Time for action

[magnatom]

For one guerrilla tactic, how about placing stickers on bike stands, especially the busy ones, saying 'Plenty of room here?' with a web site address to go to, carrying on the theme of the videos.

In fact I am sure we could find plenty of good places to place 'Plenty of room here?' stickers.

 

[ttcycle]

hi magnatom,

depends on what furniture is already on said bike stand. I know down here in London there is so much crap on them it might not be taken notice of.

Seems there needs to be several streams ...

1. guerilla tactics- stickers/flyering on bikes
2. chatting/interacting with cyclists and HGV drivers
3. Linking in with other campaign groups
4. Video -viral spreading - I have a filmmaker friend -in fact two- either of them may be interested. Will contact them
5.writing to MPs - maybe longer term aim of better provisions and design of roads etc
6. Linking with media - PR TfL; Broadsheets/dailies/news etc

but all the above and other campaign stuff is meaningless unless we have an idea of what we want to achieve.

Don't worry Magnatom - I'm good at the details

 

[CopperBrompton]

The only thing I would add to that, would be just before we freeze the video, it would be good to have an indication of a little 'bump' within the cab.

Yep, and maybe a faint crushing metal sound behind the loud truck engine noise.

The grave/mortuary idea is an interesting continuation of the theme, but for me the crushed bike/etc images would be more powerful and thus better to end on.

 

[magnatom]

Fair enough about the stickers, but cyclists might notice something that has been looped around their bike...

 

[magnatom]

Yes we will need to think more of the focus, but I do like the campaign slogan of Plenty of Room Here?

What do others think?

 

[jonesy]

Yes we will need to think more of the focus, but I do like the campaign slogan of Plenty of Room Here?

What do others think?

I'd be worried that using a question (to which the answer is No!) as a slogan risks sending a confusing message. Fine as the caption for the relevant bit of the film when you've got the context, but not as a message for the campaign.

 

[Jake]

"Is it safe to...?"

 

[fossyant]

Some great ideas. I've put up a couple of 'posters' in our shed - have one for another parking area I use too.

 

[Crankarm]

Yes we will need to think more of the focus, but I do like the campaign slogan of Plenty of Room Here?

What do others think?

How about a Tee shirt or logo "Don't F*ck with the Truck" in large bold text with a cartoon picture of a mangled bike and adjacent truck below or just "RIP" below instead of pics. Brutal but to the point.

 

[Arch]

The only thing I would add to that, would be just before we freeze the video, it would be good to have an indication of a little 'bump' within the cab..

Not sure. Part of the point is that a driver would probably be oblivious... Although I've never driven a truck over a bike, I wonder how different it would be to the average pot holed road...

Only just caught up with this thread, so I'll offer any help I can...

 

[sheddy]

I've come to this late but my gut feeling that some humour is essential for a youtube type campaign to get forwarded around the net

Do we know any cycling comedians who could write some patter and do the voiceover (like Dave Gorman) ?

At the risk of being ostracized, would truckers take more notice of a safety campaign if the cyclist shown in the video was a scantily dressed woman ?

(or even nude, ie ride down the LHS and you are completely unprotected!)

 

[Arch]

Humour? Hard to see it fitting with the subject, it would have to be very clever stuff.

Horror/shock is the other way to go, and maybe more appropriate. I saw a girl knocked down, when I was about 8, and to this day I'm a very careful crosser of roads. And there was a railway safety film that featured a boy getting a foot cut off, that is imprinted on my memory. No actual gore, but very obvious run up and consequences.

I wonder too, about kids. Get the message across early. But I'm thinking some sort of cartoon with an elephant treading on a mouse, and animation is another story.

 

[Jim_Noir]

I'd help out with it. Myself and a few friends do little home movies (not the stuff your dirty minds are thinking) so would be a good project. And may I suggest maybe talking to or doing something with Critical mass, maybe a bit controversial but a good source of publicity and a way to flyer other cyclists

My brother-in-law was an HGV driver, he's not long got into cycling and is s keen motorbiker too... all we need is a truck... there is a guy in my local boozer who carrys a screwdriver for such times Now we need a stunt man (think I can easy get this or do it myself) and a old bike... and a closed road!

 

[sheddy]

Yes it will be hard, but not impossible for the CC Clan. See this - http://www.rubberductions.com/filmography/hepatitis_animation

'Overtake on the right and survive' (cheering, cannons, 1812 overture)

'Undertake on the left is suicide' (wheels under truck, crash noises and funeral march)

 

[sheddy]

'I am the spirit of dark and lonely water' 1973 -
View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GawMISYzyjs


and this classic - Joe and Petunia

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBc02FPSvXc&feature=related