Jonathan,
Excellent paper! Thanks for sharing it. While it recognizes that parents' fears are irrational yet real and probably due to changes in our individual and community lifestyles that result in a decline in trust of others to look out for our children, it reinforces why I think the card should say "Learn to Ride without Fear" rather than "Learn to Ride with Confidence".
When we made the original ad that's been running in the DP 4 days a week since March that shows the kid on the bike and the tag line "Rediscover the Joy and Freedom of Riding Your Bike", we were trying to send a message to adults and parents that cycling can still be pleasant and fun if they took CCC TS101. That didn't work.
I think we have to get both the parents and their children to learn to ride without fear. I learned that when I took Traffic Skills 101. Until then, I had fear. Now, I hardly do. How do we get others to realize that? We could try to implement the suggestions near the end of your paper, and I think we should, but beyond the scope of the bicycle board.
How can we end this maddening (anti) cycle, and end the fears of parents? Persuade them to take CCC TS101 where they will "Learn to Ride without Fear".
Maybe Aira's "Confident City Cycling ~ Tame your fear with riding skills that reduce the risk of collisions or accidents." is a better way of saying it.
I was going to keep quiet until the last words were in on this and then just go with the group consensus but after reading your paper, I couldn't keep quiet. I'll still go with the consensus though.
On Oct 19, 2010, at 7:33 PM, Jonathan Rosenbaum wrote:
If there is one thing we should fear as a stumbling block to the
success of the Bicycle Board, it is the fear of parents. I am
attaching a good read titled "Nothing but fear itself". While this
article applies to walking, namely parents fears of strangers (just ask
the school board), parents find similar fears why their children can't
be riding .. like "It isn't safe.". Let's be honest here, for the vast
majority of us who have ridden consistently throughout our life from
childhood onwards, it was our parents who were both encouraging and
supportive of bicycling. Unfortunately, I am meeting lots of parents
today who completely discourage their children from bicycling, and
their children grow-up doing the exact same thing. How can we end this
maddening (anti) cycle, and end the fears of parents?
-Jonathan
Gunnar Shogren wrote:
I like Aira's phrase too, but I'm still fearful.
Even though I have a headlight on in the early morning and it's
blinking, I am still afraid that some knuckle head is gonna pull out
in front of me as I come zipping down Wiley. I see their bumpers
nudge forward and I prepare myself for the worst, but I'm still a bit
fearful.
On Tue, Oct 19, 2010 at 3:16 PM, Ryan Post <rpostwvu@gmail.com> wrote:
I think I agree with Aira. When I’m riding, I don’t have fear. It’s not
fear that keeps me safe. It’s knowing what to look for, and then looking for
it. Considering hazardous scenarios before they develop and either keeping
them from happening, or getting out of the way when they do.
Example, I’m not afraid of pot holes or dogs, I’m aware and prepared for
them. Maybe after I get hit by a coal truck I’ll change my mind.
From: bikeboard-bounces@cheat.org [mailto:bikeboard-bounces@cheat.org] On
Behalf Of Aira Loren Burkhart
Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2010 3:03 PM
To: Morgantown Bike Board
Subject: Re: [Bikeboard] Another election!
I don't mind the "without fear" or "fearlessly". because really, when I ride
in the road (in most circumstances), I am not any more afraid than a person
is while driving a car. I used to be afraid when I first started riding and
now not, ergo, aira is now more "fearless". I expect that most of us only
feel the rush of fear when something unusual or dangerous happens, but you
would feel that in a car too.
Confident City Cycling ~
Tame your fear with riding skills that reduce the risk of collisions or
accidents.
that's a bit wordy, but I think it might be what we mean?
aira
On Tue, Oct 19, 2010 at 2:46 PM, Frank Gmeindl <frank.gmeindl@comcast.net>
wrote:
Thanks, Alice. I'm not sure I understand the wording change you're
proposing. Confident City Cycling in stead, less intimidating? Please
give me the wording to put on the card.
Frank
On Oct 19, 2010, at 2:24 PM, Alice Vernon wrote:
I like the third one but do not like the "Cycling without fear" as Gunnar
said. I ride with confidence but fear as well as it keeps me alive. What
about Confident Cycling in stead, less intimidating?
Alice
On Tue, Oct 19, 2010 at 12:27 PM, Frank Gmeindl <frank.gmeindl@comcast.net>
wrote:
Bicycle Board Members,
Thanks again to Gary Rodosta for creating the attached options for Confident
City Cycling business cards. There are 4 options in the attached file.
Please vote for the one that you think would be best for making available
at local bike shops and other venues at which to advertise our bicycling
education program. Since number 4 is basically a black & white version,
please just vote for 1, 2 or 3.
Based on your votes, I'll take the winner to the printer by the end of this
week.
Frank
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