Comments on: A new sobriety http://clevercycles.com/2008/12/13/a-new-sobriety/ Tue, 02 Mar 2010 22:15:20 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Dave http://clevercycles.com/2008/12/13/a-new-sobriety/comment-page-1/#comment-299500 Dave Wed, 04 Feb 2009 21:50:41 +0000 http://clevercycles.com/?p=496#comment-299500 But if it's angled down (not straight down), it still makes you visible to oncoming traffic, without being obnoxious. This is one thing that irks me about helmet-mounted lights too - I find I often have to look away from other cyclists, because their lights are prohibitively bright and dazzling, and right at eye level. I mean, I guess you know they're there, but you can't really see them - or anything else once you look away again :) That's another thing I like about the common city bike placement of the large headlight down near the fork crown, they provide good visibility, better lighting of the road, and all without shining in everyone's eyes. But if it’s angled down (not straight down), it still makes you visible to oncoming traffic, without being obnoxious. This is one thing that irks me about helmet-mounted lights too – I find I often have to look away from other cyclists, because their lights are prohibitively bright and dazzling, and right at eye level. I mean, I guess you know they’re there, but you can’t really see them – or anything else once you look away again :)

That’s another thing I like about the common city bike placement of the large headlight down near the fork crown, they provide good visibility, better lighting of the road, and all without shining in everyone’s eyes.

]]> By: Emlyn http://clevercycles.com/2008/12/13/a-new-sobriety/comment-page-1/#comment-299496 Emlyn Wed, 04 Feb 2009 21:24:27 +0000 http://clevercycles.com/?p=496#comment-299496 I often angle my light up, so that it shines in the mirrors of cars, rather than using it to light the road. I think, in the city, it's more about visibility than vision. Da Robot I often angle my light up, so that it shines in the mirrors of cars, rather than using it to light the road. I think, in the city, it’s more about visibility than vision.

Da Robot

]]> By: RJ http://clevercycles.com/2008/12/13/a-new-sobriety/comment-page-1/#comment-287950 RJ Sun, 11 Jan 2009 06:34:13 +0000 http://clevercycles.com/?p=496#comment-287950 Haha, you've got to be a passionate commuter to notice the light angle in an art print! Cheers to that! Haha, you’ve got to be a passionate commuter to notice the light angle in an art print!

Cheers to that!

]]> By: Dave http://clevercycles.com/2008/12/13/a-new-sobriety/comment-page-1/#comment-282251 Dave Mon, 29 Dec 2008 19:24:17 +0000 http://clevercycles.com/?p=496#comment-282251 Unfortunately not, I just happened to not have my camera on me - I assure you though, it was a wonderful sight (except of course for the Tri-Met guys who had to tow and fix the bus, I'm sure they're getting pretty sick of that at this point). Unfortunately not, I just happened to not have my camera on me – I assure you though, it was a wonderful sight (except of course for the Tri-Met guys who had to tow and fix the bus, I’m sure they’re getting pretty sick of that at this point).

]]> By: Joel http://clevercycles.com/2008/12/13/a-new-sobriety/comment-page-1/#comment-282233 Joel Mon, 29 Dec 2008 19:11:36 +0000 http://clevercycles.com/?p=496#comment-282233 Dave, you didn't get a picture of that? Dave, you didn’t get a picture of that?

]]> By: Lee http://clevercycles.com/2008/12/13/a-new-sobriety/comment-page-1/#comment-282086 Lee Mon, 29 Dec 2008 12:53:51 +0000 http://clevercycles.com/?p=496#comment-282086 If average people can be sold expensive mountain bikes and stationary exercise bikes that they will never use, than they can certainly be sold practical bikes as well. It's simply a matter of spending sufficient advertising dollars. To men they can be sold as the next practical hardware tool for getting things done, or as a way to pick up ladies (manly bike). To women, sell it as romance or an pretty accessory that fits your lifestyle (and it's great for shopping and being social). Getting people to actually use the bike is something completely different. That requires that bikes be an integrated element at every stage of transportation planning at the local and regional level. Letter-writing and talking to policy makers will get small incremental progress. However large-scale protests are still the most effective means of bringing about major policy changes. Love the poster! I want one! If average people can be sold expensive mountain bikes and stationary exercise bikes that they will never use, than they can certainly be sold practical bikes as well. It’s simply a matter of spending sufficient advertising dollars. To men they can be sold as the next practical hardware tool for getting things done, or as a way to pick up ladies (manly bike). To women, sell it as romance or an pretty accessory that fits your lifestyle (and it’s great for shopping and being social).

Getting people to actually use the bike is something completely different. That requires that bikes be an integrated element at every stage of transportation planning at the local and regional level. Letter-writing and talking to policy makers will get small incremental progress. However large-scale protests are still the most effective means of bringing about major policy changes.

Love the poster! I want one!

]]> By: Dave http://clevercycles.com/2008/12/13/a-new-sobriety/comment-page-1/#comment-281930 Dave Mon, 29 Dec 2008 03:53:07 +0000 http://clevercycles.com/?p=496#comment-281930 On a somewhat related note - today when we were out and about, we saw a tri-met bus being towed, as it had broken down, and on the side of the bus was that full-bus clever cycles ad... I thought that whole situation was a pretty good advert for riding a bike :) On a somewhat related note – today when we were out and about, we saw a tri-met bus being towed, as it had broken down, and on the side of the bus was that full-bus clever cycles ad… I thought that whole situation was a pretty good advert for riding a bike :)

]]> By: Dave http://clevercycles.com/2008/12/13/a-new-sobriety/comment-page-1/#comment-280723 Dave Thu, 25 Dec 2008 23:02:49 +0000 http://clevercycles.com/?p=496#comment-280723 This and the previous post bring to mind something I've thought a lot about lately - and that is how to positively advertise cycling for the normal person (as opposed to the athlete). I know River City Bicycles put together a TV ad, but I felt it was a bit snide and thumbing it's nose at those who choose to drive. The simple fact is, that people are very seldom convinced to do something by statistics and numbers, environmental data, calories burned, etc. They are convinced to do something because they think it will be enjoyable or benefit them directly in some way. So, how to we advertise cycling for normal people as being convenient, economical, but most of all *enjoyable*? I think advertising such as this one above really helps to do this, associating bicycles with a simple, well balanced lifestyle - I think sites like copenhagenize do a great job of this, showing that it's easy, quick and convenient for normal, everyday people to get on a bike and ride, and it can be very practical for most of your trips to run errands, go to work, etc. But how do we get this kind of stuff in the face of the average Portland citizen who would never go looking for bike blogs or even consider that a bike is even a possibility? Just using your bike is a great way, but what more can we do for public awareness? This and the previous post bring to mind something I’ve thought a lot about lately – and that is how to positively advertise cycling for the normal person (as opposed to the athlete). I know River City Bicycles put together a TV ad, but I felt it was a bit snide and thumbing it’s nose at those who choose to drive.

The simple fact is, that people are very seldom convinced to do something by statistics and numbers, environmental data, calories burned, etc. They are convinced to do something because they think it will be enjoyable or benefit them directly in some way.

So, how to we advertise cycling for normal people as being convenient, economical, but most of all enjoyable?

I think advertising such as this one above really helps to do this, associating bicycles with a simple, well balanced lifestyle – I think sites like copenhagenize do a great job of this, showing that it’s easy, quick and convenient for normal, everyday people to get on a bike and ride, and it can be very practical for most of your trips to run errands, go to work, etc.

But how do we get this kind of stuff in the face of the average Portland citizen who would never go looking for bike blogs or even consider that a bike is even a possibility?

Just using your bike is a great way, but what more can we do for public awareness?

]]> By: Paige http://clevercycles.com/2008/12/13/a-new-sobriety/comment-page-1/#comment-278117 Paige Fri, 19 Dec 2008 00:58:54 +0000 http://clevercycles.com/?p=496#comment-278117 I want that poster! But of course now I'll never be able to look at the image without noticing the light. I want that poster! But of course now I’ll never be able to look at the image without noticing the light.

]]> By: jeff http://clevercycles.com/2008/12/13/a-new-sobriety/comment-page-1/#comment-276900 jeff Sun, 14 Dec 2008 18:59:06 +0000 http://clevercycles.com/?p=496#comment-276900 guy in art looks suspiciously like the co-owner of clevercycles. guy in art looks suspiciously like the co-owner of clevercycles.

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