Happy First Anniversary BiCi Co. and Friends

We had an amazing 1st year at BiCi Co. at the Center for Latino Progress. We’d like to invite you to chip in for year two (and Phase II).  Those that were 1st year members have a chance to renew their membership, and new members can join too. Not interested in membership or live out of town? We can put any and all financial donations right to work in several ongoing and growing BiCi Co. programs. Please share this campaign with friends, family, and fellow cyclists.

The 2016 Membership and Fundraising Campaign – LINK

• The donation fee (during checkout) is optional, and you can edit the suggested fee level.  That’s how generosity.com works.
• We hope to see a high renewal rate from our first year members.  With the list below it would surprise us if
• If you aren’t interested in membership, that’s OK.  We can use the campaign for simple online donations too, and we’ll put them right to work with existing and expanding programs.
• Crowd funding campaigns work even better if you share them on Facebook, Twitter, smoke signal – whatever spins your gears.  Thanks for spreading the word.

August 2016 – Appreciation Party for Members and Volunteers

Workshop Milestones

• 43 Volunteers, 700+ Volunteer Hours, 100+ upcycled bikes back into the community, 130+ Hartford teens and adults with bicycle safety education
• Twice weekly DIY Member Hours (Wednesday evenings and Saturday afternoons)
• Women’s DIY Hours on Monday nights– and a corresponding Women’s Committee (The BiCi Co. Belles)
• Two summers of BiCi Co. teen interns through Summer Youth Employment, 60 total!
• Two Earn-a-Bike classes, with a 3rd planned for Fall 2016
• BiCi Co. rental bicycles – discounted for our members
• Soft opening of the BiCi Co. retail component for Members and Volunteers. Used and new parts available during DIY hours for purchase
• A detailed strategic plan and budget for future BiCi Co. programs and the development of the storefront space
• Creation of a BiCi Co. website and blog to keep members and visitors up to day on our programs and accomplishments (http://bicico.org/)

Wanda Overhauled this Bike at Women’s Night

Community Events and Bicycle Safety Education

• BIKE LIFE – HARTFORD! – 2016 Spring Break bicycle safety courses, bike giveaway, and festival. 80+ served with bike safety education and 62 upcycled bicycles distributed at the BIKE LIFE Festival in Heaven Skate Park. (great photos)
• May 2016 Traffic Skills 101 course
• Summer 2016 bicycle safety and helmet giveaway events in conjunction with Swift Factory / 5-Corners in Hartford’s Northend
• Support for multiple community events with BiCi Co. mechanics and volunteers – Marshall Street Block Party, Aetna/Police Activities League Field Day, multiple bike rodeos
• Social bicycle rides and post ride happy hours in Hartford in conjunction with the Breakfast Lunch & Dinner Slow Roll rides
• Supported both Hartford and East Hartford Bike to Work events in cooperation with Bike Walk Connecticut and the Pratt & Whitney Cycling Club.
• Bicycles for Jobs Access – BiCi Co. gets referrals from partners at shelters, transition programs, and even internally from our jobs programs.  We supply bicycles to a deserving individuals who are working to better their situation, but are having trouble getting to work due to bus schedule or route limitations.
• First ever BiCi Co. Happy Hour in the 95/97 Park Street Alley

The Swift Factory Team – Summer 2016

Bicycle and Active Transportation Advocacy

• Organized and hosted the first ever statewide meeting of Connecticut community bicycle workshops and youth programs
• Hosted the quarterly meeting of the CRCOG bicycle and pedestrian committee – bringing bicycle and pedestrian planning and advocacy into our community of color
• Hosted Walk Audit Training at BiCi Co. in Hartford as a partner with Bike Walk CT, including a walk audit of the nearby streets to evaluate safety, walkability, and bike infrastructure.
  Performed a walk audit of the Downtown Hartford area around the new UCONN campus in anticipation of students in 2017.
• Chaired a post-film panel discussion at Real Art Ways after a coordinated showing of Bikes vs Cars
• Chaired a panel discussion at the 2016 Bike Walk Connecticut Annual Summit on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (a first for BWCT)
• Provided feedback and support for the February 2016 update to Hartford’s zoning regulations that now include ground breaking Complete Streets guidance, bicycle parking requirements, and reduced car parking requirements for new developments
• Identified local businesses in Hartford that could benefit from nearby sidewalk bicycle parking, including new parking loops in front of the Downtown Hartford Public Library. Made recommendations to Hartford’s DPW – and several racks have been installed!
• Attended and supported the Hartford Complete Streets Action Team monthly meetings. BiCi Co. is currently supporting the pending adoption of a Complete Streets policy by Hartford’s City Council, including statements at public hearings
• Organized visits from CT Transit and the www.I84hartford.com redesign team into the Center’s Summer Youth Intern programs to educate our rising generation about transportation planning, public involvement, and employment opportunities
• Provided answers and information in support of several sections of Hartford’s 2016 Bicycle Friendly Community Application to the League of American Bicyclists.

Whew! That is an impressively long list, and pretty sure we left something out.  We can wait to do even more in the next year with your help.

Support BiCi Co’s 2nd year! – LINK

Bicycles for Jobs Access – Independent Mobility Changes the Equation