Arcata Bike Library
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The Arcata Bike Library is located in Arcata, California, USA. The non-profit organization is also known by many other names. Other names include Arcata Library Bikes, Arcata Greenbikes, the HUB, Arcata Bike Station, and Arcata Community Bike Program. The program is an example of a Community bicycle program.
As of 2007, the Library has been in existence for 10 years. The Library is operated by many volunteers with varying skill levels. The success of the organization can be traced to the inspiration and dedication of the director Bill Burton. Bill is known in the community as "Bicycle Bill". Due to an increase in overhead costs, the Arcata Bike Library was forced to move from its original warehouse space in downtown, and is currently without a center of operation. It currently is using the local grocery store's (the Co-Op's) parking lot on Saturdays to offer its regular bike repair and bike lending services until a new space can be secured.
Over the last ten years, the program has received many awards including recognition by State Senator Wesley Chesbro. The program has appeared in public service announcements and in television programs such as the public television children's program "Zoom."
The program provides Promise Bikes to some users. Patrons who promise to only use a bicycle as their form of transportation are offered the very best bikes from what is available from the program.
The program is promoting legislation in California to mandate a fee be collected every time a bike is purchased. That fee will be used to fund similar programs throughout California. The fee is a recycling fee similar to the legislated redemption value collected on beverage containers in California.
The program is similar to other programs around the world, including Amsterdam (Netherlands), Paris (France), and Portland, Oregon (USA).
[edit] Mission
The mission of the Arcata Community Bike Program is to promote the use of bicycles as a safe, efficient and environmentally sound means of transportation. Our volunteer-run program works to inspire people to incorporate bicycling into a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. We enact our mission by providing Arcata residents and visitors with free-bikes in convenient locations, providing assistance with bicycle repairs in learning oriented atmosphere. We also offer free bicycles to individuals who, because of economic situations, would not otherwise have access to a bicycle
