Do you want to make your mark on Bike Party? Do you think we can build community through cycling for all of SJ?
Come to this month’s volunteer meeting, where we will do such orangerific tricks as:
- Review the upcoming route
- Hang out with delightful BP peeps
- Update on SJ’s Diridon area planning process
- Possible discussions:
- wet-weather riding skillshare
- talking points for bike advocacy
- breaking the walls of bike culture
- changing meeting venues
- LAST-MINUTE UPDATE: Discuss a request from SF Bike Party (no details yet, but they promise to send something and asked for us to talk about it)
This month’s meeting will be held at:
Sophisto Society, 1177 W. San Carlos St, SJ
from 6:30 till 8:30 – feel free to bring a few bucks for pizza or some snacks to share if you like!
Be there and join us in making something special…
jordan schuetz
January 7, 2011
What is this meeting for? Do we need to attend this meeting in order to attend next months bike party. I’m think of attending and need info about where to go.
Billy the Kid
January 8, 2011
The meeting is for BIRDS. It’s to make plans about who will do what to make this month’s Bike Party successful. Also, from what I’ve heard, they are now allowing BIRDS to have some input on which themes are chosen so we can avoid a repeat of the S&M fiasco.
You don’t have to attend the meeting in order to attend Bike Party, though it’s a good idea to get involved in some way (occasional test rides, if nothing else), since you never know when we’ll pull another “treasure map” on ya — but so far we’ve only done that once in however many years. If you haven’t had a chance to meet any BIRDS yet, this is a good oportunity.
Ian
January 8, 2011
Billy the S&M theme came out of a volunteer meeting as well so i guess it probably won’t keep you from getting upset again….
Billy the Kid
January 8, 2011
Came out of?
I was at the meeting. Here’s how it “came out”: a member of the Hub announced it would be an upcoming theme. He invited no feedback and got none. End of story. (No wonder S&M-supporters felt blindsided by the blowback! They never got to hear the arguments until it was too late.)
From what I’m told, last month’s meeting actually allowed every volunteer present to vote on the theme. Was I misinformed? If you say the situation has not improved, Ian, then I apologize to Jordan for overstating the importance of this meeting. But the people who told me Bike Party IS improving are people I trust.
Over the nearly two years I’ve been involved with Bike Party, we’ve overcome many obstacles and never stopped seeking ways to make Bike Party even better. Now, it seems, Bike Party is improving in still another way, by listening to the voices of all who have labored to make Bike Party a growing success and by improving the organization’s decision-making process to include every committed supporter whether inside or outside the Hub. This inclusiveness will ultimately make Bike Party a stronger organization and a more powerful and sustainable movement. We should be proud of such improvements.
Ian
January 8, 2011
the part your missing in your story is the part about 6 months prior to that when S&M was a theme that came out of one of the volunteer meetings…
I don’t claim to have been part of bike party as long as you have but as far as i know the themes have always come out of our volunteers. so thats why i say nothings really changed. volunteers have been picking themes as long as i am aware.
Rider 44
January 11, 2011
“… the themes have always come out of our volunteers. so thats why i say nothings really changed. volunteers have been picking themes as long as i am aware.”
To add emphasis to what Ian said, that is 100% true, the themes have ALWAYS come out of our VOLUNTEERS.
To put that another way. The paid staff of SJBP has NEVER chosen a theme.
Furthermore, the paid staff of SJBP has never picked a route, helped at any regroup, gone on any test rides, picked up any trash… You get the idea.
Now, if we were to continue thinking about this whole volunteer thing and the whole ‘level of volunteer’ thing, and about how groups grow and mature, be they companies, governments, or volunteer organizations, it begins to raise the question.
Is the way SJBP chooses who is a member of the hub right?
Or is it a benevolent dictatorship?
Clarifying the question, is the way SJBP chooses who is a member of the hub right for a group of this size?
Now that SJBP has grown to the size that it currently is, might a more democratic form of self government be more appropriate?
This is just something I’ve been thinking about since the November fiasco. I agree with Billy the kid, I think it was a fiasco.
I bring this up not to rehash the theme choice, that ship has sailed. But think about how that issue was handled by the hub.
If SJBP was a ride of a couple hundred cyclists, was the handling appropriate? (IMO, yes.)
If SJBP was a ride of several thousand cyclists, was the handling appropriate? (IMO, probably not.)
How big was SJBP in August, 2010? How big will SJBP be in August, 2011?
What if there was a way for the active ridership to elect hub members for fixed terms?
No one likes it when the San Jose City Council has a closed door session and decides things that affect us.
Being able to see meeting agendas, review meeting minutes, participate in our government process, that is what makes America great.
You only have to look at the home page of SJBP to see that the hub certainly appreciates that when it comes to Caltrans and the 280/880/Stevens Creek Blvd interchange plans.
Imagine if Caltrans made these decisions without any public input? Just a ‘hub’ of Caltrans bureaucrats deciding what was best for everyone, a benevolent dictatorship.
This year, when we go from 4000 riders to… What? 5000? 6000?
Perhaps this year something will happen that brings about change so active riders can have more of a say in the direction of SJBP.
This is just something I’ve been thinking about since November and I wanted to share the thought.
Ride safe everyone,
David
scott
January 9, 2011
@jordan – this volunteer meeting is open to ALL who want to attend, not just volunteers/BIRDs/etc.
also, anyone can attend bike party rides and test rides. never any requirement to attend this or any other meeting, or wear a helmet for that matter. bike party is volunteer run and attempts to invite all to participate, hence these volunteer meetings, test rides, etc.
Amber
January 9, 2011
We already decided the themes for the next handful months at the last volunteer meeting. Yes it was based on a voting system. We already picked up enough themes to last until the summer. If you have theme ideas, post them and we can consider them in a few months.
Themes have been decided by the volunteers and by core organizers as needed. Its a mixed bag.
We are trying new ways to include the volunteers in planning process-if you see ways that you think the organization can be more inclusive, let us know.
The volunteer meeting is a good way to meet other bike party members and find ways of getting involved.
jordan schuetz
January 9, 2011
Thank you for all the replies. So then if this isn’t the bike party, when is the next upcoming one.
Amber
January 9, 2011
Its always every third friday of the month.
jordan schuetz
January 11, 2011
David or Rider 44, I feel like the more the better. It would allow everyone new to meet new people instead of the bike party having only certain individuals that come to every event. This way with the growing number of people attending these events, it could also encourage more people to “go green” by riding their bikes more offen due to the amount of fun they had at the sjbike party. Would you rather have a driving a car around town party or a large bike riding go green party? I’m not attacking you at all, but I was just sharing how having more people at the bike party could be a very good thing. If more people start showing up, the meeting locations would have to be in bigger parking lots or etc. but whatever the case, I feel that the admin’s of sjbike party could handle it.
nick
January 11, 2011
you all have way too much time to argue.
Me
January 12, 2011
Nick, you took the words right out of my mouth, haha. Now I’m left wondering about what kind of fiasco November was.
moo
January 12, 2011
We got *really* wet in November.
Ian
January 12, 2011
it was Awesome!
rain on a bikeride is good for the soul
rednfiery
January 12, 2011
Thanks to the rain, it wasn’t nearly the fiasco that the people who objected to the S&M theme thought it might be.
Rider 44
January 12, 2011
@Nick,
I seriously didn’t mean it as an argument.
Re-reading it I don’t see an argument there at all.
What did you find argumentative?
I look at it more along the lines of planning for continued growth and then anticipating and planning accordingly.
How many BIRDs did SJBP have 5/2010, how many do we have 1/2011, how many might there be in 5/2011?
How did the method of government change over the first year or so as SJBP grew?
How should the method of government adapt to the anticipated future growth?
Are there indications that the current method of government may need adapting to the newer larger size?
IMO I would say that Billy the kid’s initial comment would indicate a ‘yes’ to that.
I won’t be able to make it to the meeting tonight, but if on the upcoming main ride or any future test rides anyone wanted to have a calm, rational discussion about what I brought up, you will see that I’m not trying to be argumentative or divisive. Most active participants on this site know who I am and know I’m usually pretty rational.
@Me, Welcome to Bike Party! It is an awesome group of people and a really fun time. I think we all remember our ‘first time’ at Bike Party as an incredibe ride. As you get to know more of the people you ride with regularly it just gets better and better.
Bike Partaaayyyyy!
Me
January 12, 2011
Oh. That was a fiasco? It was my first ride and I had the best time ever
T
January 12, 2011
The fiasco was the response to and not the actual ride. I was there, it was rainy and wet and nobody even participated in the theme that I was able to observe.
How can you plan themes months ahead of time? Why can’t there be more flow to it like how most of the themes throughout 2010 felt. It was cool to go from world cup to controversial S&M /slash giants world series into Christmas in the dark lights ride and not to mention the summers gods and goddess toga fest. Please just tell me this is going to remain more bike party and less Kim-jong il. Oh for the record I feel the orange theme to be uninspired and uncreative mostly. No, I do not need to hear that it is me who cannot be creative. F’king orange come’on. Orange will be the color of my urine when I stop to hangout at a corner store and drink some henry weinhards orange soda, that is about as orange as I feel. Now Orange you gonna argue some more?
rednfiery
January 13, 2011
T — I hope you won’t mind me saying that I got the biggest kick out of your orange rant when I read it just now. Thanks for the smile.
- moya
T
January 13, 2011
No I am so happy!
I did not want anyone to get the wrong vibe or impression of what I was trying to convey and that means I succeeded!
Bike Party is supposed to be fun people! Thats it nothing else, well beside obvious bicycle activism connections. For all the young people attending though I sincerely hope we can keep things fun and most importantly safe. The more we are distracted by rubbing people the wrong way and not being considerate of the objectives of fun and safety here the more we miss out on what is binding us together.
rhymes w/ orange
January 13, 2011
well the Yellow ride was awesome. Im sure the Orange Rige will be awesome too.
rhymes w/ orange
January 13, 2011
TYPO. i ment to say the Yellow Ride was awesome. I am sure the Orange Ride will be awesome too.
Spliffer
January 13, 2011
Sounds to me like there is a some “strong” pent-up or, left over emotions from the S&M Theme of last November.
I think it’s great that folks on all sides this issue get to vent and, bury the hatchet once and for all — right here and now — on this thread .
Sort-a-like a huge vent, a symbolic “blood-letting” — if you will — so Bike Party can come together with friendships and trust restored.
And from this day forward let’s charge into this New Year-2011 to become the best bicycling community we can be.
Let’s move forward in peace my bicycling brethren.
Bike Party forever!
Rider 44
January 13, 2011
I can’t speak for anybody but myself, but I can assure you that I have absolutely no pent-up or left over emotions from that theme.
And I really hope my cycling brethren don’t have any either.
This is so exciting what 2011 has to offer for the bay area cyclist.
Multiple Bike Parties. Basically a ride *every* Friday of the month *except* for 5 Friday months (and I’ve been noodling on a plan for April 22, July 22, and September 23, save those dates! )
People posting info about other rides that they are organizing in addition to all the great main rides and test rides.
Yes indeed, I sure hope there aren’t still any bad emotions from anything last year, 2011 is just too good-to-go.
All the work that so many volunteers have put in to get us where we are right now.
Who would have thought, back in October 2007, where we would be today.
I echo what Spliffer wrote,
Let’s move forward in peace my bicycling brethren.
Bike Party forever!
David
Rider 44
Adriana
February 3, 2011
Hi, I wanted to ask if there is a way to make the March 2011 a Ladies Bike party in honoring International Womyn’s Day, Womyn’s History Month, and or promote different creative bike contingents for the the March 18th date.
please call me at 408-250-9245 if this si possible. we would partner up with San Jose’s Bike Party as the South Bay International Womyn’s Day Network. Let us know what you Bike Party Hub thinks and look foward to bike partying in the name of women’s rights locally and around the world!
Adriana Garcia
Co-Founder, MAIZ
Co-Founder, South Bay IWD Network
Chair, Cihautl Tlatocan
http://alianzademaiz.org/
Ian
February 9, 2011
Adriana,
Sorry your post got caught in our spamfilter
Please come to a Volunteer meeting to raise your question.
the next meeting is tonight. 2/9/11