Help with my Presentation

[fixedgeargirl]

What if you time a short errand door to door? Something like going to the post office. Really, by the time you add up all the mini-tasks involved with driving to somewhere w/in a mile or two, it takes less actual time to do it by bike. And it's more scenic, makes your butt cuter, etc .

Driving entails: open garage door, put on seat belt, insert key, start car, back out, close garage, wait to enter street, drive time, time looking for a parking spot, park, turn off car, remove seat belt, exit car, lock car, walk across parking lot.

Biking entails: open garage, hop on bike that has combo lock already on it, ride to destination, roll up to the front door, lock bike to rack. Rinse, repeat.

[Geonz]

Being college folks, the planet and politics are on many minds, though we're very much a "purple" area. Right wing and left wing get flapping together and soon everybody's flying around in circles, feathers and dander *everywhere!* (Okay, we have also had this bunch of wild turkeys running loose in the town, resisting efforts to round 'em up... allusions to left and right wings, the reasonable rights of immigrants and migrants, and turkeys in general are currently rampant.) What's awesome about cycling is that it's the right thing to do for a zillion reasons.
However, my current inclination is to focus on "how to do this" - as in, okay, you have a bike, how *do* you really make that left turn? When it's a one way street, which side do you ride on? What *do* you do at a red light?
What I think I will do is have three hours' worth of information and let the audience steer me.
But here's a tangential thought: when I had a teensy tinesy motorcycle, 'cause I couldn't afford a car, I was amazed that other motorcyclists were always smiling and waving at me; and a lot of people get into motorbikes becuase of the social culture. So: how can we get that rolling with the unmotor cycles?

[Blueberry]

I agree with what everyone has already chimed in with - but wanted to add that you don't have to be a super cyclist and ride everywhere to make a difference. One short trip every once in a while still makes a difference. Most people are much more comfortable with the small step than the large one. And I agree that the "how to's" are very important - they were quite difficult for me when I started cycling - the what to wear, how to lock, etc. I would have loved a presentation like yours

[allabouteva]

Hi Geonz

I think it sounds like a very practical sort of a presentation. I think you should definitely bring your bike, along with all the biking gear that comes with it, eg helmet, gloves, jerseys, arm and leg warmers, sunglasses, shoes, knicks, etc. I know as a newbie, I was very surprised at the amount of specialist cycling gear you can get....

Also, if you're going to do the green thing, then here's a story that might interest you:

http://info.anu.edu.au/mac/Newslette..._treadlies.asp

The Australian National University bought a bunch of Treks for it's dept staff to use on campus, and if all colleges and universities did this, wouldn't the world be a greater place!

And I think it has to resonate with people so that they don't think all cyclists are in the Lance mould, where you have to be a super fit athlete. Cyclists come in all shapes and sizes

Good luck and like the others, we're keen to find out how it goes!

e