Last month I went to a meeting for one of my town's bike advocacy groups. They talked about a bunch of stuff and they seem to have a lot of things going on. I found it hard to jump in, participate or help. Yet,they were asking for help. One of the things they wanted help with was bike safety advocacy with in the schools. I'm all for this. I'd like to jump on board especially since my school I think doesn't allow kids to bike to school. However they were focusing on the safety issues etc, and I just don't feel that is something I can comment on. I really need to take some lessons etc on safety and riding in the street etc. Only problem is the Mass Bike ( or whatever that org is called ) class near me is still too far by bike and meets at a time that doesn't work for me.
One thing they talked about was working within the high school to get the teens biking more. I live three blocks from one of the high schools and I think about them biking all the time. Particularly the girly girl teens, like my neighbor who is hoping for a Huge SUV for Christmas when she turns 16.5.
Thinking about the buzz cycle chic is getting in magazines etc I am wondering if even more images would good targeted to the teens. Like a poster campaign of real people who bike and also look good put together while biking. I was also thinking about our train stations in town. The parking is steep 5.50 a day and I noticed that one lot always has spaces. A friend noted that maybe they get a lot of walkers. Which is good, but how about we maximize that and have some posters in the lot with men in suits on bikes. No one is going to get too sweaty if they bike a mile to the train station. It's really the best way to get to the train, no parking issues, no paying, no finding change. I think the bike rack would be a more sensible walk to the starbucks too rather than park, walk backup the block and then back to the train station hoping a train hasn't passed...
Anyway- those are my thoughts for the day. I wish I had money to run such an AD campaign. I also wonder if we could do an Ad Hoc AD campaign and take pictures of each other and poster them around town.
I dunno- I went to one meeting. They are working hard and working within the system. That is all well and good. I just like my advocacy to be a little more punk rock. I just feel ike plastering cool images about town. Here is where we need a graffiti artist to stencil bike images everywhere.
Ah hell, I'm, going to get run out of town.
MamaVee: You have hit the nail on the head. Most of us who blog about bike commuting and ballet flats already know that a huge barrier for a lot of people is the idea that they will look like sweaty nerds when they get to work or to the restaurant. Bike advocacy will get NOWHERE if all we do is focus on being morally superior and safety. I hugely believe in the green,conservation part of bike commuting. I hugely believe in not throwing my money into a gas tank that ultimately supports oppressive governments run by religious extremists (here and abroad, BTW), and I love not having to worry about parking. But really, there is something so cool about seeing my reflection in the window of the bagel shop when I am casually flicking down the kick stand in my kiwi green heels. We don't need to beat people over the head with super skinny models with large boobs spilling out of tight henley tops but we could get far with PR campaigns that featured attractive people, maybe in suits or maybe just wearing a pretty sundress or nice khakis and a polo. Sometimes, I think the bike advocates can be a little defensive about this message. I have long thought through my own observation of advocates for progressive issues that I support have no idea how to communicate their message in ways that the scared and unconverted can listen to and consider as relevant to them.
ReplyDeleteYou know that's not going to work. In our town, adjacent to Cambridge, people were asking about "that bicycle graffiti" on the Cambridge pavement. Turns out it was "sharrows". Actual graffiti, they'd think we were all a bunch of hooligans.
ReplyDeleteMy biggest problem is that on my good days, I can be a cheery advocate, but on my bad days, I basically figure, what-the-hell, I'm biking for me, if all those other people want to sit in traffic, get fat, and subsidize OPEC, who am I to argue with their lifestyle choice?
That's the problem, how do you convince people? Seriously, I ride one day, it's "how can you ride in this heat", so today I ride in the sprinkling rain, and "how can you ride in the rain"? And in the winter, "how can you ride in the cold"?
The interesting thing is, I get more traction with people around my age (pushing 50). Nobody's got any illusions about restoring their 6-pack tummy, they've all been read one riot act or another by their doctor, and they need more exercise, and they know it.
That sounds like a great idea! Safety is very important, of course, but focusing so much on safety in messaging is not going to get more people on bikes, it's going to make cycling seem more dangerous than it is.
ReplyDeleteHow odd that schools would not let kids bike there. I biked to elementary school all the time - and in the streets, not on the sidewalks, because my neighborhood didn't have any.
Dr2Chase- you are prolly right. How sad that ppl thought the bike lane was graffiti. I realize I'm just feeling like a punk on that topic and oftentimes spin my wheels in Newton wishing I lived in a city. ( real city)
ReplyDeleteDottie- yes, I think it's crazy that schools do this. It's some schools too. The park we go to to play has a huge bike rack and during the school year it's filled. Our school however doesn't have a bike rack at all and my neighbor's kid who was 7 in 2nd grade was told he couldn't ride after making a trial trip with his mother. So he walked most days and would get home *before* the bus did!
She Rides- Yeah- I admit I love seeing my reflection in the cars as I go past. I also really love feeling like a kid for a few minutes and then getting off the bike and looking like a grown up.
There is a good start in the States. Collegiate bikes aimed at college students. Sexy, lovely and appropriate marketing.
ReplyDeleteSee it here
The best advertising comes from those who don't advertise, but set trends. Intentional advertising (including posters) is quickly recognised for what it is and resisted. But when a model, actress, rockstar, etc., says that they like bikes in an interview, or when the cool kid starts riding a bike to school, that will get the trend going. This is why a lot of companies promote their products by sending gifts and samples to celebrities, hoping that the person will like it and mention the product in the media of their own accord. This is cheaper and more effective than running an ad campaign featuring the same celebrity.
ReplyDeleteSo... Find out who the cool kids are at the local schools and get them to ride around on bikes! Heh. Either that or graffiti : )
Mama!
ReplyDeleteI am totally on board with what you're saying. I've recently gotten involved in a few local bike organizations and they're um... the most well meaning bunch of hippies around. They are so super nice that it's hard to criticize, but I do find that if you're not on board with the status quo (like, let's bike ALL THE TIME and be SO HARD CORE and screw people who don't want to go SO FAST) then it's hard to fit in. And I don't think that sort of essentializing turns people onto biking, it just alienates them. At least that is how I felt. For now, I'm going with the old "lead by example" route...
I also thought about stenciling/tagging a chick on a bike all over town. But, Don said that he's now allowed to know about illegal activities like that, regardless the subversive good will.
S*!
Find some subversive high-schoolers with access to the schools colour-laser printer, and point them to copenhagencyclechic.com
ReplyDeleteSomething might happen?