Bike Month is the Perfect Time
There might not be a better time to talk about the need for safer steets. Sharing personal experiences and basic necessities is effective.
For me, what resonates is that “I’m a father that wants a way for my kids to walk or bike to school” rather than identifying as “an avid cyclist" or "regular bike commuter."
For you, maybe the unmet need is "a quiet street to raise a family", "a sheltered bus stop with a bench close to home", or "protected network of bike lanes to safely ride a bike to work."