Critical Mass at College?

[IchbinJay]

Anyone ever start an advocacy group on their college campus? I'd be interested to hear or see in anyone has.

[operator]

Useless. The majority of people at college are the typical utilitarian riders. MTBs, no helmet, no lights. Almost all the roads around campus have bike lanes so no one has to deal with anything.

[I-Like-To-Bike]

Useless. The majority of people at college are the typical utilitarian riders. MTBs, no helmet, no lights. Almost all the roads around campus have bike lanes so no one has to deal with anything.
Do you considier typical utilitarian riders somehow deprived because of this alleged non-concern in dealing with "anything" (i.e. some "anything" that puts a bee in some advocate's bonnet)?

Are they missing something by not "dealing" with alleged advocates who mock or ignore typical utilitarian riders' needs, priorities and desires?

[operator]

You can take the utilitarian rider out of my post and replace it with "90% of the biking population at college", then re-read it.

So what exactly would be safety issues or issues worth advocating at your local college?

P.S Rhetoric and sarcasm doens't make a post easier to read

[I-Like-To-Bike]

You can take the utilitarian rider out of my post and replace it with "90% of the biking population at college", then re-read it.



So why did you write "utilitarian rider" in the first place?

I did re-read it; and it still reads as casual generalizations andstereotyping that may reflect the poster's agenda/prejudices rather than anything about any significant issue for the involved cyclists.


And what's with the gratuitous "Helmet," "MTB" and "90%" references? Talk about rhetoric!

[operator]

I generalized and stereotyped because that's what the majority of the people at colleges ARE. There are exceptions, but they aren't many.

Can you claim that the majority (90%) of the people at your college wear helmets, signal, have lights and ride properly on the road, don't ride mountain bikes and are racers?

You have yet to post about any meaningful issues that involve cyclists that you would like to advocate at your college. So stop attacking my post and let's see your agenda.

What does critical mass have to do with starting and advocacy group?

[IchbinJay]

Ok, ok. Point taken people! So what are some issues that an advocacy group could bring up at a college. I was think of a more "green" approach.

[TrekDen]

Here are a few of the mass sites already organized in Massachusetts.

Boston Critical Mass (http://www.bostoncriticalmass.org/)

Amherst Critical Mass (http://www.massbike.org/mbpv/)

Somerset, Massachusetts No web info given

Worcester, Massachusetts mailing list (http://lists.topica.com/lists/wcm/)

[trekkie820]

I generalized and stereotyped because that's what the majority of the people at colleges ARE. There are exceptions, but they aren't many.

Can you claim that the majority (90%) of the people at your college wear helmets, signal, have lights and ride properly on the road, don't ride mountain bikes and are racers?

You have yet to post about any meaningful issues that involve cyclists that you would like to advocate at your college. So stop attacking my post and let's see your agenda.

What does critical mass have to do with starting and advocacy group?

I'll back you up on this one, man. Here at BGSU 99.5% of the bicycles are cheap Wal-Mart specials that the rider could not care less about. Rusty chains, kick-stands, no helmets or lights. I actually got approached by a guy taking a survey that regarded the situation of cycling on campus, and he told me that I was the only one he talked to that actually cared about cycling. SO, that being said, it is not a stereotype, it is an observation. Cycling just isn't in with the vast majority of the college crowd, especially in the backwater hick town that I live in.

[I-Like-To-Bike]

I'll back you up on this one, man. Here at BGSU 99.5% of the bicycles are cheap Wal-Mart specials that the rider could not care less about. Rusty chains, kick-stands, no helmets or lights. I actually got approached by a guy taking a survey that regarded the situation of cycling on campus, and he told me that I was the only one he talked to that actually cared about cycling. SO, that being said, it is not a stereotype, it is an observation. Cycling just isn't in with the vast majority of the college crowd, especially in the backwater hick town that I live in.

MTB's, Rusty chains, Kickstands, Wal Mart Specials, no Helmets? Oh, the horror!

Is your idea of caring - displaying a contemptous attitude towards other cyclists' who have different preferences (than you) in cycling equipment? Why is not fitting into the "enthusiast approved" cycling profile a cause for concern for you?

I could do without any such "caring" or nannying advocacy anywhere; and I suspect so would most other cyclists, on campus or off.

[Poguemahone]

I'm not sure a critical mass is the way to go if you are interested in advocacy. They had one for a while at VCU; it was really never anything more than a party. Fairly pointless. If you're interested in advocacy, I can suggest several paths. The first and most obvious is to get involved in governmental efforts-- lobby city councils, student boards, state governments, whatever for improved bicycle access. This can be frustrating, as you will have to listen to some truly stupid rationalizations from those in power (this past General Assembly seesion, for example, I had to listen to legislators decree how talking on a cell phone is a "personal choice" when driving a car. Maybe, but it's also a road hazard on a par with drunk driving).

Another good course (and probably more fulfilling) would be forming some sort of bike maintenance co-op. You could seek funding from student activities funds and then help repair some of the clunkers around campus (and they are there, I've been on too many campuses, and heard too many creaking rides in the VCU area). A bike that runs well is a bike that is appreciated, and many people are interested in bikes as transport. Get 'em riding one they like, and you may get a lifetime rider.

[trekkie820]

MTB's, Rusty chains, Kickstands, Wal Mart Specials, no Helmets? Oh, the horror!

Is your idea of caring - displaying a contemptous attitude towards other cyclists' who have different preferences (than you) in cycling equipment? Why is not fitting into the "enthusiast approved" cycling profile a cause for concern for you?

I could do without any such "caring" or nannying advocacy anywhere; and I suspect so would most other cyclists, on campus or off.
Wow, you can twist words like no other person I have seen. I was simply agreeing, that there is indifference among most of the college cycling community. There is nothing wrong with that, it's just how it is. Hence starting an advocacy movement here would be just about worthless.

[powers2b]

You can easily start a CM group through Meetup.com.
And it's FREE
http://criticalmass.meetup.com/

Enjoy

[powers2b]

There are also a Car-free groups through Yaohoo and meetup.com.

http://carfree.meetup.com/

Enjoy

[sggoodri]

At North Carolina State University, while I was there, students were effective at advocacy to obtain better bicycle parking. The existing racks were far too few for the amount of use, and too inconvenient. Police had started cutting locks and confiscating bikes that were locked to the many railings outside of building entrances, particularly at long ADA ramps. The students organized and obtained many new racks, all securely installed inverted-U and wave type racks that work better for u-locks than the old comb-style racks.

I would have liked to see a better education efforts to encourage use of lights at night, and cycling on roadways instead of sidewalks, but that would require a cultural shift that most students won't have the patience or time to see through.

[I-Like-To-Bike]

Wow, you can twist words like no other person I have seen. I was simply agreeing, that there is indifference among most of the college cycling community. There is nothing wrong with that, it's just how it is. Hence starting an advocacy movement here would be just about worthless.
Twisting your words, my foot; repeating them back with their clear implication would be a more accurate description. Another poster on this thread took a gratuitous and irrelevant slam at typical utilitarian cyclists, and then retracted it when brought to his attention Maybe you should read and review your words for relevancy to advocacy before posting.

I agree that an advocacy movement targeted at college satudents would be worthless (if not counterproductive), if it concerned itself with college student (or utilitarian) cyclists' indifference towards kickstands, WalMart/MTB bikes, and Styrofoam apparel.

[powers2b]

I-Like-To-Bike
trekkie820

You two should get a room or at least utilize the PM feature for your little spat.

Enjoy

[trekkie820]

I agree that an advocacy movement targeted at college satudents would be worthless (if not counterproductive), if it concerned itself with college student (or utilitarian) cyclists' indifference towards kickstands, WalMart/MTB bikes, and Styrofoam apparel.
So...what are we arguing for?

[scarry]

Twisting your words, my foot; repeating them back with their clear implication would be a more accurate description. Another poster on this thread took a gratuitous and irrelevant slam at typical utilitarian cyclists, and then retracted it when brought to his attention Maybe you should read and review your words for relevancy to advocacy before posting.

I agree that an advocacy movement targeted at college satudents would be worthless (if not counterproductive), if it concerned itself with college student (or utilitarian) cyclists' indifference towards kickstands, WalMart/MTB bikes, and Styrofoam apparel.

Dude, chill.....smoke a fattie.

[I-Like-To-Bike]

So...what are we arguing for?
I'd suggest that anyone interested in advocating for, rather than to, cyclists consider foremost the recipient's, not the advocate's preferences.

[powers2b]

And I thought abortion was a hot button for some people.


Enjoy

[IchbinJay]

Well, to tell you the truth, no one really rides their bike at my college. It is a small state school with a 62% commuting population. Some commute only a few miles while others travel upwards of 30. It's a tricky spot to really start anything of this nature, especially in New England where the weather is as unpredicatble as our politicians (joke!).

What I was hoping to accomplish with an advocacy group is some interest in either the utilitarian or recreational use. There is a bike club starting up, however from the looks of it it might turn out to be a couple of racers tooting their own horns. That is not what I had in mind. Maybe I'd be better off just distributing pamphlets or something. I guess I'm just trying to open the experience of adult biking to college students. Has anyone done this?

[scarry]

Well, to tell you the truth, no one really rides their bike at my college. It is a small state school with a 62% commuting population. Some commute only a few miles while others travel upwards of 30. It's a tricky spot to really start anything of this nature, especially in New England where the weather is as unpredicatble as our politicians (joke!).

What I was hoping to accomplish with an advocacy group is some interest in either the utilitarian or recreational use. There is a bike club starting up, however from the looks of it it might turn out to be a couple of racers tooting their own horns. That is not what I had in mind. Maybe I'd be better off just distributing pamphlets or something. I guess I'm just trying to open the experience of adult biking to college students. Has anyone done this?

Here's a good link for CM. http://www.criticalmasshub.com/

[powers2b]

"Has anyone done this?"

Yes
http://home.cwru.edu/cycling/

Enjoy

[Poguemahone]

Here's an idea, courtesy of my alma mater:
http://www.beloit.edu/~belmag/fall04/04fall_news.html
scroll down a bit; theres an article "New on Campus this Fall: Shiny Bicycles"
Wisconsin can't be much warmer than where ever you are.