Alarmingly Ignorant Op-Ed on Bike Share in Washington Times

[vvill]

@OneEighth 24821 wrote:

I’m kinda liking the idea of picking a day…maybe during bike-to-work month to have all regular commuters drive in…maybe with a window sticker or something that says “I normally ride a bike, how you like me driving instead?”

It would be even more fun if we all drove the speed limit and took a lane each on I-66. (We’d have to meet HOV requirements first, of course.)

[OneEighth]

Seriously, combined with press coverage this might make the point in a way words never will. Something to think about. We’ve got almost a year to put everything in place—social media to coordinate the effort, coordination with the press, etc. I’m thinking we’ve got the necessary skill sets on this forum.

[OneEighth]

Okay, refining it a bit. Whatever people put on their car to highlight that they are not normally on the road needs to be something catchy and easy for other drivers to take in while driving. Something like a simple graphic of a bike in a circle with a line through it. Would definitely require an accompanying press campaign.

[KLizotte]

@OneEighth 24836 wrote:

Something like a simple graphic of a bike in a circle with a line through it.

I like the idea of a symbol but I think the one suggested could be very easily misinterpreted and co-opted by the bike haters.

Hmmmmmmm……

[Arlingtonrider]

I’ve always liked the Tshirts that make that point by saying “0ne Less Car”. I just googled that – there are numerous items sold that say that, including jerseys.

[americancyclo]

One Less Car
One Less Metro Rider
One Less _____

I think that would be a fun stunt, and I’m totally down to fill HOV requirements in someone else’s vehicle. Although I think we’d have a hard time driving the speed limit on 66. It never seems to get that fast in the mornings.

[dasgeh]

Don’t do it _during_ bike to work month, do it on April 30, just before.

But more importantly, I doubt this will really make a dent, and even if it does, most drivers won’t realize why traffic has gotten worse. There are random days were traffic just sucks; drivers get used to that. Many of use (me included) don’t have the option of driving to work. My alternative is riding a bus which usually isn’t all that full. It would just suck for me.

I do love the “One Less Car” campaign.

I would also support something like “Love your commute”. Honestly, one of the main reasons I bike now (with the super-easy bus option) is that it truly is more enjoyable. I’m outside. The weather is nice. I can talk to people. I ride over Roosevelt Island and imagine that I’m in the canopy of a rainforest and if I look hard enough I’ll see monkeys or iguanas or something cool.

The idea that some of us are having fun getting to work may frustrate some drivers even more, but some drivers are beyond help. I think setting positive examples every day will do more for our cause than being a negative force one day.

[Dirt]

Only somewhat related…. but I noticed a complete change in the demographic of the people who honked at me when I put a huge “Honk if you’re horny” sign on the back of my cargo bike.

[rcannon100]

Dead Said: The differences between a good driving day and a bad driving day are so random and unpredictable that

(A) Is Congress in session?
( Is school in session?
(C) Is it a Friday (or even a monday)?

Those are strong predictors.

I am having to drive my replicants to camp. 😡 I HATE DRIVING A CAR! I HATE IT I HATE IT I HATE IT I HATE IT I HATE IT I HATE IT I HATE IT I HATE IT I HATE IT I HATE IT 😡 ALL CAR AND NO BIKE MAKES BOB A DULL BOY!

[Terpfan]

@dasgeh 24858 wrote:

Don’t do it _during_ bike to work month, do it on April 30, just before.

But more importantly, I doubt this will really make a dent, and even if it does, most drivers won’t realize why traffic has gotten worse. There are random days were traffic just sucks; drivers get used to that. Many of use (me included) don’t have the option of driving to work. My alternative is riding a bus which usually isn’t all that full. It would just suck for me.

I do love the “One Less Car” campaign.

I would also support something like “Love your commute”. Honestly, one of the main reasons I bike now (with the super-easy bus option) is that it truly is more enjoyable. I’m outside. The weather is nice. I can talk to people. I ride over Roosevelt Island and imagine that I’m in the canopy of a rainforest and if I look hard enough I’ll see monkeys or iguanas or something cool.

The idea that some of us are having fun getting to work may frustrate some drivers even more, but some drivers are beyond help. I think setting positive examples every day will do more for our cause than being a negative force one day.

Like most protests, the point would be more rhetorical than literal.

Maybe it’s something to structure around Bike-to-Work day. Usually it’s geared toward attracting more riders, but give it a unilateral focus of “traffic reduced by up to XX vehicles today, thanks cyclists.”

One Less Car is great logo idea because it can be interpreted by received as necessary. Someone could interpret it environmentally, commuting-wise, health-wise, economically, etc, but it’s generic enough it doesn’t create one image of hippie save-the-tree bike commuters or anti-car etc. I’m all for it.

[dbb]

Just looked at my BTW ’12 tee shirt. Plenty of room below the sponsor’s logos for the “One Less Car” slogan. Maybe for next year.

[Arlingtonrider]

I also love the “Love Your Commute”. That and “One Less Car”. I’ll take one of each, please.

While I’m sure it would be effective in disarming some motorists, I think walking into the office with “Honk if You’re Horny” would violate my workplace rules.

[eminva]

“Love Your Commute” rings positively with me. I would like to have a jersey with that. When I started bike commuting now almost eight years ago (appropos to another thread), I was fed up with my alternating auto and metro commute. When I drove downtown, I started to see people who looked just like me commuting on their bicycles. This gave me the inspiration to try it. I don’t think we can assume everyone behind the wheel is antagonistic to us. Some might be intrigued and some might be pondering a move to a bicycle commute as I did all those years ago. A message like “love your commute” would have got me thinking and maybe helped tip the balance a little sooner. That’s a message I would love to send.

Liz

[dasgeh]

New BikeArlington or WABA fundraiser, anyone? I’d buy it (and wear it proudly)

[Mark Blacknell]

Bike Maryland used to be “One Less Car”, and had a nifty green street sign logo. I quite liked it.

[Author]

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