Advice on Getting Your Message Heard and Being an Advocate for Cycling

The website Bicycle Frenzy offers up an excellent article full of tips on Bicycling Activism for those with the knowledge, time, and sometimes even resources to pull it off.

While money, and even knowledge, isn't everything, time is of utmost importance where Advocacy is concerned.

Sometimes I wish I had more time, and knowledge, to be more of a BikeBlogger, and active advocate for cycling than I've been all these years, but I don't let that discourage me from doing what I can.

My Average Page Loads are currently 114 a day, Unique Visitors 91 a day, Firstimers 84 a day.

You know how I look at that?

Positively: That's 91 people a day discovering what I have to offer, in posts, and resources, that didn't know this material was out there to be discovered and learned from.

Bradly Fletchall, of Bicycle Frenzy, writes:

I can write and read about bicycle advocacy all day long on this site. I could post 25 times per day and even if I had 40,000 readers per day taking in everything I write, it will never do any good if no one acts on it.

The best advocacy in the world for any issue, not just bicycling, is totally useless if someone doesn’t take action to do something.

He goes on to say that there are many ways to be an activist, many ways to take action, and support cycling.

I look at his list and I smile in satisfaction as I realize that, hey, I AM an Activist!

My audience is miniscule, but every month I get e-mails from ordinary people, and "important" people, with questions, tips, compliments, and more, and from time to time other Bloggers comment on, and link to something I wrote.

I've even been quoted in a book! ;-D

This all means that my efforts have not been in vain.

His List?

Ride your bike.

1. The more you ride your bike, the more others will see you riding.  This has a ripple effect of passively encouraging others to do the same.  It has been said that the average cyclist influences at least 3 others to start cycling.  I know that I am directly responsible for at least 5 people getting started.

I don't know how many people I've encouraged to ride, but I know I've encouraged lots of people to ride in places, and ways, they have never thought to do so.

Join a Local Bicycle Club.

1. There are local bicycle clubs all over the place.  There are multiple clubs in every major city in the U.S. and clubs in many smaller towns as well.  If there isn’t a club in your town, start one.  Nothing is more effective at changing local laws or growing support in a small are than a local group of active cyclists speaking up for what they want.

Years ago I was briefly a member of the LA Wheelmen, and last year I join the OC Wheelmen.

This year I plan on finally getting out there and riding with them. ;-D

Look in my sidebar, and you will see a list of Clubs from Ca. and every other state in the United States.

If one is close to you, then check out their website, and go on a ride, to learn more.

Contact your local City Council.

1. Usually the City Council is who you should contact to get road and signal safety issues addressed within the city limits.  They also influence and under some circumstances can change local laws as well.

Been there, done that. ;-D

I plan on doing it again. ;-D

Write letters to the editor in your local newspaper.

1. Writing a letter to the editor of your local news paper is a great way to get your opinion heard.  If there is an issue that you feel isn’t getting enough attention write to the paper about it.  They may publish your letter and/or do a follow up story about it.  This can grow a lot of public intrust about an issue.

Been there, done that, too! ;-D

I've done it since, though nothing appeared in print, and plan on doing so again. ;-D

I was also profiled in a Local Weekly a few years back.

I've corresponded with the Outdoors Columnist of the OC Register a few times as well, though nothing has come of that correspondence as far as a write-up in the paper.

Oh, and I've been on TV as well! ;-D

Join your state bicycle association.

1. Almost every state in the U.S. has a bicycle association of some form.  Here in Missouri there are several different associations that represent road racing, off road racing, and cycling as a whole.  Your state probably has similar groups.
2. These groups can effectively represent cyclists on a state level to state governments to encourage and improve cycling state wide.

Years ago I was briefly a member of the California Bicycle Coalition, and rejoined them last year.

Once, a few years back, they kindly paid me a great honor, thus encouraging this fledgeling BikeBlogger in his efforts.

Look in my sidebar, and you will see a list of Advocacy Groups in CA., and from every other state in the United States.

If one is close to you, then check out their website to learn more.

Join a National Bicycle Association.

1. You can also join a association like USA Cycling which represents bicycle racing in the U.S.  An association like USA Cycling has the resources and contacts to get issues heard by the federal government.

Or do like I have done and join Rails for Trails, Adventure Cycling, and the League of American Bicyclists.

Look in my sidebar, and you will see lists of national and internationl organizations.

Check out their websites to learn more.

Contact your State and Federal Representatives.

1. Every citizen has the right and the ability to contact your government representatives.  You can call, e-mail, snail mail, and even visit your state and federal representatives.  Each of these representatives have staff members that read these letters and messages.  The most compelling and unique messages get the most attention.  So hand write a letter or get everyone in your bike club to send an e-mail with the same subject or get them all to call their representative on the same day.

Been there, and done that! ;-D

In the 2 years I spent writing about Critical Mass I had debates with the founders, activists, and supportive politicians.

Agree, or disagree, you must admit it was all quite informative, and absolutely fascinating.

So, as Bradley writes, get out there, when you can, and however you can, and start making a difference!

One way I've found to spread the word about The Cycling Dude is to pass out Business Cards, and distribute Flyers.

For years I've also had an open invitation to my readers in my sidebar:

Looking for news tips, story ideas, and the rare contributor appearance.

While the tips and story ideas keep coming in, the contributors have been few.

I Like to think that many of those who might have considered it ended up starting their own BikeBlogs, hee, hee. ;-D

Like Bradley I hope that if you have any other ways to spread the word please leave a comment, here, or at his place, or write a post on your blog, and link and trackback to this post, or send me an e-mail with the link.

***UPDATE - 745PM***

This is so cool, and very kind.

As I wrote, above, I've passed out Business Cards, and Flyers.

A Flyer is on the Bulletin Board near the Bike Shop at the REI in Santa Ana, Ca., and I gave my card to the guy at the Huntington Beach location who helped me fix a flat a few months back.

He just left a comment to my post, earlier in the day, about REI and its Grant Program. ;-D

***END UPDATE***