Awareness Raising Spoke Cards Campaign Project?

agree on the domain name (poll with the final designs?) and I'll stump up the cash for it (that said, insidesuicide.info is just 99p for a year). We can park whatever info is settled on at a free site like google domains. Quick and easy.

I can probably sort out some free hosting and domain name registration when the time comes, I work for a hosting company.

This is a tidied-up version.

I was toying with the idea of putting drops on the bikes... what do yo think?

Had a mess with this last night for a break from work. Easy as I had the line work.
Know what you mean about a universal message though. Maybe keep as is.

Just listening to the radio (can't see what station and aint heard it yet....ancient radio) and the presenter made a quip about how the swiss bloke who is about to travel the channel this afternoon on a jet pack, is probably safer than a cyclist on our roads!

somewhere in 4000 + (?) memebers there must be someone who works in radio or has contacts..

maybe getting the campaign mentioned on the radio once it gets going?

i agree with beefmaster, i am sure it is possible to get it on radio london, robert elms being a cyclist and all!

maybe a good place to target the spoke cards would be buildings or bike parks where public figures / entertainment / media type people work / hang out. e.g BBC white city. virgin on great portland street. BBC on regents street etc. there are always bike parked around and near them!

Great idea.

This is a tidied-up version.

I was toying with the idea of putting drops on the bikes... what do yo think?

If something goes up in time perhaps change the bottom line to the website address? People might see the address on stationary bikes and have a look when they get home. Also, if anything, it's a good way of tracking how many peeps are interested in the cause.

This is a tidied-up version.

I was toying with the idea of putting drops on the bikes... what do yo think?

If you were going with the slogan, it needs sharpening up, as discussed elsewhere i.e.

"Dont' Push Your Luck With A Truck"

I think 'truck' is a bit of an americansim, anyway.

If not going for a slogan, then it may still be worth considering Van Uden's (?) point about a line saying:

"When passing an HGV/lorry..."

JOL's version is nice and clear. The type of handlebars is irrelevant - there just has to be an instantly recognisable bicycle symbol. I'm leaning towards his kind of design - there's room on the back for a bit more verbal detail.

BTW, good work everyone, and thanks to VB for re-establishing focus at that 'difficult 3rd album stage' :)

^^^^^I think the direction arrows need to be this blatant, they get a bit lost when they are made part of the bike graphic, I wouldn't omit the HGV type either FWIW

great work Jol; and thanks for the offer Clefty!
Prefer the non-drop - a bit more universal.
Radio/local tv a good idea, too, if the cards get out quickly enough. Means the message can be more +ve about riding, as well as the more focussed, but scarier, spoke cards.
So: vote on domain name and design tomorrow, decide on a paypal address (like for the T-shirts) and away we go.
(Erm, and hide the drunk riding thread.)

jol's version looks clearest and simplest, but i do think the track bikes detracts from the standard UK road-sign aesthetic, and diminishes it's power as a message. people expect to see the classic bike symbol, you don't want to distract them from the message for even a second by having them wonder ' hmm, that' bike looks odd/cool/a bit like a racer/racers are gay/foreign'

edit : yep, agree with the BIG daddy man as well.

yeah man, i like that as well. I taught my missus the dangers of cycling on the inside by making her stand at a tight junction (there the curbs are cracked and scuffed with rubber) and made her look down as the truck passed, it apexed the corner and rear wheels up the curb. i asked where the space for her bike was?

i was about a foot away and it had some impact

Well, as the idea of a viral video has been floated and I think that Greasy Slag has already written the script for it. It would be easy to produce, short and to the point.

Amazing response. Love to help distribute the spoke cards. Could Stick a load on the bikes that go in & out here at Bikefix.

Also with regards to distribution, I'm sure we have member at uni or close to them. Thy are always pakced with bikes!

So whose gonna shove one in Boris n Daves Spokes? Great idea!

I'm so impressed by this momentum. I can see everyone's motivated by their love for cycling and the safety of others.
I'll be onboard for a Birmingham push!

Minor modification, to make it even more obvious?

Minor modification, to make it even more obvious?

I think madillness' one is stronger but totally agree with Ved about the arrows, the X on the left really stamps the point.

Great work everyone.

Are there any thoughts on production time scales yet? It's a shame we've got nothing for CM on friday.

Good work everyone. We need to get some deadlines in place for finalising design and other stuff, does anyone with appropriate knowledge/skills want to volunteer to be project manager?

On a separate note I'm happy to distribute cards and help in any other way.

There's always a danger with these things of trying to overload them with messages

problem with putting the X there is that you are loading it with another symbol that people will have to decipher

If it helps, i think we could easily over complicate this card, by portraying everyone's idea of correct symbols, drop bars on the bikes etc, etc.
I agree with BDW - i showed my missus the proposed card, without any explanations, and her response........?
"Shit, that's a good idea. Especially after this incident in London"
God love 'er...
It works.

Deadline: distribute at BFF, 3 Oct Fri pm.?
Approve final graphic tomorrow. Get cash over weekend. Is that enought time to print and distribute?

Hi all, I haven't posted here before, so just to say that the LCC is very much in support of greater campaigning on this issue. Our HGV group works on this all the time but all additional support is appreciated. Cycling is not dangerous but the high number of fatalities from left-turning lorries is therefore especially upsetting and much more preventable.

Awareness-raising among cyclists is extremely important; for the sake of prevention alone it's a minimal thing one can do. The bigger picture is that there is a lot that needs to be done about HGVs, but little political will to focus on this issue. Just to stress: We are way behind in the UK and the DfT are actively refusing to implement safety measures that have been taken on the Continent.

This is what the template letter to MPs that seemed to be inaccessible to at least one poster addresses. (Just in case anyone else can't access the template letter, I've attached it to this message in .txt format.) If you want to send it, make sure to change it into your own style until you like it, as different-looking letters on the same issue have a far greater impact than letters that seem to spring from concerted campaigns. (NB the template was created in 2007, so some of the time references are out of date.)

The LCC web-site page that Bill also links to is here:

http://www.lcc.org.uk/index.asp?PageID=917

My local LCC group, Hackney, is calling for greater political leadership to bring people together.

See 14th July item on:
http://www.hackney-cyclists.org.uk/new.htm

Also in our latest newsletter.

Happy campaigning!
Oliver
LCC

Oliver - Would we gain greater leverage going to the local MP or London Mayor?

If it helps, i think we could easily over complicate this card, by portraying everyone's idea of correct symbols, drop bars on the bikes etc, etc.
I agree with BDW - i showed my missus the proposed card, without any explanations, and her response........?
"Shit, that's a good idea. Especially after this incident in London"
God love 'er...
It works.

I mentioned it to mine plus her friends over drinks and i got
"What's a spoke card"
"But wont people thing thats a flyer for some band night or advert for cleaning services?"

Got to hand it to her. the target audience is tight but i think the message is clear enough.

I have the stock and ink to print a few thousand spoke cards for free.
Maybe the film night idea could actually be used to make a bit of money for this. I know a few places we could use for free with a bar etc.

Hi Robin. It is a nice offer to produse a few thousand spoke cards for free but it is a bit much to ask. I would be willing to put in some money to help fund this and I am sure others would too. When would you be able to print them? I would be willing to come along and help out on a couple of evenings and the weekend.