Last year, I joined a fight that taught me everything about the power of user voice.
As a cyclist, educator, and mother deeply concerned about our environment, I was devastated when politicians decided to remove a pedestrian and cyclist bridge to the University of Wollongong. I was living the East Coast and was closely watching a multimillion-dollar car-centric project that would literally divide our community, forcing everyone to drive everywhere.
The meetings were brutal. Politicians rolled their eyes. Representatives from Fulton Hogan told us to “just give up because the decision was made.” There was “no money or space” for our bridge.
We didn’t settle. The Illawarra Bicycle Users Group (IBUG) united with neighbourhood forums and environmental groups. We refused to be quiet. We knew our rights as citizens and voters.
I had to move to WA, leaving the fight to my brilliant, courageous colleagues. Last week, Rhonda (now IBUG’s Vice President) rang me screaming: “We won! We won! The bridge is back!”
“Suddenly”, $12 million appeared for our pedestrian and cyclist bridge. The connection was restored (check the video below).
Here’s my lesson: Users DO have a voice, even against seemingly impossible odds.
This experience shapes how I view AI today. We are the clients. Big Tech—OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, you name it—exists because of us. Yet we’re following their rules instead of setting them.
I don’t want AI answering my Google searches. I don’t want it in WhatsApp or Facebook. Where’s my opt-out button? How do I opt-out?
We need to unite like we did for that bridge. Get louder. Make our voices heard. Maybe one day, we’ll be screaming “We won!” about AI too.