XAccess Prototyping and Party weekend March 15, 16 in Berkeley

A computer model by of an innovative load-carrying bike design, one of 2-3 that will be prototyped at the March 15,16 event. Designed by Jeremy Faludi of Stanford's Product Design program, in collaboration with XAccess's design team.

Please mark your calendars for March 15th and 16th, an XAccess prototyping weekend in Berkeley. This event marks the culmination of four months' active design work among our engineers in the Bay Area on a new design for low-cost agricultural and entrepreneurial transport.

-Prototyping- Daytime Saturday and Sunday, we will be welding two prototype frames up from recycled bike tubing, then assembling the bikes, and hopefully riding them around the neighborhood on Sunday afternoon/evening to begin the product testing phase of our current design cycle.

-Party- On Saturday evening, starting at 7, we'll be hosting a little get-together to present our design work, make some sparks for you with the MIG welder and show the rest of our tools, and relax a bit amidst a busy weekend. Like any Xtracycle/XAccess gathering, you can expect great music and sustainence, though your pot-luck contributions and beverages will definitely fuel us to go through the night (for more prototyping, not partying of course!)

-Who should come?- Got a friend who spends their entire summer welding art for Burning Man and now wants to use their skills to help poor folks in developing countries? Know a philanthropist interested in environmentally smart technologies that can ease social inequalities? Please bring them by on Saturday night to our office so they can get involved with XAccess.

-What should I bring?- The event is free, but we will have XAccess T-Shirts on hand for as a thankyou gift for a $100 contribution. Also, new numbered alloy-bound XAccess photo books for donors at the $250 level. I sound like an NPR station during the Spring fund-drive, but these are great gifts for a great cause. Bring your checkbook if you're interested. For the party, bring a snack to supplement our spread, and don't forget you guitar at home!

-Where- XAccess headquarters at the Berkeley Center for Appropriate Transport (same place as Tinkers Workshop). 1336 Channing (at Valley) in West Berkeley. The closest BART is downtown Berkeley (a 15 minute walk). If you're driving, take 80 to Ashby exit, turn left on San Pablo, right on Dwight, left on Valley, and go one block to Channing.

Please RSVP (paul@xaccess.org) if you're interested so we can plan the festivities accordingly.