What Does Bicycling Advocacy Mean To You?

[randya]

:)

[chipcom]

It means promoting and supporting cycling for the benefit of ALL cyclists - no matter what kind of equipment they ride or where they choose to ride it.

[sggoodri]

Bicycling advocacy to me means encouraging other people to ride bikes. I do this often when I want my family or friends to accompany me on bike rides, be they for fun or to go to a destination, like the ice cream shop.

Advocacy on behalf of bicyclists, e.g. to protect their right to operate in safety on roadways on the way to the destination of their choice, or to make the roadways more pleasant and convenient for them, I call bicyclist advocacy.

[roccobike]

It means promoting and supporting cycling for the benefit of ALL cyclists - no matter what kind of equipment they ride or where they choose to ride it.

+1, Wow, good one chipcom.

[Roody]

Joining with other cyclists to improve conditions for us all.

Talking to non-cyclists about the usefulness and fun of riding.

[chipcom]

Advocacy on behalf of bicyclists, e.g. to protect their right to operate in safety on roadways on the way to the destination of their choice, or to make the roadways more pleasant and convenient for them, I call bicyclist advocacy.

Why just roadways? Or perhaps you are just using that as a generic term to describe any 'way' that a bicycle can travel on?

[spandexwarrior]

It means promoting and supporting cycling for the benefit of ALL cyclists - no matter what kind of equipment they ride or where they choose to ride it.
+1
Also, I believe in advocating for cyclists of ALL skill levels.

[EricDJ]

Ride it, and ride it safe!

[Ritehsedad]

Yup to all of the above.

Especially for me, advocacy means completion of the off-road sections of the Eastern Trail (http://www.easterntrail.org/) , Southern Maine's section of the East Coast Greenway (http://www.greenway.org/) will connect Calais, Maine with Key West, Florida.

Currently the Eastern Trail is an existing scenic 80+ mile on-road trail mostly following quiet country roads from South Portland's Bug Light Park on Casco Bay to Kittery's Piscataqua River. The ultimate goal is to establish a four-season, multipurpose, transportation and recreation trail that provides a connection between areas of historical and natural significance, existing local trail systems, the beach areas and inland plains and municipalities both on and near the trail.

[Roody]

Also, for me, advocacy means learning to ride safely in a vehicular manner, then teaching other cyclists how to do the same.

Being able to ride safely on the only infrastructure that provides access to all destinations will encourage others to join us. And it will gain us respect from cagers and other road users.

[genec]

It means promoting and supporting cycling for the benefit of ALL cyclists - no matter what kind of equipment they ride or where they choose to ride it.

While this is good, and I applaud it in its simple form... I would add: "and working to improve the environment in which cyclists ride."

Which to me means better roads, slower traffic, cleaner air, better bike lanes and paths.

[iamtim]

To me, it means getting more people to ride regularly and safely. It does not mean pushing one set of "be all, end all" cycling rules; it means looking at each cyclists situation and determining the safest course for that cyclist.

[Brad M]

I love how everyone is gingerly avoiding the VC boogeyman.

[Alekhine]

I just want it to become a popular form of transportation, not just a fitness toy, and not some low-status transport unit used by only the poor, the college kid, the rebel, the eccentric, or the 40-year-old virgin.

I'd like to see fewer cars used for menial tasks such as retrieving a bag of Doritos from the corner store at the end of the block in particular, but that's a pipe dream.

[iamtim]

I love how everyone is gingerly avoiding the VC boogeyman.

Well, much to the VC camp's chagrin, VC is not the one, true way. It doesn't work in all situations. And there are some people that refuse to acknowledge or adhere to it at all.

Cycling Advocacy =/= Vehicular Cycling.

[KrisPistofferson]

It means a few different things, I'll try to cover what comes to mind:
1.It means always treading a fine line in traffic, being "in the moment" and not woolgathering. Judging whether you are as far to the right as possible, unless it affects my personal safety, trying not to piss off motorists with some VC-hardliner nonsense, but at the same time not be a pushover, and remembering that some "cagers" will always dislike you on sight, just because. Trying to remember to act as if I am invisible as often as possible, because it seems like everytime I've almost been hit, it's been head-on or t-boned, so I try not to take anything for granted, even though I'm lit up like a Christmas tree, nowadays. I tend to be introspective, so cycling is good therapy for me to concentrate on the here-and-now.

2. It means politely telling the guy I work with, who I've inspired to start cycling, that it would be more cost effective to get a new bike than to try to polish the dual suspension turd he got from Wally-World. I tried to break it to him to get his $100 back, and buy a $200 Giant. Well guess what? After buying new cranks,(the ones that came on it had chainrings so bad the chain would slip off if you put any sort of tension on the drivetrain, LOL,) saddle, pedals,(the plastic ones broke,LOL,) and derailleurs, he has far exceeded the price of a new LBS-bike. Kudos to him for sticking with it and not being dicouraged, but I'm sure we lose a lot of potential cyclists this way, because they think it's one big mechanical problem/money pit with the department store bikes.

3. It means that, while I respect everyone's cycling and reason for cycling, I'd like to take a sniper rifle and blow Mr."Riding at 3AM in black clothing with no reflectors or light's" head off. Of course, the same goes for Mr."I'm a fat turd with a carbon fiber bike and I'm gonna lecture you about what a 'real cyclist' wants in a bike." -He's toast, too.

4. It means I'm talking with some friends in the local punk rock community about starting up a long-overdue bicycle co-op. I'll keep y'all informed.

5. It means Chipcom, I just don't swing that way, so quit sending me love letters. You're a nice guy and all, but dang... :)

[chipcom]

5. It means Chipcom, I just don't swing that way, so quit sending me love letters. You're a nice guy and all, but dang... :)

But you have such a purdy mouth!
:love: :love: :love:

[Roody]

I love how everyone is gingerly avoiding the VC boogeyman.
What am I invisible? See post # 10.

More people will want to ride when they learn that it is safe to ride assertively with other vehicles. Also, cagers will respect us more and dog us less.

[gonesh9]

To me it means Leading By Example...

- Cruising past stalled traffic hopefully causes those waiting in cars to think, "Man, that looks more fun than this."

- Participating in local bike events builds community support.

- Being fit, healthy, and good natured makes friends and co-workers view bicycle commuting as a good thing.

- More bicyclists on the road will make the local community take notice.

So, all I have to do to advocate cycling vs. auto culture is simply ride my bicycle. It works!

[eubi]

Taking the time to encourage young people to ride, while riding safely and correctly.

Last year, the Scouts in my troop rode a total of 2081 miles. Along the way they also learned to set up and repair their bikes.

The peak of the bicycling program was the 50 miler. It's great to see the guys set this "unobtainable" distance as a goal and then complete it with energy to spare. Most of these guys are between 11 and 13 years old.

It's been a very good year for me!

[chipcom]

What am I invisible? See post # 10.

More people will want to ride when they learn that it is safe to ride assertively with other vehicles. Also, cagers will respect us more and dog us less.

Hey Rood, didn't see ya there. :p

The $64 question is how do you convince people it's safe to ride a bicycle on the roadways when they don't even feel safe driving on the roadways? IMO bicycling advocates need to join with highway safety advocates to make big changes to the current day-to-day conditions of our roadways before anyone other than us steely-eyed alpha dawgs will feel safe cycling on the roads. Until that happens, the majority of people will opt for cycling dedicated facilities and will continue to see Forrester & Co and anyone advocating VC and opposing dedicated facilities as obstructionists and lunatics.

[jhota]

sanctimonious ****** who won't shut up about their pet cause(s).

but other than that - riding, obeying the law, and voting.

[Roody]

sanctimonious ****** who won't shut up about their pet cause(s).

but other than that - riding, obeying the law, and voting.
Good, but this is like saying that all there is to riding is jumping on a bike--you haven't even scratched the surface.

So you advocate riding where? On the street or bike lanes or paths?

Obeying what law? The vehicular code of your location or pedestrian laws or special laws to be developed?

And voting for who or what? Which candidates or proposals are beneficial to cyclists?

[Roody]

Hey Rood, didn't see ya there. :p

The $64 question is how do you convince people it's safe to ride a bicycle on the roadways when they don't even feel safe driving on the roadways? IMO bicycling advocates need to join with highway safety advocates to make big changes to the current day-to-day conditions of our roadways before anyone other than us steely-eyed alpha dawgs will feel safe cycling on the roads. Until that happens, the majority of people will opt for cycling dedicated facilities and will continue to see Forrester & Co and anyone advocating VC and opposing dedicated facilities as obstructionists and lunatics.
I try to convince people mainly by showing them the way I ride. Every day thousands of cagers see me ride safely and responsibly. (Hopefully only a couple see me when I'm really having fun :D) People in the grocery store see me efficiently packing my stuff in my back pack, putting on my cool lights, and riding away before carryout even brings them their groceries. Friends see how much weight I've lost and hear how much fun I have.

BTW, far more often, people say they worry about me getting too cold or wet, rather than worrying about my safety in traffic. Is this what you have found too?

[chipcom]

I try to convince people mainly by showing them the way I ride. Every day thousands of cagers see me ride safely and responsibly. (Hopefully only a couple see me when I'm really having fun :D) People in the grocery store see me efficiently packing my stuff in my back pack, putting on my cool lights, and riding away before carryout even brings them their groceries. Friends see how much weight I've lost and hear how much fun I have.

BTW, far more often, people say they worry about me getting too cold or wet, rather than worrying about my safety in traffic. Is this what you have found too?

True, they usually ask if I'm cold, how I keep dry, what great shape I must be in, how much I must save in gas, etc., but when I take a converstation farther than just a few passing words, I often get ' you aren't one of those crazy people who ride in the street, are you?'. I don't think our example is enough, important as it is. More of us doing it would go a long way to making it seem safer, but until they can feel safer on the roads themselves, in their automobiles, odds are they will never feel safe enough to ride a bike on those roads. I think that is our biggest challenge, which is why a speed demon like me (in a cage) has come to the conclusion that an important first-step towards making the roads safer for everyone is stricter, active enforcement of the speed limits.

[Roody]

which is why a speed demon like me (in a cage) has come to the conclusion that an important first-step towards making the roads safer for everyone is stricter, active enforcement of the speed limits.You're not gonna get all *mature* on us, are you?

But I hated speed limits and traffic calming devises when I drove, now I love 'em. But I don't think there's much chance of changing cager attitudes until cyclists feel ready to face up to them. I really do think there is a "cyclist inferiority complex" that advocacy groups and individuals like us need to address.

My god, most cyclists NEVER ride on the street, or if they do, they're going the wrong damn way! You don't have to be a "vehicular dogmatist" to know that there's something wrong with this picture. And everybody here probably knows that it is feasible to ride safely on the greatest transportation system ever created--the North American system of streets and highways. Shouldn't we be getting that word out to the millions of riders who would really benefit from it? That is vehicular advocacy that I'd like to see.

[jhota]

So you advocate riding where? On the street or bike lanes or paths?
yes. i advocate riding. period. i could care less where one does it. as long as local laws are obeyed and common courtesy is followed.


Obeying what law? The vehicular code of your location or pedestrian laws or special laws to be developed?
yes, no, no. bikes are legally vehicles. it really pisses me off when i see self-identified "advocates" riding however they want, blowing stops, failing to signal, failing to yeild right-of-way, etc. i spend more time in a car than on the bike, and if i did half the **** i see cyclists do (who should know better) on a regular basis, i'd lose my license. we aren't "special." we're just one more vehicle that has to share the road. and that's best done with courtesy toward other vehicles (motorised or not) and adherence to the law.


And voting for who or what? Which candidates or proposals are beneficial to cyclists?
yes.

it all starts locally. i can't tell you who to vote for, and neither can anybody else. if you want something done, contact your councilperson, mayor, state representative, state senator or governor. if they don't hear it, it won't get done. whether "it" is building MUPs or bike lanes or stricter penalties for drivers that run us down. if they do hear it, and it still doesn't get done, vote the *******s out.

[Poguemahone]

Giving away bikes, and helping people learn how to maintain them their own selves. Got the new year started off right, gave one away today.

[Roody]

yes. i advocate riding. period. i could care less where one does it. as long as local laws are obeyed and common courtesy is followed.

+1

So I think one thing advocates should do is educate riders (and cagers?) about local laws and rules of courtesy.

yes, no, no. bikes are legally vehicles. it really pisses me off when i see self-identified "advocates" riding however they want, blowing stops, failing to signal, failing to yeild right-of-way, etc. i spend more time in a car than on the bike, and if i did half the **** i see cyclists do (who should know better) on a regular basis, i'd lose my license. we aren't "special." we're just one more vehicle that has to share the road. and that's best done with courtesy toward other vehicles (motorised or not) and adherence to the law.

I agree, and said pretty much the same thing in a post. I wish I knew some way to get the point across to some of these riders who think they're "special." Most of them probably would tell an advocate who was offering a safety cours to go f*** himself! One thing I do try to do is set an example for other riders. i've also taught vehicular cycling to my stepson.

it all starts locally. i can't tell you who to vote for, and neither can anybody else. if you want something done, contact your councilperson, mayor, state representative, state senator or governor. if they don't hear it, it won't get done. whether "it" is building MUPs or bike lanes or stricter penalties for drivers that run us down. if they do hear it, and it still doesn't get done, vote the *******s out.

That makes sense. I have no idea where my councilmen stand on bike issues. I have a feeling that most of them have never thought about it. We do have a local cycling club. I don't know if they ever lobby for bike issues. It seems like it would be more effective coming from a group than from one individual.

[chipcom]

You're not gonna get all *mature* on us, are you?

But I hated speed limits and traffic calming devises when I drove, now I love 'em. But I don't think there's much chance of changing cager attitudes until cyclists feel ready to face up to them. I really do think there is a "cyclist inferiority complex" that advocacy groups and individuals like us need to address.

My god, most cyclists NEVER ride on the street, or if they do, they're going the wrong damn way! You don't have to be a "vehicular dogmatist" to know that there's something wrong with this picture. And everybody here probably knows that it is feasible to ride safely on the greatest transportation system ever created--the North American system of streets and highways. Shouldn't we be getting that word out to the millions of riders who would really benefit from it? That is vehicular advocacy that I'd like to see.

That's my point. We can get the word out until we are blue in the face, but until people are convinced from what they experience in their own lives, we are not going to convince them. Even then, sometimes it takes something drastic to happen to move people off dead center to make a change in their lives. Think of it like an alcoholic...sometimes no matter how many people tell them they have a problem, or even no matter how willing they are to admit they have a problem, they only begin to take action to correct the problem after they hit rock bottom in many cases. The American public is an alcoholic that hasn't hit rock bottom when it comes to transportation. That, I believe, it the point that ILTB tries to make in his own way...people are not going to change just because we say they should and indeed, who are we to tell them what is best for them? I'd much rather see them riding, wherever they feel the safest, because fixing the conditions that make them feel unsafe to ride on the roadways isn't going to happen overnight, and may indeed only happen when we hit rock bottom from some event.

[joejack951]

The American public is an alcoholic that hasn't hit rock bottom when it comes to transportation. That, I believe, it the point that ILTB tries to make in his own way...people are not going to change just because we say they should and indeed, who are we to tell them what is best for them? I'd much rather see them riding, wherever they feel the safest, because fixing the conditions that make them feel unsafe to ride on the roadways isn't going to happen overnight, and may indeed only happen when we hit rock bottom from some event.

That is an awesome analogy. The more I talk with non-cyclists, the more I believe this to be the case. I talk cycling to all 50+ members of my extended family and my friends and coworkers. In 2 years of this, I've convinced one person of cycling's effectiveness at both promoting a healthy lifestyle and being a viable form of transportation. That one person is my dad who went through a quadruple bypass and was about to be put on some serious meds for blood pressure. He "hit rock bottom" and decided that maybe regular exercise was the better choice than living the rest of his life on medication. As far as the rest of the family is concerned, we're both crazy. Just tonight I was being lectured about how dangerous it is for me to go out on 40+ mile rides :rolleyes:

And to stay on topic, bicycling advocacy to me is promoting cycling as a healthy lifestyle, as a way to stay in shape and make traveling safer and more fun. In order to use cycling as a healthy and safe lifestyle, one must cycle vehicularly. When I talk about how I ride, I stress that I obey the laws of the road and ride in a manner that is predictable for the motorists around me even if it means inconveniencing them for a short time. When I ride, I practice what I preach and hope people notice.

[buzzman]

I do occasionally advocate for bike racks at my places of employ, local supermarkets etc. And because I've been unfortunate enough to have lost friends to autos in accidents while cycling safety issues- like helmet use, bike lanes, bike paths, better roads, driver education and awareness and common sense riding techniques are important to me and I sometimes have to resist the urge to shove my opinions down the throats of less experienced or other cyclists.

To advocate, to me, does not mean to "evangelize". As much as I am what others might call a zealous cyclist and have been for over 35 years I make little attempt to change others- there's enough fundamentalism and self-righteousness in the world I'm not interested in contributing to it. If they want to ride bikes, so be it, if they don't- fine.

Inwardly I do wish more people rode and understood my passion for it. But I do think that simply riding to work, family gatherings and social occasions does more than vocally "advocating" with a lot of self-promotion. When I've cycled over a 100 miles on the Fourth of July to join a family picnic and still have the energy to swim to the island in the middle of the lake with the teenagers and later play a pick up game of volleyball I'll let them ask the questions. It's amazing to me how many serous cyclists there are now in my extended family and how many people who I work with are cycle commuting and attribute it to simply seeing me ride in every day.

Current world events including gas prices, global warming, conflicts in oil rich regions, traffic girdlock, choked urban areas have converged to make a "perfect storm" for responsible and unified advocacy on the part of the cycling community. It's unfortunate to see the schism over how to ride in traffic and whether a "perfect" bike lane or bike path is possible splitting us as a community. Within the cycling community I'd like to advocate for more listening, open mindedness, less dogmatic lockstep in thinking, and a willingness to compromise and build on areas of agreement and resist the urge to bait an argument. I'll advocate for it by starting with my own attitude.

[spandexwarrior]

That's my point. We can get the word out until we are blue in the face, but until people are convinced from what they experience in their own lives, we are not going to convince them. Even then, sometimes it takes something drastic to happen to move people off dead center to make a change in their lives. Think of it like an alcoholic...sometimes no matter how many people tell them they have a problem, or even no matter how willing they are to admit they have a problem, they only begin to take action to correct the problem after they hit rock bottom in many cases. The American public is an alcoholic that hasn't hit rock bottom when it comes to transportation. That, I believe, it the point that ILTB tries to make in his own way...people are not going to change just because we say they should and indeed, who are we to tell them what is best for them? I'd much rather see them riding, wherever they feel the safest, because fixing the conditions that make them feel unsafe to ride on the roadways isn't going to happen overnight, and may indeed only happen when we hit rock bottom from some event.
I agree. I also think that some drivers go way out of their way to find fault with us cyclists. I think that in some fundamental way, some drivers are scared or threatened by the presence of people on bikes. People look at me like I'm from another planet whenever I mention anything good about cycling. However, when it comes to complaining about cyclists, even within the cycling community itself, people have seemingly no shortage of things to say. I mean, like, I just don't get how people get so worked up about the few irresponsible cyclists and blame them for drivers hating us. I think that some bike advocates are just like battered women who delude themselves into thinking that if (cyclists/the woman), just behaved better, that the (drivers/abuser) would treat (cyclists/her) different. I ride responsibly and still get disrespected. Honestly, mostly I think it all boils down to the fact that some people just like to hate cyclists-- we are just a scapegoat for the failures of the traffic engineering world. Even my mom! I was driving with her and she was p.o.'ed that she had to change lanes to pass a group of cyclists who were riding according to the rules of the road, (far right as reasonable, according to the ORC).

[jhota]

That makes sense. I have no idea where my councilmen stand on bike issues. I have a feeling that most of them have never thought about it. We do have a local cycling club. I don't know if they ever lobby for bike issues. It seems like it would be more effective coming from a group than from one individual.

not at the local level. individuals count.

one of our recent local elections was decided by three votes. three. local politicians should know thier constituents and vice-versa. because if you tell that guy who only won by three votes that you won't vote for him next time if he ignores your issues - he's got a problem.

[Brad M]

Good, but this is like saying that all there is to riding is jumping on a bike--you haven't even scratched the surface.
Actually, that's all there really is. The beauty of the bike is the ability to hop on and go. no gas, no insurance, no license, no driving between the painted lines.

[Roody]

Actually, that's all there really is. The beauty of the bike is the ability to hop on and go. no gas, no insurance, no license, no driving between the painted lines.
If that's all it is, why do we spend so much time learning more about bikes and riding? Why do we even have these forums?

Obviously there's a lot more to cycling than jumping on the bike. And in my opinion, advocacy is about getting some of your knowledge across to somebody else. That much is simple. The endless debate is about what to advocate and who to tell it to. :)

BTW "driving between the painted lines" is sometimes a good idea if you want to get somewhere fast and live to tell it.

[captHij]

I agree. I also think that some drivers go way out of their way to find fault with us cyclists. I think that in some fundamental way, some drivers are scared or threatened by the presence of people on bikes. People look at me like I'm from another planet whenever I mention anything good about cycling. However, when it comes to complaining about cyclists, even within the cycling community itself, people have seemingly no shortage of things to say. I mean, like, I just don't get how people get so worked up about the few irresponsible cyclists and blame them for drivers hating us. I think that some bike advocates are just like battered women who delude themselves into thinking that if (cyclists/the woman), just behaved better, that the (drivers/abuser) would treat (cyclists/her) different. I ride responsibly and still get disrespected. Honestly, mostly I think it all boils down to the fact that some people just like to hate cyclists-- we are just a scapegoat for the failures of the traffic engineering world. Even my mom! I was driving with her and she was p.o.'ed that she had to change lanes to pass a group of cyclists who were riding according to the rules of the road, (far right as reasonable, according to the ORC).

The biggest problem is that the car is too impersonal. I sometimes catch myself getting mad at a cyclist when it slows me down. Cars make it far too easy to isolate ourselves and focus on our own petty little time constraints. At the same time I see and ride with a lot of cyclist who ride through red lights and break other traffic laws. Pardon the pun, but it is a two way street. Both riders and drivers need to come to grips with each other.

Having said that, the car culture is far too ingrained to expect much change. We've seen gas prices triple with little impact on people's habits. The US is far too spread out with very nice roads and a culture that values time far more than anything else. Short of another doubling (or more) of gas prices this just is not going to change.

One bright spot, though, is that young people seem to be back on bikes again. I suspect that Lance Armstrong's success has had a postive impact here. This can be a great thing for cycling. If people's children are out on bikes and learn to respect the rules of the road this can only help change a few hearts.

[budster]

Cycling Advocacy, to me, means making bicycling safer, easier and more fun, with the goal of attracting more people to cycling.

Broadly, my advocacy focus is on:
Improving laws pertaining to cycling. Removing any laws that unreasonably restrict our access to the streets/roads. Adding laws (when needed) to explicitly protect our access.
Educating cyclists and motorists. Teaching kids and adults how to drive bicycles safely. Teaching kids and adults how to drive cars safely around bicyclists.
Improving facilities. Making the places we bike safer and easier for cycling.

The details of the last two, especially, always become controversial. To accomplish these goals, we need to find consensus and act together.

I agree wholeheartedly with several others who've said the best bike advocacy is riding our bikes! :)

[genec]

That's my point. We can get the word out until we are blue in the face, but until people are convinced from what they experience in their own lives, we are not going to convince them. Even then, sometimes it takes something drastic to happen to move people off dead center to make a change in their lives. Think of it like an alcoholic...sometimes no matter how many people tell them they have a problem, or even no matter how willing they are to admit they have a problem, they only begin to take action to correct the problem after they hit rock bottom in many cases. The American public is an alcoholic that hasn't hit rock bottom when it comes to transportation. That, I believe, it the point that ILTB tries to make in his own way...people are not going to change just because we say they should and indeed, who are we to tell them what is best for them? I'd much rather see them riding, wherever they feel the safest, because fixing the conditions that make them feel unsafe to ride on the roadways isn't going to happen overnight, and may indeed only happen when we hit rock bottom from some event.


I agree too... this is a good analogy... and it is further supported by the typical power moves one sees some motorists making with their vehicles... screaching from stop lights, tearing up pubic parks by doing "donuts" in the grass and other similar examples of abuse of power... all because people get "drunk" with that power behind the wheel.

Perhaps it is time to lock up the "liqueur cabinet..." put traffic controls and traffic calming measures in place so that fewer incidents of abuse occur at the pedestrian and bicycle level.

Look, autos are a powerful convienent thing, but pushing traffic to 50+ miles an hour on city surface streets is just asking for problems. Keep the high speeds on the freeways and modify and design surface streets to reduce the hazards to fellow humans.

[chipcom]

I agree too... this is a good analogy... and it is further supported by the typical power moves one sees some motorists making with their vehicles... screaching from stop lights, tearing up pubic parks by doing "donuts" in the grass and other similar examples of abuse of power... all because people get "drunk" with that power behind the wheel.


Hey now, doing a couple of donuts in an intersection or parking lot is a first snow of the season tradition! Though I did give up leaving long trails of rubber from a stop years ago - once I had things like a wife and kids to spend my money on rather than tires. ;)

[sbhikes]

What everybody else said.

Add: Promoting recumbency. I'm not the stereotypical recumbent rider, and I don't ride a recumbent as a last resort due to medical problems. I try to promote the fun-factor and the comfort factor to people who otherwise lost interest or physical ability in cycling.

[Daily Commute]

It means promoting and supporting cycling for the benefit of ALL cyclists - no matter what kind of equipment they ride or where they choose to ride it.
Including cyclists who want the legal right to ride in the traffic lanes to the left of striped bike lanes?

[genec]

Including cyclists who want the legal right to ride in the traffic lanes to the left of striped bike lanes?

even the ones that ride on the sidewalks...

[chipcom]

Including cyclists who want the legal right to ride in the traffic lanes to the left of striped bike lanes?

Of course, what part of ALL didn't you understand? :)

[Helmet Head]

It means promoting and supporting cycling for the benefit of ALL cyclists - no matter what kind of equipment they ride or where they choose to ride it.

I know you got some +1's for this and said ALL, but please clarify...

Including promoting cycling on the wrong side of the street opposing other vehicular traffic?

Including supporting cyclists who choose to ride on sidewalks at 15 mph?

Including promoting cycling along the right edge of a lane too narrow to be safely shared?

Including supporting cyclists who run red lights and cause crashes as a result?

Including promoting door zone cycling at 15+ mph?

Including supporting cyclists who go straight at intersections from right turn only lanes?

Including supporting cyclists who blow through stop signs in front of others who are stopped waiting their turn?

Including supporting cyclists who swerve out into traffic without first using a shoulder check to make sure they have the right-of-way?

If you promote those types of cycling and support those types of cyclists, then we have a very different idea of what bicycling advocacy is about.

[chipcom]

I know you got some +1's for this and said ALL, but please clarify...

Including promoting cycling on the wrong side of the street opposing other vehicular traffic?

Including supporting cyclists who choose to ride on sidewalks at 15 mph?

Including promoting cycling along the right edge of a lane too narrow to be safely shared?

Including supporting cyclists who run red lights and cause crashes as a result?

Including promoting door zone cycling at 15+ mph?

Including supporting cyclists who go straight at intersections from right turn only lanes?

Including supporting cyclists who blow through stop signs in front of others who are stopped waiting their turn?

Including supporting cyclists who swerve out into traffic without first using a shoulder check to make sure they have the right-of-way?

If you promote those types of cycling and support those types of cyclists, then we have a very different idea of what bicycling advocacy is about.


Did I stutter? ALL cyclists means just that, don't play games to cloud the issue. Part of the problem is that too many self-proclaimed experts divide an already minority cycling community by confusing cycling advocacy with cyclist education. By advocating, we are speaking in behalf of the cycling community as a whole...ALL - usually to non cyclists in the general public and decision making bodies, which is why it is important to present a united front rather than look like a bunch of people who can't even agree amongst themselves. Education can address those who don't ride lawfully, safely, or via some else's subjective idea of what is the 'right' way.

Welcome back ya old wind-bag, hope you had a good holiday season. :)

[jhota]

I know you got some +1's for this and said ALL, but please clarify...

Including promoting cycling on the wrong side of the street opposing other vehicular traffic?

Including supporting cyclists who choose to ride on sidewalks at 15 mph?

Including promoting cycling along the right edge of a lane too narrow to be safely shared?

Including supporting cyclists who run red lights and cause crashes as a result?

Including promoting door zone cycling at 15+ mph?

Including supporting cyclists who go straight at intersections from right turn only lanes?

Including supporting cyclists who blow through stop signs in front of others who are stopped waiting their turn?

Including supporting cyclists who swerve out into traffic without first using a shoulder check to make sure they have the right-of-way?

If you promote those types of cycling and support those types of cyclists, then we have a very different idea of what bicycling advocacy is about.

natural selection?

[Brad M]

What everybody else said.

Add: Promoting recumbency. I'm not the stereotypical recumbent rider, and I don't ride a recumbent as a last resort due to medical problems. I try to promote the fun-factor and the comfort factor to people who otherwise lost interest or physical ability in cycling.
But they look so... funny.

[Brad M]

Did I stutter? ALL cyclists means just that, don't play games to cloud the issue. Part of the problem is that too many self-proclaimed experts divide an already minority cycling community by confusing cycling advocacy with cyclist education. By advocating, we are speaking in behalf of the cycling community as a whole...ALL - usually to non cyclists in the general public and decision making bodies, which is why it is important to present a united front rather than look like a bunch of people who can't even agree amongst themselves. Education can address those who don't ride lawfully, safely, or via some else's subjective idea of what is the 'right' way.
+2

[Roody]

Did I stutter? ALL cyclists means just that, don't play games to cloud the issue. Part of the problem is that too many self-proclaimed experts divide an already minority cycling community by confusing cycling advocacy with cyclist education. By advocating, we are speaking in behalf of the cycling community as a whole...ALL - usually to non cyclists in the general public and decision making bodies, which is why it is important to present a united front rather than look like a bunch of people who can't even agree amongst themselves. Education can address those who don't ride lawfully, safely, or via some else's subjective idea of what is the 'right' way.

Welcome back ya old wind-bag, hope you had a good holiday season. :)
I don't know...I'd sure like to adocate the stuffing out of those wrong way cyclists who want to force me into choosing whether to hit them head-on or swerve out into the car traffic! And there is nothing "subjective" about saying that wrong way riders are riding wrong.

The weak point of your argument is that non-cyclists will probably never take us seriously unless we are serious. That means driving our bikes in a safe and reliable manner, not endangering ourselves, each other, or the precious cagers. I do believe that cycling is going to become a lot more popular in the next decade, and if we can't police ourselves, somebody else is going to do it for us.