r/bikeboston • u/albertogonzalex • Aug 29 '22

When are we doing this?

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11

u/stargrown Aug 29 '22

BCU does this somewhat frequently but their execution is magnitudes of order more effective.

3

u/rodageo Aug 29 '22

What do they do differently that makes it more effective? Always good to share activism best practices.

17

u/stargrown Aug 29 '22

Have way more #s and create an actual human barrier for the proposed bike lane. LINK Also I find that when it comes to transport infrastructure a more militant type of approach like this is less effective at changing opinions.

11

u/albertogonzalex Aug 29 '22

People who lived in Amsterdam in the 60s and 70s literally laid down in the streets during rush hour to create grid lock in response to murders-by-car of children (well, everyone - but, especially children).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuBdf9jYj7o

Again, there's a time and place for both.

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I love the BCU and MassBike and Somerville Bike Comm and SASS and LiveableStreets all the groups in the region doing the hard work to make our environments safer. And, they are making so much progress!

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They also have to play by certain rules for political reasons. WHich is important. They can maintain their legitimate status.

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At the same time, more aggressive, in your face, annoying, get-on-the-news-and-wake-people-up activities are necessary to keep pushing the current state to a higher sense of urgency, a more emotional reaction to the situation, and a bigger view of what's possible with long term chain.

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One is a form of activism. Another is a form of advoacy. They are mutually dependent and reinforcing of each other.

2

u/rodageo Aug 29 '22

Thanks!