As a bike or transit activist, you have more power and tools than they might think– use them!
Power isn’t a four-letter word; it’s good to take a clear look at your power
While the political power you have may not be the amount and type of power you need to win your big transit, bike or street safety dreams– you still have power. What’s more, you have power you are not using. While in my training sessions I usually help clients strategize how to build the power they need, it is also important to recognize that sometimes we already have the power to do a lot. Building power is a good plan to default to, but sometimes the problem is not that you do not have enough power, but rather that you are not using the power you already have.
When a person is very aware of the power they do not have (e.g., the power to create a new rail line, or get a law passed) it can be pretty easy to overlook the power you do have to win smaller gains. The small stuff might not be as eye-catching as the big stuff and it might feel tiny in comparison, but small wins are how we build power and lower the cost to unlock big wins. Plus, a win is a win and it is better to win some change than zero change.
Here are some categories of types of power you already have some level of and questions to consider to do a quick self-assessment of your potential untapped political power:
Cultural power
Who is open to hearing what you say? How can you help them take action that is within their power?
Who claims to speak for you? Do you agree with what they have to say?
When a stranger sees you, what would they think about you? What might they think you support and what would they be surprised to learn you support?
What is something a friend might consider you an authority on?
What is an important message that you think needs to be amplified into the wider culture?
Electoral power
Is there an election coming up where you have a preference for or against one of the candidates? How can you amplify your voice and values in that election?
What do the candidates have to say about the issues you care about? How can you get them on the record about your favorite issues?
Material power
What art supplies do you have or could acquire?
What space do you have access to that others could benefit from using?
What physical or digital tools do you use for work or home life? How could they be repurposed?
What tools could you borrow, rent or buy that might be useful?
Legal power
What are things that are perfectly legal for you to do, but you might not do because of cultural norms?
What are things you could do if you had the proper permission? Permission from who? What would happen if you asked them?
Audacity
With some answers to the questions above, what are different ways you can productively combine those powers?
Who can you ask to help you?
Would anyone stop you from trying?
What if it doesn’t work? What if it does work?
Need help winning transportation changes in your community? I’m here to help! Whether you want a 1-on-1 training session or a group workshop, let’s talk. Email me at Carter@carterlavin.com to set something up. Here’s a bit about what training sessions are like.
Free upcoming online events
3/20 @ 5:30pm PT— Free training: "A beginner's guide to building pro-transit & bike political power."
In the Bay Area and got your ballot? Check out the “Transportation Questionnaire” which got responses from 65 candidates across the 9 County Bay Area and see what the people vying for your vote have to say on transportation issues. You can view the responses by region here: East Bay Candidates, North Bay Candidates, Peninsula Candidates, San Francisco Candidates, and South Bay Candidates. The project was co-led with SPUR, Seamless Bay Area, San Francisco Transit Riders, Silicon Valley Bike Coalition, and Bike East Bay
Want to take a peek behind the curtain of this advocacy training work? Sign up for my monthly newsletter here.
Interested in sponsoring the training of an activist working on an issue you’re passionate about? Let’s chat. Carter@carterlavin.com