We can advise better, so let's do it!

Last night I had the start of a revelation. I had been wondering what was wrong with the Toronto Cycling Advisory Commitee, and through an unusual source, I had an epiphany.

Brian Betsworth made a wonderful presentation at the recent TCAC meeting. He proposed that the committee "Brand" itself, and he had come prepared with a sample tag line and images that would help people "experience" the committee and its activities better that is currently happening. He was also asking that the committee encorage community particpation in coming up with it's brand image as a means of outreach to help the public learn about the committee and its activities, and help bring that to a larger audience.

The city controls its own image as well as the images of its agencies in a very strict way; there is very little wiggle room for the committee to brand itself differently than the city. After a brief discussion it was decided that little can be done and so little will get done.

Many of Brian's ideas are truly worthwhile. The committee should have found a way to incorporate those ideas into action. But perhaps not for the reasons that Brian brought forward, but because it would have helped the Committee to understand its own job better, and because it suggested a much needed means to increase participation and interest from the larger community in the activities of the Committee.

The city's own page on the committee descibes it thus:

The Toronto Cycling Committee is designed to advise City Council and its departments, agencies, boards, and commissions, on the design, development and delivery of bicycle policies, programs and facilities to promote and enhance cycling within the City of Toronto. The goal of the committee is to provide a liveable and environmentally friendly city that is accessible and safe for people of all ages and abilities to get around by bicycle and to ensure the role of cycling in a transportation system appropriately balanced among all road users.

From attendance at these meetings, and from watching the (lack of) participation from (most of) the members, you think that the Toronto Cycling Advisory Committee's job was to listen to, and ask for, reports. Motions that attempt direct action are watered down by the chair into reports from staff about what action could be taken with possible timelines.

Which brings me back to what people like Brian are doing. They're the ones doing the advising because the committee cannot, or will not, do its own job.

Last night I had the pleasure of seeing several people make deputations and do the committee's job better than the committee is. Brian Betsworth's presentation is one example. Luke Siragusa presented his suggestions for the Bloor St Viaduct, and Hamish Wilson followed with his two cents. Eleanor McMahon described what the committee should be doing with her to push a cycling initiative at the provincial level.

Other individuals and groups -- that is "us" -- We need to start gathering our own thoughts and ideas and start presenting them to the cycling committee because we've seen that the committee cannot do this itself. I think that groups like the Bike Union and TCAT have an important role to play in helping us in preparing such reports, and helping us with getting these heard and acted on by the city.

And as the committee is unable to do its own outreach, this posting starts my own campaign on their behalf.

Brian Betsworth's presentation is attached in Powerpoint format. You can use Openoffice.org software to view it. Or download the pdf version if that is more convenient for you.