Excerpts from string on our Google Group:
I’ve been trying to get Bikes Not Bombs out here for years to work with local youth. Ringer Park is large, we’ve got the kids from the West End House, Fanueil Gardens, Fidelis Way, Brighton Y,College Students. BNB teaches bike maintenance and repair and often sponsors bike trips This is a Program that would benefit A/B Youth, and give them something to do that they would enjoy, and by adding A/B to their Programs it would beef up their Grant Funding.
Joan
I had this idea a couple years back, I talked with someone at the YMCA about it, but wasn’t personally in the position to do it then, not sure I am now either (knowing that speaking of an idea often means volunteering for it-but I still don’t think I’m the ideal person) But anyway…
The idea is to have a summer thing for kids to ride down the bikeways on the Charles to a MCD pool to swim and back, the thought was like a weekly bike club starting out from the “Y”. Safetly would have to be incorporated and you’d need a first aid kit and stuff to fix bikes…which makes me think that basic bike repair should be taught as part of this as well. Anyone out there interested in? I’ll bet the “Y” still is. Again, I don’t have all the skills I think are neccesary, but I’d go along and help. (I am a nurse!)
Tamara
re: A-Bbikes YOUTH
there were a couple (who know me from chatting with them at Three Scoops) who considered attending our last meeting but ended up not… does anyone have any contacts who might be helpful in recruiting A-B youth to participate in A-Bbikes? Thanks! CrsDit
Back to the original youth topic: my 2 [unscripted] cents: Disclaimer, I’ve never attended a A-B meeting, so what I have to say might lack–hmmm–any erudition about what’s up.
How I see it, regarding the involvement of youths (in rides or in decisions), there are two issues that must first be resolved…well there actually many issues, but addressing two will help focus things at bit. 1) ensuring safety (from the parent’s perspective.) 2) a Youth Board so that
there’s representation from whatever age-group. From my educating experience, adults can envision events/rides/etc for youths, but like politics, until you gain their trust and listen, you’re perhaps simply superimposing unwarranted idea on them. 5th graders want different things than 6th graders, not to mention 8th or 11th graders. The upside to all this–everyone likes ice-cream. (Not to poo-poo someone’s swimming pool
idea, but given a choice of free ice-cream or swimming–i think the enthusiasm for ice-cream will win–I mean, isn’t that why kids go to the swimming pool anyways, for the ice-cream truck?) So until some sort of core
youth representation is developed, have an informal ice-cream ride. (Shoot, have an ice-cream ride for adults.) Someone might want to work out a deal
with a local (not brand-name) ice-cream shop for discounted ice-cream, and perhaps once a week A-B bikes takes a group of young people on a short ride
and pays for their ice-cream–with this there are benefits for small business, A-B, and the kids. If you can get ice-cream down to $1, I’m sure a few people would be willing to fund a weekly $15 ice-cream budget. I
mean, I’d donate $20 if there’s interest in this effort. Regarding the issue of safety and liability in case anyone gets hurt–well, that opens up a whole can of worms [update, see s. jordan’s email re: liability waivers].
I know AB is new, so surely there are many things that need to first be worked out. Just my 2 cents…
Re: Joan Pasquale — I’ve volunteered for BikesNotBombs once, but have no in-roads into that org. Sorry. On the other hand, I volunteer regularly at 826 Boston, and as a nontraditional youth writing center, it might (I stress might) be likely to risk partnering in an bicycling endeavor, especially since the kids are out this summer–I’ll bring it up.
Now handing off the baton.
Jon