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The popup ad with the sidewalk cyclist is still on the League's Web site in mid-2004.

The ad is derived from the League's public service announcement, intended to recruit members. The ad plays on television stations around the country. The ad is available as a video clip on the League's home page ("Play Lance's ad" in the right column on the page). In the video, there are other images of cyclists riding correctly. Somebody had the dubious inspiration to pick the worst example of cycling in the video to use in the popup ad. There are many other examples of cyclists riding correctly!

So, what does the popup ad show? Lance Armstrong's image, and bullet points about the League's policy of rights to the road, in a  membership promotion appealing to hope for an ideal world, in which a cyclist is riding on the left sidewalk. Sure, it's in a pleasant, green, "ideal" suburban setting...all warm and fuzzy...

but cyclists already get told to ride on the sidewalk often enough, don't we?

What does it say about the League staff to have the sidewalk rider in its promotion? I mean, what would you think of a spokesperson for the American Lung Association who campaigned for memberships while casually smoking a cigarette?

My comparison is fair. A 1996 survey of LAB members showed that our crash rate on sidewalks is about 25 times as high as on major streets. (You may view a graph summarizing the results of the study.) Every study that has ever compared sidewalk riding and street riding has shown that sidewalk riding is more hazardous.

In my ideal world, the League of American Bicyclists gets its message straight.

The League's staff is out of touch with the League's members, and its policies. The Board has not exercised control to correct this situation.

I am one of several Board members and candidates who are determined to correct the problem. Keep electing us, and we will correct it. Don't elect us, and the problems can only get worse. New members who go for the "warm and fuzzy" won't understand that there is anything wrong with the sidewalk ad. The League is doing little to inform these members. Sooner or later, they will be the majority and the League will no longer be able to take a meaningful stand on safety issues!

I don't presume to know how to correct all of the world's problems, but I do understand what LAB needs to do. For more details about my campaign, please read the remaining pages of this campaign statement.

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Contents © 2002, John S. Allen
except image, fair use.
May be reproduced, with attribution.
Last revised 6 April 2003