Advocacy... Choose Your Style

POINT

"Let's not ask for what we really want because we might offend motorists, bureaucrats, and politicians.-Frequent refrain sung by 'reasonable' cyclists the world over.

For the longest time I bought into this rationale and kept my true views about motorist and official treatment of cycling and cyclists under wraps. A truly pro-bike perspective can't but sound obnoxious to the motoring public.

I soldiered on by joining "reasonable" bike organizations - touring, racing, mild-mannered advocacy - at the local, state and national levels. I followed the dictums of the leadership; be nice to rude motorists, don't offend politicians or the highway bureaucrats.

After fifteen or so years of witnessing a rising wave of motorized violence and bureaucratic complicity (particularly in building violence-friendly transportation infrastructure), I recognized that the don't-rock-the-boat thing wasn't working.

In other words, 'Ask for Nothing, Get Nothing.'

The Truth Is Often Unpleasant: from my observations, cyclists only make progress when they bluntly ask for what they really want and then let the politicians do the compromising. Will the language always be pleasant? Heck no! But will they understand what we want? Absolutely. Obfuscation behind pleasant words only invites polite rebuff. Plain, pointed language leaves no room for doubt as to where we want transportation policy to go.

Yes, the politicians and the bureaucrats will get blustery. They will complain that cyclists are mean. They will bemoan the radical-ness of cyclists' requests. But guess what? When it comes time for bicyclist support in elections or for particular bike projects in their neighborhoods or for a particular road/trail design, who do they come to? Yup, the big mouths with those hoary, evil, radical, bike-friendly ideas expressed in obnoxious terms.

Why would they have anything to do with us? Because they need us to make them look reasonable and moderate. Without us out there pushing at the edges of transportation policy, the few bike-friendly bureaucrats and politicians would look like radicals themselves.

I think that this is the point that is missed by so many people in bike advocacy. We aren't in this to make friends with bureaucrats and politicians content with motormania. We are in this to make life better for bicyclists and pedestrians.

Mike can be found rabble-rousing at various transportation-related meetings on any given evening, except Fridays which find him arguing over bike advocacy strategies and chewing on beers.

COUNTERPOINT

When you are out riding on the city streets, do not taunt motorists. It makes you look like a jerk, it makes them angry, and you might just get run over by a five thousand-pound sport-utility vehicle.

I would like to suggest that the same strategy applies in political advocacy as well as on the road. I recommend that we appeal to legislators and the driving public using a moderate platform and non-confrontational strategies. If we are obnoxious, we risk creating politically powerful enemies.

We are currently a political minority. We will succeed by winning over the driving public. However, if we make asses of ourselves, we will only annoy them.

We should instead emphasize those points that are likely to appeal to every one: bicycling is clean, environmentally friendly transportation; bicycling is healthy and fun; bicycle commuting is a good way of reducing car traffic; bicycling is an important way for children to get around. These points are going to appeal to everyone-cyclists or non-cyclists. This is the way to go from a minority to being a majority.

Consider the fact that most cyclists are drivers and some drivers are also cyclists. By using aggressive and obnoxious political methods, we risk offending people who might otherwise be sympathetic to our political cause. Many motorists may not have tried bicycle commuting and may not be recreational cyclists. Yet they might still be persuaded. Let's not make enemies of these motorists.

Bicycling has so many great benefits that it should be possible to build a very broad coalition in support of bike issues. We can appeal to local neighborhood groups or city bureaucrats who want to cut down on traffic congestion and noise, as well as to improve recreational opportunities. We may attract parents who want their children to have a safe ride to school. We may find friends among older people who enjoy riding as exercise. We can find lots of drivers whom we could convert to our cause, as long as we don't alienate them first.

Eat in moderation, drink in moderation, and advocate in moderation.