The key to cycling's acceptance
11-22-08, 04:16 PM
#51
genec
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We're right in between easy car-free and car-necessary living here, aren't we..
But, you're right, on days like today I'd rather ride down to the shops than drive.
Alternate TV spot:
On a Saturday afternoon, a cyclist and driver end up at the same intersection at the end of a block full of stores. The light turns green and they both head in.
The cyclist finds a rack, locks up, and heads into a shop. The driver starts looking for a parking spot, but it's VERY busy and there aren't any spots on that block. So, he goes around, and there aren't any spots on the back street. So he goes around again, and the one spot that opened up just got taken by another driver. So he goes around again.
He finally finds a spot -- which, for TV purposes, is right next to the cyclist's bike. He gets out of the car at the same time the cyclist comes back out of the shop with the stuff he just bought. The cyclist unlocks his bike and rides away. The driver watches, then looks back at his car dejectedly.
Fine points: the cyclist does NOT smirk or shake his head in shame at the driver. No snobbishness. Keep this as much from the driver's point of view as possible.
But, you're right, on days like today I'd rather ride down to the shops than drive.
Alternate TV spot:
On a Saturday afternoon, a cyclist and driver end up at the same intersection at the end of a block full of stores. The light turns green and they both head in.
The cyclist finds a rack, locks up, and heads into a shop. The driver starts looking for a parking spot, but it's VERY busy and there aren't any spots on that block. So, he goes around, and there aren't any spots on the back street. So he goes around again, and the one spot that opened up just got taken by another driver. So he goes around again.
He finally finds a spot -- which, for TV purposes, is right next to the cyclist's bike. He gets out of the car at the same time the cyclist comes back out of the shop with the stuff he just bought. The cyclist unlocks his bike and rides away. The driver watches, then looks back at his car dejectedly.
Fine points: the cyclist does NOT smirk or shake his head in shame at the driver. No snobbishness. Keep this as much from the driver's point of view as possible.
But the car driver went in for a 50lb bag of dog food.
11-22-08, 04:22 PM
#52
Bike ≠ Car ≠ Ped.
*edit/tangetial beef* Us Yanks don't care about the Tour much because we know it's a team effort and we know that the team doesn't get to stand on the podium. It was never, "Terry Bradshaw won the Super Bowl," it was, "The Pittsburgh Steelers won the Super Bowl." As awesome as it was to see Lance win seven in a row, there was always that undertone of him only winning because he had a killer team to back him up. Americans appreciate stars, sure, but we respect whole teams even more.
*end tangential beef*
Last edited by BarracksSi; 11-22-08 at 04:26 PM.
11-22-08, 04:58 PM
#53
it's easy if you let it.
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We don't need ads promoting cycling. We just need good bike lanes, pubtrans networks, and auto restrictions.
11-23-08, 09:51 AM
#54
Chi-Chi Monger
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And you're not gonna get any of that without public awareness...as far as most americans are concerned, bicycles are toys. You buy them at Christmas time for your kids.
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11-23-08, 10:06 AM
#55
it's easy if you let it.
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Portland doesn't have an 8% bicycle share because lots of commercials were aired stating "bicycles are not toys" or because people went around putting up "ride a bicycle" posters. The share came from restricting auto traffic, increasing cycling infrastructure, and improving public transportation. That's it. That's the formula all over the world. Why do we keep insisting things must be different for Americans?
11-23-08, 10:09 AM
#56
Bike ≠ Car ≠ Ped.
How can the public be more aware of everyday utility cycling if they don't see it?
11-23-08, 10:28 AM
#57
it's easy if you let it.
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They'd still be <.05%, just like the rest of the country.
11-23-08, 10:31 AM
#58
Bike ≠ Car ≠ Ped.
^^^ That pic ain't from Portland, though..
I'll try to remember to take some bike-specific shots when I'm in Germany this Christmas.
I'll try to remember to take some bike-specific shots when I'm in Germany this Christmas.
11-23-08, 10:49 AM
#60
Bike ≠ Car ≠ Ped.
Course not; all the pics I post are from CCC, unless noted. Lovely blog.
11-23-08, 10:55 AM
#61
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11-23-08, 10:59 AM
#62
Banned
Imagine if Portland had tried that. "Forget the bike lanes, the public transportation, the traffic calming. Forget the measures that will make it physically possible and practical to ride. Let's just make people aware of cycling, and wait for them to ask for bike lanes, public transportation, and traffic calming."
They'd still be <.05%, just like the rest of the country.
They'd still be <.05%, just like the rest of the country.
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Last edited by dynodonn; 11-23-08 at 11:15 AM.
11-23-08, 02:50 PM
#64
CRIKEY!!!!!!!
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Making bicycling popular is so easy. Just put a 500hp engine in a dozen of them, and get a bunch of fat rednecks to race them around an oval track. Call it NASBIKE, get Budweiser to sponsor it, get the NRA to endorse it....
Seriously, the only thing that might make any measureable difference to utilitarian ridership will be cost. Only when joe average can't afford fossil fuelled transport, including a scooter, and there's absolutely no other alternative, will we see more people on bikes. Until then we're just pi$$ing in the wind.
Seriously, the only thing that might make any measureable difference to utilitarian ridership will be cost. Only when joe average can't afford fossil fuelled transport, including a scooter, and there's absolutely no other alternative, will we see more people on bikes. Until then we're just pi$$ing in the wind.
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11-23-08, 02:52 PM
#65
it's easy if you let it.
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^ Portland's obviously shown that to be false. People don't need to be dirt poor to pick up bikes. They just need to be able to feel safe doing so.
11-23-08, 04:02 PM
#66
Bike ≠ Car ≠ Ped.
curved at the top and operates on the Bernoulli principle adding lift and reducing rolling resistance from the tires and wheel bearings.It works so well that the UCI banned umbrellas and parasols from racing.
11-24-08, 07:11 PM
#68
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