I’m currently working with Leeds Bike Mill and have worked with a few other cycle related co-ops over the last few years (both cycle repair/maintenance/training type and courier co-ops). I’m currently discussing with Sam holding an on-line meetup of cycle co-ops, to include non members co-ops too.
My idea for an initial 2h meeting in late November would be an opportunity to meet other worker co-ops in the cycling sector and explore how we might support each other. This first session is an opportunity to do this and to get things going we’d like to explore how cycle co-ops are balancing their social mission and the provision of affordable products and services with the need to pay themselves a decent wage.
What do you think? Good idea? What else might we cover?
(We have been speaking to other groups more over the last year. There is now a Bristol and surrounding area Community Cycle Project Network that meets bi-monthly. Broken Spoke in Oxford came and visited us. And some folk in Sheffield set up a WhatsApp group for community cycle projects round the country. Although none of these is strictly co-ops only.)
Hiya, this sounds great! We at BBF have been intending to set up something similar and were in conversation with somebody from Brixton Cycles about setting up a meeting of bicycle co-ops from around the country, but it didn’t come to anything as they sadly had to close I would like to discuss how we can share skills and help to upskill each other, and secondly would like to talk about CICs who aren’t worker co-ops and how we can support them to become worker co-ops. But appreciate that they might be conversations for later down the line, not necessarily for the first meeting!
I ride with Vegan Wheels in Glasgow ( vegan food delivery by bike - working with various bakeries and restaurants ) and we are a CIC, but also co-op curious as culturally we operate very much like one .
I would like to discuss how we can share skills and help to upskill each other, and secondly would like to talk about CICs who aren’t worker co-ops and how we can support them to become worker co-ops. But appreciate that they might be conversations for later down the line, not necessarily for the first meeting!