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Project Updates for Campus Bike Center

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  1. Weekly Update -- Donations & Sales

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    Email from Jacob Benjamin:

    This is the last week we are open for the semester. We’ve got ~17 kids bikes done and will hopefully have a few more donated this week, so between both shops our numbers should be right around 50 bikes! Weather for Saturday looks acceptable, too!

    The shipping containers are fully organized/separated. All the bikes we would like saved are in shipping container 7. This week I’ll triple check that and check with the Bike Project if they’d like to save any additional bikes.

    The numbers:

    Visitors:
    Sales: $164.50
    Memberships: 3 for $90
    Tires/tubes: 4 for $33

     

    Thanks!

  2. Bicycle Reuse & Repair Programs Can Produce Environmental, Social, and Economic Benefits

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center
    Mechanics Classes at the Campus Bike Center
    Encourage Bicycle Use

    "Bicycle Reuse Programmes Report Threefold Return on Investment" by Helen Gates

    Bicycle repair and reuse programmes generate measurable economic, environmental and social returns, according to analysis by FCC Environment. 
     
    The company's white paper, Bikes: A Vehicle of Opportunity, combines operational data with external research to quantify the benefits of repair and redistribution programmes. FCC reports that across its current network, it has refurbished 2,424 bicycles through prison and community workshops, diverting 35 tonnes of waste and preventing an estimated 345 tonnes of CO₂e emissions. 
     
    New bicycle sales in the UK fell to around 1.45 million units in 2024, compared with 3.1–3.3 million during the 2020-2021 pandemic peak, according to industry data cited in the report. The Bicycle Association recorded a 7 per cent increase in workshop volumes and a 5 per cent rise in value in 2024, while many independent shops reported workshop revenue growth of 10–50 per cent. 
     
    The shift has created demand for trained mechanics, with 13-15 per cent of UK bike businesses citing staff shortages.

    Prison workshop programmes

    FCC currently operates bicycle repair workshops in nine prisons across seven local authority areas, involving around 100 prisoners. The company states that these schemes have generated £119,000 in recorded social value to date. 
     
    Research from the City & Guilds Foundation cited in the report suggests each prison skills qualification saves taxpayers an estimated £34,000 per year through reduced reoffending and related social costs. 
     
    The Wigan Cycle Project, run in partnership with Wigan Council and the charity Rebuild with Hope, has recorded a zero per cent reoffending rate among 24 participants since 2022, compared with a cited national average of 65 per cent. Between late 2024 and mid-2025, the project refurbished more than 300 bicycles and diverted 6.8 tonnes of materials from landfill. 
     
    Mark Harrison, Director of the Wigan Cycle Project, said the collaboration has "unlocked capacity to get bikes to people who really need them, while passing on new skills and prospects to prisoners preparing for release." 

    ReCycling benefits

    The report notes that the majority of a bicycle's lifetime carbon footprint is generated during manufacturing. Producing a new steel-frame bike emits around 96 kilograms of CO₂, while an aluminium equivalent exceeds 200 kilograms. Refurbishment preserves this embodied carbon, requiring a fraction of the energy needed to recycle raw materials. 
     
    Disposal data suggests significant volumes are available for reuse. The North London Waste Authority has estimated that more than 11,000 bicycles are discarded each year in the UK, while a Transport for London scoping study identified roughly 27,500 potentially discarded bikes in London alone. 
     
    External research cited in the report also highlights the economic benefits. Sustrans modelling shows that a national 40 per cent voucher scheme for low-income individuals would cost around £18 million annually but generate £60 million in benefits. Cycling UK's Big Bike Revival initiative recorded £4.30 in health and productivity returns for every £1 invested, while a Lancet study found that increasing active travel in England and Wales could save £17 billion in NHS costs over 20 years.

    Policy considerations

    The report suggests that right-to-repair legislation for household appliances demonstrates the potential for regulatory frameworks to support repair sectors. FCC argues that similar policy measures for bicycle repair could provide clarity and funding stability. 
     
    Gemma Green, Reuse Development Manager at FCC Environment, said: "Bicycle repair and reuse initiatives can address multiple challenges simultaneously – from waste prevention and skills shortages to public health and social inclusion." 
     
    The report states that bicycle reuse should be identified as a model that combines waste reduction, carbon savings and community reintegration opportunities through repair programmes

     

    A link to the full article can be found here.

  3. Weekly Update -- Bike Donations & Sales

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    Email from Jacob Benjamin:

    Slow week, as expected with the cold and messy weather. On Thursday, WCIA came by, and we got to talk about the Kids Bike Giveaway, so that was good. A post about the event also went out in the weekly newsletters. Hopefully all the press will help us get a few more donations. Fingers crossed!

    Elsewhere, we’ve got some adult bike donations to work through, as well as the last of the storage container organizing to do—one last container to go through, which we’ll tackle this week. Beyond that is space optimization/organizing, as always.

     

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 20
    Sales: $192.25

    Memberships: 3 for $90
    Tire/tubes: 6 for $46

     

    Thanks!

  4. Weekly Update -- Updated Hours & Sales

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    Email from Jacob Benjamin:

    Last week of November was slow, as best I can recall, and sales corroborate that. We’re working through the kids bikes we have and will hopefully get more donations in the coming weeks.

     

    We’ve got a half dozen regular bikes on the sales floor but with the wintry snowy weather we’re experiencing, I don’t see those moving quickly. Have another half dozen that need final approval.

     

    This week we begin our M/W/F hours, which we’ll keep til the end of the semester and into next semester, as the colder weather tanks our demand.

     

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 48
    Sales: 492.50

    Memberships: 9 for $270

    Tires/tubes: 16 for $95

     

    Thanks!

  5. Weekly Update -- Crankgiving, Kids Bike Giveaway, Future Events, & Sales

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    Email from Jacob Benjamin:

    All,

    This past weekend was the Bike Project’s Cranksgiving event, which we helped promote. The event raised over $2,000 worth of food/supplies for Wesley Food Bank and the McKinley Pantry at Garden Hills.

    Elsewhere, I’ve got most of the abandoned bikes separated in each of the containers but not yet fully organized. Will continue work on that this week.

    Next up will be our Kids Bike Giveaway event. I’ll get a count of current inventory between here and the Bike Project in urbana this week, and begin refurbishing them.

    This will be our last week being open M – F as we are closed for Fall Break and will be M/W/F after the break.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 58
    Sales: 490.25
    Memberships: 6 for $180
    Tires/tubes: 13 for $103

    Thanks!

  6. Weekly Update -- Cranksgiving & Sales

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    Email from Jacob Benjamin:

    Snow! First significant snowfall of the year. Made for a messy commute in, but always better than driving.

    This upcoming weekend is the Bike Project’s event Cranksgiving, a bicycle food drive. We have a bike trailer set up for canned food donations this week. Weather’ll be great for the event—projected to be 70°!

     

    We’ll continue to tackle donations this week and get some more bikes done for our various programs.

    The numbers:

    Visitors:
    Sales: $823.50

    Bikes (Refurb): 1 for $170
    Memberships: 11 for $330

    Tires/tubes: 13 for $105

     

    Thanks!

     

  7. Weekly Update -- Future Events & Sales

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    Email from Jacob Benjamin:

    Deceptive time of year: cooler temps usually mean fewer folks in, but that did not prove out. We were all-stands-full for a good bit last week. This week feels like just about peak foliage, which is a great time to ride a bike!

    Additionally, this week we’ll be tackling the abandoned bikes and preparing for our Kids Bike Giveaway event. We have ~5 kids bikes done already here at CBC. I’ll do inventory at Urbana and meet with Marketing folks to get the word out.

     

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 89
    Sales: $595

    Memberships: $10 for $300
    Tires/tubes: 16 for $146

     

    Thanks!

  8. Weekly Update -- Kids Bike Giveaway & Sales

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    Email from Jacob Benjamin:

    I was out Friday and Monday so this is a day late. I was in Berkeley, CA which has roundabouts at all of their side-street intersections. (Hint, hint.)

    Pretty uneventful week otherwise. I’ll continue work on the containers and begin prep for our Kids Bike Giveaway event, which’ll be on 12/20. Look for flyers/advertisements for that next week.

     

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 106

    Sales: $157.50
    Memberships: 15 for $450
    Bikes (B-a-B): 1 for $50
    Tires/tubes: 12 for $101

    Thanks!

  9. Weekly Update -- Bike Parts & Sales

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center
    Collection and Donation of Abandoned Bicycles

    Email from Jacob Benjamin:

    Things are a tick slower now that the temps have dipped. I’ve been pulling from the abandoned bike containers for parts, mostly tires and saddles as those have been most in-demand. We have two bikes on the sales floor with a handful in the queue.  Our supply of checked-over Build-a-Bikes is returning to an acceptable number as well.

    This week I’ll tackle the containers of bikes and work to get them organized between bikes we’re keeping and those we’ll have scrapped.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 96

    Sales: $1,224.39

    Memberships: 19 for $570
    Tires/tubes: 39 for $353

     

    Thanks!

  10. Weekly Update -- Abandoned Bikes Retrieval & Sales

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center
    Collection and Donation of Abandoned Bicycles

    Email from Jacob Benjamin:

    All,

    Last week was the conclusion of the bike retrieval period for abandoned bikes.  We got three claims in the 11th hour, which was good. I’ll begin organizing the leftovers this week, with help from my staff. We are critically low on some used parts, so this is fortuitous timing.

    Elsewhere, I have two new staffers starting this week—just in time for October!

     

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 94
    Sales: $1,319.25
    Bikes (refurb): 1 for $100
    Memberships: 24 for $720
    Tires/tubes: 28 for $153

    Thanks!

  11. Weekly Update -- Light the Night & Sales

    Associated Project(s): 
    Light the Night
    Campus Bike Center

    Email from Jacob Benjamin:

    Last Wednesday was Bike To Work Day! It was a success. Had good weather and good turn outs at the stations I visited.

    Light The Night is tomorrow evening. Should be good weather—if warm—for that, too!

     

    We are busy but it’s not mayhem anymore—that’s a plus!

     

    We are low on used tires, as is common this time of year. I’ll roll over to the Urbana shop to see if they have any to spare.

    The numbers:

    Sales: $1,735.35
    Bikes (B-a-B): 1 for $50

    Memberships: 38 for $1140
    Tires/tubes: 31 for $286

  12. Weekly Update -- Build-a-Bike, Staffing Updates, and Sales

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    Email from Jacob Benjamin:

    Busy as all get out. Sold all but one small bike for sale and moving Build-a-Bikes as fast as we can. Hope to have a few more prepped this week as demand for those is always high once we sell out of the refurbs.

    More staff will be available this week, which should help with the craziness.

     

    Returning abandoned bikes and getting some business out of that, which is welcomed. Plenty of folks that are retrieving their bikes are unaware of our space/offerings.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 234
    Sales: $1882.45

    Bikes (refurb): 1 for $250

    Bikes (B-a-B): 2 for $100
    Memberships: 23 for $690
    Tires/tubes: 48 for $351

  13. Weekly Digest

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    Not as busy as expecting but that gave us some time to fix up more bikes. We’re currently at capacity in the front lobby area and rearranged things in the back to accommodate some of the For Sale bikes back there.

    Got a count of the incoming collection of abandoned bikes, so once those are released to us, we’ll have a good plan for how to handle the influx.

    Interviewing for a couple positions and waiting to hear back from a few returning staff this week. And, of course, turning out bikes for the rush.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 11
    Sales: $179.50
    Memberships: 3 for $90
    Tires/tubes: 8 for $44

  14. Weekly Digest: repair stand mats, bikes for sale

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    Things are picking up here and will likely only get busier as we are fully into August now. We’ve still got around 20 bikes available and a few more in the queue. B-a-Bs are similar numbers. We received some non-slip mats for under the repair stands, which I will install this week.


    The numbers:
    Sales: $471.65

    Bikes (refurb): 1 for $160
    Memberships: 4 for $120
    Tires/tubes: 2 for $10

    Jacob Benjamin

    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

  15. Weekly Digest

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All,
    We’ve been working through some old stock of used parts that are too rusty/damaged to be worth keeping and scrapping them—mostly wheels and a few frames. Getting our stock of sale bikes up into the 20s, which is good but won’t be close to meeting demand. We have almost the same number of bikes available for our Build-a-Bike program, so hopefully folks will take advantage of that when our refurbished bikes sell out.

    Last Friday morning F&S workers were finishing up repairing the outdoor bike pump—news I’m happy to report. On Friday, we also sold the kid’s bikes we had refurbished. In the high bike season, probably good to have a few of those fixed up, something we can quickly remedy this week.

    This evening is the Bike Project Monthly Member Meeting, which I will attend. 

    The numbers:
    Visitors: 19
    Sales: $611.50
    Bikes (refurb): 1 for $175
    Memberships: 8 for $240
    Tires/tubes: 16 for $129

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Coordinator -- Campus Bike Center

  16. Weekly Digest

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All,

    Pretty slow week, except for the last hour on Friday—fittingly enough. We’re working through scrapping the remaining low-quality bikes that are only good for the occasional component here and there.

    We had staff in on Tue/Thurs to help ramp up for sale production and we’ve made some headway there. We’ll continue the trend this week. Total for sale bikes is, I think, 15-20 with more in the queue.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 15
    Sales: $316
    Membership: 1  for $30
    Tires/tubes: 14 for $129

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Coordinator -- Campus Bike Center

     

  17. Weekly Digest

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All,

    To my mind, a bit of a slow week. Sold some bikes and prepped more for B-a-B/sale bikes.

    This week I’ll be bringing staff in extra hours to help build more bikes for the inevitable Beginning Of Semester rush. We’re still hovering around 20 for sale now but are building a good inventory of fully-prepped B-a-Bs for when we sell out of our refurbed bikes. We are paring down our inventory of old/bad wheels that are taking up valuable space and creating safety hazards, which will make way for our more valuable and useful parts/bikes.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 16
    Sales: $499
    Bikes (refurb): 1 for $200
    Memberships: 6 for $180

    Tires/tubes: 12 for $78

    Jacob Benjamin
    Coordinator -- Campus Bike Center
     

  18. Weekly Digest

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    Pretty uneventful week on the whole. Highlight was an 11-year-old coming in with his mom to fix up his beat-up bike. At 11 he had great tool instincts and was excited about getting his hands dirty. Good times!

    Our “For Sale” bike numbers are steadily in the low double digits, but next month we’ll focus on building more, in hopes of staying ahead of the crush of returning students.

    This evening is the Bike Project member’s meeting, which I will attend.

    The numbers:

    Visitors:
    Sales: $970.75
    Bikes (refurb): 3 for $590
    Memberships: 7 for $210
    Tires/tubes: 3 for $20

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Coordinator -- Campus Bike Center
     

  19. Weekly Digest

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All,
    The heat is upon us! The high temps have kept us less busy than we might have otherwise been. Still had some folks in and had a Build-a-Bike completed—which is always especially rewarding. Our new door has been working swimmingly, as folks have been able to enter/exit without wrestling with the door and their bike at the same time.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 15
    Sales: $525.50
    Bikes (refurb): 1 for $200
    Bikes (B-a-B): 1 for $50
    Tires/tubes: 14 for $93

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Coordinator -- Campus Bike Center

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