What Is Your End Goal?
On December 10th, a box truck driver mowed down a group of cyclists outside of Vegas and killed five of them. I started seeing people respond to crash online almost immediately after it happened and decided I was going to say quiet. I didn’t even focus on the names involved or bother to learn more details about the event. After all, I am enjoying riding my bike in Tucson. This was not a decision to ignore what happened, it just doesn’t change my mission, which is to make cycling safer for all who want to enjoy the roads on two wheels. It ties in closely with even bigger beliefs and values that I hold — that physical activity is important for mental health, that the we can all make small changes to improve the climate, that a strong sense of community is more important than tangible possessions, and more. However, the ideas behind this blog can be transferred to anything that you feel passionate about.
The Words You Use Matter
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) used to be Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, but made the conscious change to be against the action of drunk driving and not the person who commits that action. Similarly, they decided in the mid-1980’s to stop using the word accident. Cycling advocacy groups, with the help of individuals such as myself, need to get the word accident out of the vernacular around crashes where cyclists are hurt and killed by drivers. This requires serious work with the press and with police. In the crash on December 10th, a police officer was quoted saying, "It appears to be a tragic accident." Guess what? Now that a more thorough investigation has been completed, the prosecutor is saying that the driver had meth in his system. Are you surprised? I’m not. When a large group of cyclists with a follow car is mowed down, do not use the word accident. Reserve that word for when your three-year wets the bed.
Posting About the Injustice on Social Media Does Not Equate to Advocacy
Advocacy is about being in support of a cause. It is about seeking change. Yes, there are people with large social media platforms who can use those outlets to create the stirrings of social change, but that is not the norm. More often than not, people use social media as an opportunity to act enraged instead of taking action towards a goal. Specific to events such as the cyclists’ deaths on December 10th, I would also note that donating to a memorial fund, though extremely generous and an important way to support the community, is also not advocacy.
An easy entry point into advocacy is to become a member of your local advocacy group. Donate money so that their employees can do the difficult work day in and day out. For instance, last year, Bicycle Colorado worked to ensure speed limits on rural roads where cyclists ride were not increased. I had no involvement or awareness they were doing that until I was on a year-end members call, but I will benefit from the lower speed limits and it made me excited to donate to them again the following week. The next step you can take is to learn more about the work your desired non-profit is doing and ask to be more involved. Read the newsletters, attend the meetings, and talk about the work that is being done. Talk about it with friends, family, co-workers, and anyone who might listen. Maybe they will see you as a positive example and see the need to also be involved. Hearing about a tragedy can make people feel scared and add a sense of hopelessness. Telling someone how you are engaging to solve the problem is leading by example.
Consider Your End Goal
This past week Kennett posted a video of us riding The Loop, which is a 55-mile bike path loop that circles the city of Tucson. The post received over 1,775 views, 18 comments from others, and 13 shares. These numbers are a high anomaly for a joint Instagram account that Kennett and I share. (Neither of us can really get fully behind social media). Our one friend made fun of Kennett’s wobbly video, so it was not the quality of footage that got people sharing this post. What was it? People are excited by the idea of feeling safe riding their bike. Me too. When I think about cycling advocacy I try to envision more people being able to ride their bikes and the personal satisfaction that will wash upon them after a safe return to their home. I imagine how this will help mental health, the environment, and the strength of our communities.
I am by no means a perfect advocate. Is there even such a thing? As you will read in my book, DEGLOVED, cycling advocacy was something I was thrust into as a result of my crash but I’ve had to learn (and continue to learn) how to find my voice in a way that impacts change. While I have grown over the past six years, I have kept that end goal in mind to help guide me forward.