
- More Urban Assault races.
- Scavenger hunts.
- Saturday group rides.
- Historic homes tours.
- Church tours.
- Brewery tours.
- Fall foliage tours.
- Bike maintenance classes.
- Tours that highlight the best routes from one corner of the city to another.
- Tour of the parks.
- Raptor viewing
- The women’s specific topic was a recurring theme throughout the evening. Many women expressed an interest in a program designed for women and by women, that is not race or competition oriented
- Designated riders, (mentors), to escort riders from late night shows or the bar.
- Market the many benefits of riding. Call out to people who may not otherwise say, “I need help.” Make the program visible.
- Build a strong community by building upon the fun programs.
- Develop a comprehensive website.
- Advertise in every free listing available.
- Advertise in the Recreator.
- List in the free newspaper calendars.
- Hit the Chronicle
- Posters
- Flyers, signs, radio, etc.
- Develop a strategic marketing campaign.
- Bicycling is fun.
- Bicycling is healthy.
- Bicycling is economical.
- Bicycling is often faster than driving.
- Reach out to groups that already exist in order to develop incentives.
- Contact church groups and get them to organize a bike to church Sunday among their own members. Can you imagine the possibilities? The concept redefines Critical Mass. Imagine Stations of the Cross on a cruiser. What would Jesus ride?
- Toast Masters group.
- Singles clubs.
- Gardening clubs.
- Contact businesses that might already have commuters. Get them to host a class or to promote more cycling.
- Involve local bike shops.
- Work with our partners.
- Virtually everybody felt that the bike library provided strength for the mentorship program. It simply makes sense to work with the library to get people on bikes.
- The Co Op also provides a valuable resource. Call upon them to provide bikes and maintenance.
- Again, our LBS for new gear and maintenance.
- Use the mentorship program to address some of the other issues in town like scofflaws.
E. Smiling and riding. (Gathering momentum and moving forward: The next steps).
Thursday’s meeting provided the impetus for a mentorship program in Fort Collins. We took the first pedal stroke so where do we go from here?
About half of the group decided that we needed to reign in a few of the ideas and narrow the scope of the project. One member in particular called for starting small and then letting the program grow and develop over time. Almost everybody expressed an interest in future meetings and a few volunteered to continue with the preliminary research.
Therefore, the plan thus far is as follows:
1.Follow up with the group members and organize another meeting after the holidays. The first half of January works well for our group. I am already in contact with some of the group members.
2. Continue the preliminary research. Contact similar programs around the country.
3. Analyze our findings and begin to assemble a detailed plan.
In the spirit of Thoreau: We have built our castles in the air, now let us put the foundations under them.