Advocacy & Safety - Individual Advocacy

The easiest and most effective means of individual advocacy is conspicuously riding in a safe and legal manner in your city.

Spot-on, carless. I would add polite-but-forceful political advocacy for correction of inherently dangerous intersections and road segments. For example, free merges and diverges CAN be calmed, and traffic signals CAN be made bicycle-triggerable. Bike lanes do not have to be located in the door zone or to the right of right-turn-only or right-turn-optional lanes.

I agree. I see and hear a lot of advocates complain about traffic and cars etc. yet when they go out for a ride they're cutting off everyone and don't even where a helmet. I mean, come on, right?

I stop at all red lights, nod to all pedestrians, make room for all pedestrians, pause at 4-way stopsigns and wait my turn, nod to all drivers who are getting ready to pull out of an intersectionor parking lot. I have so few stories of bad cycling experiences, that the only thing that I really remember is the few times that I've had bottles thrown at me.

The easiest and most effective means of individual advocacy is conspicuously riding in a safe and legal manner in your city.
I believe that my daily presence on the road does a lot to break down false ideas about bike commuting. It's like that old movie in which Santa Claus was asked if he believed in Santa Claus; he replied, "Of course, and here I am to prove it."

:D

It's like that old movie in which Santa Claus was asked if he believed in Santa Claus; he replied, "Of course, and here I am to prove it."

I think that one was called "I Spit On Your Grave." It was banned for years.

If you commute, and use the same route, same time of day, hundred and hundreds of people will see you out there every day, day after day, year after year. I estimate that about 1,000 cars pass me on my way to work. It's got to have an effect over time.

I agree 100% I try to take a generous and charitable attitude toward motorists and pedestrians, and I have very few negative experiences. The only ones I've had were random (kids or just somebody with a sour attitude no matter what).

Now if I could only get my touring/commuting buddy to quit riding like such a knucklehead. I've seen him almost get hit twice in the last month because of his rude and impatient riding habits. On both occasions his aggressive approach needlessly angered motorists--not just the ones he nearly got hit by but the others that saw how he behaved-- and got him to his destination approximately 3.2 seconds quicker than he would have had he waited his turn at a busy stop sign or decided not to pass on the left a car that was about to turn left into a parking spot.

I agree. I see and hear a lot of advocates complain about traffic and cars etc. yet when they go out for a ride they're cutting off everyone and don't even where a helmet. I mean, come on, right?
I would say they are not advocates. I think lumping everybody's actions is counterproductive and ultimately frustrating. They will always be around, always preform unsafe acts and almost never change. What can you do? Stop at stop signs, signal (yes) signal, go slow approaching busy streets and accommodate other bikers. I do, and the reaction is respect.

I think that one was called "I Spit On Your Grave." It was banned for years.
Please, Dave, don't do that...