Educating Motorists
 

I'm wondering if a bike advocacy group such as LAB has thought about producing public service commercials. Motorists should be educated on simple concepts:
Cyclists have a right to be on the roads.
Adults cyclists do not belong on sidewalks.
Bikes are vehicles and follow the same traffic rules as cars.
Bikes are extremely vulnerable to aggresive driving.
I have seen very effective PSA's on the subject of drunken driving, so why not cycling?

PSA's are fine, but they are rarely shown on network TV in our area. Only after 12 am on Saturday are they shown with regularity on our CBS affiliate. TV ad time is expensive. I dunno if they charge nonprofits for PSA's. I guess the question of the cost of a PSA needs to be assessed. If it costs $, then the funds available for the LAB and their willingness to do such a thing needs to be assessed . Radio is another issue, and though it is cheaper to get a commercial ad on radio, it is still not cheap. Billboards are another option.

I would think anybody watching TV at 12am is within the demographic of someone who'd benefit from such a PSA.

corporations run full page newspaper ads in multiple markets to hit a lot of americans; radio ads are relatively cheap, even in major markets, and a bike positive educational trailer deal with AMC theaters starring Robin Williams and George Bush probably could reach broad segments of America...not to mention if this stuff got on Channel One, just give the little buggers ten years to digest pro bike propaganda every morning at school....

and theres all sorts of coordinated guerilla marketing tactics that would work wonders

Instead of finding a "they" to do it, why not do it yourself? Write letters to the editor. Volunteer to talk to clubs, schools and other organizations about cycling. Buy and ad or two yourself or with others. Do you talk about cycling at work, school, church and other gathering places? Why not? Can you make a flyer and distribute it? It doesn't require the LAB alone to advocate for cycling. Cyclists need to do it as individuals. How many bulletin boards could you post a cycling message on?

Why not cycling? $$$$

Almost everybody feels like they are threatened by drunk driving, hence all the money that goes into fighting it.

On the other hand, almost nobody feels like they are threatened by motorists as cyclists - only the tiny minority that is cyclists, and even then there are many cyclists who do not feel we are threatened by motorists, except maybe the extremely rare homocidal maniacs who would not be affected by PSAs anyway.

How about the basics ... "Be considerate of others", "Don't speed", "Pay attention"?

All accidents would drop 50% or more if people would just follow those guidelines.

jw

Don't forget, too, that when you are driving a car, van, truck or whatever, to set and example for other drivers and show respect for cyclists who are on the road. I always toot my horn and give cyclists a thumbs up as well, to let them know they are welcome. (I only do this on rural roads..in the city it might distract the riders too much.)

Don't forget to roll your window down when cyclists are stopped in the other lane waiting at a light and tell them you like those 'hot cross buns.'

roughstuff

Our local advocacy group has managed to have the rights of bicycles included in the driver exam text book as well as on the drivers exam.

PSAs' are good, but they're not going to able to compete with all the car ads showing how to drive like an idiot.

While I agree with the concept, I'm afraid it's incomplete. People riding bikes need the education too. The vast majority I see on a daily basis are on the sidewalks and do not obey traffic laws. Since that's what most drivers see, it's no wonder that they believe I'm in the wrong when I'm riding like I should be.

Let's start a fund-drive for a Super Bowl ad. Gardenburger, IIRC, really put "veggie burgers" on the map a few years ago by dedicating a huge chunk of their annual advertising budget into a Super Bowl ad (like doulbing their sales too).

Edit: maybe Lance could star in it too, get the public's attention.

I agree, telling motorists to remember the basics is probably more important then to get them to specifically watch out for cyclists. The whole message should encompass motorists shareing the road with everyone and touch on the issues specific to cyclists.

And rather then LAB producing it, it should be done with monies from the auto manufactures... much like the alcohol ads have "drink responsibly" on them now... auto ads should have "Share the Road" and "Drive Responsibly" on them.

Yikes. Maybe the ad could feature Lance Armstrong in skin tight spandex and he could suffer a 'wardrobe failure.' :)

roughstuff

Thanks for posting that, Randya. Since those PSAs have already been produced, what's to keep them from being shown in other markets?

Beautiful... love the slogan "Decide to Ride!"

Now what does it take to get those PSAs out on national TV?

I'd assume that anyone can use these PSAs by licensing them from the BTA or whatever; if you're really interested, you should contact them and see what they say.

I'd love to see one with Lance "riding to work" say, to a LAF office, wearing a suit. That would rule.

In Pennsylvania I was suprised to see a Motorcycle safety awarenss pamphlet in with my annual motor vehicle registration mailing from the DOT. Seems like the motorcyclsists have been doing something right in so far as being able to promote safer motocycling and dispelling myths associated with that activity.

They've been successful at repealing the helmet law and at the same time reducing MC fatalities. Obviously money in the form of memberships and state fees helps.

http://www.abatepa.org/abate/activities/2004-May.htm

I'd pay 5 bucks for a safety fee on a new bike sale. I know that other states have tried to implement a fee for each bike sold, with the funds going to pay for safety programs and bike facilities but I've never hear of a successful law to this ends.

Although I have seen motorists viewing DVDs while driving :eek: , I haven't encountered any that were watching broadcast TV on their dashboard monitors.

Seems to me we should be talking about radio PSAs if we really want to reach people in their cars.

Seems like if you can tie a PSA to an nonproffit it should not be a big deal to get some airplay. In Pittsburgh there is a low biudget, city mandated CATV channel, could probably work out a way to get it shown there. I've never seen a bicycle PSA live on the air. Also radio would be cool. I think that the local NPR station only charges 200/week for 5 one minute anouncements, during rush hour.

Here is a link to city police dept with a link to a PSA aimed at wrong way cyclists. Not sure if or when this PSA aired.

http://www.tempe.gov/police/Trafficbureau/

Al