What about those "public service" spots on TV news?

[tpelle]

I've recently seen several posts regarding how bicyclists could get their message out to motorists. You know, how riding on sidewalks is illegal, why bicyclists may "take the lane" at times for safety reasons, proper hand signals (I bet 99% of the soccer-moms driving SUVs wouldn't know a left turn signal from an obscene gesture!), etc.

The other day I was watching the local TV news, and they took up probably 2 minutes of their broadcast with some dippy lady telling us how we could all save electricity by plugging our counter-top appliances into outlet strips, and turning them off when not actually using them!!!!! (I guess she plans on saving the micro-watt per annum that powers the clock on my coffee maker or something.)

Also recently there was an article in the newspaper as to how the local transit bus company was installing bike racks on the front of some of their buses to help promote cycle-commuting. Also one of the local cities just had a "bikers unite" event to raise money to purchase and install bicycle stands in the downtown area.

Anyway, while watching the outlet-strip dingbat, it occurred to me that, if they are so desperate to use some of their air time to broadcast public interest messages, maybe it's time to start hitting them up for some bicycle advocacy messages.

Maybe they could have a police officer on to explain the laws regarding sharing the road. Maybe folks from a bicycle club for background footage. How about a doctor to explain the cardiovascular benefits? Someone to talk about fuel savings. I dunno, these are just things that spring to mind.

What do you all think?

[waldowales]

Great idea. How do you plan to implement it? Contact the consumer advocate at the local station?

[Carusoswi]

You now, how riding on sidewalks is illegal

Well, I hope when we get their attention, we exercise a little caution as to the messages we broadcast, like, you know, how riding on sidewalks may be illegal in some jurisdictions, but not in others. Actually, I'm not certain why, having attained some on-air exposure, we would waste it by broadcasting that particular message - has little to do with the promotion of safe cycling IMO.

Caruso

[joejack951]

See my recently posted poll. I'm not of those cyclists who thinks motorist education is going to bring about any change but assuming it was inevitable, I'd like to have a decent message presented. I'd appreciate your thoughts in my poll.

[The Human Car]

The problem is public service announcements are not what they used to be, you have to pay for some slots and they will give you some additional slots for free so you still need significant money to get any descent exposure.

[ghettocruiser]

I think my old coffee maker had a 8 watt idle. And the TV was like, 12. The shutoff is a good idea.

[BeTheChange]

+1 ghettocruiser. A lot of appliances use quite a bit of electricity in "standby" mode. Seems one of the best places for a powerstrip is at the TV/DVD/Stereo and computer. Doesn't hurt.

[Winter76]

Even if you target it AT cyclists and say 'riding the sidewalk is illegal, you need to be on the road and take a lane for safety blah blah blah' that way the motorists won't feel put upon but at the same time they learn that cyclists SHOULD be on the road. Could you get a cop to present it?

[evblazer]

I think my old coffee maker had a 8 watt idle. And the TV was like, 12. The shutoff is a good idea.
Phantom Loads really add up.. For a single person sure a few bucks a year or month. According to wikipedia, my local utility has similar info in their bulletins they send out, "For any single appliance the load is never very large (the most inefficient designs draw 15-20 watts [1]), however when factored over all of the appliances in a country like the U.S. the load can come to billions of watts. Some studies have suggested that the total phantom load caused by the United States alone would provide enough power to handle the electric needs of Vietnam, Peru, and Greece [2]. "
"75% of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off. " I hope she did a good preso but from the sound of it she may have.
I do think it would make a good outlet for bikes. Heck any outlet would be good. Getting drivers ed on board would be great I don't think they even mentioned bikes in my class or drivers test.