@Rodney – yeah, I’m not sure I can get behind an anthem from the guys that were too sexy for their cats. We might need to go back to the drawing board on that one.

@Mighk – thanks for reminding me to check out her site. I’d been meaning to anyway and she has some great stuff there!

@sara Oh man, that steams me just to read that! Grr! I so don’t understand the whole passive-aggressive thing. I’m not particularly confrontational, but if I have something to say, well…I’m going to go ahead and say it. Even if you weren’t in professional mode, it makes it so hard to respond when people do that whole PA thing because it’s almost like you can never call them out on it. Thank you for the continued support. It helps so much to know you’re not alone, particularly in moments like the one you mentioned.

Just last week this other parent, whom I had just met and who had just listened to others talking to me about my bike commuting with kids, made a comment about how he used to live in Copenhagen and really liked biking, however, he would “never, ever” ride here (in our city) with kids because he could never put them in such danger “just to prove a point.” I couldn’t really respond as I was in professional mode, there in the conversation in my job role not ‘just’ as a parent,, and it would have been inappropriate for me to say what I was really thinking. However, that comment played over and over in my head all day.. even though I didn’t respect his opinion and frankly, thought he was a total jerk for saying it without knowing me really and truly, he wasn’t talking about himself but so obviously passively aggressively calling me a bad parent.

Anyhoo, I am sending out good thoughts over the web and hoping you get inspired and feel good about writing what you believe and what you live. I, also, probably couldn’t stop myself from reading others’ comments but do know you have others’ support and think you just rock for taking on this family bike commuting adventure.

Sometimes I get discouraged with the backlash “opinions” of the anti-cycling/get bikes off the road fear mongers and the species homo sapien ignoramus. Your op-ed will be a turning point in changing the mindset and attitude of the aforementioned in regards to safely and effectively cycling with children and as a family.

Searching for the good ancient music of the 80’s on the internet, I found a real gem. Bookmark and listen at will. I think the lyrics apply in regards to the advocacy we are doing here in Orlando.

http://tinyurl.com/yh26fch

http://freerangekids.wordpress.com/

But let me just say, thank you so much for using your procrastination energy to write for CO! Your post took pressure off me to post something and I actually managed to get one of the x’s done

And now, on to putting yourself out there in the mainstream. I feel ya, girl. As I said when you started this blog, putting yourself out there in writing is scarier than riding in traffic. Printing your opinion in the newspaper is scarier than jumping out of a perfectly good airplane.

I wrote my first (and only) op ed before I started CommuteOrlando. It was my first foray into putting myself out there (did I mention I used to skydive?). When I submitted it, the opinion editor gushed, told me he was putting it in that Sunday’s paper. I was so excited! Until Saturday night. Then I started obsessing on how various factions of the community might end up hating me and ripping me to shreds. I felt exposed. By Sunday morning I was nauseous.

It turned out fine. Better than fine, actually.

Finally, on social conventions. The people who yell at us feel they have the unspoken support of other drivers. The solidarity they get from newspaper comment sections certainly does not help curtail their inflated self-importance. I think the percentage of drivers who accept us on the road is higher than we think sometimes (though still lower than it needs to be). I also believe we increase those numbers by consistent messaging about how safe bicycling is (even in this imperfect environment). In that regard, you are a game-changer.

In the world of bicycling, what we do has long been cast as the domain of road warriors — “skinny white men.” While I am no road warrior, nor skinny, nor male, I am a recovering adrenaline junkie. But you, you are a cautious, protective mother of two sweet daughters. And you know what you are doing — because you took the time to learn all you could about the best practices of keeping yourself and your daughters safe. You know, they don’t.

And worry not, my friend, you will not be left to the wolves in the comments. You have an army of readers standing by to slay them.

Write on! You are a brilliant communicator and this community awaits your message.

No pressure