My critical mass flyer

[gqsmoothie]

i just made 2 fliers (sp?) for the critical mass bike ride. i am wondering what ya'll think of 'em. the first one says : Why are you supporting terrorism, global warming and urban sprawl? Ride a bike (instead of driving).

then it has the meetup time and place for the ride.

the other one says

"During the first two weeks of Sept. 2001 more people died in car wrecks than the number of people who died in the WTC and of AIDS combined. So why are you driving?"
then a statistic: "For every 25 miles you drive (the average car) produces one pound of air pollution."
then a graphic from adbusters that has a picture of a bike and below it says " if you polluted in the 80s now is your chance to redeem yourself".
then it has the meetup time and place for the ride.

what does everybody think of these? some good propaganda? or do you think it's too much?

feedback please


peace

GQ

[Roughstuff]

i just made 2 fliers (sp?) for the critical mass bike ride. i am wondering what ya'll think of 'em. the first one says : Why are you supporting terrorism, global warming and urban sprawl? Ride a bike (instead of driving). .....


GQ

Don't forget to add the health benefits of cycling!

roughstuff

[cyclezealot]

I could not agree more..I support the goals of CM as long as I do not have to block a traffic intersection with Mack trucks heading into me. Good flyer.
Are CM Meet UPs held in many different locations... My major Bike transportation goals.. Safer roads for cyclists, better access of bikes to various forms of Mass transit- so that we can ride farther/faster, public awareness programs for the safety needs of cyclists and to re-inforce the fact that we have a right to the road.

[Chris L]

Don't forget to add the health benefits of cycling!

Ditto. You might also think about mentioning the cost benefits of cycling. I think we need to remember that while the environmental aspects of cycling are relevant, there are many folks out there who will need greater incentive than that to even think of using their bike as transport.

[Turbonium]

can you do that? is that how you start a CM?????
how does those kind of CM turn out?

[CarlJStoneham]

AIDS and the WTC might be somewhat esoteric numbers since the WTC was a "small" number (by comparison) and many people have no idea how many people die of AIDS. You might use a figure with a more "concrete" impact. Not sure which one, but...

[John E]

I could not agree more..I support the goals of CM as long as I do not have to block a traffic intersection with Mack trucks heading into me. ... My major Bike transportation goals.. Safer roads for cyclists, better access of bikes to various forms of Mass transit- so that we can ride farther/faster, public awareness programs for the safety needs of cyclists and to re-inforce the fact that we have a right to the road.

I concur. However, I strongly oppose counterproductive CM rides which unnecessarily tie up traffic and make cyclists look like a bunch of irresponsible, immature scofflaws. We need to focus on lawful vehicular cycling, motorist education and responsibility, and bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly road and intersection design.

[randya]

We need to focus on motorist education and responsibility

I totally agree with this. The only problem is that the CHP and other governmental education and enforcement organizations are completely failing to do their jobs w/r/t motorist education and enforcement, which is the primary reason Critical Mass exists at all.

http://www.marinbike.org/Campaigns/ShareTheRoad/Motorists.htm
http://www.calbike.org/chp1408.htm
http://www.scorcher.org/screed/pdf/biketraffic.pdf
http://www.scorcher.org/screed/pdf/bikelaw.pdf

[nathank]

hey GQ,

nice flyers...

another idea:

DURING CM rides, i used to bring signs and flyers:
* signs pinned on a backpack or whatever so drivers get the message
* flyers you can hand out to others to fully explain

one time for Portland CM about 4 years ago i printed up about 100 copies of 3 different flyers... everyone loved them and i ran out and people were still asking. the next week a few other people had taken up the idea...

my signs:
* Cars Kill! Ride a Bike!
* One Less Car
* Bikes don't pollute (something like that)
* be Patriotic - don't support OPEC (somethign like that - this was pre- Sept 11)

my thought was: Portland had a big group of CMers and many motorists noticed us or had at least heard about it, but most were not hearing the WHY which is the most important part... they were hearing about how we were "causing traffic", but not about all the reasons behind the movement. some guy had little handout 3x5 cards with all the info on CM: stuff like cars being dangerous, polluting, dependence on foreign oil... and the benefits of cycling...

i think a potential "selling point" these days:
"don't support terrorism by buying oil. ride a bike!" or something like that.

[SD Fixed]

Where did you obtain this data?

[Avalanche325]

Personally, I think the WTC reference is not a good thing. People don't like to get smacked in the face with 9/11.

Why not try a positive bike campaign. instead of a negative car campaign. Tell people why riding their bike is good. If you try to tell people that their car is some evil thing, you have instantly lost the whole audience that you are trying to convert.

What we don't need is a bunch of bike Nazi's.

[Max]

The fliers are OK, but nothing new. These are old ideas.

The text appeals to the logic. People think and make decisions not only on cognitive ideas, but also on emotions and subconscious feelings.

I mean it makes cycling to look right, but not cool. Do people always do what is right? No. Millions and millions drink, smoke, engage in other risky behavior. What if is something like this:

"Common, spoil yourelf - take part in the CM ride."

One would need the professional writer to write the good text. For example, Microsoft hired the special company, which came out with the title Encarta. There are special gifted people, who can write what sounds attractive.

Any other ideas in this direction. How to make cycling to look modish?

[lala]

It's always good to hear flyer idears.

We've had some success in cleveland with: Bikes are Fun!

I like the pre-ride announcement flyer:
long strips with a slit on the end
that one can slip over a handbar:
not so many cyclists have heard
of the mass.

also good it the raise-fist bike logo

[lala]

"Mod" is really good:
modish--suggestions?

[iceratt]

My only experience with critical mass in Minnesota was not a very good one. I am another cyclist who is critacle of swerving in front of cars to block traffic, thumping on car hoods, and yelling at drivers to get a life and get on a bike.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. If we aren't careful, The Mass Majority( car drivers) will legislate that we ride on sidewalks with training wheels. Massers and other cyclists can and should be respectful of motorists, without kowtowing to them.

I am one more bike zealot that thinks that Massers and the rest of us should appeal to drivers baser sides. How about fliers that say: "Why waste your time and money, sitting in gridlock, when you could be half way home on a bike?" or "Join our fitness club. It's convienient, always open, and almost free!" Fliers exorting all to be better stewards of the environment might work too, but that verges on shaming the drivers, who probably imagine that they are good stewards in their belching beasts.

[Chris L]

I agree with Iceratt. You attract more flies with honey than vinegar. One area where cycling advocates do an incredibly poor job is selling the idea of cycling. It's about time we got ourselves a slick salesman in a spanky suit telling people how much time and money they could save by riding to work. What's Tim Shaw up to these days?

[Max]

The text in the title (translation from German): "Traffic should stay out."

On the lower sign: "It cannot go on like this".