Yellowstone Bikes

making Yellowstone a welcoming place to ride a bike

…making Duluth a welcoming place to ride a bike…

What is Possible

This page is just to give an idea of what is possible with the website.

Design of Web site

WordPress

The web site will be set up in WordPress, a free, open source content management system, that is very user-friendly for people to maintain. This allows for Doug to design a framework for the web site that other people will easily be able to add content to.

Divi Theme

WordPress has almost an infinite variety of themes that can be installed to give a site a different look. The theme that I would use is Divi, which is created by Elegant Themes. Doug has a lifetime subscription to all of Elegant Themes, so I can install the theme for free and keep it updated for free.

Access for Updating and Maintaining

Any number of users can be added with a variety of permissions to either author, publish or administrate on the site. So, once the site is set up, a team of people could help to update and maintain it. Doug would create tutorial with screen shots that people could use to support them in administering the site.

Security

WordPress has frequent updates to prevent security breaches. Because of how popular it is on the web right now (WordPress is used on over 25% of the web sites on the internet) it is a significant target of spammers. To make sure the site is secure, Doug would set the site up using a plug-in that helps with security called WordFence. Additionally, we would need to use strong passwords and usernames that are not obvious, such as “admin.”

Content

As you can see on this page, there is a variety of ways that content can be displayed. Additionally, you can include discussion forums, have comments on posts and pages. It is very easy to include pictures and graphics in a variety of ways. If you wanted to use video, I would suggest having a YouTube channel. Being able to include YouTube video is extremely easy.

Managing E-mail List

Can set you up with a MailChimp account that allows you to have an optin on the web site where people can sign up for the e-mail list. Then, you can send out e-mails from whatever duluthbikes.org e-mail to your entire list in a way that maintains the anti-spam standards.

First Option

Hosting with Digiterp Communications

I have the potential to host the Duluth Bike’s web site and donate the space. All I would need is to be reimbursed for the Domain Registration and Set up. The total would be $30 in the first year and $15 in subsequent years.

Upside

More affordable than other options.
I host with DeafVision, a hosting company in Bay Area owned by Deaf leadership team, with a very multicultural staff.

Downside

Because I host a number of other sites, I have limited space for e-mail addresses. We would be able to post what you need on the web site, but couldn’t provide e-mail addresses with significant storage on mailboxes. Best route would be to have e-mail forwarders. Such as an e-mail like rider@duluthbikes.org could be forwarded to any address or addresses that you wanted.
Support would need to be directed through Doug as he is the one person authorized to contact DeafVision.

Second Option

Hosting with a Larger Company

This is the option for hosting with a company like BlueHost. If you went for the most bare bones services, the cost would be approximately $70/year. There are also a lot of add on services that could be added for a price.

Upside

Wouldn’t rely on one volunteer to be responsible for having support responsibilities. More people could contact BlueHost if issues were encountered.
E-mail: would have the option of having full e-mail accounts (so that you could both receive and send e-mail from the same account.)