Here's more of the discussion that I previously mentioned.
-Dar
"e.hay" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
To: "David Schlabowske" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
CC: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
From: e.hay <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Thu, 1 Nov 2007 11:07:01 -0500
Subject: Re: [milbtw] hi-jacked thread "non-Santa Cycle Rampage" discussion
continues here.
dave, - maybe we should establish another thread on this- i was/am
entirely out of line with expressing my frustration in this thread over a
perceived dysfunctional communication process.
my personal apologies to cyclingkos for modifying the course of discussion.
feel free to further edit the subject line if we continue. any and all should
feel welcome to this discourse.
let me remark that you are very instrumental in this community. your efforts do
not go unnoticed, and your advocacy for integrated cycling and pedestrian
access is unquestionable. you have enough credibility, in my mind, for 100
average commuters. and quite honestly- i look forward to chatting with you once
or twice a year on the ride in in the morning. i am sure your workload is all
consuming of your personal and professional time.
yet, as you realize- there are also many 'silent' advocates or evangelists -
whom work, influencing one person at a time to utilize efficiency of the bike
as a source of transportation. helping make common sense decisions, and
actually promoting a bicycle over most other forms of urban transportation.
i'm not talking the preaching to the choir types, whom shout to the faithful
how great bicycling is. i'm talking about being approachable, informative and
resourceful. being known without all the pomp and adverse culture goofiness
associated with fringe efforts.
i personally choose to join bfw as soon as i found out about it, and its
mission of advocacy and lobby efforts. it is a great organization, not with out
it's little things internally. generally- it seems every one is pulling in the
same direction. but seriously- it took some effort to find out more. the
website itself shows limited sophistication in communication. finding out about
bfw should take no effort at all. it is not an exclusive group.
my frustration comes from the fact that whenever i approach friends and
associates, whom i assume by their affiliation to commuting and bicycling, are
aware of the bfw and efforts- yet, end up having to introduce them to the whole
series of issues. again the only resource is the webpage, and thats not nearly
sticky enough.
it's bewildering to me that the bfw message does not reach the easily
assimilated, much less the difficult ones.
this community is small- by any standards of transportation lobby, and
understandably, even another 1000 paying members would not dent the number
stacked against us. but- then again, those additional 1000 might influence
another 1000 in the next year.
organizations like bfw have two major responsibilities- inform members and ask
for volunteers and resources, and influence legislation. the rest is just a
social benefit of camaraderie.
thats my main issue- which manifest thru the misinterpretation that bfw was
sponsoring and announcing events thru a website i had no idea existed.
it is still my opinion that milwaukee bike events posted in a chicago biking
site - sets an exclusive tone.
best-
ed.
On 11/1/07, David Schlabowske <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
I agree there are people who have not joined the bfw who should. I am not
sure if it is because they don't know about it though. And even if it is
because they don't know about the bfw, I am not sure a blog will help them
learn about it.
If you google "bicycle wisconsin" the bfw website is the second hit. I
recognize that many entities with websites are adding blogs these days, but
they are also adding myspace pages too. I'm not sure where to stop or if all
the internet clutter helps things or makes it harder to find things.
Besides, the bikewinter events are not really BFW events. They are similar
to the Biketoberfest ride, the Fat Tire Tour and the Tour de Farce rides.
Since they involve riding and going to taverns, they are not BFW events. Some
BFW people help out with them on their own time and attend the ride, but they
don't sponsor the ride. Bikewinter is something I started because I rode with
some Chicago bikewinter people and I thought it would be fun to do the same
stuff in Milwaukee. The Chicago people kindly added us to their already pretty
nice Bikewinter website. The goal of Bikewinter is to have fun cycling in
winter, make some fun winter rides for those who already to and prove to people
that it is fun and possible. The BFW is a distant cousin of Bikewinter. Sort
of like the difference between Critical Mass and the BFW.
That said, I agree it would be great to have more cyclists support the bfw.
The most effective traditional ways of garnering membership for goups like this
tend to be through point of purchase areas and magazines. That is how
snowmobile organizations and ATV groups get members. The next best way is
through targeted social marketing. Events like the Saris gala, the Bone Ride,
the Eppstein Uhen Beyond Design Ride and speaking to other interest groups like
the Cream City Cycle Club allow you to make a personal impression and a
personal ask to join.
Still a larger membership drive is not a bad idea. I'm still not sure a blog
would help too much, but it couldn't hurt. It does take additional time to
write on the blog. I'm not staff, so I don't know if the BFW has time to do
that. But perhaps a super volunteer could help and write a weekly entry or
something. I am 45 years old and I learned programming with punch cards in
high school and Fortran and Pascal in college. I wear wool jerseys and my 1998
carbon fiber US Postal road racing bike is now considered vintage. It still
works pretty well and I can ride right along side lots of younger people on
lighter, newer more high tech bikes, so I see no reason to get something new.
I guess I suffer from that old person perspective.
So I am not the person to ask about modern internet communication techniques.
I started this listserv; I started the bikewinter stuff here and I started
the BFW office in Milwaukee. Perhaps their time is over and some new forum is
needed. I welcome and (I bet the BFW staff would welcome) anyone who wants to
start that new fourm.
Dave
"e.hay" < [EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
i'm not suggesting that bfw conduct a door to door campaign nor spend
its precious little resource on social advertising. this is not about some
santa ride on the eastside with drinks- as enjoyable as it sounds, right now.
regardless-
i am commenting that there are people, that are concerned about supporting bfw
advocacy with time and or money, or would be if the word got out outside of
archaic and hidden resources, like bikewinter chicago, or some random milbtw
signup, listserv or whatever, and presented as a unified resource in an
accessible location.
these random communication sources limit effective advocacy, exemplified by an
announcement in a major bicycling magazine whose information that cannot be
found by a simple google search , (yes- thats where i typically start to locate
information) and the people not in the know, have to request from the people in
the know. and that is not empowering.
there are people who love to participate, love to read the paper, read their
email and hang out at local bike shop- but still the message of bfw, for some
reason does not register. it should be an easy sell. wouldn't you think?
why is the communication aspect so difficult?
here's one solution:
there are a ton of resources that are free- or darn near free- bfw could start
a google or wordpress blog- it doesnt even cost local server space for that-
and these announcements would be posted there, and my rss aggregator would
gather them in a timely fashion. and i would be in the know.
x- i could start one in the next ten minutes- and control the content- but i'm
sure that bfw would prefer to handle their message.
seems like the communication of this group is stuck somewhere in the early 90's
and still running unix listserv, which sounds retro cool and all- but no one
really uses terminal any more to get information.
On 10/31/07, Jason Capriotti < [EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Thanks everyone for the plethora of information!
For what it's worth, when searching Google for event information ("santa
cycle rampage" 2007 milwaukee), the top result made it look like the BikeWinter
calendar did not have it in there (
http://bikewinter.org/calendar/scheduleofevents.php?city_id=2&bwy=2007&showPast=true
). I unfortunately ignored the second result (which was actually correct)
because the link looked almost exactly the same. Most of the other results
looked like misses.
Either way, the PDF flyer is the way to go... it is now posted at work and
put in a few select mailboxes :)
- Jason
On 10/31/07, David Schlabowske < [EMAIL PROTECTED] > wrote:
Well, the event was published in a national magazine, there are always
hundreds of posters and flyers distributed, it is mentioned on this listserv
numerous times, it is usually mentioned in the local newspapers and it is on
the BikeWinter calendar, which is an organization dedicated to these activities
and has a calendar posting them all for several cities involved, kind of a
central clearing house.
Besides posters, flyers, emails, websites, newspaper stories, magazine
stories and listservs, how would you prefer we promote the activities? I think
the bikewinter calendar is superior to a google calendar. I use google for the
hollander bike club calendar and it is very difficult to figure out what is
going on when you look at it. You have to click on anything you want learn
about.
There are people who don't participate in many things. Lots of people don't
read the newspaper, watch the news, or go to bike shops. I think you have to
get involved at some level if you want to know about things. Sure the BFW
could advertise more, but that costs money and I prefer as a member that they
spend it on lobbying and advocacy. They printed thousands of posters and
flyers about the SARIS event. It was published in the newspaper and hundreds
of people attended the very successful event. Still, there were certainly some
cyclists who did not know about it.
Not sure if there is more that can be done than what they are doing.
Dave
"e.hay" <[EMAIL PROTECTED] > wrote:
i know the bfw does not claim to be a social club of like minded types-
but when sponsoring an event-
why is it that information for these events so difficult to locate?
this xmas ride sounds awesome, and something i may like to participate. why
bury information about a milwaukee social bike ride in a chicago bikewinter
page.
maybe its just me. and i'm clueless.
but maybe its not just me. and a larger issue.
most of my buddies whom ride bikes and are philosophical advocates for, and
active in integrated commuting, never know much about bfw , its advocacy for
transportation and planning issues, or most events beside ride to work week.
and therefore never feel obligated to join and contribute.
i cannot emphasize enough. there are commuters and bike advocates that have no
idea this niche organization exists, nor know enough to support it.
despite my best scheduling techniques and juggling, it would be nice, if
important events like the county meeting that barry and bill were lucky to
attend and represent recently at washington park, be promoted by the bfw, with
talking point suggestions, well ahead of time. that way a few more of us might
get these things on our schedule, and actually promote the direction.
consider establishing a calendar with rss feed, or a public google calendar or
what ever web 2.0 app is already developed and public to communicate these
issues. consolidate the information.
On 10/31/07, jessica wineberg < [EMAIL PROTECTED] > wrote:
Details on the Santa Cycle Rampage are at:
http://bikewinter.org/calendar/scheduleofevents.php?city_id=2 and in the
December issue of Bicycling Magazine!
www.bikewinter.org has a wealth of information to help keep you riding all
winter long (you may not need it if this amazing warm weather keep going
strong) and a growing event calendar.
Jessica Wineberg
Education and Planning
Bicycle Federation of WI
1845 N Farwell, Suite 100
Milwaukee , WI 53202
414-431-1761
www.BFW.org
---------------------------------
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto: [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Jason
Capriotti
Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2007 12:10 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: [milbtw] Santa Cycle Rampage listed in Bicycling magazine
Where can I find some info about the Santa Cycle Rampage? Sounds like
it'd be fun to go to, even if I don't know anyone yet...
Cheers,
Jason
On 10/31/07, David Schlabowske < [EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Correct, you can buy a Santa suit from Walgreens for about $10
right in December. It really makes the ride look better if people are in
costume. And the biggest benefit to you is wearing a santa suit while you ride
your bike makes you the most popular road user on the street. It is the only
time people in cars are really happy to see you on your bike. I would be
willing to bet that wearing a santa suit improves your safety on the road far
more than wearing a helmet.
But you can come as an elf, present, dredl, reindeer or any other holiday
themed costume. You are welcome to come without a costume, but like I said, it
really makes the ride to have lots of people in costumes.
Ho, ho, ho,
Dave
"ADAMCZEWSKI, RICHARD (ATTWIB)" < [EMAIL PROTECTED] > wrote:
most of the suits worn are from Walgreen's for ten bucks. Some
people have started to make their own Christmas themed costumes. Back to your
question, sure you can ride without a suit if you so choose, no problem
Scrooge, ;-)
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Adam
Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2007 10:45 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: [milbtw] Santa Cycle Rampage listed in Bicycling magazine
Can you ride this if you don't have a santa suit
laying around?
Costume mandatory?
I was also stoked to see MKE mentioned in the the mag
this month.
Adam
--- cyclinkos < [EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> The December issue of Bicycling Magazine page 25 has
> Milwaukee's
> Santa Cycle Rampage listed as taking place on
> December 15th this year.
> Last year was a blast with a great showing. This
> year may even be
> better.
>
>
>
>
> To Post a message, send it to:
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to:
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com
__._,_.___ Messages in this topic (1) Reply (via web post) | Start a new
topic
Messages | Files | Photos | Links | Database | Polls | Members | Calendar
To Post a message, send it to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required)
Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch format to
Traditional
Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe
Recent Activity
1
New Files
Visit Your Group
New web site?
Drive traffic now.
Get your business
on Yahoo! search.
Yahoo! 360°
Get Started
Your place online
To share your life
Endurance Zone
on Yahoo! Groups
Groups about
better endurance.
.
__,_._,___
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com _______________________________________________
Bikies mailing list
[email protected]
http://www.danenet.org/mailman/listinfo/bikies
