Talking about bike lanes

Have you ever had a hard conversation with someone about bike lanes? How did it go?

I've learned a few things over the course of our bike advocacy work. Try these ideas.

1. Listen. Try to understand the other person's point of view, even if it seems illogical or wrong. Jumping in with facts e.g. https://cyclingfallacies.com/en/ rarely works if someone feels disrespected or unheard.

2. Respect their experience. Everyone has their own lens through which they view the world. They may not have experienced the joy and convenience of biking, or maybe they had unpleasant experiences. Maybe their lifestyle and our car-dominated system forces them to rely on getting around by car.|

3. Express empathy. Behind anger lies fear. Rapid change can be scary and some people react by "othering" and blaming behaviour,


5. "Replace, don't negate" is my slogan. Instead of buying into fallacies such as "no=one cycles", talk about how cycling is popular and growing, especially where bike lanes exist and traffic is calmed.

6, Tell your story. Humans don't process numbers very well, but we understand stories. Communicate how biking makes you feel and how it makes your life easier and fun.

7. Walk away or change the subject if the conversation isn't going well.

What other tips work for you? Please share.

Comments

Submitted by GinnyMiller on 17 April, 2024 - 08:07

Approaching discussions about bike lanes with empathy, understanding, and a willingness to listen can help foster constructive dialogue and promote positive change in urban planning and transportation. The California Pool And Spa Company LLC

Submitted by davidson on 25 April, 2024 - 11:52

It's amazing to be a part of the bike community where everyone is always ready to lend a helping hand. I feel incredibly blessed to be surrounded by such supportive and kind-hearted people who are always there for each other. It's truly a wonderful feeling to be a part of such a great community!

 

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