Troy Bike Rescue, Inc.

As Troy Bike Rescue enters its 19th summer, we're failing to meet our modest operating costs amidst the COVID-19 crisis. With doors shuttered and with the cancellation/postponement of BikeFest, our revenue streams have dried up. This comes as our practices of and experience with community solidarity and mutual aid are needed most. 

But we've been wondering, how can we innovate within the restrictions placed on us to build capacity for when we open again? We've been in conversation, pondering, and we have a plan, but we need support. 

In "normal" times, our volunteer capacity focuses on meeting the cycling needs of our community: creating a safer space, prioritizing getting folks on bikes while keeping bikes out of the landfill. As we slow down, we're reminded of some bottlenecks that hinder our consistency, accessibility, and accountability. We want to improve our physical space and the support systems so we can show up in more substantial ways. Will you help us?  

So what are our aims? With funds raised in this campaign, we will:

1. Continue the employment and compensation of our shop manager, to project manage the development of new systems, coordinate space improvement, and capacity building;

2. Improve physical space: 

(a) Expansion of working space to include the "middle room;" 
(b) Installation of four attentional fully tooled workstations, to give us the capacity to develop a job training program;
(c) Installation of a side door on the south wall for safe egress in the expanded workshop area; 
(c) Improved heating to lengthen the season;
Installation of enhanced storage systems for wheels and bikes in the middle and back rooms.

3. Continue meeting our modest overheads of payments of a small building loan, city utilities and services, and insurance costs. 

Thank you for helping us (re)imagine the future of TBR as we navigate these uncertain times. 

With peace and love,

Dan,  Andrew, Hana, Greg