Workshop Title: Wrenching Cooperatives Panel, 2:15 – 3:00 PM

Minute Taker’s Name: Herbie Huff

Number of people attending: about 20

What key issues were discussed at this workshop? What barriers were seen? What opportunities were presented?

The founders of the Bicycle Kitchen, the Bike Oven, and the BikeRoWave told the histories of how their wrenching collectives were founded. They discussed the organizational differences between the Kitchen, which is a 501c3 non-profit, the Oven, which is under the radar, and the BikeRoWave, which is a members-owned collective. Money, funding, and rent were discussed. Money was the main barrier seen to founding a bicycle collective. The opportunity presented was the enormous support for these collectives and the demonstration that they can thrive. The representatives of the Bicycle Kitchen also invited people with ideas to propose them at the Kitchen’s board meeting, because they consider funding new ideas.

What are possible future actions and / or goals pertaining to the subject of this workshop?

Anyone can start a bicycle collective in their neighborhood, just like these people did! Start it in your garage or your kitchen, like the Oven and Kitchen respectively. Or get a place for cheap rent, like the BikeRoWave did.

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