The Ends of Possibilities

The UMass Bike Co-op is a student-run business located in the Student Union of the University of Massachusetts. The UMass Bike Co-op was originally established in the 1970’s, and it was officially chartered in 1990. Student co-managers of the Bike Co-op fix bikes and sell biking equipment in a centrally located part of the UMass campus, to support students’ transportation needs in travelling to and from class. The UMass Bike Co-op welcomes and accommodates the needs of all bicyclists from casual bikers to sport cyclists. The Co-op’s close-knit crew of student mechanics/co-managers create a relaxed and friendly atmosphere while offering affordable prices to fit students’ budgets.

The Bike Co-op is structurally organized with committees of co-managers tackling set responsibilities, and with weekly meetings of all Bike Co-op staff members for the discussion of business-related proceedings. The Co-op strives, using participatory decision-making, for a business model that includes the voices of all its student co-managers, so that co-managing the Bike Co-op is an inclusive, valuable, and empowering experience for all.

The UMass Bike Co-op operates as one of seven cooperatively-run student businesses on the UMass Amherst campus. Other UMass student-run co-ops include Campus Design and Copy, Earthfoods Café, Greeno Sub Shop, People’s Market, Sweets N’ More, and Sylvan Snack Bar. The seven UMass student Co-ops are mutually supported by the Board of Student Businesses, which consists of student co-managers from each co-op on the UMass campus. The Board of Student Businesses holds regular meetings for student co-managers to share information and resources, strengthening the student co-op community and the UMass community as a whole.