wagonfanatic

In building a stronger bike culture, and communicating with broader society, what are the best slogans/ memes/ phrases/ and stickers to convey this message? Many of these are also about bike safety, and the decision to ride a cycle.

On one hand you want to convey a good message, but you don't want to seem presumptuous and greener-than-thou. I think the best strike a middle ground and try to appeal to your audience (rather than making quips at the expense of car culture-- although its hard not to love lampooning Hummers)

My Favorites:

"Burn Fat, Not Oil"

"We > Fossil Fuels"
(taken from Bill McKibben's 350.org "Do the Math" campaign)

"Shift the power. We are the power shift."

Sold my VEHICLE
Gained a VOCATION

On the back of T-shirts while riding
"Yield" (pic of bike) "To the next generation"

I am a Human-powered Vehicle

"How do you roll?"

"Get off your ass and ride" (Doesn't really make sense unless your haulin' and are cycling standing up)




"Drive to work. Work to drive"


"Pedal for the Planet"

"Same Road, Same Rights" (see below)

Here's a pic of a cycling Jersey I just bought my girlfriend for her birthday:



(Logo used for the 2007 Powershift Conference in College Park, MD)

Biking saves S1/mile




What are some other good ones?

I-Like-To-Bike

Your favorite quips will convey a presumptuous and greener-than-thou message which is OK if you want to preach to a presumptuous and greener-than-thou audience/choir.

wagonfanatic

Some humor on this very subject:


A few more...




"Bike to Work
DON'T
Work to Drive"





"Go Ahead, raise the price of gas"

"Live Free, or Drive"

"Live (Coal) Free, or Die"



"Save Gas and Lose the Ass"





via Bike Pittsburgh




600 million cars clogging America
AND YOU'RE MAD AT ME?

wagonfanatic

For me, I just want to communicate. People look at my commuting daily like I'm crazy, but I can't help but feel I'm one of the few sane ones!

wagonfanatic

I AM
ONE LESS CAR











"My TAX Dollars paid for OUR Road"


"Unlimited Air Conditioning"

"PEDAL POWER
IS PEOPLE POWER"

(Shirt Idea):

Cycling

Cool Enough for Einstein
Cool Enough for Me

Roody

I like a couple of the oldies:

"I'm not blocking traffic -- I am traffic!"

"One Less Car"

"Powered by Pancakes"

TiBikeGuy

wolfchild

I never liked any type of ideological slogans or sayings especially when they are printed on clothing or used as stickers. Why do some people go to such extreme measures to advertise their lifestyle ??. This type of stuff alienates people, and makes YOU look some some self- righteous wacko who is on a mission to save humanity from destruction...Just be normal.

wahoonc

Same reason some people like vegetables and others like meat?

To each their own...

My live by slogan is the old Earth Day one "Think Globally, Act Locally" That and "Do I REALLY need it..."

Aaron

Ekdog

Great thread, Wagon Fanatic! I love wearing t-shirts with cycling and ecology themes. I see it as a free speech issue. The fact that a certain ilk are offended by such messages only makes me want to wave my freak flag higher. To those who loathe those of us who are concerned about the environment and insult us by calling us names like "presumptuous" and "greener-than-thou," I welcome their hatred!*

*Thanks, FDR.

wagonfanatic

Thanks, Ek! Yeah, I feel quite divided on this one. I've heard psychologically people don't deal well with their "values" being attacked. Ie, insulting someone for driving or owning a car doesn't get you far. BUT, there are subtle ways for people to question "Do I really need to drive?" or "Wow, that guy/ gal is really in shape, I wish I could be too," or "Dang, gas really is expensive."

I'm really a fan of "Conservation is PATRIOTIC." I know patriotism is a strange subject, too often used to deny civil liberties and to quiet those who would urge a more peaceful path, but I'm getting this from Carter's 1979 "Crisis of Confidence" Speech, where is said:

"I'm asking you for your good and for your nation's security to take no unnecessary trips, to use carpools or public transportation whenever you can, to park your car one extra day per week, to obey the speed limit, and to set your thermostats to save fuel. Every act of energy conservation like this is more than just common sense -- I tell you it is an act of patriotism."

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexpe...carter-crisis/

Edit: just found this, which goes well:

wagonfanatic

A few more...

The Revolution will not be Motorized



CARS
are
Counter-Revolutionary!

Bicycles are vehicles not targets!

HANG UP
Save a Life



53 MPB

frantik

someone around here sells "Mend Your Fuelish Ways" stickers for a $1.. i bought a few and put them on my trailer, but in general i don't think car people particularly care about bike slogans

wagonfanatic

^ That's an awesome slogan. I'm not sure. I mean, lots of people like bumper stickers, even if they would never put them on their own car. And passengers often talk about them, especially if its a boring car ride. I just see it as another form of communication-- might as well try!

Sixty Fiver

TiBikeGuy

Maybe someone can create a pic of a car with exhaust spewing and the slogan "Pollution Solution"

Roody

This is probably why Canada still has a queen.

I-Like-To-Bike

On the other hand, some do want to seem presumptuous and greener-than-thou.

frantik

Ekdog

Only to those who assume airs of superiority towards people who are concerned about the environment. It can sometimes be amusing to torment such simple minds.

Ekdog

Of course President Carter was berated for making those comments, yet he was right, wasn't he?

Anybody know of any good sources for t-shirts with green, holier-than-thou, pro-cycling messages? I need to update my presumptuous wardrobe.

Roody

It's really funny, because the more you hate on people for being holier-than-thou, the more holier-than-thou that makes you! Then the more I hate on you for it, the more holier-than-thou I become.

It's an Eternal Escalating Spiral of Smugness! A Pyramid of Presumptuousness! Keep it up and pass it on!

wagonfanatic

Carter was right! There is an excellent book by Historian Kevin Mattson, called "What the Heck are you Up to Mr. President?" All about the Crisis of Confidence Speech, and how the nation could have gone another direction. Instead...there was "morning in America" with Reagan.


Here are some more...

RIDE IT LIKE YOU STOLE IT



What Carbon Emissions?

KICK YOUR LIFE INTO GEAR


I would never display this, but its funny!






“Single Track Mind”





IF YOU WERE BIKING
YOU COULD PASS

I-Like-To-Bike

Recognizing holier-than-thou behavior/attitude ain't the same as hating.

If someone like the OP wishes to convey a positive message to the broader society it helps to be able to recognize holier-than-thou behavior/attitude/messages that will have a negative impact on that broader society.

Ekdog

Please, sir, STOP THE HATE!

Please, STOP THE DENIAL!