NEWS:
Internet Outrage Makes State Farm Pull "Humiliated Cyclist" Ad. more... [1] 
[2].
Cambridge Bicycle Committee writes letter condemning ad. read it... [3] [4].
The Massachusetts Health Connector, an arm of the MA Department of Health and Human Services, just released an advertisement campaign for health insurance, but picked an image and constructed messaging that sends the wrong message about health and transportation. It says, "bicycling in our city is dangerous, and is one of those extreme sport things." Not only does this campaign contradict and oppose the efforts of all of us working to increase the levels of cycling, it's just downright offensive to cyclists and embarassing to Governor Patrick.
Repeated requests to both the Health Secretary Bigby's office and Health Connector Executive Director Jon Kingsdale's office asking them to pull the ad campaign were denied.
Health Connector Responds:
"Good Morning Rue, The ad you saw in the subway resonated the highest during focus groups with the precise audience we are trying to attract — the young and uninsured. Our edgy and educational campaign is not making light of bike accidents, but pointing out that having health insurance is a serious need. If you carefully look at the picture, I think you will come to the conclusion that the bicyclist was not hit by a car, but fell. There is no blood and his energetic outburst indicates he is going to be okay ... and it’s a good thing he has health insurance. Best, The Health Connector." link... [5] [6].
At the Moving Together conference on October 17, 2007, Executive Office of Transportation Secretary Bernard Cohen announced:
"I’m particularly happy to be joined by my colleague, [Health] Secretary Judy Ann Bigby – and I thank her for taking the time to share the podium with me today...This past July, Governor Patrick announced the Massachusetts Mobility Compact which is meant to address the fractured nature of transportation governance...Too often, and for too long, we have had organizations that don’t talk with each other, and have had little or no incentive to work together. I think, until recently, the same could be said for EOT’s relationship with Health and Human Services. Our Secretariats do not have a history of talking to each other or working together – and where there has been collaboration, it hasn’t been broad and sustained. Today, with public health challenges like obesity, diabetes, and asthma, it is strikingly clear that my office needs to be working with Secretary Bigby’s team if we want to accomplish our shared goals of making Massachusetts healthier and more mobile..." more... [7] [8].
This concept for improved collaboration came from the outside. The Transportation & Health Working Group was spearheaded by Steven Miller, Executive Director of the Healthy Weight Initiative at the Harvard School of Public Health. (Steve is also on the Board of Directors of LivableStreets Alliance, and was co-founder of Boston's HubOnWheels bike ride and festival.) "On behalf of the Transportation & Health Working Group I want to thank you for your commitment to explore ways to foster collaboration between your Secretariat and the Secretariat of Health & Human Services. We are eager to continue working with EOT and your agency leadership in moving these ideas into reality." more... [9] [10].
The group convened a joint meeting with Secretary's Bigby and Cohen in May 2007, hoping to collaborate with the two agencies "on their actions to add and strengthen the state's efforts to provide and promote physically active transportation choices and to engage and teach local decision makers about the importance of thinking holistically about the impacts on health of local land use and transportation plans and projects," said WalkBoston Executive Director Wendy Landman.
Cyclist ponders one of the campaign's posters in a MBTA subway station.
The Commonwealth Health Insurance connector Authority
Executive Director
* Jon Kingsdale, Ph.D.
Board of Directors
* Leslie Kirwan, ex-officio, chair
* Nonnie Burnes, ex-officio
* Tom Dehner, ex-officio
* Ian Duncan
* Jonathan Gruber
* Richard C. Lord
* Louis Malzone
* Dolores Mitchell, ex-officio
* Nancy Turnbull
* Celia Wcislo
Click here for their biographies [11] [12].
Do you have any comments or thoughts? Please email them to us at info@livablestreets.info, and you might just see them printed here.
Or click here [13] [14] to send your thoughts directly to Governor Patrick.
Also, you can email judyann.bigby@state.ma.us and Bernard.Cohen@state.ma.us (please cc: us at info@livablestreets.info)