"3 Feet Please" Campaign

[jmizereck]

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

[Eden]

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.

[OakLeaf]

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???

[VeloVT]

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

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

[jmizereck]

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

[Biciclista]

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.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

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.

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.
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