How is this for a nice coincidence:

I was just about to post about a big interview given by Dave Meslin about the Toronto Cyclists Union to Darren Stehr of Toronto Cranks, when an email from "Mez" appeared in the BikingToronto Inbox:

Darren Stehr has posted a super-long interview about the Cyclists Union on Toronto Cranks. He put a lot of thought into the questions and the result is a really comprehensive snapshot of what my plans are for the group. He also added some poll questions the end, to allow people to give some feedback to the bike union proposal.

Here's a snippet from the big interview... make sure you have some time to read all of it:

Q: You have had success in several different projects like Spacing and City Idol. How will the work you have done on those projects help you with the Bicycle Union? What will be different?

A: I approach all my projects with the same method. First I assume that apathy is a myth and that people truly care about their city, their neighbourhoods, their health, etc. This is the main mistake that most non-profits make. They develop their plans based on the notion that apathy is the dominant political sentiment. Second, I identify an area that is in dire need of improvement, and has a clear community of people who feel strongly about the issue. In one case, the city is implementing a public space policy of privatisation, with devastating effects on our visual environment and basic values of freedom of speech and diversity of expression. In another case, electoral politics has become scandalously bland and people are hungry for something new that is political, smart, relevant and fun, all at the same time. In this case, we have a city that treats cyclists like crap. There’s a lot of talk about bikes at City Hall, but little action. People are angry. They demand more. They want it now. I’m planning on tapping into that energy with the same strategy that I’ve used with my other projects: Think big. No compromise. Make it fun. Make it sexy. Fight for real change. Operate within a hybrid model that combines of professionalism with gutsy creativity. Break the rules. Celebrate victories. Build momentum slowly and methodically. Always bring snacks to meetings.

More on Toronto Cranks.

Labels: advocacy, news