How do we get the activity up in this forum. On this entire sidecar.com page. Because this is such a great resource. We need to figure out a way to increase the membership. Increase the postings. An increase the info that’s available for those of us who either have a Hack. Or looking into getting one. Anybody have any ideas?
Well, I'll go at this in two parts.
First, increasing activity, I have been a member of a forum that has to do with garages and tools for many years. In the effort to increase activity, it has a sub forum that is a free for all. Mostly old guy rants, and emotional problem solution seekers. That sub forum has infested the entire site. The garage and tool info is just a sidebar there now. It is useless to me now. I recently joined another forum that has good sidecar info, but it seems to have used the same tactic to boost traffic, so I'll probably never post there.
This forum however, has been very welcoming for me. I am in a transition from two to three wheels, and the positive reaction here resulted in me joining the USCA last year. This is a very civilized forum right now. I come from a fringe of the motorcycle world that is somewhat frowned upon on the internet, but here I feel welcomed. So to me, any off topic discussions would be a detriment to the atmosphere here.
Now, ideas. Monkeys, I remember watching sidehack races at Indian Dunes in the 70's, so I have seen that it has to take a lot of trust to go for the ride with no more control than body english on your side. I wouldn't mind hearing their side of sidecaring on this forum. Also, the stories of why sidecars were your choice, I'm sure there are many interesting stories there. That's all I have.
That’s a good point, Chris. I tend to stay well clear of “the basement” on most sites because content there makes me less pleasant to be around for my wife. That said, it does make a lot more active.
Something to consider is that “a number” of our members want nothing at all to do with the forums sponsored by USCA whilst many forum users don’t join the USCA. Currently there is a trial to figure out a way to offer six months free membership to new members by following a link on my sig line elsewhere. Not resolved yet but I have hope.
Illegitemi non carborundum est!
This may come off as not abstract enough and too specific, but because the email notification doesn’t include the thread title in the Subject line, I tend to scroll past or automatically delete the email. I like topical subject lines. It’s like when some of the custom moto websites send me an email to their latest article spotlighting another build, but don’t include a thumbnail. Many of us are inundated with links and attempts to make us click, so as I learned in my career, you have a better chance of success by putting as much enticement in a client’s face.
And agreed, when I do pay attention to thread email notifications, it seems overwhelmingly custom recreational rig owners, which I’m one myself. I imagine Soviet Steeds and ADVRider take a fair amount of Ural owner traffic away. If this forum represents ALL sidecar enthusiasm, I’d love to see stories and perspectives from racers, explorers, people who use them for interesting/unique purposes, etc. And would love to have more presence from the builders.
But I dunno. As someone who fell in love with sidecars 5 years ago to the point that I sold my car 2 years back in order to have permanent space for both a sidecar rig and a two-wheeler—living in Maine—this particular forum doesn’t seem to have the wealth of knowledge just pouring out of it like the other two. I don’t mean for that to be an insult. And I’m ever grateful for the site providing Hal’s resource manuals for free.
Edit: Having to go back to my inbox and click a confirmation link after clicking subscribe here also feels like an unnecessary road block.
Oddly, I NEVER allow email notifications from any forum simply because the ones that don't give me a choice already spam me enough to be irritating. When I want to crawl through, I will.
Illegitemi non carborundum est!
@thane-lewis I’m not saying I’m against e-mail notifications. I just don’t want to have to confirm that I clicked Subscribe. It’s an extra unnecessary step that ultimately leads me to just want to move onto other things.
You talking bout me, Miles or yourself? 
Well said, though. The congenital attitude and slower pace have made for a lot more understanding than I have been able to gather elsewhere. Hopefully I am being helpful myself in some way.
Illegitemi non carborundum est!
You talking bout me, Miles or yourself?
Oh, El Presidente', I was talking about myself, in that analogy. You live in a much larger city compared to the small town that I live just outside of. I mean, your town has a McDonalds, it has stop lights, it has more than one grocery store.
You be...Big Town Livin'
And yet, who would have thunk that Broken Bow, Nebraska would ever reach the status of Big Town Livin' ???
About that. McDonald’s closed a year ago, the second grocery store shut down shortly after that and we had the highway through town shredded from march to November. Folks avoided the traffic lights because they were never able to cross over there.
Now it should be noted that a small Mexican grocery just opened a month ago. Haven’t been in there yet. 
Illegitemi non carborundum est!
Well, the reaction to your post has been quite interesting to me. I'll admit that I've been lurking at the other place for a few days now. I'm feeling now that a Mayberry NC leaning forum, and a Wilmington CA (one of the many places I have lived) leaning forum, can co-exist and not try to compete with each other. I see there is some crossover, and that those posting see the individual forums for what they are, they both serve their purpose. So there is a balance, it may not be equal, but a balance none the less. The feedback to your post speaks for itself.
Ha! Yeah, went to Kindergarten and 1st grade there. So close to Lions Drag strip the house seemed to shake a little on the weekends!I'm feeling now that a Mayberry NC leaning forum, and a Wilmington CA (one of the many places I have lived)
For those of you thrown off by the sudden discovery that there is in fact a Wilmington, California, rather than thinking Chris had been drinking pruno, and made the mistake of mixing up Wilmington, NC, or Wilmington Ohio, or Wilmington, MA.....there is indeed a Wilmington, CA...it sits right next to Long Beach, as a small suburb of Los Angeles.
This was your Geography lesson for today.
Yes, BUT....did you enjoy a Stroopwaffle with your cuppa tea ???
And yes, I have said this for the past 2 decades, so-called "Social Media" is the opiate of the masses, and will be the downfall of modern society.
People share far too much personal information on "Social Media", and in the end (ha ha ha) it comes back to bite them in the ass.
THIS forum...is the ONLY socializing that I do, other than face to face at sidecar gatherings.
And, even in that, those I meet with ask that I wear a face mask, as I do not have a pretty face.
I entered the social media world when my Doctors told me to not walk, and to just lay around and get fat. I made an exit from the toxicity there 8 months ago. One thing I noticed about the sidecar related groups on FB, was that just one guy was in charge of most of them. I asked one technical question of him, and his reply was to just do it his way. My next question was 3 letters, why? He gave me the boot off of his forum. Happy to be away from that.
I got the "wear a mask" request also, years ago, I still try to comply.
The smarter member of my household told me in no uncertain terms, that my participation in anything to do with FB would constitute a breach in etiquette with her because it caused measurable issues for me. After the second foray into that world I agreed with her. The Derp is strong on the Book of Face. My tolerance is used up attempting to help young people use the brains they have instead of letting fake brains give them wrong, useless or dangerous answers to questions that frequently WERE NEVER ASKED.
Illegitemi non carborundum est!
He gave me the boot off of his forum. Happy to be away from that.I got the "wear a mask" request also, years ago, I still try to comply.
Chris, you are in good company here, if you have been booted or banned from another forum or website.
Currently 3.14159% of the sidecarists on these forums have been booted or banned from other forums or websites, so you are not alone.
BTW, who is that masked man in all black ? Is that the reincarnation of Johnny Cash
That pic reveals my odd aversion to rain gear, but also the one of the slight inconveniences of commuting 60 miles a day year round. But, dry attire resided at work if needed, and a hot shower at home. So, all good.
I think you would be surprised the amount of members you could gain by promoting this site on FB lots of large sidecar groups on there including my group (SIDECARUSA) 22K members in my group alone and there's many more that size. Just an idea for whoever does the advertising. I would let you guys feature on my page and could pin your post to the top where everyone will see it?
I prefer the other works best on my phone and there's more content and people to talk to...
Was having issues posting on here earlier and decided to wait a while and see if it works...
Site needs work just my 2c
