January 2008

Vol. 1, Issue 1

Contents:
1. SERVICES REACH WORLDWIDE
2. RESOURCE HIGHLIGHTS
3. HOT TOPICS
4. SUPPORTER SPOTLIGHT
5. GET YOUR ONE STREET STICKER

SERVICES REACH WORLDWIDE

This winter we have enjoyed an inspiring amount of on-call requests for our assistance from leaders of organizations around the world. While most have come from the United States - from both coasts and many states in between, we have also enjoyed working with leaders in Europe, South America and Africa. Most lead nonprofit, non-governmental organizations and needed guidance with common organizational issues such as personality conflicts, upholding ethical standards, launching campaigns, preparing for events, and for one, launching a brand new organization in the midst of turmoil in their bicycle community. A few have been leaders of for-profit companies and government agencies concerned with ethical issues as they forge new ground for increasing bicycling through their company or agency. The courage and commitment of these leaders as well as their sheer number, show us that our mission, to serve leaders of organizations working to increase bicycling, is in high demand and needed.

We have also enjoyed watching the visits to the One Street web site at www.onestreet.org , like a paint-by-numbers project filling in the world. Visitors live all over North America including Mexico; in nearly every European country; Brazil and Chile for South America; Zambia and South Africa for the African continent; Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia and the Philippines for Asia; and Australia and New Zealand down under. By far the most popular page on our site is the Resources page. The time spent on that page shows that our visitors are making use of the resources we offer there for increasing bicycling. Such self-service is a primary goal for our web site so that any leader, at anytime, can find what they need for increasing bicycling through their organization.

RESOURCE HIGHLIGHTS
This month we have chosen two of our favorite new resources to recommend:

• From our Bike Commuting & Carrying Loads page: "Getting More People Cycling," by Thomas Stokell, Managing Director, Challenge for Change, Ltd. http://www.onestreet.org/pdf/Getting%20More%20People%20Cycling.pdf
• From our Publications, Papers and Presentations page, the whole batch of papers and presentations by Professor John Pucher posted here: http://policy.rutgers.edu/faculty/pucher/ . If you're short on time, make sure to click on his Publications tab and read the paper at the top of the list: "At the Frontiers of Cycling: Policy Innovations in the Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany." If you're more of a visual absorber, make sure to enjoy either of John's two power points under his Presentation tab.

HOT TOPICS

Efforts to increase bicycling often face similar controversies no matter where these leaders reside in the world. Such controversies can become serious barriers to increasing bicycling. We believe that discussing and lifting these issues to a level of understanding will effectively remove them as barriers. This winter, these two topics seemed to be of greatest concern to the leaders we worked with:

ETHICS: Many leaders have come to us requesting assistance deciphering the difference between ethical and unethical actions. Often, their concern is not based on defined standards, but on a gut feeling that something someone is doing towards their organization is unethical. We have scoured the internet and other resources to find nicely packaged responses to ethical questions but have only found vague overviews. So far, the most helpful guidance we can offer is to expose how the action will affect others. This seems to cut through the confusion and get at the heart of the issue. Still, we look forward to working with leaders to create more useful guidance for overcoming this serious threat to organizations.

HELMETS: While we have only received a few emails in response to our concerns about helmet propaganda http://www.onestreet.org/bike_driver_education.html , they were highly emotional, shocked that we question this propaganda. This topic is especially heated in the United States, where these emails originated. To ease their concerns, we have updated this page clarifying that we are not against wearing helmets, only that we expect the stated level of safety they offer to be based on the truth. Last year we took part in deep discussions for remedying helmet misconceptions with our European peers, so we do not expect this to be the end of this discussion nor do we expect it to stay within the U.S.!

If you are a leader of an organization and have thoughts, concerns and/or inspirations to share on these or other hot topics, please contact us (contact info at www.onestreet.org ). If you would like to take part in a forum on these or other hot topics, please become a One Street Supporter: http://www.onestreet.org/donate_now.html

SUPPORTER SPOTLIGHT

Fuji Bicycles is one of One Street's Top Supporters. Their financial support allows us to serve more leaders around the world who are increasing bicycling. But even beyond their financial support, Fuji is bringing inspiration through their entrepreneurial advocacy efforts. At the international level they have offered bicycles for tsunami relief, at the national level they often lead advocacy efforts for the industry, and locally they regularly join advocates in specific campaigns to improve bicycling in and around Philadelphia.

Their latest advocacy innovation is Fuji University, a unique program which aims to assist colleges and universities around the U.S. with their sustainability objectives. Together with school administrators, Fuji hopes to reduce automobile dependence and promote a healthy lifestyle of cycling and walking on and around campuses. Emory University is their latest partner for the project. Learn more at: http://fujibikes.com/2008/fujiuniversity.asp

GET YOUR ONE STREET STICKER

Our new sticker is going to print this week so Supporters will now receive a few with their thank you letter. Just think of the bike parts, backpacks and folder covers around you screaming out for such adornment! Get yours by becoming a One Street Supporter today: http://www.onestreet.org/donate_now.html