Time for action

[magnatom]

Hi Guys,

Looking good. Keep the thoughts coming.

We've got some friends over from Ireland at the moment, so I haven't had any time to work on this/ follow it up. But I am very keen to push this forward. I have no specific desire for the filming to be in Glasgow, but it certainly could be here. However, if more of the talent is in London then that might be the way to go. Who knows if I speak nicely to the wife I could maybe even pop down.
A special thanks to Spiecher who has done some behind the scenes work on this. I am sure working together we can get something positive out of this.

More soon...

 

[ttcycle]

Hi all

Been hectically busy the last few days - will try and go through the posts to tie up themes etc so we can see where we're heading and get things more organised.

The Kiwicycles graphic on the other post is a good start - easy graphic and memorable but Ben lovejoy is right about the copyright.

Will try and put some time aside to trawl through over the weekend.

Magnatom - thanks for getting the ball rolling.

 

[Speicher]

The "behind the scenes" work that I have been doing was a summary of all the kind offers of assistance that people made. Magnatom had said he would like a summary, as he was busy at work at the time.

For instance photographs, video production, contact with various organisations. Also those who would like to help, but are not sure how, at this point.

This summary has now been sent to Magnatom. I only mention this so that no-one duplicates that, (unless they want to). I am good at typing and word-processing, but the artistic side of things would be beyond me.

 

[ttcycle]

cool thanks for that speicher - saves me doing the same again!

I'll have a proper read through over the weekend and get some thoughts down.

 

[Arch]

I had an idea last night, for a comedy aspect (I know we have some good ideas already, but just to add to the mix...)

This needs a bit of setting up, and either some artistic or possibly flower arranging talent.

You set up your bike and dummy, but the dummy is made of fruit. Stay with me. Either literally all made or fruit, or with bananas stapled to it or something, or at the least has a head made of a watermelon. (In a helmet, if you like)

Lorry drives over dummy, flattening 'head'.

Punchline: "Mixing with lorries. Don't get juiced!"

It's a thought, please play with it if you wish...

I was also thinking, if we got together a concerted poster campaign, how many places and people we could potentially cover. I have a workplace, and a Uni, just from 'personal' contact. That personal bit might be the thing that gets us space, as opposed to a campaign handed down from above, as it were. We can bill ourselves as a group of concerned individuals, which perhaps stops us individually being viewed as evangelical nutters...

 

[magnatom]

I like it Arch. However, my own opinion is that it should stress the case in a shocking (not too shocking) way. Make people stop and think. Of course we could work up a couple of ideas and vote on the best.

 

[buggi]

i like it too Arch. haven't read all the replies but something like this on youtube could take off and get a bit of initial publicity. you never know, something like a talk show may pick it up, they always pick things up.

 

[gemsno4]

Haven't had chance to read through all the pages but wasn't there a woman on here a couple of months back who had been hit by a truck in exactly this situation? If she was willing to get involved that could have a massive impact - i.e look what happened to me. Although I would understand if she never wanted to think about it again. Can't find the thread though

 

[jonesy]

I like it Arch. However, my own opinion is that it should stress the case in a shocking (not too shocking) way. Make people stop and think. Of course we could work up a couple of ideas and vote on the best.

I can see why using comedy has been suggested, but I would be worried that there is a risk of not getting it quite right, and the result being seen as inappropriate or insensitive. I'm partly thinking of 'pants man' here, but also the very silly DfT helmet promotions, with X-rays of children's heads, and some sort of game involving hitting things on the head with a stick... these were also intended to be humorous to appeal to children, but they got it badly wrong. I'm not saying it can't be done using humour, but it greatly raises the difficulty involved it getting it right. This is a serious subject with serious messages that it is vitally important are not misunderstood. I think you've got some great ideas here for doing it straight and to be honest I think that's the safest approach.

 

[ttcycle]

Ok

I've still not had a chance to read through all of the posts in depth - have read Speicher's summary (thank you again) there seems like there are several ideas and several aims:

May it be useful to put a poll on here to see what people want to achieve - I know that the obivous one is to educate other cyclists and HGV drivers but there may be other things that can be achieved.

How about setting up a poll that links with this page?

Firstly we do need to know what angle we're coming from and also what we want to achieve - then we can actually get down to details etc otherwise we may just keep drifting and coming up with ideas but not actually do anything solid. Once the above is clear than deadlines and goals need to be set to achieve certain tasks to get this off the ground.

Feedback appreciated!

 

[CopperBrompton]

Since 'Time for action' suggests we should have some, that strikes me as a good idea. I've created polls for medium and style to kick things off.

 

[jonesy]

Since 'Time for action' suggests we should have some, that strikes me as a good idea. I've created polls for medium and style to kick things off.

Ben, you had earlier given a very clear idea of how it should be done, which gave the impression you have experience of doing this sort of thing, so what's your view on the comedy vs hard hitting approaches?

 

[Speicher]

Should I try and post my summary on here? so people can have a look at what has been offered?

 

[summerdays]

I think if you got the comedy element right it would have more chance of going viral and maybe reaching the people who don't read safety information such as Cyclecraft. Though I imagine it must be very hard to get the message in as well as the comedy.

 

[magnatom]

I'll try and explain my angle on this.

I've been commuting for 4 years now and in that time have had my fair share of 'run ins' on the road as my videos testify. I'll certainly keep producing the videos. However, I was getting sick of hearing of the increasing numbers of deaths when cyclists and HGVs mixed at junctions. One had happened on my commute in Glasgow earlier this year and I passed a little while after it had happened. I also had one incident (camera not working at that point) where a skip lorry cut a corner in front of me and nearly had me under it's wheels. Very scary.

All of these deaths were preventable.

Having some experience with video and the media I stumbled onto the idea of producing a video. Not a video produced for cyclists/HGV drivers by Rospa/CTC etc, but one produced for cyclists/HGV drivers by cyclists/HGV drivers. My thoughts were that this was the sort of video that if produced correctly and aimed correctly could spark the interest of the national media, hopefully highlighting this issue nationally (this type of incident certainly happens outside London, and it would be a shame if it became too London centric).

Personally I don't think anything would highligh this issue as well as a well made video, i.e. somehow actual show a 'cyclist' going into the abyss and not coming out the other side. Show how easily it can happen, and how easy it could be for a driver, not paying attention (yes it does happen) to end the life of a cyclist.

When I think back to safety campaigns in the past, i.e. the ones I remember, it is those with stricking videos that stick in your mind, i.e. AIDS (gravestones), drink driving (crash scenes). So that is why I think a video could make the biggest impact.

I absolutely agree with the use of other media but I think a video along the lines of what Ben has suggested with cards and posters along with that are the way to go.