"3 Feet Please" Campaign

Hello. If you haven't heard about the "3 Feet Please" campaign, please take a few minutes to read the story at www.3feetplease.com. Gist: To save cyclists' lives by reminding motorists to give cyclists at least 3 feet clearance when passing from the rear. Started out trying to find a way to protect my own life from being wrecked and has turned into a worldwide effort to save, what I hope will be thousands of lives.

Please visit my site and help me spread the word.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Thank you,
Joe

joe@3feetplease.com
Tallahassee, Florida USA

Just curious - your web site says Washington has a 3 foot law. I used to think that was true.... then I tried to find the actual law to no avail. If you can point me to it, I'd be grateful. I'm afraid it may just be a suggestion here.

I don't see anything on your website about a "campaign." How will the proceeds from the sale of the jerseys be used?



Coincidentally, I was going to suggest in the jersey thread that jerseys be offered with just such a slogan. But I'm reluctant to buy anything that's not hi-viz yellow (plain yellow is NOT as visible). Reflective accents - ideally reflective lettering - would also make this jersey much more attractive to me. Voler already offers its "Nite-Brite" jerseys - why not base your jersey on that one???

Did you consider calling it the "3 feet, dammit" campaign :D?

Guess I need to learn to be a leeetle bit more diplomatic...

Good morning Eden, OakLeaf and Liza. Thank you for your questions and suggestions.

Eden, you are absolutely right, Washington isn't a 3 foot state YET. Washington requires a "safe distance" and efforts are underway to make that a specific distance with the adoption of the 3 foot language (see: http://www.bicyclealliance.org/index...IssuesFall2008

Thanks for catching that. And may I add, my daughter's name is Eadon.

OakLeaf, this is not a not-for-profit initiative. This is a business and the profits will be used to help accomplish the goals being set. In addition to the goal of placing the message on the backs of 1,000,000 cyclits worldwide I intend to help porgrams that help cyclists who have been injured and the families of cyclists who have been killed. I am putting together a team of talented folks to help me develop and implement a comprehensive campaign that will include a variety of media. This work is too important to wait on having a team in place so I started without them.

I like your idea of using the hi-viz yellow and refective lettering. I intend to add several different tools for cyclists to use as we move forward. Since my credit card is close to being maxed out (I have to pay for the jerseys before I even see them and trust people will want them) I need to take this a step at a time. Plus I have two other jobs that need my attention as well. I promise you, you won't have to wait long before you see some of those hi-viz jerseys offered on the site. Thank you OakLaef.

Liza, I cannot tell you all the "other" messages that were on the table. When you only have a matter of seconds to communicate to the motorist I thought it would be best if I went with something bold, direct and polite. If I had listened to my son, I would probably be dead now.

Ladies, I appreciate your help. I will tell you that I have leukemia and my doctor told me to stay healthy. I ride because I love to and because I need to. And I want to enjoy each and every ride. When cars terrify me by getting too close it takes the joy right out of me. They don't get it. They don't get it at all. In addition to wanting to save lives this campaign is my attempt to save that joy, for myself and others.

Keep those questions and suggestions coming.

Thank you,
Joe
1.800.761.0907
joe@3feetplease.com

Sorry, 3 feet isn't enough. People who don't know where the edges of their car aren't equipped to give me 3 feet. 3 feet from what, their steering wheel? thanks, i want more than 3 feet. how about far, far away?
it's a nice idea but I don't think it's enforceable or safe.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jmizereck

OakLeaf, [B]this is not a not-for-profit initiative. This is a I intend to help porgrams that help cyclists who have been injured and the families of cyclists who have been killed. I am putting together a team of talented folks to help me develop and implement a comprehensive campaign that will include a variety of media. This work is too important to wait on having a team in place so I started without them. ....In addition to wanting to save lives this campaign is my attempt to save that joy, for myself and others.

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Hi Joe,
I'm sorry to sound negative, but there things here that give me pause for thought.
First, you are selling T-shirts for $65 each.
Then you say that yours is a "not-for-profit initiative" (?), but continue to state that yours is "business and the profits will be used to help accomplish the goals being set... in addition to the goal of placing the message on the backs of 1,000,000 cyclits worldwide.....".
Your business, Joseph B. Mizereck & Associates, Inc., is actually not a non-profit organization, is it? In other words, it's your private business that can pretty much do whatever it decides to with its profits, good intentions or not.
You make it sound like this is a legal non-profit organization, yet there are no references or specific information as to how your business profits will actually be used (and aside from informing us that your credit card is maxed out). Just somewhat vague statements about your 'intention' to help cyclists in the future. You don't even list a location or address for your business. :cool:
I see no guarantees in place that would ensure that all this t-shirt money actually goes anywhere except to sell more t-shirts.

Your goals may indeed be completely noble and honorable. But I see no non-profit 'campaign' here to change laws. What I see is someone who wants to 'spread the word and save lives' simply by selling a lot of shirts (at a profit).
If I am wrong, please show us some specific information confirming exactly what your non-profit organization status is, and what it is doing with its funds. That's the way things are usually done. Otherwise this is all just a commercial to sell stuff.
Thanks

Thank you Mimi, it's not enough for me either, but it's a start in changing the way motorists interact with cyclists. Most motorists are very respectful of cyclists' need for space. Clearly 70-80 percent of those who pass me move over well beyond 3 feet. I'm not worried about them, in fact I am deeply grateful that they "get it". It's the others that need enlightenment, need guidance, and need to be reminded to give cyclists space...at least 3 feet. If we can get them to think and give us 3 feet, then there is a good chance that someday they will understand why they need to and should give more.

Thank you Mimi,
Joe

Lisa, forgive me. I said earlier that I am NOT a not-for-profit organization. Sorry for the confusion. And yes, I do plan to make a profit and I also plan to do some good things with those profits and I'm hoping that fellow cyclists will help me decide where some of those profits will go. My thinking at this point is to contribute 25% of profits to the kinds of programs I mentioned earlier. And I hope to do more.

I know there are a lot of details that need to be worked out, but I wasn't going to let that slow me down for fear that in taking my time to get everything in order another cyclist might be injured or killed.

Currently the campaign is being run under my Joseph B. Mizereck & Associates, Inc. (a for-profit corporation) I plan to establish an umbrella corporation (for-profit) named CycleMedia the first of January underwhich I will operate this campaign. The address will be, as it is now 916 Shadowlawn Drive Tallahassee, FL 32312 and you are welcome to call me at 1.800.761.0907.

Hope this clarifies things,
Joe

Yeah, I have the same concerns as Lisa... but only in the marketing.

I have to say though, I think calling them "$65 T-shirts" is a bit unkind. Voler jerseys are a nice technical fabric, fit me pretty well, have features I like such as a short zipper and three back pockets. With the largest volume discount, custom printed jerseys are $59.95 each. So he's netting $5 per jersey, which is a lot less than "$65 T-shirt" suggests, and that's not taking into account shipping (from Velowear to him, I'm sure the individual shipping is extra if we order one), his time or the little bit of overhead for his work.

I'm guessing that if he does bring out a hi-viz reflective model, they'll be correspondingly more expensive, since a solid color unprinted jersey is $30 on Voler's site while the Night-Brights are $60 (and well worth it IMO). I'd gladly buy one of them with the slogan, too, but I'd be MORE glad if it was honestly represented as a for-profit enterprise rather than a "campaign."

Like, I bought some "peace sign" socks too, but I had no illusions that Sock Guy was donating any of the proceeds to peace-related causes. It was just a way for me to express an opinion and just a way for them to make money.

Mimi, 3 feet may not be enough, but it IS the law. I don't think wearing the jerseys is going to encourage anyone to buzz us any CLOSER than they already do. But maybe, just maybe, it will get some of those who buzz us to move over. Florida in particular is full of people who just have no clue what the law is, and would rather come within inches of a cyclist than touch the yellow line. Personally, I wish the "It's the Law" part was on the back, too.

Heck, my own DH said to me not a month ago, "Did you know that [some state where neither one of us has ever lived] has a law that says you have to give bicyclists 3 feet?" I just about punched him.... :rolleyes: ("I don't ride a bicycle, why would I know that?" he says. "Do you drive a school bus? Do you know you're supposed to stop for them?!")


EDIT: And ya know, I give the guy credit for coming back here and taking our heat. :rolleyes: A lot of spammers would simply put up their post and leave.

My concern here is that this is not a charity or non-profit organization, yet is using TE to sell shirts for a profit.
Yes it is a positive pro-cycling pro-safety message on the shirts. However, at that point anyone can put "Share the Road" or "Fight Cancer" for example on a shirt/jersey and then promote them for sale here, under the protective umbrella of "spreading the word to save lives". If it's a private for-profit business, then this is a commercial sales post, regardless of intentions.

OakLeaf, thank you. I hope I'm not perceived as a spammer because I really have come here to share and to learn....if members end up buying jerseys, great. The impact of message gets stronger. If not, that's ok too because I'm also educating. For example, had a friend not talked to her friend about the 3 foot law in Florida a couple of weeks ago, he wouldn't have known about it when he was hit by a truck in Ft. Lauderdale and had to explain it to the four police officers who were at the scene and NONE of them knew about the law. They were going to charge the CYCLIST with some violation. As far as I know they didn't.

I appreciate all the comments...and I have learned some things...so I'm grateful for that. And I got you thinking, with me, about this issue, and maybe something good will come out of it. That's my hope.


Joe

Lisa, I appreciate that. Please forgive me and forget I mentioned the jersey at all. Let's focus on this: Motorists are injuring and killing cyclists. What do we do to save ourselves and each other?

Help me answer this question. Share with me your ideas on how I can accomplish my goal of saving cyclists' lives.

Thank you,

Joe

Sounds like a great campaign. Good luck!

And as a cycle coach for Team in Training, good luck to you with your leukemia. I am going to put your name on our honoree banner for next season - if that is ok with you?? :)

Oakleaf, it's not the law here in the state of washington because it was deemed unenforceable.

Thank you Sarah. It would be terrific to be on your list.

Joe

Joe, I think it's a great idea and campaign for building public awareness - law or no law - I like the idea of simply saying "please".

I personally do struggle with the use of a public retailers site to sell a competing product...but that's their call.

May I suggest that you seek out the support and affiliation with something like this Foundation that has assisted us with projects in Indiana?

Good luck

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mr. Silver

May I suggest that you seek out the support and affiliation with something like this Foundation that has assisted us with projects in Indiana?

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Or how about Dave Z's campaign?

Here in Utah, where we have a 3-foot law, there has been at least one high-profile case. One of AK's teammates was involved in another really scary incident; I'm not sure if they bothered with a 3-foot violation since the guy was ultimately arrested for aggravated assault. But I'm sure Joe is familiar with all of this!!

I'm sure that Joe's primary goal is awareness. Good luck, Joe!