Makers Course Week 3

Week three was primarily dedicated to working on our projects so I’ll start with…

Project update:

On Monday I checked the shipping of the bamboo veneer that I purchased and it was scheduled to arrive on Thursday. To me, building a longboard in 7 days sounded daunting, so I decided to make a prototype. After calling all the lumber yards and Menards in the immediate area I learned that you really can’t find any wood cut to less than 1/4″ thickness. With this in mind I wanted to find something more reasonable that would let me refine some skills but would actually work as a board, at least once. I went to the North Shed here on campus at Maharishi University and found some locally harvested cherry that still had a live edge. I decided to use that to prototype: first plaining the board to 2/3″, then tracing my board shape, then cutting out the shape, sanding it down, and finally adding the spar urethane clear coat. Because the spar urethane takes four hours to set I was only able to complete two coats on the front of the board, but this week I will finish it with three coats on each side.

On Thursday afternoon the bamboo was delivered and I began setting up for pressing the five bamboo sheets into one on Friday morning. By the end of class Friday I glued the sheets together and used all the clamps I could find to maintain pressure on the sheets to make one solid board. I let it dry all night and on Saturday I unclamped and was happy to find that the process had worked well, with some minor imperfections.  I worked Saturday afternoon and for about 11 hours on Sunday cutting, sanding, routing, sanding, designing the board art, painting, and doing the first clear coat of epoxy (I used epoxy instead of spar urethane because it adds structural strength).  The first issues this week was the delay in bamboo, and my need for speed while working my prototype. I was getting impatient on the bandsaw and started going quick resulting is some gouges that took me extra time to sand. The major issue though was when I was clamping my bamboo veneer. As the pressure from the clamps wasn’t even along the whole board, there were areas that didn’t press as tightly, and even some cracking along the seams of bamboo. This was very disheartening as I waited for the wood glue to dry, but when I removed the clamps and got everything shaped and sanded  I found that everything I was worried about was either mended or not actually a problem. The next major setback was what I like to call “The Routing Apocalypse of 2016” in which I successfully mutilated my board into a mess of a shape and had to spend three hours hand-sanding to fix it… but what’s a little blood, sweat, and tears if it’s for something you can be proud of?  At this point I have everything I need to complete both boards 😀

 

^My makeshift press!

^Drawing the shape!

^I knew I heard something crack!

^Slow and steady with the bandsaw!

^Taking a break from cutting to add another spar urethane coating the prototype!

^Spraypainting the design!

^Adding the epoxy coat!

^Leaving it in a safe place to dry!

Because my team mate, Danny, was sick on Friday and Saturday, I really just jumped right into the build alone (with my youtube tutorials and instructables.com to help). I really learned a lot though and I hope to pass that knowledge to Danny as he begins his build Monday.

Besides working hard all week on projects we had a few great speakers come in to give lectures. The lectures included inventions, open-source technologies, update on the recent permaculture convention, and an optional smithing lecture/demo. I really enjoyed the lecture on inventions because we really got a feel for what it takes to create something totally new and then assess the possibilities of making a profit out of it. This was necessary for me to understand the legal side of creating, while we go through this process, and I am inspired to use this knowledge to solve problems in the future as well as bring those techniques to others. I also really enjoyed the smithing demo because I feel that that is a skill that I would love to cultivate. I realized that it is not complicated but it is extremely challenging. I hope to be able to fire up the forge and play around with making a few things for my house.

I feel that this week really showed me why people make things. It is the dedication to detail, the power of the love and energy you put into it, and the fulfillment of critical thinking and problem solving. To make something is so much more than production value; making things is about all the values coming together to create a whole that is much greater than the sum of its parts.  Though this is in the context of a specific thing, the lessons I am learning are a mere reflection of the totality of life. The struggles, the successes, the process, and ultimate triumph of completion is reflected in everything we do, not only in the things we make.

Makers Course Week 2

As we began week two we needed to have a clear project in mind to work on through the next three weeks of the course. Over the weekend I had researched building skateboards and longboards and decided to gather all the boards I could find and trace the outline and parameters of the board on paper.

On Monday I gathered seven boards and traced them to get a feel for what kind of board would need what kind of work.

By Tuesday I had decided on building a longboard due to the curvature requirement as well as the amount of time we have to finish the project in class. A longboard doesn’t have as many complex curves as street skateboards do and therefor is going to be less challenging to figure out as well as quicker to produce. In class on Tuesday we were divided into two groups; one group was working with a guest instructor learning how to work with sheet metal, and the other group was working with another guest instructor learning how to use the 3D printer.  My morning was spent with sheet metal, and the afternoon was spent with 3D printing.  I particularly enjoyed learning about sheet metal because it is so prevalent in everyday life.

On Wednesday we focused primarily on planning out, researching, and designing our projects, with the opportunity to go to a bread making workshop in the evening. Unfortunately I have Celiac which is an autoimmune disorder that is triggered by gluten, so I was not able to attend.

Thursday was dedicated to more project work as well as a drone demonstration. This was an awesome, eye opening experience, that really showed how innovation can change the fundamental reality of how things are done. Also that there are pros and cons to each technological enhancement and though they might seem wonderful, they could be used for not so wonderful means.

         

On Friday we went to 4 different makers spaces around town and got to experience how different each personal expression can be. One was an amazing artist, having made a unique experience for the observers. The next was a sheet metal maker who taught us about radio waves and communications, the next was a metal smith that showed us the art and skill to making useful things, and the last was an amazing wood worker who specialized in Japanese wood plaining, creating a finish better than sanding or varnish with simple hand tools.

On Saturday we presented our project scope for the class as well as any challenges we are facing as well as our progress.

This week was important because it helped me relate the makers movement to sustainability as a whole, as well as the spiritual and individual implications of making. Our society is so used to going and buying everything and the makers movement not only forces you to slow down and think about what each thing means and how they do together, but to put your awareness and love into each thing you create. When there is awareness, positivity, love, and passion behind an object, people can feel it. When you make something you are inspired, active, and proud of it. Even if it turns out not as expected you still have a sense of connection far above buying the perfect thing. We might just end up with something we could have never imagined, but it might just become the best possible solution.

“You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a model that makes the existing model obsolete. ”     ~Buckminster Fuller

 

Project Update:

After some research (online, the local lumber yard, and calling Menards) I came to the conclusion that using bamboo was the best, most sustainable option, and that I needed to order it offline due to limited access. I placed an order for 10 sheets of 1/16″ single ply bamboo veneer from http://www.roarockit.com/ for $89.99 including shipping. I plan splitting that with my project partner, and only using 5 sheets for the board. Over the weekend I was gifted some hand-me-down trucks and bushings, which allowed me to spend a little extra money on some nice wheels and bearings that will last me forever (or damn close to it). The one problem I am worried about is how soon the bamboo will get here, and I have decided to go to Menards and get some other wood to begin a prototype with before the bamboo arrives. The wood is the only resource I need before I can complete a board. I am lucky to be doing a individual project with my friend Danny who is also building a longboard. We have been working great together, bouncing ideas off each other and sharing research. I am thankful to be able to make my own decisions, but have another brain to help with brainstorming and research.

The Makers Course Week 1

According to Techopedia “The maker movement is a trend in which individuals or groups of individuals create and market products that are recreated and assembled using unused, discarded or broken electronic, plastic, silicon or virtually any raw material and/or product from a computer-related device.

The maker movement has led to the creation of a number of technology products and solutions by typical individuals working without supportive infrastructure. This is facilitated by the increasing amount of information available to individuals and the decreasing cost of electronic components.”

https://www.techopedia.com/definition/28408/maker-movement

 

As a student at Maharishi University of Management we are given the opportunity to take a one month intensive course on becoming a Maker. This course teaches students “(just) enough to make (almost) anything”.

 

As promised, the first week I gained the skills to make almost anything.

Day 1- Monday, 22 February: On day one we had a nice course overview fallowed by an introduction to our shop and makers spaces.  We then broke up the class into three groups for the rest of the weeks skill training.

Day 2- On day two we began our skill training with metal. We covered cutting, grinding, drilling, and joining (welding).

Day 3- In the morning on day three we took a break on our skill sets and watched a short movie called Crafted, about masters of the maker movement. We then began brainstorming possible projects and things we would like to make. In the afternoon we worked as a class learning the basics of Sketchup.

Day 4- After watching a few instructional videos the night before we dove into lighting up an LED on an Arduino. I was so excited about this, and was very inspired to learn more as I could now see the endless possibilities for solving world problems with this software. In the afternoon we learned basic household wiring, plumbing, and soldering.

Day 5- On day five we were learning about wood. We learned to drill, screw, join, glue, assess, cut, and sand wood.

Day 6- On Saturdays we only have morning class, so we dedicated ourselves to thinking harder on what project we would like to make as a final project. Through the two hours I narrowed it down to building a longboard, celtic harp, and hang drum. Thinking over the weekend I also wanted to explore the possibility of making wind chimes as well.

 

This week of experience was very empowering for me. As my teacher explains: we are doing things that for most of peoples life, they have been told not to do because it is dangerous. We are using an array of dangerous tools and techniques that most people have not learned how to use or do safely and are therefor unaware of the power that knowledge holds. When you learn these skills you begin to see the world a bit differently. Now when I think of something I need I don’t think about ordering it online, or heading to Walmart or Goodwill to pick it up, but rather the what resources and how much time it would take for me to make it myself.  I feel that I am, for the first time, initiating my connection to my environment in a very specific way. Not only do I know that the cute shirt I want from Forever21 is contributing to slave labor in other countries, but I can relate to the people that made it. I am beginning to see and feel what people go through to bring me the items that I often take for granted. This is a very profound realization and has effected me very deeply this last week. I encourage everyone to start your journey to becoming a maker, because I think that this might just lead to a social revolution and understanding.

I plan on researching and planning my project further this week.

December 14-19 at Red Cannon Expedition

 

It has been another week of hard work and fun here at Red Cannon Expedition (RCE)!

Every time I think we are ready to complete a component of this project I realize how little I know about what it actually takes to create one of these vehicles. There is and unfathomable amount of work that goes into each and every step of the process. Though I am helping primarily with the build process, I am constantly reminded of the hours of planning and strategizing, along with precision thinking and implementation that takes place when creating this work of art. Just when I think we are about to finish one aspect of the project I am brought back to reality with a new to-do list of things to be completed.

This realization was brought to my attention once again on Monday morning when, after spending extra time waxing the upper section of the top of the Jeep, Dion reminded me that we need to do ten coats of wax as opposed to just one. Though I thought we were ready to get started fiber glassing on Monday morning, I pulled out the can of wax and got to it.

I spent all day Monday waxing on and off to complete a total of ten coats of wax on the upper section of the Jeep topper.

When I got to the shop on Tuesday morning we pulled out the other sections of the jeep that needed to be prepared for the fiber glass. This consisted of two additional pieces of the body: the back door, and the top of the cab of the jeep where the topper rests.

^The top of the cab of the jeep where the topper rests.

Tray, another employee of RCE, took the door and I took the top of the cab.

Tuesday then consisted of repeating the process we had done on the top section of the topper with our different pieces. By the end of Tuesday I had my piece stripped of extra paint (which took a surprisingly long time to get off) and had begun sanding with 220 sandpaper.

On Wednesday morning I finished sanding the piece fully, as well as the post sanding cleaning process: compressed air to remove particles, dry rag and compressed air to get the rest, and a full wipe down of diluted alcohol.

Having stripped, sanded, and cleaned the piece, I was left to do the ten wax coats in the afternoon on Wednesday and the morning on Thursday.

Thursday afternoon was devoted to a crew meeting to instruct us on the procedures and safety of the mold (fiberglass) process, as well as developing a plan for the order in which we would create the molds. After learning the process and brainstorming the options we decided that we would begin with the upper part of the topper (the biggest piece) and then do the smaller pieces.

On Friday morning we got suited up and began the fiberglass process. Having never dealt with a material like that, it was challenging for me to get the hang of spreading the fibers. We were using fiber strands that the gun would chop up and shoot out onto he resin that we previously applied and it was hard to spread it evenly.

^Dion and I were excited to start fiberglassing!

On Friday afternoon we completed the first layer of fiber glass on the upper portion of the topper, only five more layers to go!

         ^Fully suited up, respirator, and protective eye-ware. Safety comes first at RCE.

^The initial jell coat goes on before the resin coat.

         ^The morning session of fiberglassing, done in two different sections.

^In the afternoon after the two sections had a chance to dry we added the third connecting section and did a partial second coat on the front portion.

Saturday I spent my morning writing my summative paper on my RCE experience which can be found here: https://lilithshoemaker.wordpress.com/2015/12/19/internship-summery-at-red-cannon-expedition/

During the fiber glassing I was aware of how strong the VOCs in the resin was and we decided that this is where we wanted to start with our sustainability. We are currently researching the options of sustainable resins for further fiber glassing projects. The main alternative that is currently being used un sustainable fiberglassing is epoxy resin. Epoxy resin is said to have insignificant emissions from abrasion and/or chemical decomposition of components which could endanger human health and the environment.

Some of these epoxies such as SuperSap claims to have a 50% reduction in emissions of the standard chemical resin.

We want to further this research and buy a more sustainable product for our next project

Here we have completed another very successful week at Red Cannon Expedition, the final week of my internship. Please check back with us next week for further updated to our project!

 

Internship Summery at Red Cannon Expedition

Green Vehicle Retrofitting

19 December 2015

Red Cannon Expedition

Red Cannon Expedition (RCE) was founded by Dion Kranz and his wife Jen. After 17 years of experience in the car audio and custom vehicle fabrication industry, Dion decided to start RCE to create the first off-road off-grid recreation vehicle that could park in the city, and rock crawl through the desert. This expedition vehicle is called the Darien, and Dion has decided to custom build these vehicles for people to purchase.

As a fourth year college student studying sustainable living I had the opportunity to intern with RCE for a month, working four hours a day, five days a week, and two hours on Saturdays. This opportunity taught me so many things and rather than showing me exactly what I want along my career path, it gave me the perspective I needed to know some key things that I do not want for my future.

The main realization I came to this month that clarified what I want from my life and my career was that I did not want to work in an office setting. At RCE we are in an auto shop, and it is the most amazing work environment. Having to go from my internship to my actual job, which is university admissions at MUM, was almost torture. All I wanted to do was stay in the shop, working hard, and moving around, but then I would have to go into the office, wear nice clothes, and stare at a computer for two hours. RCE taught me that for me, hard work in an active setting is much more enjoyable and rewarding than a desk job. Everyday I woke up looking forward to the day and the work I would get done, and dreading the two hours that I had to sit at my desk. The most profound thing that RCE taught me was that if you are doing what you love, you will never have to work another day in your life. This is the biggest lesson that helped clarify my future and potential career path.  

The second realization that I came to in my time at RCE was how important it was for me to be able to think critically and have space for problem solving. Dion was an amazing mentor, guiding me through the learning process of each step in the build process, but not telling me what to do. He would give me the information and then leave me alone to figure out the best ways to do each thing that needed to be done. This is important to me because I felt that I had room to think, analyse, and try different things to make something work. This taught me how important it is to be able to think for myself in my work environment, and not just follow given instructions. This also taught me the importance of working with a supervisor that encourages new ideas and personal expression. In just one month working at RCE I was able to bring new ideas to the table and brainstorm with others how to best go about getting everything done. This independence is very important to me for my continued intrinsic motivation to work towards any goal, including that of a career.

My third major realization this month, regarding my future career, was the importance of the people we work with. These are the people with which we spend the most time, and should therefore be people you can communicate well with, and who share similar goals, values, and views of the world. The main importance is that we are around people that, even if you don’t share these things with, are open to everything you stand for. Everyone at RCE was willing to hear my passions and would work with me to see how my passions could improve the company. Having passion for sustainability, they asked if we could work together to come up with a sustainability plan for the company, as well as what they could do at this moment to be more sustainable. These people cared about what I cared about, and shared what they cared about so that together we could be a part of a business that was greater than the sum of the employees working there. Having such a supportive atmosphere, and being surrounded by people who are genuinely passionate and care for what they do, and who they do it with, is what I want out of a company I make my career with.

In just one short month I learned how fun work can be. I learned that working in an office is not for me, independence within a workspace is necessary for my happiness, and the people who I work with need to be intrinsically motivated to make the company the best it can be. I learned many other things as well and hope to continue to find what works best for me and what I want out of a life career. I was offered a longterm position with RCE and I quit my job with the university so that I could continue to explore and learn in this work environment. RCE showed me what I was missing in all the jobs I have had before, a family working together to reach a common goal, in an exciting creative environment.

December 7-12 at Red Cannon Expedition

It has been another full week here at Red Cannon Expedition (RCE).

We are just about ready to begin casting the preliminary mold meaning this week we finished the major part of mold!

Monday was devoted to securing the bed for the solar panels. I learned how to use a router and cut all the edges of the solar bed. I then filled the corners with body filler to create a smooth finish. This was very challenging because the body filler is not thin enough to make a truly smooth finish and it is very difficult to sand small corners. After fighting to fill the corners for over an hour I found the trick of applying acetone just before the applied body filler hardens completely. This thins it just enough to run your finger over the corner and create a very nice smooth finish. After finding this trick I chiseled out the mess I had made earlier and started over again. This time it only took about 30 minuted to complete all four corners without any additional sanding needed. The rest of the day was spent sanding the solar bed and adding the first part of the water catchment system.

^Filling the corners and a before picture without the solar bed in place.

         ^Solar bed in place.

With the added water catchment section there was an additional 12 corners that needed filling when we started Tuesday morning. Filling the corners got easier every time I did it, and I ended up filling all 12 corners in only an hour! The rest of the morning, afternoon, and Wednesday morning was spent filling the pinholes, gaps, and cracks in the solar bed, and sanding it all even with size 80 sandpaper.

         ^One of the corners and edges I filled.

         ^The 12 other corners that had to be filled.

Wednesday afternoon and all day Thursday was spend sanding the entire upper of the top section with 220 grit sandpaper by hand. It was necessary to do this by hand because we were not shaping anything, and we wanted to make sure to maintain the current shape. The hand sanding was only for cleaning off the entire body to prepare it for the casting process.

On Friday I thoroughly cleaned the upper of the top, first using the compressed air to remove particles, then a dry rag and compressed air to get what particles were left. Then I wiped the entire thing down with diluted alcohol. After a much needed lunch break I hand waxed the entire upper of the top portion. It was important to take my time through the waxing process as this is the final stage before it gets cast. I ended up spending two hours meticulously waxing until the whole thing was shining and smooth.

         ^The sanded, cleaned, and waxed upper section of the top.

On Saturday morning we met with the PR company that is working with RCE. We talked about the progress on the side of social  media, and how we might get more costumers with different outreach strategies. We ended the meeting by creating a social media plan for the next month.

I am very glad I was included in this process because I am gaining a feel for every angle of having a business as well as the importance of the business aspect, not just the build aspect.

As a team we have began researching alternatives for sustainability within the business. We are looking into alternatives for fiberglass and are especially interested in a company that is currently making surf boards out of recycled foam blanks and bio-resin epoxy laminates that have equivalent strength, durability and superior flex properties. Fiberglass is said to be sustainable due to it being easy to make and less environmentally damaging than using lumber or metal. But is society making a bad thing not so bad? With more research we will see what the long term implications are of fiber glass and if there are other options with the potential of being more efficient with less environmental impact.

We have a vision of producing a product using hemp based materials as that is becoming a more readily available resource, with high yields and quick growth rate. It is in the current stages of testing for automobiles so given the results this is something for us to consider.

Again it was another very successful week here at Red Cannon Expedition, please check back with us next week for further updated to our project!

November 30-December 5 at Red Cannon Expedition

This week at Red Cannon Expedition our team was working hard on the shaping the upper piece of the top section of the Jeep.

It is hard to imagine just how much work goes into each and every inch of this Jeep. I really had no idea the amount of time, precision, and craftsmanship was necessary for a project like this.

The reason that this task is so time consuming lies in the work required to make a product that not only runs well, but is aesthetically pleasing and easily reproducible for each customer.

So this week was devoted to creating the initial mold in which we can then cast, creating a mold for easy reproduction. This mold will be used for every Red Cannon Expedition vehicle that comes out of our shop in the future, which is why the perfection of this process is so important.

This week we began the finishing stages of this process which means that we had already created the initial shape out of foam, covered that in Body Filler, built up the areas to create the curves, and did the initial sanding. Though that took a good while to do, the finishing is an even more intense process. This process involves mostly sanding, moving step by step to finer sandpaper, and precision application of Body Filler to fill any pin holes and cracks that might have occurred in the process

^On the left we see that the top is removed from the jeep with the upper section of the top still having some foam exposed. 

As an intern with very little experience in an auto shop I am learning and working with very basic skills as well as picking up key ideas and tricks of the trade.

On Monday I learned how to use a small round power sander for the finishing process. I also learned how the number on the sand paper dictates how fine the grit is, the higher the number the finer the sandpaper, and the smoother the finish. A handy trick I learned for filling holes was to spread the body filler with a razor blade so that I have better control in smaller areas.

We began finishing the front, progressing to finer and finer sand paper and making sure the curve on the top of the front was even. I would sand, add Body Filler, sand, and so on until I was using 220 grit paper which is the finest needed for this project. I worked through this process Monday and Tuesday totaling about 8 hours spent finishing the front.

^Here the front portion is just about finished, just needing a few rounds of fine sanding.

On Wednesday I began finishing one side while Dion (Owner and CEO of Red Cannon Expedition) began finishing the other side. This process was such a great learning experience because I could copy his techniques as well as ask questions. He helped me understand how to line up the curvature correctly and let me complete my side alone. This was more challenging than the front because I was no longer dealing with a flat area but a curved area. Because the power sanders we were using were flat it was imperative that we kept them moving as to not grind down any spot too flat. This was a big challenge for me but I ended up finishing it in the same amount of time (about 8 hours) as the front because I was beginning to get a feel for the art of it. This is what my Wednesday and Thursday was devoted to.

^Above is the completed side done all by myself! You can also see part of the untouched corner (bottom left).

Having had a great week we began Friday morning with the front and sides completed. The next step was to match the corner lines on the lower portion of the top to the upper portion of the top. This was an immense amount of work because we not only had to add body filler to create new lines, but the lines had to be totally symmetrical and match the lower portion perfectly. This consumed our whole day on Friday but after Dion and I spent four long hours sculpting, sanding, and buffing, we had completed both corners.

         ^We had to add to both the upper and lower pieces of the top to better sculpt them symmetrically.

         ^After adding we began shaping the two section together to make sure they matched perfectly. This will be especially important when the vehicle is finished and painted because the shine the pain will give off will give away any inaccuracies in the design. 

^Here is beautifully finished corner!

         ^Finished front, sides, and corners!

Saturday morning was spent communicating with our current investor and reporting our progress through this week. Everyone is very excited to have the Jeep finished so this in an important aspect to the company and furthering its growth. Through pictures, videos, and constant communication we can assure that costumers are fully aware of the build process, and just how much work goes into making the vehicle perfect before they get to take it out and play.

Though Red Cannon Expedition has a long way to go before it is a totally sustainable company, we are doing the best that we can at this point in reference to sustainability. Sustainability is of the utmost importance to the business and everyone here is dedicated to moving more and more to a fully sustainable system. Being socially responsible is very important and we are in the process of creating a sustainability plan as a team.

Currently our vehicles are as eco-friendly as possible and we are constantly brainstorming ways to be even more environmentally friendly and sustainable. We use only locally sourced wood, low VOC adhesives and paint, as well as organic textiles. As a company we monitor: energy and water use, vendor relationships with materials, potential product improvements, hazardous waste disposal, and expending our recycling program. We use locally based suppliers and provide generous entry level wage compensation to strengthen our community and the relationships within it.

We also want to make sure that there is the least amount of disturbance to the environment by our vehicles when they are in use.

The sustainable features of the Jeep specifically include a water catchment system with a 30 gallon holding tank, two actuated solar panels with a 2100 watt capability, a 2.5 gallon air tank, a gas heater that uses .07 gallons of gas per hour at full burn (cleaner, warmer, and cheaper than propane), and a cassette toilet (adding no water and creating less waste).  All of these features help insure that our costumers are not abusing the areas they explore, but rather using the natural resources of that area while enjoying the environment.

 

All in all it was a very successful week here at Red Cannon Expedition, please check back with us next week for further updated to our project!

 

Final Report for Car Sharing for Maharishi University of Management and Fairfield IA

Car-Sharing for Fairfield and MUM

Team Brahman

November 18, 2015

 

In order to propose a practical plan that matches local economy’s supply-demand, we approached the matter from both inward and outward angles.

Outward: We first set out to gain a better understanding of what existing car-sharing models are.

The team members were assigned to research different existing car-sharing models based on their knowledge and awareness level. We looked at commercial strategies (Hertz, U-Haul, Zip-Car, Uber, GetAround, etc.); a municipal entity sponsored program (Car2Go by City of Denver, CO); and a membership-coop (Dancing Rabbit).

Inward: Next we studied our local economy and society needs by sending out an online survey and talking to people in various social settings. We wanted to know: what do students/FF residents think of a car-sharing program?  What format is feasible for the local conditions? How much is someone reasonably going to spend? Who can take on the leadership?

Survey results:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1AhXQr1rs0YHNR6xfliGwNO0L6QJAS613T3fsysCrUsA/edit?usp=sharing

Decision: Finally we came up a hybrid plan—a MUM-owned fleet (4 cars in different capacities) for hourly/daily rental, combined with privately-owned cars provided by members which are otherwise idle.

Next Phase:

1. Consult with respective MUM authorities in regards to possibility of financing/building a fleet of vehicles for community use.
2. Collaborate among various MUM departments for support:

• Computer/IT: building car-sharing mobile app, website and technical support;
• Business: financing and insurance options, treasury function, and dispute mediation.
• Administration: providing customer support, policy setting, implementing, and monitoring.

 

3. Use internet social media, traditional media (poster, flyer, newspaper, etc.) and seminars to promote and educate the students and town residents about the MUM car-sharing program.

 

A word on teamwork: Out of the four members, three are individualists. And we all came from different backgrounds. In the beginning of the project, we struggled to figure out where to start and what to do, as we were trying to get somewhere from what we are most familiar with or believe in. The project staggered as our efforts were disorganized. This lasted for 2 weeks. The team finally sat together and wrote down an outline of responsibilities, as well as the purposes of each step. Everyone felt more at ease once they realize that their opinions and contributions are valued in the final product. Knowing each other’s expertise also increased the sense of respect among the members.

Resources:

Our final presentation PowerPoint can be located here:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ApOsPKDgrUj5ofUbLB0gLMGaUzdOk1ri5P6VFaahEUM/edit?usp=sharing

~~~

Overall dynamics of what is and how car-sharing can affect an community

https://www.acea.be/uploads/publications/SAG_Report_-_Car_Sharing.pdf

Benefits of how car sharing is aiding San Francisco economy

http://sfappeal.com/2014/09/supe-farrell-to-introduce-proposal-to-adopt-public-sector-car-sharing/

Information on privately (business) operated car share programs:

https://uhaulcarshare.com/home/howitworks/?Area=

http://www.zipcar.com/universities

https://www.uber.com/features

https://www.getaround.com/tour

Information on local government operated car share program(s):

https://www.car2go.com/en/denver/

Information on car share member-coop program(s):

http://www.dancingrabbit.org/about-dancing-rabbit-ecovillage/social-change/function/co-ops/dancing-rabbit-vehicle-co-op/dancing-rabbit-vehicle-co-op-frequently-asked-questions/

Fairfield Rideshare Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/groups/ridesharefairfield

 

Week 3, Car Free

So as we have seen, over the past three weeks I have had some interesting experiences while using my feet as my main form of transportation.

Does this experience matter? Yes. Though going through it was hard at first, I did adapt quite well. But not using my car the past few weeks has brought me to two major realization:

The car should have NEVER become a source of individual transportation.

If nobody drove a car the world would be a VERY different place.

Can you imagine if everyone woke up tomorrow and decided to ditch their keys for a good pair of shoes?

Many people can’t even think about it because they have never had to do it.

But here are some things people would realize if they were to simply leave their keys behind:

1. The world is not designed for people it is designed for cars.
   1. The buildings are too spread out, how can I possibly run errands if the school, and the grocery store, and my job are all in different places? Maybe access by proximity is not that bad of an idea?
   2. There are literally huge pieces of the earth covered so that we can park our big ass metal monsters, imagine what we could do with all that space? (I don’t know… community gardens so that we can feed the people in Fairfield that couldn’t afford to eat today…?)
2. Exercise makes every day better!
   1. We all know that increasing exercise boosts endorphins and chemically changes our brain and perception of reality but it’s just so damn hard to get out of bed!
   2. If get moving in the morning it sets the stage for the day, and if you are moving throughout the day it keeps you energised, and if you are moving before bed you really get to feel the whole day and hit the pillow exhausted from all you accomplished (you didn’t do anything of value to day in class or at work? NO BIG DEAL YOU FUCKING WALKED THERE AND BACK! GO YOU!)
   3. Wow it gets easier and easier to make the trip everyday!
3. Thinking ahead can really change your perspective on EVERYTHING!
   1. Alarm set for 7AM so that I can meditate, shower and have 30 minutes for my walk to class! All set!
   2. The importance of being on time is vital! Because I got out of bed an extra 30 minutes early to be at this meeting and I walked here so if I can do that you better be here! I worked hard to be on time!
   3. Wow I walked a whole three miles today?!? I AM WONDER WOMAN! (dusts shoulders off)
4. It’s a beautiful life!
   1. The profound appreciation you gain from looking at things, watching things change from day to day, morning to evening, noticing the patterns of the earth, is beyond anything.
   2. How could people just be driving by not seeing this absolutely unbelieveable color?
   3. The gift of a nice day in November is the best gift you’ve ever gotten.
   4. LOOK AT THE CLOUDS!!!
   5. DAT SUNSET DOEEEEE!

All this is missing from our day to day experience and what makes me the most upset is that NOBODY wants to do ANYTHING about it… because they don’t even know. And those who do know are in a society where pavement is more important than food.

And though this experience has profoundly changes how I look at the world, come Monday, I will grab my keys, start up my metal monster, and go to school, because it is safer than putting on my good pair of shoes.
If we could change the very foundation on which humanity lives, maybe then things could change, but until we do away with the idea of individual transportation where people are running FROM each other to a system where people are running TO each other, here we will stay… with metal monsters as our most reliable friends, and our eyes closed to all the beauty this world has to offer.

Car Sharing for Maharishi University of Management and Fairfield IA: Analysis

Another full week for Team Brahman and we are beginning to wrap everything up!

This week we worked together as a group to pull all of our research together. Through this process we began to create a general plan for what we feel will work best for our Fairfield and MUM community.

Though it would be the simplest to implement a system using a current for-profit company, it is important for us that we keep money in the local economy. We plan to present a mixture between the private company managed and the co-op models. In this program MUM would be the private company and would employ students to participate in every aspect of the business. The University would manage the program as a parent organization using an educational business model, creating the opportunity for students to have real life experiences in their field. MUM would be responsible for insurance, software development, implementation, outreach, and management. The university will become a member of the Car Sharing Association to make sure that all bases are covered with this new car-share initiative.

Members will pay a $60 initial application processing fee that covers a background check and everything else necessary to make sure that the program and each individual using it is safe and legal. Members can also list their vehicles as rentals through this program, and can list their own price per hour and price per day, receiving 75% of fee while leaving 25% for furthering the program.

Members of current car-share programs in other places have made up to $10,000 annually by listing their car.

The pricing for each car is on a scale or $5-9 per hour and $20-60 per day depending on which car is rented. This price includes insurance but the members are required to pay for gas, leaving every car at a full tank or charge when finished.

We will begin with a four vehicle fleet including an economy car for long distance/out of town transportation, an electric vehicle for short distance/in town transportation, a 12 seater van for group transportation, and a pickup truck for hauling and work needs and transportation.  

We will expand this fleet as needed keeping a ten member to one car ratio, and judging usage, we are prepared to expand the fleet even more.

Members are encouraged to list their own vehicles as well, increasing the number of cars in the program.

For the payment it would be best to develop a smartphone app. With this app members could transfer money for rental fees, check availability, pre-book rental cars, and unlock and start the rental cars. Those who do not have smartphones would be provided with a prepaid (debit style) keycard to unlock the vehicles as well as track the time spent using them and subtract the payment accordingly.
Having well educated business, computer science, and sustainable living students, the university has an untapped resource to implementing this program. All that is necessary is to unify each of these areas of expertise into one operable business with the intention of bringing easy, cheap, sustainable transportation to everyone in our community.