Buy Nothing Bike Ride in Rochester this Friday

8 comments to “Buy Nothing Bike Ride in Rochester this Friday”

RocBike.com | The RocBike Review » Buy Nothing Bike Ride, November 18th, 2007 at 7:32 pm:

• [...] Here’s the plug that ran on RocBike Powered by Gregarious (42) Share This Comment on this post [...]

Jason, November 18th, 2007 at 7:37 pm:

• This is frikkin’ fantabulous! I’m there!

Steve Nordstrom, November 18th, 2007 at 8:59 pm:

• You know, making people feel guilty never has been an effective means of changing people’s opinions and actions in the long term. You might end up spreading more ill will toward sustainable living and bike culture if you publicize it the wrong way.

  Even though I use my bike as my primary means of transportation, I highly doubt I would be swayed to riding my bike more often if someone accosted me one day while I was out shopping, let alone on one of the busiest shopping days of the year.

  Its not that I disagree with the message, just the mode the message is communicated, regardless of everyone’s good intentions. Buy Nothing Day should be publicized in the days and weeks leading up to Black Friday, not on the actual day. Anyway, my two cents.

Keith, November 18th, 2007 at 9:24 pm:

• I’m with Steve on this one, while I agree with the message, I can’t get behind the means. I’m sure the roads in Henrietta will be gridlocked anyhow, but you will likely be asking for trouble if you are viewed as holding up traffic on what is probably the most self-induced stressful shopping day of the year. I mean, don’t people get trampled to death when they open the doors to Walmart / Circuit City / Best Buy that day? “A few freaks on bikes ain’t gonna stop me and my Hummer from getting to Walmart and the $200 laptop!” Good luck guys.

Adam, November 18th, 2007 at 10:46 pm:

• I agree with both Steve and Keith - direct confrontation is rarely an effective form of outreach.

  But, hopefully, most people who see us will either giggle or shrug, and I imagine we cyclists will bring nothing but good vibes on Friday. I think most people out on Black Friday afternoon aren’t quite as stressed and crazed as those in line at 6am.

JoeyMac, November 18th, 2007 at 10:56 pm:

• have fun and stay safe!

Jason, November 18th, 2007 at 11:09 pm:

• I definitely understand the comments by Steve and Keith. However, I’m not opposed to pushing people a little. In some ways, the height of the shopping season is when the appearance of the riders can make the most difference. It’s not without stress, but very little social change is without stress.

  That said, I like the spirit of some of the holiday rides back in the day, like this one and this one. I’m guessing the latter of these is where Adam got the graphic. These seemed to be less about confrontation/guilt and more about fun and displaying an alternative. And that also seems to me to be the spirit of Adam’s ride.

  And finally: It’s pretty obvious that the world is going to hell in a handbasket. Maybe some shock therapy is exactly what it needs. Anybody see anything else working?

bloggerivan, November 22nd, 2007 at 7:48 am:

• I dunno how I came across your website/blog this morning, but I did. I’m plugging your Friday ride on the blog I write at http://www.democratandchronicle.com/blogs/rochester/index.html

  And maybe I’ll see you at the Liberty Pole…