Dear Campaign Advocate,

As promised in our last e-mail to you, here are some materials to help you prepare for the October 20, 2008 release of your local active transportation case statement. We in Washington, D.C., will be concurrently releasing the national case statement. During the next two months, please be thinking about and putting into place a strategy for maximizing the impact of your release. “Going public” is a critical step in the 2010 Campaign for Active Transportation.

The materials include:

1. “Elevator speeches” — Short, bite-sized talking points that you and your supporters can use to communicate to decision-makers.
2. Sample letter-to-the-editor talking points — Ideas and guidelines for writing letters to the editor of your newspaper calling for greater walking and biking priorities, and spurring your community to greater action. (Note that congressional members will be in their home districts next week, August 25-31, campaigning for re-election. This would be an ideal time to get a letter placed in your newspaper.)
3. Media roundup — A selection of TV and print news stories from around the country focused on walking and biking, for reference when gaining the attention of your local media.

Access these resources now.

Next steps: In the coming week, you will receive a media strategy guide, covering media relations and how to establish these relationships, how to communicate with the media, and the differences in selling your story to print, TV and radio outlets. Then, in late September, the second part of this packet will go out. Included in this packet will be a sample press release template and other specific materials you will be able to adapt for your release day.

Sincerely,

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

P.S. Don’t forget to submit walking and bicycling photos from your community for possible inclusion in Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s national making the case report. Instructions for submission are available under Number 2 on this page.

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
2121 Ward Ct., NW
5th Floor
Washington, DC 20037
+1-202-331-9696