Could cyclists swing the next Chicago mayoral election?
In the current excitement and trepidation about the next mayor of Chicago where do cyclists come in? Considering that support for any one person said to be running is pretty fractured could cyclists fill the void a given mayor to be would need by demanding modern mass transit and cycling infrastructure growth in the city in return?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by KatieP on
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I think we can and am more than willing to help any initiatives. After all, I'm getting sick of the flat tires!
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Permalink Reply by David on
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I think that's an excellent question. There's a few relevant things to consider, though. First, as far as I know, there simply is no political organization in town representing cyclists (ActiveTrans doesn't really do electoral politics). Secondly, I'm not really so sure "cyclists" have much in common in terms of a specific political agenda; even on chainlink, which is a tiny, tiny sliver of cyclists in Chicago and much, much less diverse than cyclists as a whole, there's massive differences in terms of political goals and priorities. Thirdly, even if you could identify a specific subgroup of cyclists with specific goals, I strongly suspect their political leanings in other areas would so closely match one of the candidates that their cycling-specific agenda would be irrelevant in terms of vote-getting.
Maybe I'm wrong but that's how I see it, and sadly this means that cycling issues are going to remain largely irrelevant to this election. Personally, I find cycling-related issues extremely important to the future of the city and I really wish there were an political organization strong enough to force the candidates to respond to cycling issues, but there isn't. I found ActiveTrans' recent "candidate survey" to be almost completely irrelevant (see above re: diversity of goals) even apart from the fact that most candidates felt completely comfortable in ignoring it.
In short, I think that cyclists will have little effect without a solid electoral political organization behind them and it's going to be really hard work to create such an organization. (Somebody is bound to respond that I shouldn't complain unless I'm willing to work for a change, and I basically agree with that. But I'm not really complaining here, just describing the situation as I see it).
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Permalink Reply by Spencer "Thunderball" Thayer! on
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No. We're not a single issue voting block. Far too opinionated and diverse for something like that. Unless someone out of no where creates a coalition we all magically rally behind we'll just have to be content with the ATA being our methodology for injecting bicycle agenda's into the mainstream.
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Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on
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I agree that we're a hard bunch to get to agree on anything-- look at Pat Quinn and all he's done for us-- but bring up his name and cyclists will go on about what a crook he is, etc., and then tout their candidate who rides around in a campaign RV.
But I agree that we can make a difference-- with the right folks organizing.
We've helped aldermanic candidates in the past (Rey Colon and Manny Flores came on CM rides during their election run-ups.) There's only good to come of connecting with the candidates prior to election, and doing whatever possible to make support for sustainable transportation a campaign platform.
Even if a groundswell of bike support is not ultimately what makes it or breaks it for them.
Katie Paffhouse said:I think we can and am more than willing to help any initiatives. After all, I'm getting sick of the flat tires!
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Permalink Reply by igz on
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Tho we are fractured in many of our beliefs, we do have this major thing (cycling) in common, and tho we have our own political agendas, it would be great if for a moment we can stop thinking about our selves and the greater good of our community. we cannot have EVERYTHING we want, right? can we get over thinking that?
if we cant have everything we want, can we at least agree that there is something we ALL want? a furthering of bicycle infrastructure in this city and greater metropolitan area. chicago cyclists are great in number and great in persuasion. we have seen many effects come forth from our efforts. we are already unified as seen here on the chainlink in many of our opinions and expectations of a chicago bicycle infrastructure. we are also widely recognized as a bike city and i would like to believe that a cyclocentric campaign platform or coalition is expected.
ATA is a great support, but like everyone says, not a political agenda, they dont have to be. and we shouldnt really expect them to be. im really not in tune with ATA to be able to speak more to it, but what i can speak to is that i know we all want to see some effect to support our needs as a community and to help it grow in this city.
im not particularly political by any means, but i know that i would stand to support this community.
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shapeshifter said:iggi for mayor!!!
I know his type.
His first act as mayor will be to impose cash fines for having more than one gear on your rear wheel.
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nonsense.
just a tax
H3N3 said:
shapeshifter said:iggi for mayor!!!
I know his type.
His first act as mayor will be to impose cash fines for having more than one gear on your rear wheel.
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Permalink Reply by Dr. Doom on
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Chicago politics is entirely transactional. So while we could have an influence, we'd need a short wish list comprising specific, actionable items and something concrete to deliver—either money or manpower. If we can get 100 Chainlinkers to commit to five-ten hours a week worth of campaign work to the candidate with the best combination of a good cycling platform and political viability I'd expect modest proposals would be listened to—Rahm can be beaten, but it's going to take piecing together a coalition of actual Chicagoans, all of them sure that their concerns are really, really important.
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Dr. Doom said:Chicago politics is entirely transactional. So while we could have an influence, we'd need a short wish list comprising specific, actionable items and something concrete to deliver—either money or manpower. If we can get 100 Chainlinkers to commit to five-ten hours a week worth of campaign work to the candidate with the best combination of a good cycling platform and political viability I'd expect modest proposals would be listened to—Rahm can be beaten, but it's going to take piecing together a coalition of actual Chicagoans, all of them sure that their concerns are really, really important.
Allrighty, let's have a go at it then:
http://www.thechainlink.org/group/chainlinkpoliticalactiontaskforce
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no i dont think so!
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