[publictransport] Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive

[Viola Wilkins]

Verily !

We need to Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive.
overcome this divide and rule & scarcity of trains agenda which would 
set "inconvenienced" commuters against each other.

It is Minister Lynn Carkeys & Connex Management  who are being 
"negative" disruptive to all our lives by not putting on enough trains 
& especially us who are trying to cycle ie be active-healthy, 
environmental etc.

Before "confrontation" perhaps some educational actions like carrying 
cardboard cut outs of bicycles as a humourous and educational (with 
leaflets stickers etc.) event as a run up to main event of "civil 
disobedience" proper.

Surfboards and prams are not banned...

It is a hot summer ideal for surfing, boogie-boarding etc !
all line up to board the 4pm+ peak hour Williamstown or Frankston train 
at say for example Flinders Street platforms;
we do not have to get on trains just leaflet the commuters before they 
get on, inside the station.

Management may ask us to desist & leave so we could then adjourn to 
steps which more commuters will see and we are allowed on footpath as a 
public space - perhaps civil rights & legal advice could make this 
clear so we can stand our ground at the event.

A large crew of prams with kids etc is a situation most Authorities do 
not want to take on...

Really there are a few different tactics that could be tried

perhaps a choir to cheer us all up some songs like The Bicycle song and 
other favourites
while we stand about with bicycles, prams, surfboards & banner eg
"we want access & more trains"
"bin the bike ban" etc

It should be a fun & limited event say 4-5pm so we can do it again 
another day if it goes well.
Better to do it briefly twice so we reach different crowds maybe ?

take it away
Bing Crosby and Johny Mercer:

Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive

You've got to accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
Latch on to the affirmative
Don't mess with Mister In-Between

You've got to spread joy up to the maximum
Bring gloom down to the minimum
Have faith or pandemonium
Liable to walk upon the scene

(To illustrate his last remark
Jonah in the whale, Noah in the ark
What did they do
Just when everything looked so dark)

Man, they said we better
Accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
Latch on to the affirmative
Don't mess with Mister In-Between
No, do not mess with Mister In-Between
Do you hear me, hmm?

(Oh, listen to me children and-a you will hear
About the elininatin' of the negative
And the accent on the positive)
And gather 'round me children if you're willin'
And sit tight while I start reviewin'
The attitude of doin' right

(You've gotta accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
Latch on to the affirmative
Don't mess with Mister In-Between)

You've got to spread joy (up to the maximum)
Bring gloom (down) down to the minimum
Otherwise (otherwise) pandemonium
Liable to walk upon the scene

To illustrate (well illustrate) my last remark (you got the floor)
Jonah in the whale, Noah in the ark
What did they say (what did they say)
Say when everything looked so dark

Man, they said we better
Accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
Latch on to the affirmative
Don't mess with Mister In-Between
No! Don't mess with Mister In-Between

VIola Wilkins

On 06/01/2008, at 10:13 AM, Dylan Nicholson wrote:

> Thinking about it a bit more, I think my biggest objection is that the 
> legislation is that it is sending the message that for bicyclists to 
> inconvenience other travelers is “socially unacceptable”, and even if 
> you’re technically on train for which the ban does not apply, there 
> will be inevitable cases of other passengers taking a dim view of an 
> activity that has been declared against the law.
>
> Needless to say, motorists cause FAR more inconvenience to other 
> travelers (every time I drive I am making the traffic worse for 
> everybody else – many of whom surely have far more legitimate reasons 
> to be using a car than me), and yet there has never been any stigma 
> attached to this.
>
> Dylan Nicholson
> Mob: +61422380424
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: publictransport-bounces at yarrabug.org 
> [mailto:publictransport-bounces at yarrabug.org] On Behalf Of Viola 
> Wilkins
> Sent: Sunday, 6 January 2008 9:23 AM
> To: Public transport access for all users
> Subject: Re: [publictransport] Welcome to the PT list
>
> yes and while we are at it why not tie it in with Bali "climate change"
> and make public transport in ALL Australian cities accessible via Get
> Up and other regional networks so the new Federal Government and State
> governments and local Councils have to get behind this immediate
> improvement for cyclists around Australia eg Perth, Adelaide, Sydney,
> Brisbane...we can get the ball rolling here in melbourne and kick a
> goal but to encourage other city cyclists to also get active on this so
> wherever we cycle we can get on trains in peak hour would be
> wonderful...
> more people cycle to train stations, less cars on roads, more students
> and workers will commute on bicycle in "outer suburbs" to rail stations
> then
> too.
> Lets make ours the "positive" campaign and show that what the
> Government Minister Lynn Carkeys etc and Connex are doing is the
> negative.
>
> More frequent and accessible to cyclists trains will also make kids and
> folks out shopping etc consider using train when like yesterday is
> really hot and they have already cycled to station or want to get out
> of city and then cycle home from station....
>
> keep up the good work spread the word !
> Viola Wilkins
>
> On 06/01/2008, at 9:04 AM, Dylan Nicholson wrote:
>
>> How about "Bin the Bike Ban?"
>>
>> I'm happy to help with designing, printing and distributing flyers.
>>
>> Dylan Nicholson
>> Mob: +61422380424
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: publictransport-bounces at yarrabug.org
>> [mailto:publictransport-bounces at yarrabug.org] On Behalf Of cfsmtb
>> Sent: Saturday, 5 January 2008 2:45 PM
>> To: Public transport access for all users
>> Subject: [publictransport] Welcome to the PT list
>>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> A belated welcome to the PT list, a couple of glitches have been 
>> sorted
>> out & the list is now live.
>>
>> Housekeeping stuff:
>>
>> Thank you all for the feedback! Already plenty of info, heads up and
>> support from individuals and cycling groups has been received.
>>
>> So hopefully by tomorrow (Sunday) a precis of what people have
>> mentioned
>> will be on MC or this list for people to distribute.
>>
>> If you've got suggestions etc, please feel most free to post them here
>> or post links to what else you know about.
>>
>> There are existing discussions with plenty of links on Melbourne
>> Cyclist, this site has public access so you don't need to subscribe to
>> read, but you will need to if you want to post items:
>>
>> http://www.melbournecyclist.com
>>
>> A vital point: Please be patient, as it will be difficult to draw
>> together everyones ideas and suggestions, so this list will probably 
>> be
>> a 'clearing house' until we collectively decide what directions,
>> strageties or timelines people want to take.
>>
>> A call out to bicycle user groups, cycling clubs and related groups is
>> already in progress, people have been contacted in the last 24 hours 
>> to
>> help out with a proposed campaign & draw our collective energies
>> together. Melbourne Cyclist, aus.bicycle, BV forums, Facebook and
>> Farkin
>> (yep, even the MTB mob) and numerous blogs all have existing
>> discussions
>> about the bans.
>>
>> For example, read a great overview by David Tiley: bikes baulked,
>> behemoth becalmed
>> http://barista.media2.org/?p=3311
>>
>> So feel free to x-post the info when it gets posted and I'll attempt 
>> to
>> collate it on MC or on this PT list. If you would like to assist (yes,
>> this a call out for help!) with general admin stuff, email me off list
>> so tasks can be shared & allocated.
>>
>> For example:
>>
>> - Should this proposed campaign have a easily identifical name? Time 
>> to
>> creatively brainstorm!
>>
>> - What are we asking for? - a breakdown of goals in the short term,
>> medium term and long term
>>
>> - Communication - outreach to individuals, groups and the media about
>> this proposed campaign
>>
>> - Research - we need workable solutions in order to lobby effectively.
>> If you have examples of cited research, weblinks etc, please post them
>> here.
>>
>> - Meetings - informal meetups, reporting back to the group, ph
>> conference calls or Skype
>>
>> - Planned actions, methods for lobbying the State Government, media 
>> and
>> protest/direct action
>>
>> - Dealing with the media
>>
>> - Probably anything left out from the above. Feel free to add it in.
>>
>>
>> I've already been sent numerous examples of PT provision for bicycles,
>> also have a look at the new Cycling Resource Centre:
>>
>> http://www.cyclingresourcecentre.org.au
>>
>> A serious concern is that all the energy being shown at the moment can
>> be easier dissipate, so that was the logic behind the email + info I
>> posted out yesterday.
>>
>> So in the meantime, please feel free to discuss what your opinions and
>> keep it polite and on topic.
>>
>> cheers,
>>
>> Chris ;)
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -- 
>>
>>
>>
>> ----------------------------------
>> Our hopes and expectations
>> Black holes and revelations
>> http://cfsmtb.net
>> http://www.woj.com.au
>> http://www.melbournecyclist.com
>> ----------------------------------
>>
>>
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