Engaging Athletes in Advocacy

Alliance for Biking & Walking Mutual Aid Call

Wednesday, July 9, 2014
1
Running, walking and cycling groups can be a powerful voice for safer streetsor they can be excluded from
active transportation conversations because of their focus on recreation. On a recent Alliance Mutual Aid
Call, advocates discussed what their organizations are doing to engage tight-knit communities of athletes in
advocacy for safer facilities for all road users.
Advice from Brantley Tyndall
Community Outreach Coordinator, Bike Walk RVA
A base of runners
Bike Walk RVA is a project of SportsBackers, a nonproft that produces and presents
sporting events to encourage the residents of Richmond to become more physically ac-
tive. Bike Walk RVA was recently added to serve as Sportsbackers grassroots advocacy
arm.
Bike Walk RVA has been able to take advantage of Sports-
backers extensive database of runners. Bike Walk RVA uses
this database to further engage the running community.
Many athletes see
themselves as tar-
gets and outsiders
to the advocacy
community.
Athletes and Advocacy
We defne athletes as serious competitive runners and cyclists who compete on a regu-
lar basis and invest signifcant time, efort and money in their relative sports.
Heres how cycling athletes difer from utilitarian or even recreational cyclists:
Tend to prefer long stretches of open road in suburban or rural locations, rather
than city streets
May limit riding to training and drive or take public transit for transportation, espe-
cially if it means that they have more time for training and recovery
May see themselves as targets and outsiders to the advocacy community because
they do not bike to commute or run errands, and are held up as examples of whats
wrong with cycling.
Because of these time constraints and perceived alienation, they are less likely to
attend community workshops, summits, legislative hearings, or other bike advocacy
opportunities.
Engaging Athletes in Advocacy
Alliance for Biking & Walking Mutual Aid Call
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
2
Our eforts have been signifcantly aided by 9W cycling route, a beloved cycling route
for local recreational riders. Communities along that corridor recognize the tremendous
economic value of having cyclists pass through.
Tese strategies have brought NJBWC the most success connecting with athletes:
Cycling infrastructure projects are not the way to most
athletes hearts, as competitive cyclists rarely use them.
On the other hand, athletic cyclists DO care about legisla-
tion, especially safe passing distance laws.
Messages to this group need to be short and targeted and
ofer the opportunity to take immediate action (by click-
ing a button, for example).
Gather allies among touring clubs via in-person meetings. Encourage club members
to sign up for your organizations newsletter.
Advice from Cyndi Steiner
Executive Director, New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition
Runner athletes are more likely than cycling athletes to use the same built environment
as their utilitarian/ commuting counterparts, although they prefer to run on sof sur-
faces when possible.
Brendan recommends beginning as WalkBoston did: package advocacy information
specifcally for athletes. WalkBoston bundled some of its existing work under a diferent
label in one place on the website for runners: http://walkboston.org/running
Like competitive cyclists, runners and running groups tend not to attend community
meetings; however, communications that include a clear call to action are a good way to
engage them.
WalkBoston has had some success reframing walk audits as run audits. For run audits,
Brendan suggests discarding the traditional clipboard in favor of a smartphone with a
camera and a GPS app (like RunKeeper).
WalkBoston uses the same form for run audits as for walk audits. Heres a recent run
audit that Brendan completed.
Advice from Brendan Kearney
Development & Communications Manager, WalkBoston
Cycling
infrastructure
projects are not the
way to most
athletes hearts.