My MP is a Transport Minister and was in the news last week for writing to cycling leaders to encourage responsible cycling (story).

I know this has been discussed on here with some memorable ranting but I’m asking for some tips on spreading the letter I’ve written. I’m social media agnostic and other than sharing the letter publicly on Facebook and linking via Twitter (neither of which I use much and thus don’t have many views) I’m stuck for ways to spread it further.

Any advice appreciated.

The FB post is here, the letter is copied in below.

Cheers.

Dear Jesse,

I was saddened to follow the coverage of your first real splash in the UK media after your promotion to Transport Minister. In the few times we’ve met I’ve been impressed by your approach and by what I felt was an honest approach to politics, despite not agreeing with many of your views. Thus I hoped that you would use your new position to promote a sensible and progressive transport agenda, an agenda that focused on safety, the environment and the economy rather than succumbing to a populist yearning to to ignore facts and rush to judgement (a lesson from Burke that I can thank you for). To put it simply you’ve taken advantage of a tragedy to get media coverage and promote an unfair and unrepresentative view of cyclists.

It’s hard to know where to start. On the face of it your letter seems reasonable, why not highlight the importance of law abiding cycling after Charlie Alliston caused the death of Kim Briggs? But you surely know better, 2 deaths were caused by cyclists last year while ~1700 deaths were caused by motor vehicles. You knew the message your letter would send, not one of ‘let’s work to reduce road deaths’ but rather ‘we’re all equal on the road, just some are more equal than others’. You used your power to highlight the errors of a minority and in doing so yet again steered the spotlight away from the dangerous conditions that I, my wife, my son and our friends face every day when we cycle on the roads around Herefordshire.

You shouldn’t think that I don’t support the move to update the law so that dangerous cycling can be dealt with effectively, that is plainly sensible and right. However, I would hope that, in reflection, you would accept that you could have and you should have used your power and influence more effectively last week. It seems to me that you saw an opportunity to have your name in the press and to provide fuel to those that see cyclists as part of the problem, and it’s opportunism such as that I had hoped you were above.

I want you, my representative, to work to reduce road deaths but moreover I want you to use logic and evidence to guide your actions rather than emotion and populism. By focusing on the 0.1% of road deaths you’ve essentially whitewashed the reasons for the 99.9%. So please, in your next big announcement, do something to redress the balance… perhaps proclaim your support for the West Midlands Police who have made my safety a priority with their ‘Close Pass’ initiative and publicly encourage police forces around the country to follow their lead. I guarantee that action will save more lives than your letter will!

Finally, I would like to invite you to join me on a law-abiding cycle ride around Herefordshire (don’t worry, I’ll find you an electric bike). I can promise you there is no better way to experience our fine county in autumn. I can only hope that we will be able to enjoy our ride both safely and peacefully. I can’t imagine you’ve experienced the pleasure of the ’60 mph close pass’, the ‘deliberate cut-up’, the ‘can of coke out of the window’ or even, if you’re very lucky, verbal threats directed and you and your 7 year old son but please take my word for it that nothing makes you feel more mortal than someone using a tonne of metal as a threatening weapon. In fact, I’d like so much for you to join me that I’ll make you a promise, if we can complete a 2 hour ride without you feeling in mortal danger due to another road users actions then I promise that the post-ride coffee and cake are on me. However there is a flip-side, if in the course of our ride you do feel the fear that cyclists know only too well then you promise to take a stand and publicly support the WM Police Close Pass initiative (and I’ll still buy the cake).

Looking forward to sharing the roads with you,

Luke Moseley

Can’t give any advice but great letter, hope it gets read!

Great letter. Let’s hope he’s not like the triggered types who decide to respond by being a worse example of themselves just because GRAARGH HATEZ TRUTH!

Cheers both. I wrote it in the middle of last night between my sons virus-stimulated meltdowns, maybe I should work at 2 am more often!

Great letter. Let’s hope that your invitation is accepted.

I’ve moved this to the bike forum as you’ll get a larger cycling audience.

Cheers Drac.

Great letter.

I’m Herefordshire too, so I’d like to extend your invitation to include riding through Hereford city, with its fabulous array of cycling infrastructure [sarcasm] to show what the majority of cyclists in the city have to deal with on a daily basis.

I’ll follow your Facebook link and share your letter.

Thanks bigblackshed. I totally agree, Hereford is terrible from a cycling perspective. Trying to ride East-West without fighting the traffic is rubbish and the lack of forward planning for cycling is painful to observe. Thanks for the share.

Anyone with social media knowledge? What about promoting it via payment, is that worthwhile or even possible?

To get the Facebook post to go viral, which appears to be what you’re after, it needs to be shared by high profile people / people with high profile Facebook friends who are also keen to publicly bash the politician in question.

Excellent fly written letter, Luke.

I’ve violated my self enforced October Facebook ban, purely to like your post – just in case the number of likes helps to further the cause.
Will follow with interest.

I’ve also shared it on Jesse Normans Facebook page.

I’ll try to do his Twitter page too. But I’m a Luddite.

Thanks lucky7500. Anyone FB friends with Chris Boardman? Or Jezza C? 🙂

Cheers belugabob & bigblackshed.

Well done with the letter.

I’m a ludditical hermit, but have sent the links to someone who can like, share and poke etc.

Cheers neilwheel. I’ve also been taught how to tag people in the comments so at least Jesse will know I’m bothering!

Just asked my mother (mp and councillor) to share though she may not want to burn bridges :-).

Also shared on my social media.

Twitter is good, copy in Chris Boardman, Ned Boulting, the MP, British Cycling, CTC or whatever it’s now called, any local cycle campaigns etc, if they retreat then it is being viewed by 1000’s

Cheers scud & shindiggy. I’ll have another go with Twitter.

It’s almost pointless, when our MP was transport minister he campaigned saying he would get the local station into the London transport zones, then when he got in he said he couldn’t as it wasn’t him who made the decision and it would be a conflict of interests.

Finally managed to tweet it to various cycling people and Jesse Norman.

I’ve not been active on there for a long time, but one of my last tweets was a photo of Boris Johnson on the phone whilst cycling with quotes about how cyclists using headphones are a scourge that needs stamping out. It was retweeted by Ned Boulton. It might have legs this letter of yours Luke.

I’ve forgotten how few characters 140 actually is………

I’ve also emailed Jesse Norman directly.

Have a look at/for your local BUG (Bicycle User Group).

I know it’s not local but @PompeyBug are pretty vocal on Twitter and maybe also you could tag people like Cycling UK, British Cycling etc. you might even get someone like BRAKE on side.

For Cycling UK try

publicity@cyclinguk.org
campaigns@cyclinguk.org

With your twitter / Facebook posts did you try tagging / or @ someone like Chris Boardman? He’s been vocal in his views on road safety etc. Maybe if he picks up and ReTweets it would hit a larger audience.

Boardman, Ned Boulton, British Cycling, Cycling Weekly, other local politicians, all tagged in the tweets.

Great letter. Hope it gets the exposure it deserves.