View Full Version : I took the job...
davidmcowan
07-31-07, 07:16 AM
I am the new Education Program Manager at Bicycle Colorado! I start in three weeks, and can't wait to get to work on their existing Safe Routes to School program. Who would have known that a passion for bicycling could land me a job? :D
wahoonc
07-31-07, 07:21 AM
I am the new Education Program Manager at Bicycle Colorado! I start in three weeks, and can't wait to get to work on their existing Safe Routes to School program. Who would have known that a passion for bicycling could land me a job? :D
Need an administrative assistant:D...no one could accuse you of hiring me for my looks;):p
Aaron:)
Congratulations. They hired a bicycle education program manager knowing that you are car free? One reason I don't get involved with bike advocacy is the car centric perspective of most of the advocates. "Sorry I was late for the meeting, I got tied up in traffic." "Why'd they hold the bike meeting here where it is hard to find parking?" They don't say these things as a joke they're serious and don't see the contradiction.
Congratulations again. Since you are now a state executive, you would be chauffered around a trike and I wouldn't mind if you hire me as your peddaler. :-)
heywood
07-31-07, 08:01 AM
Great!
Good for you, and it sounds like a job that will really contribute something..give it whirl!
you never know what doors will open when you start something..the trick is to keep a fresh prospective and never be afraid to try something new.
Cool, love hearing good news...
wahoonc
07-31-07, 09:44 AM
Congratulations again. Since you are now a state executive, you would be chauffered around a trike and I wouldn't mind if you hire me as your peddaler. :-)
make that a tandem trike...for the really quick commute:p
Aaron:)
davidmcowan
07-31-07, 10:01 AM
Congratulations. They hired a bicycle education program manager knowing that you are car free? One reason I don't get involved with bike advocacy is the car centric perspective of most of the advocates. "Sorry I was late for the meeting, I got tied up in traffic." "Why'd they hold the bike meeting here where it is hard to find parking?" They don't say these things as a joke they're serious and don't see the contradiction.
Actually I just got off the phone with my boss and she tells me that a majority of the meetings we attend are within bicycling distance. The whole office rides to work and has bike parking inside. Can you beat that?! Just from the interviews I have a very deep sense that my new coworkers are very serious about using bicycles as alternative transportation, and practice what they preach.
p.s. My grandfather, who recently passed away, was a huge mass transit guru. He was on a lot of boards in Minnesota for the MTC there and refused to attend any meeting that was not held along a bus route for the same reason that you are talking about. He also protested frequently with letters pointing out these contradictions.
I absolutely KNEW that you'd get the job but I'm glad it's official now. You'll be a great contributor to the efforts to get kids walking and riding to school.
I just read that 50 % of kids who get hit by a car near their school are hit by the parent of a classmate who's driving their own kid to school. shocking!
Artkansas
07-31-07, 11:10 AM
Congratulations David! Have fun in the job!
make that a tandem trike...for the really quick commute:p
Aaron:)
Alright wahoonc, we are requesting a tandem trike so he get quicker to his meetings.
Congratulations! Sounds like a perfect fit. you're going to have a lot of fun. I wish you every success in developing a model program that will show everyone how to get the job done - or more appropriately, how to get to school safely on foot or bike! Keep us posted.
legot73
07-31-07, 06:45 PM
Congratulations on your new job. Sounds like a job in which you could drive a lot of positive change.
They found the best guy for the job!
Congratulations! :)
On a more selfish note: I teach middle school science in a school in Seattle, I'm carfree, and I'm on a mission to make my students a bit more environmentally aware. Some of my students wouldn't mind following my lead and bike to school every day (a few even have actually done it), but they face two obstacles:
1. Their parents are concerned about safety.
2. They need to look cool at all times, and riding a bike to school just isn't cool when you're 13.
If you have any ideas, I'd love to hear them....
Bushman
08-01-07, 01:37 AM
^ introduce the "not cool to ride a bike" kids to chopper style bikes, or lowriders. They will love it.
Congratulations! :)
On a more selfish note: I teach middle school science in a school in Seattle, I'm carfree, and I'm on a mission to make my students a bit more environmentally aware. Some of my students wouldn't mind following my lead and bike to school every day (a few even have actually done it), but they face two obstacles:
1. Their parents are concerned about safety.
2. They need to look cool at all times, and riding a bike to school just isn't cool when you're 13.
If you have any ideas, I'd love to hear them....
A car free friend who taught middle school here in DC used to organize Saturday bike rides with the kids. I rode one. Only about 4 students showed up as I recall. We rode in city traffic down to a museum. The demographic might be different from your school. The principal was an ex-prison guard. When we went to a student's house to get the permission slip the place he got the slip from looked like an abandoned house on a scary block. The kids rode crappy bikes with no helmets and had no fear of traffic. I think most walked to school. Maybe you could sanitize the experience to put the safety obsessed parents at ease? Strict helmet enforcement, stay on bike paths, let the parents come, maybe drive the kids and bikes to the bike path.....
Or would that interfere with the coolness?
The whole office rides to work and has bike parking inside. Can you beat that?! Just from the interviews I have a very deep sense that my new coworkers are very serious about using bicycles as alternative transportation, and practice what they preach.
p.s. My grandfather, who recently passed away, was a huge mass transit guru. He was on a lot of boards in Minnesota for the MTC there and refused to attend any meeting that was not held along a bus route for the same reason that you are talking about. He also protested frequently with letters pointing out these contradictions.
It reads like things are getting better. Bike programs designed and implemented by transportational cyclists is really good news.
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