Aims of workshop: to identify areas for Advocacy effort; to assign priorities and discuss strategies.
From the BNSW Policy booklet:
AIMS of BNSW
Mission: to promote cycling Objectives:
For the purposes of the w/shop these aims were thought to be appropriate.
1. Other Peoples Views (OPV)
As a warm up exercise the workshop was asked to put themselves in the role of various community groups or authorities and respond to a cyclists group such as BNSW or a local BUG asking for more money for bicycling facilities and the promotion of cycling.
Died in the wool Car Drivers ( non cyclists)- shock at the idea, not interested, too dangerous, cyclists get in the way, don't pay rego, too hard to change habits.
Minister in Government - not my responsibility - no votes in it- too new an idea- may offend other interest groups- no clear vision of what is needed. Maybe some health benefits. May be some green votes in it. (the opinion was that with minister's names such as Carr, Debus and Car(l) Scully there wasn't a lot of hope for cyclists)
Parent with 4 children- Need more paths - worried about safety - kerb ramps useful- no places to ride for my kids- school policies against cycling- theft a problem- too tired/busy to go out and ride with my kids.
Young office worker- cyclists don't respect pedestrians- don't like helmets- theft and parking problems in city- not trendy- don't care- don't get up early enough - cant use my mobile- have graduated to a car- no encouragement - boss wont provide facilities like shower. Pros- better than the bus - more freedom-getting fitter.
Business people in Suits- would rather drive to the gym-doesn't fit my image- cant get tri-flow off my suit(use white lightning)- appearance and hair-dislike couriers- nothing in it for me. Pros- may be good for health, stress relief. Could be good for improving corporate Green image. Might solve some staff parking problems. Have to sell me on the idea.
Teenagers- younger: cool, if parents don't do it- like a BMX track- lets me get around- don't like helmets, bells and lights- messes my hair (gel-factor)- cant smoke while riding- girls don't ride much- older: am concentrating on getting my Ls and riding bikes on the street is for kids. MTB is cool.
Commuter- Too far to ride- cyclists take up too much space on trains- cant use my lap top/play cars/shave if riding- no lockers at station- ill be late if get flat tyre- awkward if raining- ive always caught the train, why change?-rather leave cycling for the weekend. Pros- would be cheaper- enjoy cycling away from cars on cycletracks- getting fitter.
Newtown trendy/feral ( inner city dweller)- Cycling is quick and cheap- easy to get around. Like being alternative/green. Don't like getting wet.-too much traffic- glass on roads. No bike network- rather walk- bikes no good if drinking or taking drugs. Does or doesn't fit my tribe's image. Police hassles over helmets and footpath riding.
Lessons from OPV session:
_Bicycling advocates need to relate to individuals circumstances. Objections and opinions vary widely and give plenty of scope for action and campaigns. Wide variety of problems and perceived problems from different groups in the community. Have to devise appropriate strategies to reach different groups.
_need to have positive arguments and facts ready to counter the common objections.
2.Setting up a BUG.
Advice on this can be found in the BUG advocacy kit. This kit was put together by Matt Faber in about 1992 and may need some updating.
Further work on the role of BUGs and their relation with BNSW was done by a subcommittee in 1995.
A new Concord/Drummoyne (Canada Bay Council area)
is being set up in early 2001. How best to go about it?
Advice from the workshop participants for the group was
to:
Advertise a meeting in local papers, noticeboards, through community groups, relevant people like local MP and councillors. Do a mailout to BNSW members in area. (BNSW will assist.) Talk to Council staff - they may assist in advertising thru newsletters,web site etc. Talk to the Traffic Engineers and establish your BUGs presence and interest. Ask if a Bicycle Advisory Committee exists and if you may join or form one. Attend other meetings in the area and get yourself known. Do a letter box drop. Have a stall at the shopping centre/station/park/pol etc to attract new members. Get an email list going and a web site.
3.BUGs and BNSW
BUGs are set up under the banner of BNSW and should be composed of people with BNSWs aims in mind. BUG leaders should be members of BNSW and encourage their members to join BNSW. There are insurance benefits for BMSW leaders and members if most of the group are BNSW members. There are some grey areas in the insurance coverage of a group not made up of mostly BNSW members, which BUGs should be aware of.
BUGs are usually seen as concentrating on local issues whilst BNSW looks after broader issues, but there is often overlap. eg Bike North has a Rail Trail group which is not confined to the north shore.
BUGs and BNSW need to communicate better - BUGs to give BNSW details of activities and attend or send a report to, some at least, of Advocacy Committee meetings ( currently held bi-monthly). BNSW to keep BUGs abreast of BNSWs latest activities and campaigns as well as acting as a centre for BUGs to exchange ideas and work on campaigns together. A web site and email talk lists are seen as the best way to facilitate this.
BUGs are seen to be rather fragmented, with "blackholes" in their coverage of the City and the State, but with some excellent BUGs in certain areas. BUGs come in many shapes and sizes, from large groups like Bike North to one person groups, who can all be highly effective.
Innovative ideas such as WORMs were discussed. A WORM is (?) a Working Group on Regional Matters - and could be set up to lobby and do research in areas such as Bikes On Trains, Rails to Trails, Parking, Media, Web design, and other campaigns that cut across BUG boundaries. Membership of WORMS would be drawn from BUGs plus a wider pool of cycle advocates who are happy to work on campaigns of interest.
BUGs might also be formed by interest groups, such as road racing cyclists or as has happened recently, gay groups, even if the name BUG isn't used explicitly.
BUGs ( if more than a one person group) and WORMs will need to recruit members ( see previous section on setting up a new BUG).
Structure of BUGs is highly variable. Groups with executives and sub groups and committees can be contrasted to small groups with loose structure or one person only. These are seen as valid models but some concern that there should be more uniformity in coverage and activities of BUGs, perhaps with a Super BUG to coordinate. Another idea (mine) is to have Sydney divided into N S E and W areas and have 4 big BUGs. This would allow better working with the RTA and in regional forums such as ROCs and DUAP or RTA western Sydney bike forum.
BUGs need to caucus on their aims and activities so that advocates are not working at cross purposes.
BUGs and BNSW need to develop their strategies and capture the agenda.
4.BUG advocacy areas - brain storming session. (items not listed in any sort of priority)
1. More and better on-road facs needed. BP 2010 is
off- road biased and opportunistic - doesn't
attempt to" fill in the gaps". BNSW could do its
own BP and present it to govt.
2. Dual Mode - work on getting commuters to ride
to stations/ferries/buses. Job for a WORM.
3. Letter writing- reportedly costs RTA $600 to reply
to a letter, so may be in their best interests to
satisfy cyclists demands.
4. BUGs to work cooperatively on campaigns such as
Dual Mode or Parking etc.
5. New BUG kit needed. Jon Carle working on a web
fact pack for advocates, with about 12 one page
sections with essential info for advocates.
6. BUG grants - get funding from RTA, BITA or
other agencies so BUGs or WORMs can do useful
work. Lists of available grants needed. ( MSSBUG
recently got a large grant to do a transport study
in Marrickville/Ashfield/Leichhardt)
7. web and email centre for BUGs and BNSW seen
as way to coordinate campaigns/share info
8. BNSW to travel to BUG meetings.
9. Media- make better use of. May need some
professional training.
10. Working group on standards and guides. Develop
our own or lobby for new RTA Green Guide.
11. Road Safety issues. Attitude of drivers to cyclists
needs changing. Speed. Road rules. Premier's
road safety task force - will its recommendations
do anything for cyclists?
12. Recalcitrant councils - identify and lobby. Good
councils- praise and use as examples. Council of
the year award? Traffic Engineer profiles for Push
On.
13. Health Dept - forge alliance, also with DUAP and
other agencies.
14. Form letters - urge our members to write letters
on various campaigns. Use form letters in Push On
or web site or dot points to stimulate members
ideas.
15. Funding - seek funding from alternative sources to
RTA for bike facs. Business/dept Health etc.
Sustrans model or Baulkham Hills model. Lobby
for increased RTA Council funding 3 to 1 rather
than 1 to 1. Look at ROCs ( Regional Groupings
of Councils) to pool funds across Council
boundaries. Sproats Inquiry into Council
boundaries and workings may be relevant.
16. Alliances with racing cyclists and MTB groups.
17. Oil crisis and green politics - how to get in and use
the petrol price increase to our advantage. ( BFA
issue or BNSW/BUG?)
18. Advertising- from T shirts to Rides to newsletters
- need to be seen and heard in the community.
Use well known identities such as Stuart O Grady
to publicise cycling and BNSW.
19. Education/Promotion pgms
20. Cycle Proficiency Schemes. Resurrect shelved
schemes.
21. Research - identify and assist researchers in Unis
who might want to do work on cycling.
22. Ride to Work campaign - get people involved in
cycling. Good publicity for BNSW, use to promote
improvements to cycling. (Danish model -
competition over 3 wk period, funded by business
and govt)
23. Country cycling- promote bicycle tourism through
such schemes as the coastline cycleway. Grants -
see Nic Gellie (PP ACT)
24. Cycle to schools - campaign to develop safe
routes to schools. Find a demonstration school.
25. Tax and Govt funding issues- get better
treatment for cycling to work, reduce tax
concessions for drivers and company cars, better
road funding deals like TEAS21 in US.
Further work needs to be done to assign priorities
and develop strategies for all these important
advocacy areas.
As a first assessment, the group identified Road
Safety and Attitudes, developing a Bicycle Plan,
developing a web site and Ride to Work as high
priorities for BNSW and BUGs to work on.
send comments to president@bicyclensw.
Next advocacy meeting scheduled for March 14 at BNSW, 630 pm.
Bob Moore
President
Bicycle NSW
27/2/01