MANSFIELD — Community members are exploring the idea of creating a bicycle cooperative in Mansfield.
Resident Bill Baker said he was approached by several individuals interested in the idea of forming a community bicycle co-op — a place where people can learn about repairing bicycles, find used parts and even used bicycles for sale.
A meeting took place in November to weigh this idea, and the discussion continued Thursday with a second meeting attended by about 10 people.
Connie Ament of SCORE kicked the conversation off with some information on nonprofits — a possible direction the cooperative may wish to pursue.
“Nonprofit organizations — and that’s something that has some benefits depending upon the wishes of the group — is formed for charitable, educational, religious, scientific, community development, anything that’s considered a socially beneficial purpose,” she said.
She explained the process of forming a nonprofit, noting, “I think it’s very doable, if the group decides that’s the direction they want to go.”
Barrett Thomas, of Richland Community Development Group, noted a bike co-op would be viewed as a nonprofit.
“That’s how a co-op model is structured, generally,” Thomas said. “What generally makes people think of a nonprofit is the 501c3 IRS designation for a tax deduction.”
Anne Massie of Altered Eats discussed the idea of a shared space business model, using her experience with MBA Entrepreneurs’ Kitchen as an example.
The MBA Entrepreneurs’ Kitchen is a commercial kitchen outfitted to support start-up and growing foodie entrepreneurs. This 1,500 square foot shared-use commercial kitchen is available for use by area caterers, bakers, and food entrepreneurs.
“I’ve really enjoyed this model,” Massie said. “I like working with other people. It’s inspired me a lot. I’m actually now partnering with some people that have used the kitchen. It’s been great.”
The point of this discussion, Baker said, is to determine how the cooperative will sustain itself.
“The primary thing that we’re really looking at is the financial sustainability,” he said. “What types of income streams are we going to develop to keep this functioning and going?”
Tom Roepke, pastor at Linden Road Presbyterian Church and active cyclist, said he wrestles with this question, having been involved in nonprofits for several years.
He suggested partnering with an established organization that could be a guide and resource in helping get this idea off the ground.
Rochelle Jones of North End Community Improvement Collaborative echoed his thoughts, theorized what a major undertaking nonprofits can be.
“With the nonprofit sector, you have to have employees or volunteers who are willing to devote an enormous amount of time to finding funding to sustain that nonprofit, manning the telephones, answering questions, being there to run the facility — those are things you have to think about,” she said.
Roepke posed the question, “What’s the why?” in reference the creation of this co-op.
Baker responded, “There’s a huge need in this community, one, to do something about all these bicycles that are being tossed out that need minor repairs, two, that are sitting around in garages where people would ride them or their children would ride them if they knew how to repair them or had someone help them.
“Building the bicycling culture here is going to require some facility that’s willing to help people repair bicycles.”
But why is that important? Roepke pressed.
Active transportation and the shift toward more centralized communities has taken place, Baker said.
Jones elaborated that not everyone can afford to maintain a motor vehicle and, therefore, rely on other modes of transportation.
“All I’m trying to do is force us to answer this harder question because though I believe in America and the fact that it’s an unlimited pie, you’re going to have to figure out how to sustain it and it’s going to take more than just peoples’ generosity,” Roepke said.
Baker again stressed the need for a bicycle repair facility.
“I’m not a fan of charity,” Baker said. “I believe in empowerment and creating an organization and structure that teach people how to survive on their own.”
Barrett suggested setting up a bike stand and having a bicycle repair day in order to determine how big of a demand there is for bicycle repair and how the co-op can go about addressing that.
Baker said that was already done, noting, “We were hoping to get 25 bicycles and got over 100.”
Jones said there was also a bike repair stand at the Bike-A-Palooza event in Mansfield which saw a good turnout.
The next co-op meeting will be March 23 from 10 a.m. to noon in the community room at the Mansfield library. The public is welcome to attend.
