Does Anybody Else Display a Message?



O

oilfreeandhappy

Guest
I have seen very few cyclists displaying a cycling advocacy message on
their back, bag or seat. It seems to me, that this is one of the best
ways to encourage cycling. I look at it this way. I have to read some
very stupid bumper stickers, so why not display my own message. Plus,
my message is more readable than a bumper sticker, since I have a
larger surface area.
----
Jim Gagnepain
http://www.OilFreeandHappy.com
 
oilfreeandhappy wrote:
> I have seen very few cyclists displaying a cycling advocacy message on
> their back, bag or seat.


Umm... I kinda think that RIDING MY BIKE is sorta pro-cycling.

Bill "YMMV?" S.
 
On Apr 24, 12:42 am, oilfreeandhappy <[email protected]>
wrote:
> I have seen very few cyclists displaying a cycling advocacy message on
> their back, bag or seat. It seems to me, that this is one of the best
> ways to encourage cycling. I look at it this way. I have to read some
> very stupid bumper stickers, so why not display my own message. Plus,
> my message is more readable than a bumper sticker, since I have a
> larger surface area.
> ----
> Jim Gagnepainhttp://www.OilFreeandHappy.com



Hi there.

How about:

This Vehicle Runs On Bananas And Water

or

This Vehicle Gets 50 Kms/Banana

or

Eating 2 Many Bananas = Jet Propulsion

Cheers from Peter
 
"oilfreeandhappy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I have seen very few cyclists displaying a cycling advocacy message on
> their back, bag or seat. It seems to me, that this is one of the best
> ways to encourage cycling. I look at it this way. I have to read some
> very stupid bumper stickers, so why not display my own message. Plus,
> my message is more readable than a bumper sticker, since I have a
> larger surface area.
> ----
> Jim Gagnepain
> http://www.OilFreeandHappy.com
>


And please buy my T-Shirts!
 
On Apr 24, 6:42 am, oilfreeandhappy <[email protected]>
wrote:
> I have seen very few cyclists displaying a cycling advocacy message on
> their back, bag or seat. It seems to me, that this is one of the best
> ways to encourage cycling. I look at it this way. I have to read some
> very stupid bumper stickers, so why not display my own message. Plus,
> my message is more readable than a bumper sticker, since I have a
> larger surface area.
> ----
> Jim Gagnepainhttp://www.OilFreeandHappy.com


The problem with messages, is that the vast majority just ignore the
message by assuming the messenger is a wack-o. Perhaps the thing to do
would be to cycle around in a Brooks Brothers suit.

Joseph
 
Bill Sornson <[email protected]> wrote:
> oilfreeandhappy wrote:
>> I have seen very few cyclists displaying a cycling advocacy message on
>> their back, bag or seat.

>
> Umm... I kinda think that RIDING MY BIKE is sorta pro-cycling.


That was what I was thinking. The old saw of teaching by being the
example, instead of preaching to the disinterested.

--
Dane Buson - [email protected]
"When passenger of foot heave in sight, tootle the horn.
Trumpet him melodiously at first, but if he still
obstacles your passage then tootle him with vigor."
-From a brochure of a car rental firm in Tokyo
 
<[email protected]> wrote: (clip)Perhaps the thing to do would
be to cycle around in a Brooks Brothers suit.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The best of both worlds: A Brooks Brothers suit with a message on the back.
How about a Brooks Brothers suit with, "This space deliberately left blank"?
 
Sir Ridesalot wrote:
> On Apr 24, 12:42 am, oilfree...
>
>


Nothing wrong with trying to make a buck, but the primary point of the
thread (attempt) to sell more tshirts for this guy. My message is
delivered by my actions, getting out and riding nearly every day and not
intentionally annoying people in the process. It is really absurd to
say you are oil free. Nobody is oil free if they are consumers of any
products at all, including bikes.
 
On Tue, 24 Apr 2007 08:56:24 -0700, Dane Buson wrote:

> Bill Sornson <[email protected]> wrote:


>> oilfreeandhappy wrote:


>>> I have seen very few cyclists displaying a cycling advocacy message on
>>> their back, bag or seat.


>> Umm... I kinda think that RIDING MY BIKE is sorta pro-cycling.


> That was what I was thinking. The old saw of teaching by being the
> example, instead of preaching to the disinterested.


I agree.

I also don't think it's helpful to imply that riding your bike is some
sort of gesture.

Matt O.
 
>I have seen very few cyclists displaying a cycling advocacy message on
>their back, bag or seat. It seems to me, that this is one of the best
>ways to encourage cycling.


I'm trying to think of anything that I did because of a bumper sticker.


>... I look at it this way. I have to read some
>very stupid bumper stickers, so why not display my own message.


I'm with you there. I got my own stupid bumper sticker. It's an edited
"Moose.. your life" from
<http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Logos/BFM_bumper_sticker2.gif>

--
mac the naïf
 
>
> The problem with messages, is that the vast majority just ignore the
> message by assuming the messenger is a wack-o.
>
> Joseph


Why do you say this? I've gotten complimented by a number of
drivers. Also, I stopped worrying about what others think a long time
ago. In terms of history, if certain individuals worried about being
an outcast:
1. Women wouldn't be voting today.
2. Blacks wouldn't be playing baseball (or other sports).
3. We wouldn't have an ozone layer in our atmosphere.
4. There would still be a Berlin Wall.
5. Cars wouldn't have seat belts.
6. The AMA would still be practicing blood-letting.
7. Gas efficiency in cars would be worse than the Model T - Never mind
this one, many cars get less MPG than the old Model T.
etc, etc.
----
Jim Gagnepain
http://www.OilFreeandHappy.com
 
On Apr 24, 12:03 am, "Bill Sornson" <[email protected]> wrote:
> oilfreeandhappy wrote:
> > I have seen very few cyclists displaying a cycling advocacy message on
> > their back, bag or seat.

>
> Umm... I kinda think that RIDING MY BIKE is sorta pro-cycling.
>
> Bill "YMMV?" S.


I'm going to respond to each of the comments to this thread that I
started. I agree with you 100%. "Riding my bike" is first and
foremost, that's why I've been commuting to work for the last 20
years. And that's why I tour, shop and run errands by bicycle.

A "cycling advocacy" message simply takes it a step further. It makes
it very clear to passers-by, that you are riding for a reason.
Without it, there are those who may think, "That poor fellow, he can't
afford a car" or "Poor guy must have gotten his driver's license
suspended". A message, such as "One Less Car" or other, lays those
notions to rest.
----
Jim Gagnepain
http://www.OilFreeandHappy.com
 
On Apr 24, 2:55 am, Sir Ridesalot <[email protected]> wrote:
> On Apr 24, 12:42 am, oilfreeandhappy <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
> > I have seen very few cyclists displaying a cycling advocacy message on
> > their back, bag or seat. It seems to me, that this is one of the best
> > ways to encourage cycling. I look at it this way. I have to read some
> > very stupid bumper stickers, so why not display my own message. Plus,
> > my message is more readable than a bumper sticker, since I have a
> > larger surface area.
> > ----
> > Jim Gagnepainhttp://www.OilFreeandHappy.com

>
> Hi there.
>
> How about:
>
> This Vehicle Runs On Bananas And Water
>
> or
>
> This Vehicle Gets 50 Kms/Banana
>
> or
>
> Eating 2 Many Bananas = Jet Propulsion
>
> Cheers from Peter


Sounds good to me. Maybe you should have some T-Shirts made up!
----
Jim Gagnepain
http://www.OilFreeandHappy.com
 
>
> And please buy my T-Shirts!


Yes, I do market Advocacy items. However, I can honestly say that I
am not in this for the money. I give items away to touring cyclists,
bicycle messengers, and other bicycle advocacy folks. Whenever I
replenish inventory, I return to the RED. I'm always willing to sell
items at cost, if people are interested.

My reason for getting into this is a form of Community Service. Our
country is addicted to oil, and I intend to do what I can to end that
addiction. If somebody reads one of my messages, and starts riding a
bicycle, I've succeeded. If they decide to purchase a more fuel-
efficient car, I've succeeded. If they start riding the light rail,
I've succeeded.
----
Jim Gagnepain
http://www.OilFreeandHappy.com
 
On Apr 24, 6:05 am, "[email protected]"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>
> The problem with messages, is that the vast majority just ignore the
> message by assuming the messenger is a wack-o. Perhaps the thing to do
> would be to cycle around in a Brooks Brothers suit.
>
> Joseph


I stopped worrying about what others think of me a long time ago. Had
visionaries (and I'm not necessarily claiming to be one) been
concerned about conformity and appearances, the United States would
certainly be a different country:
1. Women would not have the right to vote.
2. Blacks would not be playing baseball.
3. We would have no ozone left in the atmosphere.
4. Cars would get gas mileage on par with Model T - never mind about
this one, many cars today, are less efficient than the Model T.
5. There would be no seat belts in cars.
----
Jim Gagnepain
http://www.OilFreeandHappy.com
 
oilfreeandhappy wrote:
> On Apr 24, 12:03 am, "Bill Sornson" <[email protected]> wrote:
>> oilfreeandhappy wrote:
>>> I have seen very few cyclists displaying a cycling advocacy message
>>> on their back, bag or seat.

>>
>> Umm... I kinda think that RIDING MY BIKE is sorta pro-cycling.
>>
>> Bill "YMMV?" S.

>
> I'm going to respond to each of the comments to this thread that I
> started. I agree with you 100%. "Riding my bike" is first and
> foremost, that's why I've been commuting to work for the last 20
> years. And that's why I tour, shop and run errands by bicycle.
>
> A "cycling advocacy" message simply takes it a step further. It makes
> it very clear to passers-by, that you are riding for a reason.


I ride my bike to ride my bike.

> Without it, there are those who may think, "That poor fellow, he can't
> afford a car" or "Poor guy must have gotten his driver's license
> suspended". A message, such as "One Less Car" or other, lays those
> notions to rest.


And you just happen to sell that ****. Keep it to .marketplace...
 
On Apr 23, 11:42 pm, oilfreeandhappy <[email protected]>
wrote:
> I have seen very few cyclists displaying a cycling advocacy message on
> their back, bag or seat. It seems to me, that this is one of the best
> ways to encourage cycling. I look at it this way. I have to read some
> very stupid bumper stickers, so why not display my own message. Plus,
> my message is more readable than a bumper sticker, since I have a
> larger surface area.
> ----
> Jim Gagnepainhttp://www.OilFreeandHappy.com


The only msg I want to convey to drivers approaching from behind, is
the unavoidable brightness of my presence. I am sure they initially
have no idea what that unusual bright flashing light is. I use it (on
city streets) always, regardless of time-of-day.

http://www.neiu.edu/~jbollyn/bike/dinotte-tail-light.jpg
 
Alex Colvin wrote:
>> I have seen very few cyclists displaying a cycling advocacy message
>> on their back, bag or seat. It seems to me, that this is one of the
>> best ways to encourage cycling.

>
> I'm trying to think of anything that I did because of a bumper
> sticker.
>

Not even "Honk if you're Horny?"
 
In article <[email protected]>,
oilfreeandhappy <[email protected]> writes:
> I have seen very few cyclists displaying a cycling advocacy message on
> their back, bag or seat. It seems to me, that this is one of the best
> ways to encourage cycling.


There's no such thing as encouraging cycling.
But there ~is~ /not discouraging/ it.

It's kind of like gardening -- we can't force the
plants to grow and thrive, at least not beyond a
certain point. But we can avoid stepping on them.

If someone wants to ride, they will. If they don't,
they won't.


cheers,
Tom

--
Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca
 

> The problem with messages, is that the vast majority just ignore the
> message by assuming the messenger is a wack-o. Perhaps the thing to do
> would be to cycle around in a Brooks Brothers suit.
>
> Joseph


I think a three piece Burberry riding suit with plusfours would be
more appealing.

Jim seems to be more interested in *environmentalist* advocacy that
*cycling* advocacy. There is nothing wrong with that in an appropriate
context but associating this message tightly with bicyclists just
strengthens the assertion that we're all nutters.

His assertion of being "oil free" is questionable since he is
obviously participating in our modern world and thereby making use of
a substantial amount of petroleum derived products like plastics (the
keyboard he types on) and essentially all manufactured products
indirectly. Even the Amish aren't oil free. I suggest that he drop out
of society and resort to backwoods survivalism if he really wants to
be oil free.
 

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