image: pexels.com
This video describes the huge population of “two-wheeled commuters” on the UC Davis campus. It jumps straight to the point of uneducated bicyclists, freshman. They consider freshman amateurs in a place like this, filled with thousands and thousands of bicyclists that know their way around the school. Not only that, but the street laws are read with ambiguous meaning because of the huge crowd. This includes the confusion of having the right of way over pedestrians and cars, because bicyclists are required by law to consider pedestrians’ lives just as they would consider their lives as a car driver. “When you’re behind the saddle, it’s pretty much the same as when you’re behind the wheel.” This informational video goes on to describe the don’ts of riding bikes, such as texting while riding, going over the speed limit, listening to music, or riding under the influence. The most common mistake bicyclists make is not stopping at a stop sign. The video explains the basics of the street when it comes to bike lanes, such as how to operate the roundabout, how to do a hand signal, and how to ride around pedestrians and cars. Another basic rule to follow is owning a high-powered headlight for riding a bike at night. Towards the end of the video, the narrator suggests a thought, remember that there are 20,000 bicyclists commuting to UC Davis, and what it would be like if that were 20,000 cars. “You’re actions are having a direct impact, making for a healthier, cleaner, and more livable world.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VK5cLlRkeu8
This video also talks about UC Davis as a leading bicycle-friendly campus. It mentions the awards and recognition that the campus has gotten because of the bicycle laws, lanes, and community at the school with more than 100 miles of bike paths. This leads to the main point of the video, to show how the infrastructure used to make this biking community possible has been successful and has set an example for other campuses. Bikers ease and comfort were priorities in building the infrastructure on the campus, which is how the bicycle roundabout was created. After doing studies and trials on the congestion and traffic, they carefully designed a roundabout according to how it would work for the campus. Not only did they design streets for these commuters, but the school also uses high-security bike racks that help make it easier and safer to lock up bikes. The UC Davis core campus has entry points with the city of Davis’ bike lanes, connecting the communities together.
“By the time you leave UC Davis, you will have attained a world class education, but you’ll also be one of the most experienced bike commuters in the country. No kidding. We hope you use the bicycling skills you develop here for the rest of your lives. Remember, during commute hours, there are 20 thousand bicyclists heading to class. Think of what that would be like if that were 20 thousand cars. Your actions are having a direct impact, making for a cleaner, healthier, and more livable world.
We hope you continue to do that for the rest of your lives.”
Do you think the message is compelling, (and if yes, then why?) or would you have offered another message—and what would that message be?
Yes! Not only does the video convince students at UC Davis to be a part of such a large community of bicyclists because of the infrastructure implemented for them, the message is an example of Cialdini’s reciprocity idea, that because we are riding bikes, we can also help the environment.
WRTC 350 