We must face the fact that “Biking is FUN!” is tired and won’t get people out of their plush SUVs on a cold February day. But shame might. National pride might. Being praised as a patriot might.”
I get such great comments on this site that I thought it would be fun to highlight one of them each week. And to show how much I appreciate them, I’ll give away a set of my postcards and stickers to the winner.
I hope this new contest encourages more good comments. What makes a good comment you ask? I like comments that are on-topic, concise (they don’t have to be long to be good), thought-out, clear, and that add insight, humor, or key information to the original post.
With that in mind, here’s the first Comment of the Week.
Author: “Brad”
Post: PDOT sharpens focus on pro-bike messaging
Context: The post was about PDOT’s initiative to research new bike messaging that will resonate with non-cyclists.
Note: Although he gets a little off-topic, I like Brad’s passion and thoughtful ideas.
I think we need to take another tack here. It won’t be easy for some to swallow but I feel it would be far more effective than the old soft sell we’ve come to expect.
First, forget educating the current crop of drivers. You will never reach enough minds via PSA, extra bike questions on DMV tests, signs, etc. Drivers are set in their ways and truly believe they own the roadways. The better solution is to create a legal atmosphere where drivers can and will face serious criminal / civil charges for negligence that causes injury or fatality. You start drilling that into people’s heads and you will see a shift in attitudes about lane sharing. Be warned this will take years as new drivers will be most receptive and this would be incorporated into driver’s ed programs.
Secondly, boost bike (and mass transit) ridership via a campaign that promotes sustainability and alternative transportation usage as “The New Patriotism”. This will be somewhat controversial because it will fly in the face of PC attitudes we have today. The message sent is that fitness, health, breaking dependence on oil, and reducing carbon emissions is what “good citizens” do. To that end, people are encouraged and praised for commuting and running errands on bikes, walking, and using mass transit rather than driving.
Emphasize that leaving your car behind saves money and shaves weight thus, stimulates the economy through spending on non-oil products and lowers health care costs. Roads have to be fixed less often and that frees up state money for schools and social programs. Rile people’s egos by stating that real men and strong women don’t need cars. For the more left leaning, here’s your chance to change America for the better, screw big oil, and the neocons with one simple change in lifestyle!
Will this piss off the establishment? Obese people? Lazy and pampered folks? Absolutely. But I think that Portland is the perfect proving ground for such a plan. We must face the fact that “Biking is FUN!” is tired and won’t get people out of their plush SUVs on a cold February day. But shame might. National pride might. Being praised as a patriot might. If we get a few thousand more bikes out on our streets each day, they become more visible and the pressure builds for more to join them. Get enough out there, perhaps the traffic laws change on residential and low speed city streets to accomodate bikes. Perhaps we will eventually get the same rights as motorcycles. (Ride two abreast in the lane and cars must follow at OUR speed – we ARE FULLY RECOGNIZED traffic.)
Guilt, politics, and national pride are great motivators and this offers a positive spin on those for a change.
Brad, thanks for the comment and please contact me with your mailing address so I can send your prize.
If you have something to add to this discussion, please do so on the original post (I have disabled comments on this post). Please let me know if you have feedback on this new weekly contest.
If you didn’t win this week, you can still get your hands on my stickers, postcards and even a BikePortland.org T-shirt. Check out my humble little online store…and remember, your purchase helps keep this site going.
