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YouTubeI just received the February newsletter from Consider Biking, and I noticed that they appointed some people to their advisory committee and elected new officers. My question is: When were the elections held and why wasn't the membership involved? It seems that what we have here is a self-perpetuating leadership that is not responsive to the membership or the needs of the Columbus cycling community at large. This concerns me because they have received money from Columbus Outdoor Pursuits and possibly from the Columbus Foundation. They also have placed members of the committee on various bicycling advisory boards around the Metropolitan Area. They are speaking for you, Columbus Cyclists! Is this what you want? While they may have some good ideas, they have not solicited feedback from the membership (to my knowledge), and have not submitted their committee members or the officers to the membership for their approval. They seem to have a top-down management style where a select few have decided that they know what is best for cycling in Columbus. Again, is this what you want? I welcome responses.
Columbus Underground Messageboard » General Columbus Discussion
Who runs Consider Biking?
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rodrudinger
Columbus, Ohio
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Posted 1 year ago # -
Paris 87
Short North
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At the end of the day, 99% of "cycling in Columbus" is what you make of it. We have a lot of trails, some mostly decent roads, and decent traffic for a city. As someone who has gone to court to fight his own "injustice" (I use that term here mostly tongue in cheek) for something that happened on the bicycle, out of his own pocket, I don't care what Consider Biking is or is not doing. You want to bake cookies and hold a raffle for a new bike box in UA? Sure do what you do. But it's doing very little for me.
I'm on my bicycle, commuting, training, having fun 95% of the year and the other 5% is spent inside training. I really don't give a what about the bickering that goes on between the bicycle commuting consigliati. I'd rather be out enjoying and taking my own city then trying to talk my way towards it.
Posted 1 year ago # -
cyclist II
Short North & Peach District
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Paris 87 wrote >>
At the end of the day, 99% of "cycling in Columbus" is what you make of it. We have a lot of trails, some mostly decent roads, and decent traffic for a city. As someone who has gone to court to fight his own "injustice" (I use that term here mostly tongue in cheek) for something that happened on the bicycle, out of his own pocket, I don't care what Consider Biking is or is not doing. You want to bake cookies and hold a raffle for a new bike box in UA? Sure do what you do. But it's doing very little for me.
I'm on my bicycle, commuting, training, having fun 95% of the year and the other 5% is spent inside training. I really don't give a what about the bickering that goes on between the bicycle commuting consigliati. I'd rather be out enjoying and taking my own city then trying to talk my way towards it.Great post. Fuckin hilarious.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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rodrudinger wrote >>
I welcome responses.I'm not too familiar with the structure of Consider Biking, but I serve on several other local boards of directors/trustees and generally the appointment of new officers and new board members is handled by the board itself and not by the membership. I imagine you can probably request a copy of the bylaws of Consider Biking to be sure exactly.
Out of curiosity, have you reached out to anyone on the board or any of the officers of the board with your concerns? Sent them an email or called them? I imagine they'd be willing to answer your questions.
Anyway, I'm not sure how large the membership is at Consider Biking, but again, with the groups I serve, most of the time many members don't want to be bothered with the majority of the decision-making process. They want the benefits offered by being a member of the group, but want little to do with (or have too little time for) further involvement at a board level.
And if you do want a voice at the table at a board level, then it sounds like you need to let them know you're interested in a seat at the board. Reach out in person rather than lashing out online.
Just my 2 cents.
Posted 1 year ago # -
littlefishy
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Columbus is a "good enough" B minus kind of town. If it lacks vision and demands little of people... it will probably go over well there. (and that explains the "good-enough" post from Paris 87 as well as the effective, but disappointing, debating technique Walker is employing.)
Cycling in Columbus has a bad case of that mediocrity. That seems OK with people in Columbus. They get what they deserve. Cyling is on a decline there- but it will take a few years for people to realize it.
If you want more, move. Your two options are to move to a better locale or to give up and let the 50-year-old-plus fat white guys calling themselves advocates make unilateral choices for everyone. Have you seen how fat the Consider Biking staff and board are? How do you ride a bike and stay that fat? It makes no sense. You would have to try to be that fat if you were getting any exercise at all.
Anyway, I moved for these reasons. Move on. No big deal. Save a few bucks and move to some city where more interesting things are happening. Check out Minneapolis, New York City, or Chicago. All have more compelling people and cycling efforts than Columbus.
Posted 1 year ago # -
groundrules
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Are minneapolis, new york or chicago any less bitter or whiney?
Posted 1 year ago # -
GreatOutdoors
Short North
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littlefishy wrote >>
Columbus is a "good enough" B minus kind of town. If it lacks vision and demands little of people... it will probably go over well there. (and that explains the "good-enough" post from Paris 87 as well as the effective, but disappointing, debating technique Walker is employing.)
Cycling in Columbus has a bad case of that mediocrity. That seems OK with people in Columbus. They get what they deserve. Cyling is on a decline there- but it will take a few years for people to realize it.
If you want more, move. Your two options are to move to a better locale or to give up and let the 50-year-old-plus fat white guys calling themselves advocates make unilateral choices for everyone. Have you seen how fat the Consider Biking staff and board are? How do you ride a bike and stay that fat? It makes no sense. You would have to try to be that fat if you were getting any exercise at all.
Anyway, I moved for these reasons. Move on. No big deal. Save a few bucks and move to some city where more interesting things are happening. Check out Minneapolis, New York City, or Chicago. All have more compelling people and cycling efforts than Columbus.Damned if you do, damned if you don't. Apparently Columbus "demand[s] little" of people, whatever that means. But, then again, I remember people who are demanding a lot of themselves being shot down as corporatist hacks (re: littlefishy's contributions to the Wonderland discussion board).
It's not the first time I've read something by you and felt like I need to shower afterwards. Ick.
Posted 1 year ago # -
FSonicSmith
Columbus-downtown for work, East for the residence
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[quote]Have you seen how fat the Consider Biking staff and board are? How do you ride a bike and stay that fat? It makes no sense. You would have to try to be that fat if you were getting any exercise at all.
Anyway, I moved for these reasons. | Quote
Well, at least you and I can agree that we are both glad you moved away. WTF are you talking about? Here is the current Board; http://www.considerbiking.org/about/board-staff/
I don't see a lot of obesity in that photo. I also fail to see how that matters one iota, even if there were. Jeff Stephens is a big guy but I wouldn't call him fat, and his riding accomplishments are many. Fact is, I know quite a few of the folks on the current Board and they are all good, very friendly, very motivated people who earnestly care about cycling in Columbus and making it better for all.
Posted 1 year ago # -
vestanpance
Harrison West/at work OSU
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FSonicSmith wrote >>
[quote]Have you seen how fat the Consider Biking staff and board are? How do you ride a bike and stay that fat? It makes no sense. You would have to try to be that fat if you were getting any exercise at all.
Anyway, I moved for these reasons. | Quote
Well, at least you and I can agree that we are both glad you moved away. WTF are you talking about? Here is the current Board; http://www.considerbiking.org/about/board-staff/
I don't see a lot of obesity in that photo. I also fail to see how that matters one iota, even if there were. Jeff Stephens is a big guy but I wouldn't call him fat, and his riding accomplishments are many. Fact is, I know quite a few of the folks on the current Board and they are all good, very friendly, very motivated people who earnestly care about cycling in Columbus and making it better for all.This picture does not have enough beards to be related to bike riding. I'm calling fake!
Posted 1 year ago # -
AmyArt21
Short North
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littlefishy wrote >>
Columbus is a "good enough" B minus kind of town. If it lacks vision and demands little of people... it will probably go over well there. (and that explains the "good-enough" post from Paris 87 as well as the effective, but disappointing, debating technique Walker is employing.)
Cycling in Columbus has a bad case of that mediocrity. That seems OK with people in Columbus. They get what they deserve. Cyling is on a decline there- but it will take a few years for people to realize it.
If you want more, move. Your two options are to move to a better locale or to give up and let the 50-year-old-plus fat white guys calling themselves advocates make unilateral choices for everyone. Have you seen how fat the Consider Biking staff and board are? How do you ride a bike and stay that fat? It makes no sense. You would have to try to be that fat if you were getting any exercise at all.
Anyway, I moved for these reasons. Move on. No big deal. Save a few bucks and move to some city where more interesting things are happening. Check out Minneapolis, New York City, or Chicago. All have more compelling people and cycling efforts than Columbus.If you moved out of town, why do you feel the need to keep posting on CU? You're telling people to "move on" - so maybe it's time for you to do that also. You may find it cathartic :)
Then you won't have to worry about how mediocre it is here.Posted 1 year ago # -
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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littlefishy wrote >>
Columbus is a "good enough" B minus kind of town.Good to know it's at least a good enough town to warrant you keeping close tabs on what's going on here. ;)
littlefishy wrote >> If it lacks vision and demands little of people... it will probably go over well there. (and that explains the "good-enough" post from Paris 87 as well as the effective, but disappointing, debating technique Walker is employing.)
Debating technique? I wasn't debating anything, nor was I encouraging a debate. I was encouraging someone to get more involved in something they care about. Pretty simple advice that I'd give anyone in any city.
littlefishy wrote >>
Cycling in Columbus has a bad case of that mediocrity. That seems OK with people in Columbus. They get what they deserve. Cyling is on a decline there- but it will take a few years for people to realize it.
If you want more, move.In my honest opinion, it sounds like you took the lazy way out. You weren't happy with something in your community, so you moved to another community where your needs were already being met by the hard work and efforts of others in the past. If cycling needs improved in Columbus, we need people like the original poster in this topic to take a seat at the table and make things happen. Moving elsewhere doesn't solve any problems.
Perhaps as cycling continues to improve in Columbus over the next few years, you'll have a reason to move back and benefit from the work that locals have put into it.
Posted 1 year ago # -
byJody
Rural NW Columbus
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@Walker Thank you for your support. My word, this thread puts my stomach in knots.
@Rod we value you work in the bicycle community, I am sorry you don't feel included.
Our facebook fanpage is open and transparent for feedback. http://www.facebook.com/considerbiking
Posted 1 year ago # -
bryansaums
Merion Village (rocks!)
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Rod, thanks for starting a great discussion! We always appreciate feedback.
OK, the "Have you seen how fat the Consider Biking staff and board are?" is a little personal, but I'll just use that for inspirado the next time I'm on the trainer for 82 minutes like last night or hitting PRs in the weight room like I was on Monday morning on incline bench...or checking to make sure my resting heart rate is its usual 48-54 BPM. Let's hear it for bicycling for good personal health.
Be safe out there everyone!
Posted 1 year ago # -
jmathews5
german village
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This thread I think just continues the cycle of separation between this group and that group.
I'm a board member of CB - happy to say and as Walker stated, the board members are currently chosen and voted upon between the board.I try to be as 'adult' as possible when posting on CU but 'littlefishy,' your post is ridiculous. If you're ever in town, please let me know and I'll buy you a block of cheese with your whine b/c that's all that your response is is whining.
I'll agree with you that yes, we're years behind other cities with regards to bike infrastructure and is this annoying and frustrating - hell yes it is. But, the difference between you and I is that I'm on six different boards in order for our city to become more multi-modal, what are you doing? Oh wait - you moved.
I'm sick of this back and forth arguing over corporate vs. grassroots. If you want to make change, then DO something about it. Walk the walk, like I do, don't just piss and moan on CU and remain anonymous.Posted 1 year ago # -
meredith j
Clintonville
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"This thread I think just continues the cycle of separation between this group and that group."
Hey, I really never post but didn't want to pass this by. It's just that this isn't a YB! v CB thing, so I don't want it to be perceived as such. The person Rod has a beef with the way things are done, may not understand how most boards are elected. (In fact CB does have a self-nominated board, always has. Lots of orgs, including YB!, do this so their mission isn't derailed by one or two people. It might be nice for orgs to query their people for a larger pool of possible board members, but that's not required and shouldn't be expected.) The person littlefishy (who?) is spewing venom. Please let's not drudge up old b.s. based on what a couple of people have written...I know that we at YB! are really exhausted of it. Thank you.
Posted 1 year ago # -
columbusfoodie
West Side
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bryansaums wrote >>
Rod, thanks for starting a great discussion! We always appreciate feedback.
OK, the "Have you seen how fat the Consider Biking staff and board are?" is a little personal, but I'll just use that for inspirado the next time I'm on the trainer for 82 minutes like last night or hitting PRs in the weight room like I was on Monday morning on incline bench...or checking to make sure my resting heart rate is its usual 48-54 BPM. Let's hear it for bicycling for good personal health.
Be safe out there everyone!----------------
Amen. Before my knees went to hell, I took up biking again as an adult. I was 400+ lbs. at the time, but within 3 weeks of riding every day, I did 15 miles without having to stop for a break. When I was in the mood for a longer ride, I'd ride from my old apartment (in Dublin, near Tuttle Crossing) down to the Heritage Trail in Hilliard, rode the trail to it's end, and then all the way back. I wasn't fast (10-12 mph), but I gained the health benefits of biking - lower blood pressure, higher HDL (good cholesterol), more respiratory capacity, increased stamina, toning up muscles, etc.
So I say what difference does it make whether or not someone is obese and biking? It's not impossible, with the right bike (one rated to hold increased weight - so no $79 specials at Walmart). Hearing the ignorance from the OP is nothing new for us fat folks - I used to get heckled all the time when I went to the workout room at my old apartments, and couldn't understand why I was getting all the disparaging comments when I was there to do the right thing (exercising).
Sorry for going off on a tangent, but it rankles me when someone brings weight into a conversation where it has no place in. If you (OP) don't like the way the board is run/appointed, then do something about it. Put up or shut up.
Posted 1 year ago # -
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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I know Rod and love working with him, don't want to see his name dragged through the mud. Rod is the OP and never made any comments about the personal weight of the CB board. Please go back and read the entire post and know who has made which comments.
Posted 1 year ago # -
meredith j
Clintonville
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^Thanks guys! Now let's all just:
heh... :)
Posted 1 year ago #
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