Organizing a Bicycle User Group

Tired of waiting for things to change? Take it into your own hands. Get a Bicycle User Group (BUG) going in your workplace, school, housing co-op, office tower, arts group, apartment, fitness club, community group, street, or neighbourhood association.

What's a BUG?

"Bicycle User Groups (BUGs), by their nature, are diverse creatures. They have different habitats and thrive on different nutrients. Despite this, they have a common ground -- the love of the bicycle." ... Leila Swanson and Vince Albanese in the first ever BUGle. The term "BUG" for Bicycle User Group was first coined by some bicycle commuters at the Royal Ontario Museum. They had come together to organize a single bicycle project but slowly transformed into an all year round bike-using, bike-promoting group. Since then, many BUGs have formed for many different reasons.

Why Start a BUG?

To pedal influence - One of the main reasons to form a BUG is to win friends and influence people. If you've ever tried to convince a building manager or store owner or your boss or your local politician to put in bike facilities, or even be bike-friendly, you'll know that it's difficult, and often futile, to go it alone. Many hands not only make lighter work, but also get a lot more clout. Even if there are only two or three people in your BUG so far, a letter on your Bicycle User Group letterhead usually inspires more respect and action from the people or institutions you're trying to influence.

To start a new project - Another reason to have a BUG is to get a project off the ground. If you have a great idea, but not all the skills or resources to make it happen on your own. A one-time, or even an ongoing BUG is a great vehicle (nyuck nyuck) to making your idea happen.

To spread the word - Having a BUG as a central information resource also provides a very personalized forum for other people to get inspired, involved, and informed. This can range from having some maps and pamphlets available at your desk or on the bulletin board, to having a bike commuting conference on your office e-mail, to organizing an event for BUG members and other interested people in your workplace, group, neighbourhood, or organization.

To be social - Sometimes a BUG performs a social function. It's there as a way to organize rides, get-togethers, and social events among people who bike, would like to bike, or like people who bike. You can also talk to other BUGs about their successes and frustrations.

Many BUGs work towards getting better parking and shower facilities at their workplaces. Some BUGs create projects and events for the annual Bike To Work Week. Some BUGs are theme related. Some BUGs form within residents' associations and among users of certain streets. It's perfectly fine to be a member of more than one BUG.

Some BUGs are big and electronically connected. The CIBC BUG has over 120 members who communicate by office e-mail. There are also a few "BUGs of one" in which one person simply acts as a provider of info and resources to colleagues or BUG members. And there are all sizes and purposes in between.

Some BUGs keep on ticking, acting, and dialoguing. Others form for one specific purpose, accomplish it, then disband or connect with another BUG or project. Some BUGs, such as the "Big Wheel MegaBUG" have joined with other BUGs for more effect and more fun.

If you do any of the following things, you probably are, or probably could be a BUG:

	post notices and newspaper articles about cycling for others to read.
	talk with others about cycling / get frustrated about barriers to cycle commuting.
	do bicycle touring or commuter rides with one or more people.
	would like to connect with other cyclists in your workplace, neighbourhood, or organization.
	would like to try bicycle transportation but find it too daunting
	have an interest in planning related to bicycles in your neighbourhood.
	organize events during Bike To Work Week or the Clean Air Commute
	recycle and/or repair bicycles for others in your neighbourhood or workplace.
	together, BUG your building owner about better bike parking and accessible shower and change facilities.
	organize bike happenings for and/or with your cycle commuting cohorts.
	talk to your local politicians about on-road bike lanes and safer road conditions.
	learn - and practise - safe cycling.
	help a new cyclist learn what it takes to bike commute.
	subscribe to the BUGle.
	participate in Bike (To Work) Week.

Interested in any of this?

For more info, call or fax the Bicycle Commuter Program (BCP) of the Toronto City Cycling Committee (TCCC) at 416-392-7592 (phone); 416-392-0071 (fax).

Or drop into the Intersection at 761 Queen Street West (3 blocks west of Bathurst).

Starting a BUG

This of course depends on what kind of BUG you want to start, but here are some generic tips:

	find out who in your workplace or neighbourhood cycles by watching for cyclists or signs of cyclists (like people with helmets and chain marks on their legs). Talk to them about your idea to form a BUG and how it might benefit them.
	write a catchy note about your idea to form a BUG and leave it on people's bikes outside, or put it on the e-mail or the bulletin board. Make sure you include a couple of catchy reasons why people might want to join you (how would you like secure bike parking and hot showers when you get to work? I'm starting the Blah Blah BUG, please contact me by phone or e-mail at....). A survey also works, especially if it feeds into people's fantasies like secure parking or hot showers, and offers some hope of doing something about it.
	organize an informal lunchtime brown bag meeting. You can show a video or do something that competes with the local cafe's lunch special. For that matter, have it at the local cafe that's having the lunch special.
	bring in a special speaker, or organize a repair clinic to inspire people to get their bikes out of the garage.
	sometimes organizing an event is a good focus for kick-starting a BUG. Bike To Work Week is a good time to start, when the birds are tweeting and peoples minds are turning to thoughts of bicycles.
	if there's something that you really need to make it more possible or more pleasant to cycle, organize your strategy for approaching the right people. Learn from the experts by calling another BUG that's been successful.

What resources are available for BUGs?

	this skills development binder (order the other parts!)
	Other BUGs - find out who's done what and how to get a hold of them. Several active BUGs are listed in the Glossary of Groups and Projects, available at the Intersection through Detour Publications. Order by calling 536-7999.
	The Intersection library, at 761 Queen Street West, is full of transportation and organizing info. Call 536-7999 for more info.
	contact Intersection on-line at http://www.web.apc.org/~detour/
	Coming Soon: The Bike Commuter Handbook will be an upbeat, comprehensive guide to bicycle commuting.
	Detour Publications produces, sells and distributes all sorts of transportation related info. Call 504-2918 to order your catalogue.

BUGs are evolving...

Many BUGs have evolved into fully blown projects. The Economic Conversion BUG, for example, evolved into the Bikes Mean Business Initiative, which has evolved into a whole bike related economic development strategy for the city.

The BUG idea has also inspired TUGs, or Transit User Groups which do the same for transit as BUGs do for cycling.

There is also now a whole network of people working to make the workplace not only bike friendly, but sustainable transportation friendly in general. For example, for people who can't bike, or can't bike every day, there are all sorts of other eco-friendly transportation options. They include mixed modes (bikes and transit), telecommuting and home working, transiting, guaranteed rides home, car pooling, employer sponsored Metropasses, and more... To find out more about the workplace transportation network, call 416-392-7592.

A Few Shining Examples

The CBC BUG has secured the resources to provide tools and other bike repair equipment for cycling employees.

Many of the CIBC BUG members have never met each other face to face. All 120 of them communicate through the BUG conference on their corporate e-mail. The BUG co-ordinator posts events, issues to respond to, useful information, and activities to get involved in. The CIBC BUG sponsors and hosts a big Bike To Work Week event every year, and there is usually a president or vice president or treasurer to be found in attendance, or serving coffee to cyclists!

The Metro BUG sends a monthly BUG Newsletter around to all its cycling employees. It lists upcoming events, news, and information that is useful to cycle commuters.

The Noranda BUG successfully convinced their building management to include beautifully tiled showers and secure bike parking in the new design when they moved. The showers and lockers are in a spacious room next to the elegant lunch room that overlooks the city from the 22nd floor. Senior management from the Noranda BUG has also been active in lobbying for bike lanes and other bike friendly facilities by writing letters and doing other supportive activities.

The OISE BUG has recently convinced the building management to install secure parking.

The Queens Park BUG successfully lobbied their building managers to install a large private bike parking cage in the underground parking lot. Cycling employees are given a key to the secure, well-lit bike cage.

The Queen Street West BUG hosted a parking meter party in a number of Parking spaces on Spadina during Bike To Work Week. They brought games, decorations, easy chairs, and dance music. Yes, they fed the meters.

The Toronto Recycled Art Society BUG has hosted the Toronto Recycled Art Auction for the past six years.

The TORQUE BUG met on-line through the One Less Car BBS, and is now meeting to ride together.

by Sue Zielinski