Today I spent the afternoon canvassing for a candidate I support. I made sure to take a moment to tell him that bicycling and traffic safety are important to me, and we had a good conversation about how to improve bicycling conditions. If he gets elected, the chat we had may make the difference in turning him into a pro-bike leader.
As a nonprofit, the BTA can’t endorse candidates. (An unaffiliated group whose views we can’t endorse, Bike Walk Vote, is the only group we know of making endorsements in Oregon about bicycling issues; check out their web site if you want to find out more.) That’s where you come in: as a potential voter, you have the power to let candidates know that you (and other voters like you) care about bicycling.
How can you tell them? There are lots of ways!
1. If a campaign volunteer knocks on your door, ask what the candidate plans to do for bikes.
2. At candidate forums, ask how the candidates will improve our communities for cyclists.
3. Any time you write a check to support a candidate, say “bikes.”
4. Suggest that the candidate contact the BTA to learn more about how they can help cycling. (Candidate education is something we can do, as long as we offer it to all candidates, which we do).
There are plenty of specific questions you might want to ask. Here are just a few suggestions, but of course you can add your own based on your priorities and concerns.
- How will you improve neighborhood traffic safety?
- What can you do to help children bike and walk to school safely?
- What steps will you take to improve bicycling conditions?
- How will you help more people start biking once you’re elected?
- What can you do to give citizens more transportation choices?
- Will you be a champion for building more trails?
- Can I count on you to help lower the number of people killed in car crashes?
If every one of the BTA’s 4000 statewide members told candidates in their district that they care about bicycling, think what a difference it would make!
Other groups that do transportation-related endorsements include BikePAC, a motorcycle-related group and the Oregon League of Conservation Voters. To search all statewide PACs, visit the Secretary of State’s website. Local committees are registered at county clerk or elections offices, and/or city recorders.
