01 March 2004
The clock is ticking and soon to strike midnight on an upcoming deadline that should concern all bicyclists in Tennessee. Opportunities to make a difference, a true difference, do not come along often. When those opportunities finally open up they require attention, focus, and action. Write this date down and mark your calendar for Wednesday, June 30, 2004.
After midnight on June 30 bicyclists in Tennessee will have either succeeded or failed at their one golden opportunity. Not only will bicyclists have possibly failed, but there will be no second chance. NashvilleCyclist.com repeats, there is no second chance here. To make the ache hurt worse, nearly all Tennessee bicyclists have known about the opportunity at achieving success and the looming deadline.
The opportunity is the Share the Road cultural license plate campaign here in Tennessee. Currently there are just over 500 pre-registered applicants who have sent in checks hoping to one day grace their cars with the bicycling themed cultural plate. Last summer great progress was made within just a few months to reach 500, but the last 500 will be the toughest in order to reach 1000 required by state law. This is not much different than those last 10 pounds we all hope to lose before climbing up Raccoon or Lookout Mountain, but as the pounds are lost and mountain climbed so too should the applications follow and the goal achieved.
NashvilleCyclist.com has been heavily involved in the Share the Road campaign before the launch of this site, and we will continue to promote and organize efforts to reach the goal. However, it will take every single bicycle rider in Tennessee to get involved. If you ride a bicycle for pleasure (or pain) it should be an easy cause for you to support with a check. Acquiring our own license plate is the first step to gain respect in Tennessee and help legitimize our efforts to promote safety on the roads for bicyclists. Imagine 1000 tiny billboards on the back of our cars promoting Share the Road, not to mention the countless thousands of drivers in Tennessee who will have mental daily reinforcement to share the road with us. Imagine the mindshare folks.
The only way to reach the goal of 1000 by June 30th will be for all of us to send in our application along with a $35 check. It's that simple, yet so difficult. NashvilleCyclist.com also encourages you to get family and friends involved. Those closest to you should be happy to get behind a cause that is dear to your heart. If they are hesitant then do what we have done, pay for their plates yourself. Despite someone not riding it does not exclude them from jumping on the Share the Road peloton, even if it means sucking wheels at someone else's expense.
As mentioned earlier we only get one shot to reach this goal since state law does not allow for a second chance. Once this goal is accomplished it will allow bicyclists to approach government officials at all levels with a tad bit of recognition and respect. We have 4 months to accomplish our goal. What are you going to do to help? Sign up? Encourage others to sign up? Nothing? NashvilleCyclist.com challenges you to do something, anything, in order for all of us to benefit from this golden opportunity. Otherwise we lose the chance to promote safer roads in Tennessee.
If you would like to learn more about the Share the Road campaign please visit www.spincyclecreative.com and download an application flyer.