Does anyone have an elevator speech?
Thread started by
danceralamode at 06.22.10 - 10:00 pm
Okay, in case you don't know, an elevator speech is a 10 second description of your cause. Anyhow, I need one because a colleague discovered that I'm car-free and ride everywhere and the first thing she asked was "I hope you ride on the sidewalk!" and then "well, nobody walks in LA". And...well, according to another colleague/friend, my response was a little abrasive.
Does anyone have a polite, positive standard response they give when these kinds of questions come up? I need something quick that can put a seed of thought-change in the person's mind.
Thanks for any input!
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Bring on the cat porn. But please include a 2 sentence pro-cycling statement too! LOL
danceralamode responding to a
comment by palucha66
06.22.10 - 10:38 pm
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Tell the bitch your getting a head start on everyone before gas is $ 8.00 a galon.
and it leaves you more money for weed............
Dedicated81806.22.10 - 10:55 pm
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tell them riding bicycles is preparing you for the magnetic holocaust.
Roadblock06.22.10 - 10:56 pm
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Wow, Foldie, best video ever.
She's not a bitch, and my colleague aren't bad people, they just don't know the world is round yet, if you catch my drift. I never would've made the switched if my car wasn't dying and funds wouldn't support a new one...come on, there have to a serious, quick positive statement I can throw out...I ask because what I threw out missed the mark. You all have been riding a lot longer than me...help me convert them all!
danceralamode responding to a
comment by Foldie
06.22.10 - 11:05 pm
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Well, not only worst grammar ever, but I just spilled a drink all over my couch. Awesome. HELP!
danceralamode06.22.10 - 11:07 pm
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My brain is too tired right now to compose something, but I will post something l8tr.
Foldie responding to a
comment by danceralamode
06.22.10 - 11:09 pm
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Did you watch Foldie's video though? Totally awesome...could watch on repeat forever.
danceralamode responding to a
comment by Foldie
06.22.10 - 11:11 pm
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Fuck. Yes, there was rum in that drink I spilled, and yes, I know you are Foldie...I'm done now.
danceralamode responding to a
comment by Foldie
06.22.10 - 11:12 pm
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u can tell them since there are currently two wars were fighting over oil and now screwing up hole area used for recreation. you though that you would do something to help the situation. u could even throw in that were a obse nation if need more fire power. were are the fattest people in the world and we use the most oil. i had my mom help me with that argument a week ago. :)
fixie4life06.23.10 - 1:05 am
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I would tell them that being on foot or on bike allows you explore and see the world in a different light. There is an empowerment you feel when you have travelled X amount of miles with your own two feet. There is a special connection we feel with ourselves and with the city we live in. It's spiritual, environmental, and physical, but sometimes we just like to ride for no reason.
Keep in mind everyone has their own definition of happiness and most people are afraid of what they don't know. There are definitely people who love to drive and let them. They can give me a ride anytime they want. I think most bikers are just adventurous souls that hate being stationary and confine.
Just stay positive and tell them not to ride on the sidewalk in the wrong direction.
TacoBella06.23.10 - 1:58 am
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the first thing she asked was "I hope you ride on the sidewalk!" and then "well, nobody walks in LA... Does anyone have a polite, positive standard response they give when these kinds of questions come up
Well, first, I still don't what she
asked you.
I need something quick that can put a seed of thought-change in the person's mind.
Here are a few:
"You don't know me"
"Sidewalk? I hope you ride into this fist, you critical piece of crap"
"Oh, so no one walks in LA, huh? Well, you're about to walk into this fist, you critical piece of crap"
She will think twice before ever talking to you that way again.
md206.23.10 - 10:08 am
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"Well, can you put aerospokes on your Accord?"
_iJunes responding to a
comment by md2
06.23.10 - 10:36 am
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She said "I hope you ride on the sidewalk" in a questioning tone, giving the sentence an inflection at the end that put it in the form of a question.
She wasn't being rude or anything like that; she just has never stepped outside the auto lifestyle, so she doesn't understand how we can live like this. Also, these are my colleagues and she is my boss's boss. I would probably get fired for saying something like that. Of course, that would leave more time for riding on the sidewalk...
danceralamode responding to a
comment by md2
06.23.10 - 10:48 am
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You could just hand them a copy of CICLE's "The Bicycle Lifestyle Guide"...:)
http://www.cicle.org/cicle_content/pivot/entry.php?id=2345#body
Or even just print out some Benefits of a Bicycle cards...
http://www.cicle.org/bike_now/bikenow_menu.php
CICLE has terrific properganda...
alicestrong06.23.10 - 10:50 am
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she doesn't understand how we can live like this.
neither do i.
_iJunes responding to a
comment by danceralamode
06.23.10 - 10:52 am
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She said "I hope you ride on the sidewalk" in a questioning tone, giving the sentence an inflection at the end that put it in the form of a question.
Well you gave the sentence an exclamation point, giving it, well, I don't recall the rules of grammar.
Also, these are my colleagues and she is my boss's boss
I'd say that was workplace harassment; Lawyer up! (exclamation point)
md2 responding to a
comment by danceralamode
06.23.10 - 10:58 am
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I usually tell people my I stopped owning cars after the last smog-check resulted in an ass-chewing by the sheriffs dept for getting into a shoving match with the shop owner.
If you want to abide by smog-laws and get raped by these shops at will, then go right ahead.
After hearing a rant like this, they immediately change the subject over to football, or Motley Crue or some other shit like that.
bentstrider06.23.10 - 12:38 pm
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This is something I've been trying to work out for a while, too. It's difficult, because so many significant issues, both personal and societal, are intertwined with transportational cycling.
A man named Chris Martenson, whose mission is to inform people about the looming problems with the economy, declining resources and environment (among other things), recently said some interesting things about coming up with his own "elevator phrase" to summarize everything his work speaks to. He stressed the need to give it an emotional resonance, and wanted to stay away from specific, divisive issues. This is what he ended up with, which I think is pretty good:
"I want to create a world worth inheriting". Hard to argue with that, isn't it?
My own version of this message, that I think speaks more to the localized nature of bicycle transportation, is: "I want to help create a more livable community".
It's easy to get into a big argument about bikes, because so many people don't understand how bicycles can be used for legitimate transportation. But as long as you start out with the idea of making a better community (the real goal, I think), you've presented one big aspiration that everyone can agree on.
angle06.23.10 - 1:46 pm
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Ridazz Roulette!
where is Ijunes!