Great points Jack. I agree with much of what you say and as an advocate I have taken on the unwinnable campaigns as well. But for many advocates with limited time, energy, and resources, going after low-hanging fruit ("winnable campaigns") often makes sense. If one of your goals is to continue transforming your community into a better place to bike and walk, these winnable campaigns will help build your strength to take over the tougher campaigns. So today's unwinnable campaign may become winnable in a couple years after the smaller battles have helped lay the foundation and change the culture enough. Also, victories for campaigns that challenge the status quo and make definite changes in the culture and landscape should never be called hollow if they are waged with right values and integrity.
All that said, thanks for raising this counterpoint. We need more people to take on unwinnable challenges too. These people are pushing the envelope and making the job of advocates working closer to the system easier by expanding consciousness and shifting the culture.
Posted byKristen SteeleOctober 23, 2011 15:19:18
"Winnability" should never be a gating concern
>> (1) Is this new bike lane winnable?
The result of using "winnability" as a gating concern is that you end up building a solid success rate within an overly-narrow scope that is defined by others - probably not cyclists. That is, you get bigger cages and longer chains.
To obtain real success in advocacy, and to take concrete steps to advance your cause, you need to fight the battles that you care about, even if those battles don't seem winnable. Even when you lose, you likely succeed in pushing the boundaries of thought and, therefore, of what may be winnable in the future.
Leonor, if you want a bike lane on Princeton Ave, fight for it, regardless of whether or not you think it's winnable. And to all advocates, don't ever gate yourself by only choosing winnable battles. Your victories will be hollow.
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Comments
Choosing your battles
Posted by Kristen Steele October 23, 2011 15:19:18
"Winnability" should never be a gating concern
Posted by Jack Warman September 25, 2011 10:36:31