Candidate bike rides are a uniquely powerful tool for advocacy. They move the conversation from a conference room to the streets, providing an experience that a questionnaire or interview never can. However, not all rides are the same. Understanding the difference between a Strategic Infrastructure Ride and a Community Ride-Along is the key to choosing the right event for your specific goals.
The Two Main Types of Candidate Rides
Think of these two ride types as serving two different, but equally important, purposes.
1. The Strategic Infrastructure Ride
This is a small, focused, and educational event. It is a deep dive into the good, the bad, and the ugly of your community's bicycle infrastructure.
- Goal: Education and relationship-building.
- Participants: The candidate(s) and a small group of your most knowledgeable board members, staff, or volunteers (typically 3-5 people).
- Format: A carefully curated route that showcases specific infrastructure challenges and successes. This is a rolling classroom, not a parade.
- Pace: Very slow, with frequent stops for discussion.
- Candidate Takeaway: "What are the real, on-the-ground problems and opportunities for bicycling in our city?"
Choose this format when you want to:
- Build a deep, lasting relationship with a candidate.
- Ensure a candidate truly understands the technical aspects of your issues.
- Have a frank, off-the-record conversation about policy and projects.
2. The Community Ride-Along
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2. The Community Ride-Along
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2. The Community Ride-Along
This is a larger, public-facing event designed to be a celebration of cycling and a show of community support for better infrastructure.
- Goal: Visibility and community engagement.
- Participants: The candidate(s), your organization's members, and the general public.
- Format: A fun, safe, and relatively simple route that people of all ages and abilities can enjoy.
- Pace: Casual and conversational, with maybe one or two planned stops for the candidate to address the crowd.
- Candidate Takeaway: "Is there a real constituency for bicycling in our city?"
Choose this format when you want to:
- Demonstrate the breadth of public support for your cause.
- Generate positive media attention.
- Give your members a chance to interact with candidates in a fun, informal setting.
Can You Do Both?
Absolutely! In fact, they work best together. A great strategy is to first host a Strategic Infrastructure Ride with a candidate to educate them on the issues. Then, if they are supportive, you can invite them to a larger Community Ride-Along to demonstrate the public support for the very things you just discussed.
By matching the right event to your goals, you can create a powerful and memorable experience that will resonate with candidates long after the ride is over.