The Role of Mobility Managers as Advocates

Advocacy versus Lobbying

Advocacy is not lobbying. The National Council of Non-profits offers the following distinction. Lobbying is communicating with decision makers (elected officials and staff; voters on ballot measures), about existing or potential legislation, and urging a vote for or against. All three components of this definition are required: decision makers, actual legislation, AND asking for a vote. Federal dollars, including those that may support salaries, cannot be used to support lobbying. Conversely, the Council describes advocacy as any action that speaks in favor of, recommends, argues for a cause, supports, or defends, or pleads on behalf of others.

It includes public education, regulatory work, litigation, and work before administrative bodies, lobbying, nonpartisan voter registration, nonpartisan voter education, and more.

18 Tips for Advocacy

The following tips can be useful for transit and mobility management professionals to inform, educate, and advocate in their communities. Even better, is when human service and transit professionals collaborate to facilitate the consideration of accessible community transportation services.  

1. At every opportunity invite elected and appointed officials to visit the transit system. 
2. Send copies of your newsletter to elected officials, major businesses, Chambers of Commerce, and local service clubs.
3. Post the transit service days/hours/schedules/fares in houses of worship, libraries, and on public bulletin boards. 
4. Use your website to inform the community of all aspects of service and operation.
5. Ask directors of human services organizations to write letters in support of transit services. 
6. Work with community mobility management networks for their ideas regarding advocacy and implementation. 
7. Never miss or turn down an opportunity to speak on behalf of the transit agency and its service. 
8. Create a recognizable presence by developing and using a logo and branding that is consistent and visible on each vehicle. 
9. Form coalitions with entities that may also have transportation vehicles to create cost or operational efficiencies. 
10. Share information with other agencies that provide services to customers in the community.  
11. Consider selling maintenance services to other entities with vehicles.
12. Combine driver training with one or more agencies.
13. Explore the possibility of cost savings by including the city or county motor pool in with the agency’s maintenance.
14. Decorate the bus for a local parade, involving people who might otherwise never participate.
15. Transport passengers to community-sponsored events on holidays or weekends.
16. Work with the emergency operations center to supply vehicles during a crisis or emergency.
17. Offer to transport homeless individuals to local shelters during inclement weather.
18. Advocacy is not a one-time event.