I just started reading this website, and I think the concept of bike collectives is a great concept that should occur in all major American cities. I live in the DFW area, and a friend, bike wrench and former LBS co - owner (they closed because business was slow, they said) wanted to establish a bike co - op, but, due to forces that drove them put their idea of a bike co - op on the back burner (lack of business, and the need to sell bikes because a small minority of people use bicycles as transportation) they were steered away from establishing the first bike co - op in Fort Worth, Texas. Sadly, the store went out of business. It was a shame because he and his business partner have great karma which led to establishing one of the nicest LBS' in the city.
I later asked co - owner Mike if the bicycle commuter community in Fort Worth grew in numbers, thereby, making it a stronger, significant transportation community would their LBS remain open? His answer, "I don't know."