[Second in a series of articles about "Advocating for Bicyclists – At the Community Level" First article focused on the new MA Vision Zero program.]

Quiz:

Look at the following choices of words and consider which ones might be more effective when speaking as an advocate or ambassador for bicycling in your community:

1. 'crashes' vs. 'accidents'
2. Speaking as a 'cyclist' or 'somebody who bikes'
3. 'vulnerable road user' vs. 'active transportation user'

Answers:

Let's acknowledge upfront that there rarely is one correct answer for all situations; so treat these as examples which can be modified to fit a specific context and audience.

1. 'crashes' vs 'accidents' - This is the easiest one. The Boston Globe, local Police Departments, Drivers Ed, etc., years ago switched from "accidents" to "crashes"  when referring to car collisions. Using "accident" implies that the incident was unintentional and not preventable, while "crash" acknowledges that most collisions can be avoided through responsible driving or can be attributed to factors like driver error or unsafe conditions.  This encourages a focus on prevention and safety measures. If your local paper, fellow rider, or police officer slip up and says 'accident', remind them in a tactful way of the importance of word choice.
   
   
2. 'cyclist' or 'somebody who bikes' - Many of us can identify as either depending on the circumstances. Wieke Wicks has a great way of describing the distinctions, so I'll quote an excerpt from her article:

Do I consider myself as a “cyclist”? Well, I love to go out into the countryside on my road bike (yes, all kitted out, I’m one of those). After an hour on the road I’ve had every thought in my head, remembered (and forgot), every errand, mulled over every work problem, and had every silly idea that’ll never be followed up. After that, it’s just the road, the landscape, me, and my bike, and maybe the odd pothole. Those are the days when I’m a cyclist.

But day to day cycling is a different thing - it’s not a hobby, or a leisure choice: it’s simple logistics. I’m just a person on a bike. I fully appreciate that for many it’s pretty daunting, or practically unfeasible - often due to the (lack of) infrastructure, bad experiences or near misses.

Why is the distinction useful when speaking as an advocate for improved bicycling policies and safety in your community? There are many articles (one example) out there that delve into psychological reasons why 'cyclist' conjures up negativity among the general public. One simplified explanation is that:

• Cyclists are usually invisible to motorists
• But if the cyclist runs a red light or commits some other traffic violation, they become quite visible
• Or if the cyclist is properly taking the lane on a narrow road and thus holding up impatient motorists, the cyclist is unfairly viewed as a cause of traffic congestion
• Confirmation bias kicks in and we end up with the negative stereotype of (all) cyclists

If you speak as 'someone who bikes' in a public forum you will connect with a lot more people who occasionally bike but who don't identify as 'cyclists.' 

3) 'vulnerable road user' vs. “active transportation user” - No easy choice here.  Recently enacted in Massachusetts with the support of MassBike is the Vulnerable Road User Bill. Because the bill covers multiple road user types including pedestrians, roadside workers, horse riders, bicyclists, and wheelchair users, the label 'vulnerable road user' makes a lot of sense. 

For some trying to promote more bicycle use in their community, 'vulnerable road user' perpetuates the bias that cycling is dangerous. They prefer 'active transportation user' and then describe the proven health benefits associated with regular cycling.

For those of us who have challenging segments for some of our regular trips by bike, 'vulnerable' can be an appropriate term. When encouraging others to bike more often, I try to find the right balance - I will focus on the health and environmental benefits and then help them find routes with minimal vulnerability.

__________

CRW has invited Terry Gleason to contribute articles to WheelPeople from my perspective on cycling community advocacy. We hope that these articles will serve to educate CRW members on local, regional, and national issues that directly affect their safety and enjoyment of cycling.

Comments, suggestions, and alternate opinions are always welcomed. Click on “Add Comment” below to share your thoughts and get a public conversation going. Feel free to contact Terry directly via email (BedfordBike@gmail.com [include "CRW" in the Subject]) If you are an active bicyclist advocate and/or wish to do more in your community,