Advocacy

You can make a difference in cycling by participating in local government, serving on boards and commissions, and by writing thoughtful letters of persuasion to newspapers and government officials.

To do so you will need to know what the issues are, what the public perception of cycling is, what objections you are likely to encounter, and the methods to counter them.

Locally and across the nation communities are forming bicycle and pedestrian committees to address the needs of non-motorized transport. Public officials are often eager to improve air quality, traffic congestion, and inadequate parking through low-cost transportation alternatives.

Get involved early and know the facts so that you can make useful contributions in the discussions. With support from other cyclists your ideas may well be adopted. As this page grows it will contain links to cycling advocacy organizations, informative letters, useful statistics, and references to 'best practices' from around the globe.

Use the Bulletin Board Forum to discuss local and national transportation issues. The forum is open to the public and your participation is encouraged.

Article	Author	Description
Effective Cycling and other Bicycling books.	John Forester	Contrary to popular belief, cycling in traffic is neither particularly difficult nor particularly dangerous. Cyclists who operate in accordance with the traffic laws for drivers of vehicles (which is what the law requires) encounter few problems and have a low accident rate.
Effective Advocacy	John Andersen	Wouldn’t it be nice if cyclists could make suggestions, give input, and take actions that are listened to and acted upon? John Andersen offers tips on effective advocacy.
31 Ways You Can Promote Bicycling	WA Bicycle Alliance	So, what can you do? Here are 31 ways that typical businesses, institutions and individuals can promote bicycling.
Life in the Bike Lane	Dave Feske	The goal of establishing a successful pedestrian/bicycle program is best achieved through a comprehensive transportation plan in which pedestrian and bicycle concerns are fully integrated in local planning, design and construction of transportation facilities.
Adult Bicyclists in the United States	William E. Moritz, Ph.D.	This survey provides a snap-shot of the cycling habits of adults across the U.S. who cycle on a regular basis.
Basic Improvements for Bicyclists	John Williams	Here are some simple ways to improve bicycling in your community. These improvements are mostly inexpensive and require a minimum of specialized bicycle planning. They can help ease conflicts and congestion for all modes of transportation—cars, bikes, and pedestrians.
Perceptions of Bicycle Safety	Frank Krygowski	Is cycling a hazardous activity? No. Its hourly fatality rate in the US seems to be about half that of riding in a car; about 1/4 that of going for a swim.