Guest Post: Penny Troutner on Cycling Advocacy in Baltimore

I used to do some lobbying for a health care non-profit, trying to expand heath care coverage in Maryland.  The message, that increasing affordable health care is a moral and economic imperative, is a tough sell, you know.  Someone with a corporate or government job may have no idea what it is like to go without health care.  And getting the message through is quite a challenge – the political world is full of advocates, and it’s difficult to get a coherent idea through all the noise.  There was no room for apologies regarding the problems of Medicare fraud, or disputes about whether we’re going in the exact right direction, or complaints that our own personal health care issue wasn’t being addressed.   The message had to be organized, focused, positive, and relentless.

Bicycle advocacy is a tough sell also.  Most government administrators don’t know what it is like to use a bicycle for commuting, rigorous exercise, competition, socializing, exploration, or escape (from life’s frustrations – not the other kind, …although, there’s that).

Anyway, just when it seemed as though Baltimore City was poised to make real progress in our direction, we have been dealt blow after blow of disappointments.  A very obvious and tragic case of a car not yielding the right of way to a bicyclist in a bike lane is still not resolved by the police.  Loch Raven Reservoir, long loved, long ridden, and consistently maintained by mountain bikers is being yanked away – every proposal and partnership offer from the mountain bike community being immediately dismissed.  A resolution by the Baltimore City Council for Complete Streets design is rejected by the City Administration.   Pretty lousy, right?  So, we could whine about it… or we could do something.

Let’s say we should do something – it has to be the right thing. The bicycle advocacy movement needs operate in the same manner as any good lobbying effort. The group needs to be organized, focused, positive, and relentless to break through the noise and earn respect outside it’s domain.

It’s not there yet.  There are significant hiccups.  Here are some of our common, negative actions:

• When experienced cyclists critique the value of bike lanes, progress for the inexperienced cyclist crumbles and takes a back seat to internal bickering.  Those already enamored of our sport need to advocate for conditions that encourage more people to take up our sport and increase our numbers.

• When cyclists rise up on one issue, their own, and ignore the plight of other cyclists, the potential strength of the message dissolves, and we devolve into just a few small inconsequential and unconnected groups, easily dismissible.  There is strength in numbers and we are stronger as a whole.

• Finally, when cyclists criticize other cyclists or apologize for cyclists’ behaviors, or bring negative cycling behavior to the attention of the officials we lobby, it’s as disruptive as nails on a chalkboard.  When  advocating for an underrepresented group, the officials already hold all the cards – there’s no sense handing them a whole new deck.  Casting cyclists in a bad light reinforces the very opinion we are trying to reverse – that we are a problem.  There is no reason to demonize your own,  others are doing that very nicely already. Stand up for your own and deflect criticism from officials.  That is the job of the advocate.  It is about the whole – it is not about you.

So how do we know what to say?  Face time with someone who has many pressing issues to deal with is precious.   When speaking to government officials or the press, are we making the best use of the time?

• Are we staying on point and pounding in the group message?

• Using a few key phrases that frame the argument?

• Giving the official some positive action he/she can take to alleviate a bad situation and feel productive?

• Making it clear to whomever is your audience: our issue is their issue, our gain will be their gain?

• Conveying the plight of those we are representing?  The official has no interest in developing empathy for this group of people; however, if that empathy develops over time, then we have a convert – the best of all possible triumphs.  Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke is a prime example.

Those in charge must direct the group to be exactly this –  organized, focused, positive, and relentless.  As they lead, the rest of us need to offer our support and participation.  However, any of the previously mentioned negative actions will demonstrate a lack of solidarity, innate organizational weakness, and a lack of resolve on the part of the advocates.  If I were on the other side and witnessed such actions, I would not take us seriously, either.  So, let’s start our journey with an important thought for all of us:

Primum Non Nocere – Do No Harm.