Bike Outreach Opportunities.
- This topic has 57 replies, 16 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 5 months ago by
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Hey y’all. Many of you know that I work for WABA as a Bike Ambassador. I also do a lot of work as their Suburban Outreach Bike Ambassador. In the district I work with volunteers on a regular basis. I haven’t really had the ability to do any of that in the suburbs…. until now. I’ve got the thumbs up to try doing some outreach events with volunteers.
What do we do at outreach events? We inform and encourage people who are riding. We inform and encourage people who might like to ride. We answer questions. Some people want to talk. Some people really don’t. I pick a location where cyclists will usually stop for a few moments for a traffic light. Before an event, I research specific issues around the area where we’ll be doing outreach to find a good message for the event. Some of you have done things like this with Bike Arlington in the past at events like the Bike Light Giveaways. We’re doing much the same thing, but without the lights… we may have stuff to give out, but it won’t always be lights.
Why are volunteers important? They make it possible for me to broaden the reach of an outreach event. On my own, I can talk to about 100 people per hour. If there are more people there, that can double. It also frees me up to take photos and tweet our activity, which expands the reach much further. It lets us engage the local community and bike friendly businesses on twitter and facebook in realtime which builds important connections between cycling, community and local business. These are the contacts that REALLY integrate cycling as a viable transportation alternative in the community.
Why might you want to take part? It’s fun! It makes your neighborhood a better place to ride a bicycle. It’s fun!
Example. ACC and I were at the Gallows Road intersection with the W&OD yesterday for some of the afternoon commute. I chose that spot because Fairfax recently published their Bike Masterplan on their web site and there are a lot of projects being done nearby. It was a good chance to talk to people.
What was the messaging?
- New bike lanes improve access to Mosaic.
- New bike lanes in Tysons area improves bicycle safety and access to Silver Line metro stations
- Public involvement with WABA and FABB can help improve things like the extremely long light at Gallows and the W&OD trail.
I’ll publish the location and messaging Mondays or Tuesdays in this thread and we’ll usually have the event on Thursday afternoons. If you’ve got questions or want to take part, please post up here. If you’d like to see what outreach events are like, stop by and say “hi” at one! We’d love to see you. It is always great to have friends show up… even if you’re just rolling through on your way home.
Thanks!
Pete
If you’d like to help make cycling better WHILE riding your bike, I have another opportunity for you: come on a Kidical Mass ride. Preferably this Sunday’s INAUGURAL ride for Kidical Mass Alexandria.
We love everyone to come out to our rides. Adults who show up without kids are especially welcome. You help us bulk up our visibility and our protection of the kids. You can help with little ride marshalling things, like rolling up on the sidewalk to push the beg button (so hard to do on a cargo bike). You can help take PICTURES, which are good for everyone, because they help show that cyclists can be cute and sweet and people you want to protect.
And for those of you who like the miles, Sunday’s ride starts in Potomac Yards. Unless you live in Potomac Yards or Crystal City, you’ll have a nice, none too short ride to get there. That and the way home will be some nice miles on the bike. And if you do live in Potomac Yards or Crystal City, you have no excuse – it’s right out of your front door
And if you have kids, come! It’s fun for parents AND kids!
And if you don’t have kids, but know people that have kids – tell them about it, too! The more the merrier.
Plus, Kate Ryan of WTOP is going to try to make, so you may get your 15 seconds of FAME.
Details: http://kidicalmassarl.blogspot.com/2014/07/kidically-arlandria-kidical-mass.html
@ShawnoftheDread 90622 wrote:
She’s not really sorry.
She gets the benefit of the doubt with me.
Thanks to y’all for coming out. I had 9 people stop by to talk. Your support is much appreciated. I’ll post up opportunities when I set up events. It would be nice to have y’all involved a little when I’m in your area.
Have a good weekend.
Pete
@Arlingtonrider 91516 wrote:
I may cruise in sometime around then also. It sounds like a perfect excuse for a Del Rey dinner. Is anyone else interested in that? I’d be glad to lead a convoy for anyone who hasn’t biked there before. Del Rey is very bikeable and there are lots of great inexpensive dining choices.
Where do you suggest for dinner? I plan to at least hit the Dairy Godmother for a frozen custard malt.
There’s some decent Mexican places in Del Ray. Or just do what I do and grab your dinner at the Dairy Godmother
Wish I saw this yesterday–I would have cut out of work and shown up. Now that I’m full time in Del Ray I need to meet more cyclists in my neighborhood so I know who I’m seeing on the trails! Maybe we can do a evening “ice cream club” at the Dairy Godmother some night…
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