Tram Berta does Sternfahrt on Sunday 2nd June.

When is a tram not a tram? Tram Berta brakes all the rules.

Now is your chance to see Tram Berta on the streets and meet some of the BSB crew (we will be the ones powering this creation)

http://www.tram-berta.de/

It's a tram that is made up of two bikes and is probably the coolest thing at the Sternfahrt- the biggest annual Critical Mass in Berlin (up to 250,000 bikes), which culminates at the Environmental Festival in Mitte, near Tiergarten.

http://www.adfc-berlin.de/aktionenprojekte/sternfahrt.html

We will be leaving S-Bahnhof Prenzlauer Allee at 11:40 on Sunday 2nd June.

Arrive at Alexanderplatz about 11:55, Moritzplatz at 12:05, and UBahn-Kottbusser Tor at 12:10.

Find the whole route here.
http://www.adfc-berlin.de/images/stories/Sternfahrt/2013/Sternfahrt-2013.pdf

Hope to meet you all en route. Come show your support for BikeSurfBerlin and have a go on Tram Berta with us.

Polizei Versteigerung/ Police Auction for bikes on Tuesday 28/5/13

Some of you may not have been in Berlin long enough to hear about the bicycle auctions that happen on behalf of Polizei every two months. Those bikes that are not claimed by their owners after an allotted time are sold off to the highest bidder at these auctions.

The benefits of buying a bike in this manner are:

1. cheap bikes - cheaper than flohmarkts
2. proof of receipt - means you can sell off bike later more easily
3. not supporting bicycle theft
4. it's an exciting atmosphere and gives you a buzz when you're the highest bidder 

It is best if you go there with someone who knows what to look out for in buying a second hand bike, as they are varying quality and a little bit about how numbers sound in German is a plus.

If you contact us at BSB, we may be attending and be able to help you out.

The next Polizei auction --> 28/05/13

• ~ 200 bikes on offer usually (also other items, sporting equipment, cameras, laptops, phones, etc.)
• no bidding slip required - bid using your upraised hand, pay for each item immediately after you have won it
• well organised
• cash only - no cards
• will be taking place on 29th January from 8am (viewing of bikes) and then auction starts at 10am upstairs
• recommend you bring a picnic with you - eg snacks and tea
  

GoIndustry Deutschland GmbH, Zweigstelle Berlin
 Werdauer Weg 23 (Nähe S-Bahnhof Schöneberg)
10829 Berlin
 Polizei auction 29/01/13 website - click here

The details of all future BVG and Polizei auctions will be on the calendar in "Things to do" at the top of this page.

Happy bidding!

BikeSurfBerlin Bicycle Maintenance/ Repair 101 (WOMEN only!)

Starting 13:00 sharp on Sunday 26th May- please be on time.

Why women only? Based on a survey of BSB female members, this will provide a more comfortable learning environment. The instructors will be female.  

Will take place in the hinterhof (backyard) of this location: Alte Jakobstrasse 121 - Kreuzberg (you can ring on buzzer marked "POPE" if you need directions on how to access hintehof.

Things to bring (if possible):

• Your own bike, so that you can learn about your specific bike
• Any bike tools that you have, so that you can learn more about how to use them
• Pen and paper to take notes
• Snacks

Need no prior experience of bike maintenance/ repair (this workshop presumes you have little/ no experience with bike maintenance/ repair)

Topics to be covered:

• Puncture repair
• Brake adjustment
• Saddle adjustment
• Gear adjustment
• Locking your bike
• Berlin rules of the road
• Protecting your bike from thieves

We can help you fix your own bike too (so bring it along). We have tools and spare parts.

We do appreciate any donation you can afford, for use in our BikeSurfBerlin project.

bikesurfberlin@gmail.com

Deutsche Bahn bicycle auction 24.04 and BVG bicycle auction 25.04.13

Grab yourself a bargain bike for the incoming Springtime.

Some of you may not have been in Berlin long enough to hear about the bicycle auctions that happen on behalf of Deutsche Bahn, BVG and Polizei every one to two months. Those bikes that are not claimed by their owners after an allotted time are sold off to the highest bidder at these auctions.

The benefits of buying a bike in this manner are:

1. cheap bikes - cheaper than flohmarkts
2. proof of receipt - means you can sell off bike later more easily
3. not supporting bicycle theft
4. it's an exciting atmosphere and gives you a buzz when you're the highest bidder 

It is best if you go there with someone who knows what to look out for in buying a second hand bike, as they are varying quality and a little bit about how numbers sound in German is a plus.

If you contact us at BSB, we may be attending and be able to help you out.

The next Deutsche Bahn auction  --> 24/04/13 at 15:00

Bike auction held every month in the train station in Berlin Zoologischer Garten at the Fundburo (Lost and Found office)

• approximately 30 bikes on offer
• no chance to examine or touch bike before bidding
• no bidding slip required
• much more expensive than other auctions
• must pay in cash only
• weird, grumpy crowd - not the nicest atmosphere

http://www.bahn.de/p/view/service/bahnhof/fundservice.shtml

The next BVG auction  --> 25/04/13 (viewing starts at 8am, auction from 10am)

• ~ 40 bikes on offer usually (also other items, sporting equipment, cameras, laptops, phones, etc.)
• requires you to pay a deposit of 5€  for the bidding slip in order to place a bid (bring your Anmeldung or other proof of your address, passport)
• a bit chaotic/ unorganised at times
• pay with EC card or cash only (no credit cards)
• from 8am (viewing of bikes) and then auction starts at 10am.
• recommend you bring a picnic with you - eg snacks and tea

Saalburgstr 3/3a, 12099
 BVG auction 24/01/13 website - click here

The details of all future BVG, Deutsche Bahn and Polizei auctions will be on the calendar in "Things to do" at the top of this page.

Happy bidding!

Infographic on how to BikeSurf

http://judithcarnaby.com

Judith Carnaby has lent her considerable artistic hand to designing this infographic on the process of how people can borrow a bike from BikeSurf.

Sing it Michael:
A B C
It's easy as, 1 2 3
As simple as, do re mi
A B C, 1 2 3
Baby, you and me girl
A B C
It's easy as, 1 2 3
As simple as, do re mi
A B C, 1 2 3
Baby, you and me girl

Bicis Solidarias, from Córdoba (Spain)

I was travelling around the south of Spain and randomly landed in Córdoba. Córdoba has great bike community potential due to its size, shape and climate (not in summer). A Seville CouchSurfer suggested that Córdoba would be a great location for the next BikeSurf city. Now I think Seville is actually the better choice, because it turns out Córdoba already has Bicis Solidarias.

After visiting the unique Mezquita, walking around the shady Jewish quarter and eating some snails, I had the chance to meet Andrés, a man who has created something similar to our BikeSurf project. He is probably the only vegan in Córdoba as well ;)

I tracked down his contact information and it was so easy to arrange a meeting with him, even without saying what it was concerning. What a great first impression; he is really an accessible guy.  During our meeting he told me everything I needed to know about the Bicis Solidarias’ project:

Everything started when Andrés, together with some partners, decided to provide bicycles to people who need them and who can’t afford to buy a new or used bike.  Unfortunately we all know about the current economical situation in Spain.  Perhaps this is why bikes in this area are regularly in such high demand. This is what lead to the creation of his not for profit project, which just like BSB is not an NGO or a company.

Since creating the project, Bicis Solidarias has expanded to include new and diverse activities. Nowadays, you can enjoy a variety of events organised by Andrés and his team such as:

- Bike Lending: Primary service.

- Free Language lessons: They have native teachers for Arabic, Hebrew, English, Spanish, French and German.

- Urban Farming: They are currently squatting on an empty public space and transformed it into a social urban garden.

- Workshops: Bike repair, internet for inexperienced people or any new idea they might come up with.

- Vegan picnics: These are planned for every Sunday.

- Micro Credits: If you have a vegan business idea, you can contact them and get a microcredit to support your project. They would also consider being partners in any vegan project.

- Sharing ideas: Anybody with a good idea connected to bikes, veganism or related topics is welcome in Bicis Solidarias.

- And many more things!

For more information about this wonderful project, you can check out the Bicis Solidarias blog here.  Thanks for encouraging a green planet, we at BikeSurfBerlin salute you and your team for your wonderful efforts.

Ask not what BikeSurfBerlin can do for you, but what you can do for BikeSurfBerlin (it'll only take a few clicks)

VeloCity Visionaries Awards 2013

We would dearly love to have a stall at a huge bicycle conference called VeloCity 2013, where we could gain the support of similar grassroots projects, spread our idea internationally and be inspired to make our BikeSurf project even better.

However, there is a sad lack of funds here at BSB HQ and we are looking to get a stall there for free.

To do this, we have entered our project in the VeloCity Visionaries Awards 2013, where the top 20 projects will get a free stall at this bike conference.

Only those projects which have enough votes will get a free stall at the conference. Please vote for our project at the following link before 15th April (after clicking on VOTE NOW, you will immediately receive an email with a link to confirm your vote - if you do not receive this email, check your SPAM folder).

http://velo-city2013.com/?page_id=2337&project_id=218

Please share and tweet about our submission to these awards to others you know. There are Twitter and Facebook share links on the page above.

We deeply appreciate your support of our project and want the chance to showcase it on an international stage so that other BikeSurf branches will pop up in other cities.

BSB Logo, snow, BSB bags and Polizei bike auction

Joachim Halupczok posing with BSB bag

http://judithcarnaby.com/

Several random photos from various segments of life in BikeSurfBerlin.

Inspirational illustration celebrating the project, courtesy of Judith Carnaby. Why, thank you, for that!

BSB cotton bag production (see example with Joachim) will start in earnest in the coming weeks and will be part of our reward system for those donating to help the project expand and develop.If you wish to get your own bag today, please contact us for details on our reward scheme.

Agnes braves the lingering wintertime

Police auction 26/03 reaps rewards

Despite the snow not going away, the number of BikeSurf requests is growing. Love to see the resilient spirit.of our BikeSurfers.

Police auction on 26/03 was another exciting affair with more than 300 bikes. Come join us in the next one - see "Things to do" calendar above to keep up to date with featured biking events in Berlin.

Bicycle auctions in Berlin March/April 2013

It's time again, to brave the still wintery conditions and grab yourself a bargain bike for the incoming Springtime.

Some of you may not have been in Berlin long enough to hear about the bicycle auctions that happen on behalf of BVG and Polizei every two months. Those bikes that are not claimed by their owners after an allotted time are sold off to the highest bidder at these auctions.

The benefits of buying a bike in this manner are:

1. cheap bikes - cheaper than flohmarkts
2. proof of receipt - means you can sell off bike later more easily
3. not supporting bicycle theft
4. it's an exciting atmosphere and gives you a buzz when you're the highest bidder 

It is best if you go there with someone who knows what to look out for in buying a second hand bike, as they are varying quality and a little bit about how numbers sound in German is a plus.

If you contact us at BSB, we may be attending and be able to help you out.

The next Polizei auction --> 26/03/13

• ~ 200 bikes on offer usually (also other items, sporting equipment, cameras, laptops, phones, etc.)
• no bidding slip required - bid using your upraised hand, pay for each item immediately after you have won it
• well organised
• cash only - no cards
• will be taking place on 29th January from 8am (viewing of bikes) and then auction starts at 10am upstairs
• recommend you bring a picnic with you - eg snacks and tea
  

GoIndustry Deutschland GmbH, Zweigstelle Berlin
 Werdauer Weg 23 (Nähe S-Bahnhof Schöneberg)
10829 Berlin
 Polizei auction 29/01/13 website - click here



The next BVG auction  --> 25/04/13

• ~ 40 bikes on offer usually (also other items, sporting equipment, cameras, laptops, phones, etc.)
• requires you to pay a deposit of 5€  for the bidding slip in order to place a bid (bring your Anmeldung or other proof of your address, passport)
• a bit chaotic/ unorganised at times
• pay with EC card or cash only (no credit cards)
• will be taking place on 24th January from 8am (viewing of bikes) and then auction starts at 10am.
• recommend you bring a picnic with you - eg snacks and tea

Saalburgstr 3/3a, 12099
 BVG auction 24/01/13 website - click here

The details of all future BVG and Polizei auctions will be on the calendar in "Things to do" at the top of this page.

Happy bidding!

Another Successful BSB Meeting!

We are very excited to welcome not only two new bikes this month, but also a few new members!  We would like to welcome Daniel, Lucas, Federica, and honourary members Sara & Dieter to our team.

We had a very successful meeting with awesome highlights like the newest information on the development of bikesurf.org, how we can service the many requests we receive daily from non-CS or BW users, plans for spring events, bike trips, and so much more!

Not to mention we had the honour of gathering in an awesome new location including a meditation room and the home of some of our bikes! The Hof at 121 will be the gathering spot for many events to come.  Thanks to everyone who participated and to Graham for the delicious crepes!  Hopefully by our next meeting, the sun will show up too!  See you on the streets.