Welcome Love to Ride
Trailsnet is a huge supporter of bicycling for recreation, commuting & exercise. Needless to say, we love it when we find new organizations that promote bicycling for leisure, sport, health & the environment. So you can imagine our excitement when we discovered LovetoRide.org. We especially love to see organizations that encourage cycling among the uninitiated non-cyclists. Let’s face it; we don’t need to promote cycling among current cyclists, because they have already discovered the many benefits to cycling and we’re hooked. It’s that other 97% of people (in America that’s the percentage – slightly less worldwide) who hardly ever (or never) bike. (View LovetoRide CEO Thomas Stokell’s excellent TedTalk video.)
What We Love about LovetoRide.org
How do we love thee? Let us count the ways:
- As mentioned above, LovetoRide promotes cycling among the non-cyclists. That’s a great start.
- The LovetoRide website looks awesome.
- LovetoRide is both international and local. When you sign up, you are connected to your local community of cyclists. But the ultimate goal is a worldwide increase in the number of bicyclists.
- LovetoRide seems to truly welcome cyclists of all varieties, and that is sorely lacking in other cycling websites/organizations. (more on that later)
Just take a look at the graphics on the website, and you’ll see an inclusive atmosphere. You’ll notice it’s not just populated with road bikes and mountain bikes but also proudly displays cruisers, urban bikes, kid bikes and more.
Einstein on a Bike
Advice and Observations from Trailsnet
Albert Einstein once said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” It’s appropriate to quote Albert Einstein here, because he was a lifelong bicyclist, and he truly got the spirit of cycling. He rode his bicycle for transportation, recreation and inspiration. He was also quoted as saying, “I thought of it while riding my bike.” But does anyone know how fast he rode? How about how many miles or even what type of bike he preferred. He didn’t talk much about those things because they didn’t really matter all that much to him. He appreciated the joy and functionality of bicycling rather than the competition.
The Problem With Bicycle Advocacy Groups
Life in the Bike Lane
That heading is a bit negative and misleading. I love and appreciate bicycle advocacy groups and rejoice when new ones come on board. But (and here’s why I quoted Einstein regarding insanity) the problem with groups that want to promote bicycling to newbies is that they are headed by avid bicyclists. So what’s wrong with avid bicyclists you might ask? Well, for starters, they think like avid cyclists. Therefore, all of their techniques for enticing new cyclists are misguided. They can’t see the forest… Let’s try a more appropriate metaphor: They can’t see the scenery for the peloton. The very things that they love about cycling are not appealing to the other 90-some percent of people who don’t bike.
What Can We Do to Encourage People to Try Cycling?
So here it is. The heart of this whole blog-post. What should LovetoRide & the other bicycle advocacy groups do to encourage new bike riders?
- Safety – The fact: Over a thousand bicyclist die in America each year. What avid bicyclist think: It’ll never happen to me. What the non-cyclists think: Are they crazy?
- Comfort – We all know that autos create pollution, odors, toxic gases, etc. But here’s the irony: Those who drive/ride in the autos are sheltered from the very pollution they create. They ride along in air-conditioned comfort while road-bikers are huffing and puffing on those fumes. Although I haven’t seen exact statistics, I would guess that the slight majority of avid cyclists are road riders. They’re willing to overlook the lack of safety on roads. They’re willing to suffer the odors and risks of sucking in car exhaust. But can you blame newbies for wanting to avoid those discomforts and inconveniences?
- Scenery – Both roads & trails can be scenic. But your average non-cyclist would be mystified as to why you’d ride a bike up that steep mountain or into that beautiful valley when you can just as easily view it from the comfort of a car… on a road. (Remember – I’m thinking like a non-cyclist here.) Plus, how can you really focus on the scenery when you’re constantly concerned (as you should be) that you may get squashed by a car at any instant. Once again, avid road-bikers are willing to overlook the downsides of road-riding. Newbies probably aren’t.
- Affordability – I have been in many cycling groups over the years, and it never ceases to amaze me what the majority of my fellow bikers spend on their cycles and cycling gear. Once again, that mentality is a complete mystery to non-cyclists. I have often heard non-cyclists, upon hearing what avid bike riders pay for their gear, say, “I could get a car/motorcycle for that kind of money.” For the bike shop owner who likes bicyclists to spend more money on biking equipment, don’t worry. It seems to be a natural progression for new cyclists to look for the cheapest bike possible when they first get started, then gradually keep moving up.
- Bike culture – You know what I’m talking about. The spandex, lycra, fancy helmets, snot-rockets, biking terminology, etc. It’s normal for avid bikers. It’s bizarre to non-bikers.
- Competition – What is it with bike riders? They love their statistics. How fast, how far, how much, how many… I wonder how many longtime riders remember when they just biked for fun or relaxation or to get from point a (home?) to point b (school?)? Once again, it all seems so strange to non-bikers.
Limited Ride Types
- Variety – We’re all different. But you wouldn’t know it by visiting most of the bike-mapping websites. When you try to enter your bike ride, they often give you two choices: mountain & road But what if I’m riding a rail-trail or an urban trail or a canal trail or a river trail or a… You get the picture. I’m happy to announce that some of the mapping sites such as Strava are gradually starting to get it and offering categories for ellipticals, electrics, cyclocross, etc. But they still ignore the fact that many people like to ride their bikes on courses other than roads & mountains. And this is especially true of beginning bicyclists. They don’t feel safe or comfortable on either roads or single-track trails.
Here’s How to Promote Bike Riding to Newbies
- Encourage diversity – Not everyone wants to ride an expensive, uncomfortable road or mountain bike. So let’s be more supportive and encouraging of cruisers, tandems, recumbents, urban bikes, stand-ups, ellipticals and electric bikes. (My dad was a lifelong cyclist until his mid-80s. Then he started riding his bike less and less. We got him a pedal-assist electric bike and he’s back to pedaling again and loving it.)
Family on Bike Trail
- Be more inclusive – Don’t send out subtle or not-so-subtle messages that biking is an elite hobby. It shouldn’t be. New riders shouldn’t be intimidated by expensive bikes, exclusive clothing, confusing lingo or endless statistics. Whatever happened to just hopping on a bike and riding for enjoyment without the fear of cars, customs or bike snobs?
- Relax & enjoy the ride – If all the newbies hear and see from bicyclists is racing & competition & prohibitive rides, they’ll remain non-bikers
- Trails – You knew this was coming. We need to show new bicyclists that there are safe, clean, beautiful, relaxing and enjoyable alternatives for bikers. I’m not against road biking and I’m an avid mountain biker. But new bicyclists would love to know that there is a vast network of safe, comfortable and scenic trails out there. They can use these trails for exercise, recreation, socialization and fitness. After they’re comfortable on a bike, they may branch out to road biking, mountain biking, maybe even competitive biking. But most non-bikers have no idea how easy it is to ride on a beautiful rail trail, local urban trail, scenic river trail or historic canal trail.
- Take a look at your staff – How many of them are lifelong bikers? How many of them truly understand how intimidating it is for non-bikers to get started or restarted as a biker in the chaotic world of competitive and obsessive bicycling? If the members of your staff look at the information above and roll their eyes or poo-poo it, maybe you need to look for some staff-members who are willing to ride a mile in the novices shoes. And keep in mind, they won’t be biking shoes. They’ll be ordinary sneakers.
3 comments
Thank you for the great write up for Love to Ride! Your advice is pretty on point and I very appropriate for our times.
What are your thoughts on how we can work together as a community to make that more inclusive vibe spread wider? Is this is a city or regional problem, or should it start even smaller at the bike shop or neighborhood association?
Thank you again!
Author
Hi Arleigh & the rest of the gang at Love to Ride.
Thanks for the comment!!
First, as far as working w/ local bike shops, that’s a great example of how to reach current bicyclists but not non-cyclists. Those of us who love to ride bikes view bike shops like a kid in a candy store. But non-bike-riders never visit bike shops and things like advertising & bike sales don’t appeal to them. Until they discover that bicycling can be safe & relaxing, they’ll never set foot in a bike store.
As for my thoughts on making bicycling more inclusive, the big answer is: Provide newbies with places that are safe, enjoyable, relaxing, non-intimidating and inviting. The bottom line is that road riding is absolutely NOT appealing to the vast majority of non-cyclists. To the average non-cyclist, roads are for cars, plain & simple. It is this same reason why so many motorists are so anti-bicycle. You may love road-riding, I may enjoy road-riding, but the vast majority of people don’t see roads (or cars or trucks) & bicycles as being compatible. The danger, pollution & stress of riding on the road does not seem like an enjoyable or feasible option.
There are great organizations & events such as PeopleforBikes, Bike to Work Day, Bicycle Colorado, etc. that have been trying for years to increase ridership. They are fantastic groups started by fantastic people who have fantastic intentions. But these same people are invariably avid cyclists who think like avid cyclists. They cannot relate to non-cyclists.
I’m not belittling this mindset since that was also my mindset a few years ago. But since then, I have taken the time to really explore the mindset of non-cyclists. I’ve talked to hundreds of them and visited numerous anti-biking/anti-alternative transportation websites. At first they rankled me. But I was determined to view them w/ an open-mind and when I did, I realized they had some very good points. And I also realized that they (most of them) aren’t destined to be non-cyclists/anti-cyclists for life. They can be convinced to become bicyclists. But not by using the same old ineffective methods.
Bottom line, there are many ways to reach these folks. I’ve outlined some of the ways in the post above. But I’m convinced that one of the most important steps for convincing people to ride bikes is to get them out on bike trails. (Remember that mountain bike trails, although a blast, are not the kind of trails that appeal to non-cyclists.) Obviously, the best way to do that would be to build lots of bike trails and connect the current trails. But that’s a long-term & rather expensive solution.
An equally important and much more achievable goal is to inform people about the trails that already exist right in their town, neighborhood and possibly even out their back door. People truly don’t know these trails exist. When I’m traveling around the country/world and visiting some of the wonderful trails out there, I invariably run into people, on a daily basis, who recently discovered a trail in their community… and they’re hooked. They love using the trail for commuting, exercise & recreation. But more often, I travel to another town and start asking people how to find the trailhead. The vast majority of people have never heard of the trail and don’t even know it exists. Remember, these trails are free for everyone, no matter what their income level or social status. Most of the trails are open year-round. Such a great resource is just waiting to be utilized and enjoyed.
I hope Love to Ride thinks outside the box and off the road. The trails are free and using the internet is free. So the opportunities are limitless. Unfortunately, most of the bike-route & bike-trail websites are also geared toward and designed by avid cyclists and outdoor adventurers. They do not attract or cater to the uninitiated or novice riders. I promise you, every community has wonderful trails just waiting to be discovered. Every community also has people that want to find affordable recreation opportunities & feasible commuting alternatives. Let’s work together to connect people and trails. As more people start using trails, more trails will be built. And when you build the trails, people will use them. What a wonderfully positive cycle of cycling.
Author
BTW – I’m not advocating that you completely take road-riding off the agenda. I just think it’s a good idea to provide an alternative and to promote trails and trail-riding with the same or possibly even more vigor.