Xplora wrote:il padrone wrote:
"More people cycling, more often" is the over-riding stated goal of BNV. I fail to see how public event rides
do not help achieve this
I feel the event rides present more of a public soothing, rather than a meaningful, lasting impact. It's like "International Year of People with a Disability". What does this mean? We change our 50c coin for a year? What did that actually achieve? Unless you're out there actually working with disabled people or helping your disabled relatives, then you're making no difference to the disabled. Symbolism is pointless. Your tax dollars and donations - they are doing something to solve the problem.
I'm sorry but I disagree with you on this, so much I don't know where to begin.
Xplora wrote:In the same way, once a year cyclists getting exposed to the elements might seem like a flash idea, but to my mind they are simply getting exposed to unfamiliar routes with unfamiliar "rules" and unfamiliar culture.
And the problem with this is ??
Each year something like 1200 riders are groups of school students, for whom the idea of riding a bike 600kms
is a huge challenge, not at all doing the 'same old' on a different route.
New riders discovering the potential of bicycle transport.
Xplora wrote:It would be more useful to have a once a month/quarter ride along a particular route to help people ease into cycling more seriously (commuting, racing, weekend bunches) and give them time to learn how to cope with the traffic on the bike.
This is what a good cycle-touring club, BUG, or maybe even a racing club might do - not the role of an advocacy group like BNV. You are seriously mixing up the roles and tasks now. My club does this sort of thing - runs about 2-3 rides per week. Good idea, try joining one. But no-one these days seems to see a need to actually join groups
BTW, BNV actually does run much more than just one annual ride. 3 Peaks is coming up in a month, then there is the Tasmanian Escapade, Ride to Work Day, and every so often they run a Great NZ Ride.