Who Shapes the Conversation About Bicyclists and Cars?

The blog site People for Bikes released an article called "How Smart Language Helped End Seattle's Paralyzing Bikelash," which describes how language has shaped the attitude and feeling individuals have toward cyclists in Seattle, Washington.

Seattle previously suffered from extensive "bikelashing," where cars, bikers, walkers, and transit transportation fought for the right to be on the road. The conversation was often geared toward "cars v. other forms of transportation." However, this seemingly aggressive war has come to a seize fire as alternative forms of transportation are receiving more attention, policy change, and infrastructure adjustments to work in their favor. But the change in attitude toward alternative forms of transportation is not a direct result from these changes in society; instead, it is a result of change in language.

The change in language began with the formation of the Seattle Neighborhood Greenways, a local nonprofit that advocated for "a citywide network of low-traffic local streets, modeled on similar systems in Vancouver and Portland, that could be optimized for biking, walking and running." Although their mission is to help non-automotive transporters, they did not brand themselves as either a cyclist or car driver. They did not pick a side. Instead, they focused on their title as neighbors. In other words, they focused on using more personal language.

When I say personal language, I mean that the prior language used in the war on cars referred to drivers as cars themselves, bike riders and cyclists (not people), and pedestrians instead of people walking. These terms all take the people out of the situation and make it more mechanical. The goal of SNG was to bring back the people. Below is a chart illustrating their preferred language:

This language illustrates that the community in Seattle is now shaping the conversation about and between bike riders and car drivers. This language is more delicate and respectful, and I think has an enormous impact; instead of dividing the community further, this language unifies them and articulates respect and community.

In conclusion, using this language allows for "car problems" or "cyclist problems" to become "people problems". In each situation, it allows for individuals to remember community and that these are people we want to keep safe, in all forms of transportation.