Native bike store Intelligent Cycles has launched an fascinating new customer support program primarily based round mutual assist and an intriguing cargo trailer that appears like one thing from the Oregon Path online game.
Store proprietor Dean Mullin tells BikePortland the preliminary thought for “Intelligent Cares” was to assist prospects who couldn’t deliver their bikes in for service. Since they first open their doorways in 2007 as Portland’s unique importer of Dutch cargo bikes and helped spark a nationwide bike business revolution, Intelligent Cycles has all the time stood for bikes as transportation. So when their prospects’ bikes break down, it usually means a family’s important type of mobility is gone. Intelligent Cares goals to ensure people can nonetheless get to work, the physician, the shop, and so forth — even when they will’t make it to the store for repairs.
With a view to make home calls and decide up what are sometimes heavy and cumbersome bicycles with out utilizing a automotive or truck, the store imported a trailer from Carla Cargo in Germany. Mullin added aptitude to the trailer with a canopy and old-timey lettering. Mixed with the picket aspect panels, the trailer now appears to be like like a basic stagecoach.
“As soon as the trailer was prepared,” Mullin says, “it felt prefer it deserved a much bigger objective.”
That greater objective has expanded right into a group help program aided by a volunteer community.
Mullin has expanded this system to not simply supply free bicycle pickup and supply, but in addition important repairs to Portlanders who can’t make it into the store for monetary, bodily, or logistical causes.
And there’s one other twist: This new service is funded by way of buyer donations. “Intelligent Cares is made attainable by a easy thought,” reads Intelligent’s web site. “when one particular person buys a motorbike or will get theirs serviced, they may help another person experience, too.”
In the course of the checkout course of, Intelligent Cycles prospects are invited to pay it ahead by including a small donation—$5, $10, $25, or extra—to help others who need assistance. (Mullin is exploring nonprofit choices so donations might be tax deductible.) Then the store matches donations in labor credit score 1:1 as much as a month-to-month cap.
One other a part of this system is that prospects can volunteer to drive the trailer and make bike deliveries:
“We’re constructing a community of volunteers to assist us transport bikes to and from our store utilizing our lined wagon trailer—or your personal cargo bike, trailer, or car. No expertise vital—only a willingness to assist somebody maintain rolling… your time could make a tangible distinction in somebody’s day-to-day life. It’s easy, direct, and extremely appreciated.”
Mullin says, “The response up to now has been wonderful.” “Dozens of individuals have already signed as much as be notified once we launch pickups and deliveries… And the Metropolis of Portland noticed the trailer at Sunday Parkways and reached out to us about utilizing them for upkeep work.”
“I by no means performed Oregon Path rising up, however the design by some means got here collectively simply,” Mullin added. “Maybe I missed my calling in lined wagon design.”
To search out out extra and study how one can assist make Intelligent Cares one other brilliant spot in our wonderful group, try the official web site.
