Advocacy & Safety - Movin' up the ladder...

It started with my letters to the editor reacting to unfair treatment of cyclists being published, then the editor of my local newspaper asked me to write a regular column on cycling issues (I'm starting my third year).

Last fall, the editors of a local cycling advocacy groups newsletter (The Urbane Cyclist) asked me to write something for the spring issue (that was going to added as an insert into Momentum magazines spring issue), now I just was asked by Momentum magazine to write for them.

Funny how one thing leads to another.

Nice CB, grats. I enjoy your posts here too.

Keep it up!

I enjoy speaking up for cyclists. I'm glad others are enjoying what I'm writing about.

I know there's a life span for writers in publications, but so far, so good.

Good for you, keep up the good work.

congratulations, brad-

But remember to research and use quotes in your articles, one of your last ones about critical mass was total personal opinion/conjecture and lacked any actual connection with the event, its experience, or the participants.

which is a pretty low standard for 'journalism' but hey. congratulations on the parley.

Hey! I wondered if you'd pipe in Bek. You usually do and in this case, if I remember right (and I can't check on it because ever since the forums upgraded, I can't get the search function to work - at all!) you were the one to ask me if I even knew about Momentum magazine.

Ironic that they asked me to write for them.

All my columns are my personal opinion (that's what a column is all about, right?) but this will be a feature and I'm going to be writing it in a different way. You'll probably be pleased.

Thanks for the shout out.

you find that ironic?

interesting use of words. and wholly inaccurate. hope you were making a joke.

A bit of friendly advice - to maintain a certain journalistic standard for yourself, if you are writing an article, even an op-ed, about critical mass, you should

participate in a mass ride, and/or get some quotes about the ride from both participants and motorists or law enforcement - however you want to spin it. don't just sit behind a computer and opine.


a little friendly advice, hopefully it will help you advance your writing further as you seem pretty eager.

Best of luck, the momentum crew seems very positive.

a little bit of a joke (y'know, me being unworthy of Momentum and all - if that's what it was - I couldn't check to be sure, but I think I got the gist) and if you're referring to the critical mass piece I wrote, I did just what you suggested just as I did for the separated facility piece I wrote when you said
vc dreck. blech. that column was lame-o - and then suggested it was
- as if you had never tried riding a trail ever. even though I rode that route for months. I guess offering an opinion after I'm asked for one can be considered
quite pompous of you(me) eh

?????

(I hoped your blatant misuse of the word 'ironic' was meant to be a joke, dude. apparently not)

don't take it so emotionally, there, Brad. You put your writing out to the public, expect criticism. Put your opinion on an internet bulletin board about advocacy and safety, expect your point of view to be criticized.

i think you need to lose the chip off the shoulder, and quit obsessing about what i think about your writing quality or your point of view. Show a little self respect. Do my comments really get under your skin all that much? you seem disturbed or upset. did you go search for years old comments, or do you have a clip file?

You never rode a critical mass ride before writing that article, i recall. another person also made comment on it. Didn't you even mention it yourself?

I hope, if you write an article for a magazine the calibre of Momentum about critical mass or any other subject, that you participate, research, and interview for your article, and not just opine. For your own sake and the sake of journalistic professionalism.


Again, congratulations, from one of your biggest critical fans.

I think the only emotion I have with you Bek is bemusement, in a good way. You always make me chuckle, you caveman biker, you.