To coin a phrase . . .

What do we look like to 'those out there'?
I think lodged in many *completely* non-cyclists' minds is: "Why
would you want to ride a bike when you can drive a car? It's a no-
brainer, no? You don't get tired, or wet, or threatened (as much),
you get their a lot quicker, and can listen in comfort to your
favouirite music". Of course, most people have ridden a bike at some
stage in their life, more or less, and can see some of the advantages
to it, but are daunted by the difficulties of using it every day, to
do a 'normal'job of transportation. Dhugal's point
about 'Europeanising' our (and other people's) attitude to cycling is
a good one - it's not something a separate group of people do, it's
just normal. There's no stigma to it - it's not just a 'poor'
person's mode of travel. Heck, we sip enough lattes and import enough
European designer objects . . .

Every bit of (good)publicity we get is valuable. (Vive Le Tour!!!) I
know some people have a problem with CMass, or aspects of it, but
even supposed 'negative' publicity in tabloid organs can be read by
critical observers of the media as the occurence of something which
is causing the status quo to sit up and take notice. I'm all for
that - recalling (The Hon. Senator) Bob Brown being divvy-vanned on
occasion (hope it doesn't come to that). To make a point, you've got
to state your opposition to accepted practice: clearly calmly,
concisely, creatively. Please don't thread this as a pro/anti CM
message - I'm just trying to tease out the issues of "us and them",
them as potential us, bikes are fun, etc. But not just fun, the
creative solution to a problem many folk are unwilling to face - why
are so many parts of our city designed first and foremost around
private motorised transport? Why does that make then un-fun to be in?
Aren't bikes (trams, trains) the logical solution to un-fun? How can
we make the almost-fun bits more fun? Profit vs. people . . . don't
get me started . . .

I'm putting my name down as someone else who is interested in helping
people with the nuts and bolts (and twists and turns) of bikes -
having worked in the bike industry in various niches and crevices for
long enough to want to try something else for a while. I don't mind a
busman's holiday . . .

"It's Muddy, the Acoustic Motorbike" - Luka Bloom

Mark Horner