Bicycle Hackerspace

This is intended as a catalog of characteristics of a productive bicycle hackerspace.

There is a practice, in software engineering, of writing stories that explain a task's value proposition. A slightly formalized way of expressing needs that people automatically recognize. It is a structural pattern for a sentence:

As a [role], I want [a feature], so that [I can achieve a goal].

These are some of the core feature requirements for a productive Bicycle Hackerspace, in this case known as "The Space".

Volunteering

As a Volunteer, I want to spend some of my personal time doing things for The Space, so that I can contribute to society.

When to Volunteer (People Scheduling)

As a Volunteer, I want to know the best time for me to participate, so that I can contribute meaningfully.

The Space has limited resources, and lots of Volunteers. Prioritize use of limited resources based on the net benefit. If one person is building new storage for wheels and the other is trying different wheels on their personal bike and those projects conflict, the person building the new storage takes priority. Show good judgment and be considerate.

Customers come to The Space in waves. Focus on customer service Volunteer slots when there are lots of guests in The Space.

There are slow times at the shop. Noisy or disruptive things are better done during these times.

What to Do (Task Management)

As a Volunteer, I want to know what needs to be done, so that I can apply my time toward important things.

Some tasks may be best at certain times or on certain days.

Some tasks will have potential conflicts, like for use of a tool or station.

A task backlog and active task tracking facilitates Volunteer productivity.

Tasks which are clear and concise are easier for the Volunteer to execute on.

Consider breaking down big tasks. For a bike rebuild, make a task for the headset, another for the bottom bracket, and one for the brakes - for example. Consider making the subtasks into a COA checklist on the story.

How to Grow

As a Volunteer, I want to gain new skills, so that I can contribute more and learn new things.

What are the highest demand skills right now? What are the missing skills that I could introduce to The Space?

How can I attain them?

Are there people at The Space who can help me learn these skills? How do I ask them for help learning?

How do I publish my availability to help other Volunteers learn specialized skills?

How do I know when I have sufficient skill to help teach customers?

Promotion

Brag Shwag

Things that can be used outside the bicycling realm to start a conversation.

Cashflow

Bike Sales

Bikes in the shop should be high profit.

Make them visually identifiable.

Include some brag shwag.

Bikes should have some reason to be appealing to foot traffic. Examples Follow.

Premium Bikes

Two year old big ticket bikes.

Resto Bikes

Thirty year old big ticket bikes.

e-Bikes

e-Bike conversions of solid platforms.

Strange Bikes

Tall, long, lighted, flexible, folding - looking for conversation starters and things people will take pictures of.

Bar Bikes

A little ratty, bodged together, something interesting about it, unappealing to thieves, capable of carrying some stuff.

Grocery Getters

Cargo haulers, with a display showing what they can carry.