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scbruins10 |
"everyone else"
Jul 29 2008, 9:36 AM EDT
I'm wondering if we are trying to turn "everyone else" into bike advocates? Or increase understanding of cycling (i.e. education among non-riders)? If we are turning everyone in LA into a bike advocate might it dilute the meaning of "advocate"?Thoughts? Do you find this valuable?
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ubrayj02 |
1. RE: "everyone else"
Aug 1 2008, 3:47 PM EDT
What is so important about being labeled a "bike advocate" if nobody else understand what you want? I see this effort as a way of showing other advocacy and activist groups that including our pro-cycling agenda should be a part of what they work towards in their lobbying efforts.For me this is crystallized in the benefits that slower automobile speeds can bring to a commercial shopping district. Slower car speeds make a street more accessible to people walking to shops, and to young children and old people. Slow car speed are generally safer for motorists. Slow car speeds are also generally better for on-street cyclists. Finally, slower car speeds generally equate to more money going to merchants that have stores on streets with slower car traffic. This issue, slowing cars, if only cast in the light of being good for bikes - comes off sounding narrow and like catering to a tiny interest group. By expanding the discussion to other interest groups (health, public safety, business interests, social justice, environmental) we can make bicycling issues a core way that these groups achieve their ends. Do you find this valuable? |
joelinton |
2. RE: "everyone else"
Feb 25 2009, 4:34 PM EST
What would you like for "us" to focus on?Personally, I'd like to do all the stuff you mention, and more! Do you find this valuable? |
elemunjeli |
3. RE: "everyone else"
Mar 12 2009, 3:08 PM EDT
I'm with ubray in that bicycle advocacy is one part of a larger plan for more livable cities. I would like to do some pro-active education in neighborhoods which are good for bicycle development so that we have support of councils and residents when the opportunity arises to propose infrastructure. Damien Newton mentioned that the area around the Grove has a high walkability index because of the Orthodox community. I would like to do presentations of the engineering strategies Ryan Snyder showed in his workshop to community groups around there, and also downtown, Highland Park, and communities on the Expo line..How can we get more proactive in every step of road repaving, planning,etc. Whenever I see road work now, its like a missed opportunity. As for advocacy being diluted, advocate is not the same as cyclist. It doesn't have to be. Its a different word, a different meaning. I'm not looking down on everyone else because I've never owned a car.
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