In this issue ... There is no secret to making the pieces of a sustainable community. You can find variants of the recipe in every succesful grassroots project. Look at health care; the examples of the White Bird Clinic in Eugene, Oregon and the Westside Clinic in Santa Cruz, California. They organized volunteers, raised funds, bought property, obtained committments from medical practitioners, and creatively tackled some of their cities' most difficult health issues. They have become indispensible in a relatively short time in the life of two communities. People put tremendous energy into such projects, and in return these projects offer them the opportunity to solve local problems. Creating opportunities for community-minded work and economic relationships: this was the intent of the Rochdale Co-op on the outskirts of newly industrial Manchester. They helped fix the exploitative exchange of goods in their day. Whether one considers oneself an activist, a community-organizer, an environmental business person, or just someone trying to point out better ways of doing things, the key to success always lies in the oportunities you give people to make change for the better. Santa Cruz' People Power bike group has created a transport center so cyclists can help to make their dreams come true. STAITAUTO, Berlin's car-sharing group featured in the last issue of RAIN, has helped thousands of their fellow urbanites to live without owning a private automobile. The founders, who have helped create nearly 100 car-sharing groups in other cities, have some well-seasoned advice for people trying to create car co-ops and reduce a city's dependence on automobiles. Front Cover Photo A man holding a bike around 1910. Notice the fender on the back wheel, but not on the front. This must have made for a dirty ride. Photo slightly cropped: Oregon Historical Society, Orhi 72470 # 1060. Back Cover Photo This adventurous women, named Murielle, set out to see the United States by bike and rail. Probably didn't need to get a permit to take her bike along! Oregon Historical Society, Orhi 27044 # 1060. RAIN Volume XV, Number 1 Summer 1996 Above, Jim Denevan delivers organic produce by bike from Santa Cruz Farms to the farmer's market. See page 15. 2 White Bird Clinic 6 12 13 19 This community-supported health clinic is run as a collective, with lots of volunteers. Find out some of the tricks for keeping clinics open. Westside Clinic Teaching people how to look after their own health is the key to low-cost heathcare. This clinic passes along preventative information in a way that everyone understands, while taking care of the sick. The Hub Bring together all the different kinds of bicycle organizations (recreational, racing, way-of-life) in a city under one roof and you can greatly magnify each group's resources and political clout. People Power Good weather alone won't make a great bicycling and pedestrian city. What counts is the action of many neighbors to create their vision of paradise, step-by-step. Here's one group's story. The Bike Column Transportation innovation is what's needed to overcome health-sapping pollution and nerve wracking congestion. Find out how to recover the 40-60% of land in American cities dedicated to parking lots. Things can be done to change these wastelands and create instead beautiful mixed-use areas, where the birds sing, neighbors socialize and the kids can walk to school safely. The Column has examples of projects that are working.
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