[*BCM*] writing a bike story, looking for voices

[Greg Howard]

> Go deep in the archives of the Globe and you'll see the 'initiatives' pop
> every 4 or 5 years and nothing ever changes.

While this is probably true, a potential difference this time around
is that the mayor seems to have discovered bicycling for himself.
That's what sparked the latest round of interest, and if his interest
in biking continues, we could hope to see a little more
follow-through.

I do think, however, that it is a sign of the utter ineffectiveness of
local bike advocacy that the impetus is coming from *the mayor*.  The
point of advocacy is usually to push the agenda; it's sort of
embarrassing that the mayor is pushing us.


greg



On Sat, Dec 13, 2008 at 9:44 AM, Peter <gh3451 at yahoo.com> wrote:
> Menino is a tool, period.  There has been nothing but lip service for 16
> years.  Some press releases and a token hiring do not a policy make.  For a
> city so compact and cyclable to be so unrelentingly hostile toward bikes is
> nothing short of a sin.
>
> Go deep in the archives of the Globe and you'll see the 'initiatives' pop
> every 4 or 5 years and nothing ever changes.
>
> The only positive in the 25 years I've lived here has been this past fall's
> paving of the "E" line tracks in JP and that took 24 years to happen.
>
>
> --- On Sat, 12/13/08, spikemccue at gmail.com <spikemccue at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> From: spikemccue at gmail.com <spikemccue at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [*BCM*] writing a bike story, looking for voices
> To: "jb fentner" <symboliceon at hotmail.com>, koyfman at bu.edu, "BCM"
> <list at bostoncriticalmass.org>
> Date: Saturday, December 13, 2008, 6:53 AM
>
> Theres too much asshole in that to even begin to break down
>
> On Dec 13, 2008 3:23am, jb fentner <symboliceon at hotmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> ehm, can you just answer this one little question?
>>
>> ya didn't mention a damn thing regarding whether or not you actually ride
>> a bike in this city. generally speaking, i think you're probably full of
>> sh*t and, even if you do ride a bike, you're a sidewalker. so, the question:
>> do you ride a bike? is this "enterprise story" regarding *cough* "bike
>> reform" something you even remotely give two shits about or did you just
>> happen to think it would be the idea that gives you an edge over the average
>> B.U. student's absolute B.S.? if you want some input.. if you REALLY give a
>> shit.. you'll get on a bike and actually see what the rest of us have to
>> deal with on a daily basis. politics have borderline nothing to do with the
>> choices you make on the road. you do what you need to do to survive when
>> you're thrown in to situations that require it.
>>
>> but i guess someone who's maybe been on a bike once or twice and barely
>> understands the english language has more of a right to talk about that than
>> anyone else.
>>
>> *cough*
>>
>> *coughcough*
>>
>> *cough* *laugh* *cough*
>>
>> you're an idiot.
>>
>> -jb
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> > Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:16:23 -0800
>> > From: koyfman at bu.edu
>> > To: list at bostoncriticalmass.org
>> > Subject: [*BCM*] writing a bike story, looking for voices
>> >
>> > Hello all -
>> >
>> > I'm a journalism student at BU writing my enterprise story on the bike
>> > reform movement in Boston - this has mostly to do with Menino electing
>> > Nicole Freedman, what her life has been about, and how this creates a
>> > conversation with existing movements around the city. As you've probably
>> > already guessed, I would love to have your input on this. I already talked
>> > to Adam, who was listed on the site as the leader but he told me I might
>> > strike more gold speaking with any of you.
>> >
>> > I probably won't be sitting down to actually write this until Saturday.
>> > If you can get back to me at all by then, it would be much appreciated.
>> >
>> > The questions so far:
>> > -When and where did Critical Mass take its roots? What were the
>> > conditions that prompted this? (I actually think I met the guy that coined
>> > the phrase in a documentary, sitting in a loft in SoHo, he was pretty old so
>> > I'm assuming it's been around for awhile.)
>> > -What is the overriding philosophy of CM?
>> > -What do you believe is the extent of your influence?
>> > -How have people responded to you?
>> > -Are you involved with the City of Boston, either directly or
>> > indirectly?
>> > -How do you feel about Mayor Menino's bike initiative?
>> >
>> > Again, I realize how short notice this is - my thanks in advance.
>> >
>> > -Steph
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > Boston Critical Mass mailing list
>> > list at bostoncriticalmass.org
>> > http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
>> > To unsubscribe email list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org
>>
>> Send e-mail faster without improving your typing skills. Get your Hotmail(R)
>> account.
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Boston Critical Mass mailing list
> list at bostoncriticalmass.org
> http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
> To unsubscribe email list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org
>
> _______________________________________________
> Boston Critical Mass mailing list
> list at bostoncriticalmass.org
> http://bostoncriticalmass.org/list
> To unsubscribe email list-unsubscribe at bostoncriticalmass.org
>