Small mercies: a cyclist in clothes.
This advertisement appeared in the NZ Herald this week. Fancy that. Only once, mind you. So what’s the verdict? Of course, beggars shouldn’t be choosers. Auckland Transport doing anything to promote cycling has to be clasped with both hands. A big apology for giving them such a hard time in the past. Don’t bite the hand that feeds etc. The tag line thingy about ‘one less car’ has been around for a while though. Have Auckland Transport finally caught up with the times? Maybe next time they can add something smart about how all the research shows cycling to be the best transport option for short local trips. Cycling is as easy as walking but faster, as they say.
So what’s the verdict? The people who are not currently cycling are not doing it because…they don’t feel safe. No surprises there. The research reveals that. They need to feel nurtured. Based on what is being written here, it would appear that cycling in Auckland is a hostile place for cycling. And it is important to remember that the art of cycling is a very safe proposition. The problem is all that negotiating the city streets crammed with speeding cars, and parked cars. Even Ms Bishop’s helmet wouldn’t have saved her. At least this advertisement acknowledges the need to give priority to people on bicycles. The next question then is; where too from here? Because, acknowledging your addiction is the first step to recovery.
This small print one-off advertisement won’t get the people of Auckland cycling. That’s for sure. It won’t get your mother-in-law to start using her bike to ride to the shops a few days a week. But that wasn’t the intention. But it may encourage those people like Lucy who need to be applauded for using their bicycle for transport in Auckland in such adversity.
And there may be a silver lining. It is something less than obvious to the untrained eye. The person in the picture looks like, you know…normal. He could be your brother, neighbour, work colleague. If they had put a young woman in it, it would have been too far fetched. Too unbelievable. Baby steps. Maybe she will feature in 2020.
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Cycling. It’s as easy as walking, but faster….
At last a post that I can mostly agree with – though I am saddened that you again felt the need to end it with a "could be better" comment, and a not very hopeful joke.
At the moment, Auckland cycling is 84% men, 16% women. However, when I see the people riding along K'Road or Park Road, I see a good chunk of young women, dressed normally. Like so many other indicators around this town, I think we are slowly improving on that one too.
I'm sure I've seen a few ads floating about. Think there was a few out on buses too of a similar vein instead of the usual fluero ones they crack out.
There was the same ad in the north shore times on Tuesday……..today there was a ad on the radio,wording came from the print ad .Thing are looking up
I wouldn't say I have to be "encouraged to cycle". I like cycling in Auckland most of the time – I just get pissed off occasionally at all the bad stuff like the poor street design and heavy traffic etc etc
I also saw the ad – 1/4 page size (so quite big) in the Central leader Dec 21st. I agree the ad looks 'normal' and I agree that having a Man in a T shirt with (horrors) not even a matching helmet, makes the ad believable.
I cut it out and stuck it onto my gallery of cycle ads.
I only cycle on the road these days if there is a cycle lane. Otherwise I repair to the footpath. I have been stopped several times by traffic police for footpath riding but I say "Sonny, would you let your Mother ride on this road" " Its too dangerous". and they smile at me benevolently and agree.