Making a Difference During Bike-To-Work Week
Hello!
My name is Brandon, and for the past few weeks I’ve been helping out behind the scenes at Google Maps “Bike There”. Peter, the driving force behind this blog, has urged me to post and introduce myself, but I’ve been wary to do so because I’m playing such a small part.
We’re now in the middle of Bike-to-Work week, and it’s got me thinking about bicycle advocacy—the central theme of this blog. A lot of people don’t get involved in bicycle advocacy because they think that it means making a big effort—organizing a group ride, giving a speech at your workplace, or spending your free time at the local bike co-op.
It’s true that we—well, almost all of us—could do more, but that’s not the point. Advocacy is about doing what you can to make a difference. Every little gesture counts. So when you answer a coworker’s questions about your commute, help a stranger patch a flat, or even obey the rules of the road to show drivers that they can share the road with bikers, you’re acting as an advocate of bicycling. And you’re making a difference.
Even though I could do more to advocate for bicycling (and I plan to!), helping out at Google Maps “Bike There” is a good first step. I hope each of you will make a small gesture of advocacy during Bike-to-Work week, even if it’s just smiling at the motorists you pass in traffic. 
Happy cycling!
May 20th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
Why do we have a bike to work week? I’ve been riding to work for two years now. When I lived in Japan I rode to work for four and a half years. We need to advocate riding to work everyday of the year.