Bike Coalition Uses Controversy to Raise Cash
You can donate to the bike lane movement in Stu Bykofsky's name.
AP
Bicyclists are fighting for their right to the roads.
Stu Bykofsky, Philadelphia Daily News columnist and opponent of the proposed bike lanes in Philly, could become its biggest donor, according to Philebrity.
That is, if the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia has their way.
In his column on May 24, Byko, who has vehemently opposed the city’s plans to add bike lanes on streets all over Philly, corrected the coalition for their faulty statistics that claimed a spike in the number of bicyclists in Philly.
John Boyle, Advocacy Director for the Bicycle Coalition, said their data is in line with the US Census. The annual American Community Survey found a 90-percent spike in bicycling, even higher than the coalition’s numbers, according to Boyle.
So, the Bicycle Coalition is fighting back, launching an online fundraiser to make the columnist their biggest supporter.
“Having our supporters donate in his name is our way of showing him that bicyclists are here to stay and will not be bullied or deterred by rantings of a an angry columnist,” Boyle said.
The columnist isn’t mad they’re using his name. He finds it flattering.
“Whether it is an expression of my popularity, or my ignominy, it is ingenious. What can I do? Ask my supporters, the majority of Philadelphians, to not give?” Bykofsky said.
The donations -- technically to support bike lanes and education -- could be spent to convince the “crazy-pedal pushers” to obey traffic laws, he said.
The coalition isn’t the first organization to use controversy to raise money.
The Sierra Club has raised over $95,000 in Rush Limbaugh’s name to make the radio talk show his their largest “donor.”
Posted Friday, Jun 11, 2010 - 10:42 AM EST
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