01 03 06 T h e A c t i o n - U p d a t e o f S p o k e s t h e L o t h i a n C y c l e C a m p a i g n St Martins Church, 232 Dalry Road, EH11 2JG 0131.313.2114 www.spokes.org.uk [email protected] Spokesworker is an occasional ("roughly monthly”) news sheet, with stop-press news of forthcoming events, and of road, traffic and planning matters. It is not automatically sent to all members. A copy is enclosed if we are writing to you anyway, and copies are handed out at working group meetings. You can make sure to get a copy by sending us 10 or so stamped addressed envelopes. Spokesworker also appears on our Internet web site - to be notified of such updates by email, contact [email protected]. time low - they need to do something now if they are to be taken LETTERS NEEDED!! seriously in next year's council and Holyrood elections! We urge concerned members to consider writing some of the COLOURED CYCLEROUTE CONTROVERSY letters suggested in Spokes Bulletin 93. The most important are Decisions on this are expected in March. If you have never the two articles on page 1, particularly if they concern you. contacted your councillor on this matter, please write as soon as possible, asking them to support your views when decisions are ROUTES IN/OUT OF EDINBURGH – URGENT!! taken on the Streetscape Manual. See p3 of Spokes 93 for more. If high quality routes in and out of Edinburgh are important to you – particularly for commuting and other utility journeys, please EDINBURGH CAR PARKING / CYCLE PARKING write in support of Edinburgh Council's proposal. This is a If any aspects of this concern you, please write urgently to your project for which we have long campaigned, and it is great that councillor, as decisions are likely in March on the Council's new they have taken up the idea. However, the project depends on a Parking Strategy. Please remember to give examples of how you bid for funding to SESTRAN, the South East Transport personally are affected. See p3 of Spokes 93 for more. Partnership. SESTRAN may decide on 17 March. If such routes would help you, please write soon to your NATIONAL TRANSPORT STRATEGY councillor, explaining that Edinburgh Council is applying to A consultation is expected to begin very shortly on a new NTS SESTRAN for funding for this project, explaining the route(s) for Scotland. This is to take account of the new structures now /corridor(s) which concern you, and why. Ask your councillor to being set up, with councils cooperating through new Regional lobby SESTRAN in support of the project, and to speak up for the Transport Partnerships [e.g. SESTRAN in south east Scotland], particular route which concerns you. See page 8 of Bulletin 93 and a National Transport Agency which is taking over for how to find your councillor. responsibility from the Scottish Executive for large projects such Please also copy your letter to Cllr Russell Imrie, Chair of as the M74 and rail infrastructure schemes. SESTRAN, with a covering note asking him to support the Details will be at www.scotland.gov.uk – consultations. project. His address is Cllr Russell Imrie, SESTRAN, c/o It is very important for comments to be received stressing the Council, Buccleuch St, Dalkeith EH22 1DJ or email role of cycling, and of integrating transport with land-use so as to [email protected]. enable many more journeys to be local ones, which can be undertaken by walking or cycling. The current decline in cycle SCOTLAND CYCLEPROJECT FUNDING project spending, together with the M74, airport expansion, and We trust you will agree that the facts revealed in our page 1 promises of a new Forth Road Bridge even before assessment of main article, and in 'Sustrans Shock' on page 8, are truly the existing one is complete, shows just how far astray things can scandalous in the light of the 'vision' of the Scottish Transport go – even if expenditure on 'big' public transport is also rising. White Paper [printed in a box on p1], as well as the implications The Scottish Executive is meant to be working to the 2004 for public health and the environment. The Minister is happy to Scottish Transport White Paper, whose key aim is “to promote trumpet the fact that the CWSS fund is rising (Cycling, Walking economic growth, social inclusion, health and protection of our and Safer Streets), but he omits to mention that other sources of environment, through a safe, integrated, effective and efficient cycle project funding are down – and by so much that the total is transport system.” Its 'vision' seeks “a culture where fewer short falling badly. It's only thanks to research by Spokes that these journeys are made by car, where we favour public transport, facts are known, so we need to make the best use of them!! walking and cycling because they are safe and sustainable.” Please do make the effort to find out who is your MSP and Not only are the cuts in cycle expenditure totally at odds with write/email them about this matter [see p8 of Spokes 93 to find this, but there are signs of gearing up for big spending on major them] Tell them why you are so concerned, and ask them to new roads. Whilst a few years ago the road builders talked of the press for our two proposals in the page 1 article need to 'complete the Scottish motorway network' [e.g. the M74] If you are a member or supporter of the Lib Dems, please the new National Transport Agency, in its Corporate Plan, states, also write to Nicol Stephen MSP, Scottish Lib Dem leader and “The trunk roads we have now do not provide a long-term former transport minister. Also, raise the issue with your local solution to the transport challenges we face.” Lib Dem party. After LibDem actions on Edinburgh's Transport NOTE: Comments by Spokes at an earlier NTS consultation Referendum last year, and now Tavish Scott's cuts to Sustrans, stage are at www.spokes.org.uk in downloads – submissions. Lib Dem credibility on environmental transport issues is at an all-

part of Edinburgh. This meeting is a regular one, which will be FOR YOUR DIARY dealing with many topics, not just the Braidburn Terrace report. See Spokes 93 for current diary. Below are main and extra events. Mar 28 National Transport Strategy conference, Dunblane Hydro Hotel. The Scottish Executive is holding a free conference Mar 17 Bike Week Training Day Free event by Cycling as part of the consultation into the new NTS – see NTS article in Scotland on how to run Bike Week events. Edinburgh. Details 'Letters Needed' section. Transport Minister Tavish Scott MSP and contact for booking via www.cyclingscotland.org. will be there – take the opportunity to question him on Scottish Mar 22 Braidburn Terrace 1-way Many members cycleproject funding! - what % of national transport spending objected to this proposal last year, which would have introduced a should be on cycle infrastructure? - is he content that it is falling 1-way system with no consideration to cycling. It is not an easy from around a measly 1.5% to a minuscule 0.6%?? [Spokes 93]. location but that is no excuse for just neglecting cyclists – surely Also speaking, Prof David Begg, former Edinburgh Transport the days when that was the normal practice are now past!! Convener and a friend of Spokes. For more info, or to book, The council has now come up with new ideas (we don't know contact Lisa Ord, 0161 947 4551 [email protected]. what they are) which will be presented at the next Pentlands Local Mar 30 West Access Forum Open meeting, 7-9pm, Development Committee, 7pm at Firrhill High School, 9 Oxgangs Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn. Book a free place from 01506.775249 Road North. We urge anyone concerned about this matter to attend [email protected]. Talks and discussion on how the meeting. More info: George Kennedy 529.3792. the new Access Legislation is working in W Lothian; and on the Note: the council has Local Development Committees for each proposed 'Core Paths' plan for . Apr 24 City Centre upgrades: Grassmarket, St Andrew Sq, Castle Street Cockburn Assn open meeting, Augustine INSPIRATION FOR SCHOOLS United Church, Geo IV Bridge Cost £7. Speaker from Edinburgh By Spokes member Hilda Stiven, Leith Walk Primary City Centre Management Company. All 3 areas are to get major upgrades – check out if they will be cycle friendly!! Advance School PTA. 556.9681 [email protected]. booking 557.8686 [email protected]. Leith Walk Primary School PTA and The Bike Station have teamed up to run a cycling promotion project for the school’s Jun 17-25 National Bike Week www.bikeweek.org.uk pupils, parents and teachers. With funding from the Council’s Jun 21 Spokes Bike Breakfast City Chambers, High St. North Edinburgh and Leith Local Development Fund and the Help & ideas for stalls needed. [email protected] 664.0526 Active Schools Programme, the project is providing two bicycle Jun 23-25 Ed Bike Film Festival www.bicyclefilmfestival.info servicing and repair days where Bike Station mechanics spend the day in the school playground fixing bikes that are brought in. Day CANAL PROJECT WORK One in September saw 58 bikes adjusted or fixed. Mar 21-22: tree and hedge work near Falkirk, 10-4. Free lunch! The project is also helping provide 75 low-cost refurbished Book with Susanne 01324.677822 by 13 March. bikes to pupils, teachers and parents, together with a lock, helmet, Apr 2 canal clean-ups, Edinburgh and Kirkintilloch, both 9.30- and a Spokes map of cycle paths in Edinburgh. In the spring, 12.30. Equipment, water and choc bar provided. Edinburgh: meet Bike Station trainers will provide cycle training to non-cyclist 9.30 at Harrison Pk, Wester Hailes Dove Centre, or Slateford WoL pupils and parents, and the Active Schools Co-ordinator will centre. Kirkintilloch: meet 9.30 The Boat House, Townhead Br. provide cycling proficiency training to P6 and P7 children. Family cycle rides will be organised on the North Edinburgh cycle paths. Parent Shian Randall says “This is a great opportunity for our family CLIMATE CHANGE - urgent to start cycling without Spokes member Mark Lazarowicz MP is promoting a Climate the huge outlay which rd acquiring new bikes can Change and Sustainable Energy Bill at Westminster, with 3 involve. And living in reading on 10 March. Conservative MP Eric Forth hopes to stop such a built up area, it is the Bill, so it is vital that supportive MPs attend. Please email important to know that /phone your MP asking them to be present. Find their details at cycle paths are easy to www.locata.co.uk/commons (it's easy) or 020.7219.3000. Also, get to from here”. most emails are [email protected].. For more on the Ann Moore, Depute Bill contact [email protected] [no space here]. NB this Head Teacher, gives isn't a transport measure but environmentally relevant – and Mark L unqualified support to has been a great friend to Spokes so deserves support if you agree. the project. She says “This is just the kind of initiative I would like to see more of, where DRYLAW/TELFORD PATH families on a low By PC Iain Matthews [PC 2653A] Community income, and families who have never cycled Police Officer, Drylaw Police Station 343 3171 before are given the As many of you may already be aware there have been in recent chance to get cycling. months a number of unfortunate incidents on the stretch of cycle Learning to ride a bike path between Wester Drylaw and Silverknowes. These incidents is as important as have included stone throwing at passing cyclists and the extremely learning to swim and dangerous practice of tying rope across the path in an attempt to hopefully we will be dislodge cyclists. The majority of these incidents have occurred raising a generation of around 1600-1800 hrs when the path tends to be at it’s busiest. children who see cycling as a fun way of getting There is a relatively small group of local teenagers known to be exercise now, and responsible for this practice, as well as associated anti-social potentially a sustainable behaviour in the immediate area, and we have increased our Aisha and Kai of Leith Walk Primary form of travel in patrols in an attempt to address the problem. In addition to this, a adulthood”. local initiative will take place throughout March with a view to For more information contact: Hilda Stiven [contact details above]. targeting those responsible. This will take form of both high Spokes says: Why not set up a similar project at your own school visibility and plainclothes patrols. We will also utilise additional – the Bike Station is a great resource and waits to hear from you!! resources from our Mounted section and Traffic department. It is our intention to give a clear message to those responsible that their behaviour will not be tolerated, and at the same time make the NEW PUBLICATIONS area a safer place for both cyclists and pedestrians alike. × Evaluation and Review of Local Authority Road Traffic Plans are also in hand to improve lighting, remove debris/ Reduction Targets [Feb 2006] The Scottish Executive has a rubbish and look at the possibility of tackling the overgrown target to stabilise road traffic volumes at 2001 levels by 2021, hedges and trees. We are also in contact with a local artist with a and this research report looks into how they are getting on. Not view to getting local youngsters involved in decorating some of surprisingly, the outcome is bad! However the main blame falls the bridges/underpasses with appropriate artwork. on the government rather than on councils. The report has lots of interesting detail and discussion of the type of steps that Whilst the incidents I have referred to are relatively rare, if you could be taken. It is downloadable from www.scotland.gov.uk do require police assistance and those responsible are still in the – publications [search for 'traffic reduction'] or costs £5 at immediate vicinity, I would encourage you to contact us at the Blackwell's Bookshop, 52 S Bridge, Edinburgh 0131.622.8283. earliest opportunity. The quicker we receive details, descriptions etc, the better chance we have of catching those responsible. I × Transport across Scotland in 2003 and 2004. Scottish Exec would also suggest if you carry a mobile phone you include the Statistical Bulletin Trn/2006/1 from same web site as above. number of your local Police station, or if you frequent a particular Data and commentary from the Scottish Household survey. route familiarise yourself with the location of the nearest Police Interesting info and comparison of different parts of Scotland as station on that route. If you require any further information or regards walking and cycling. Once again the picture Spokes has emphasised for many years [e.g. Spokes 85] is still apparent advice please do not hesitate to contact me. – the highest levels of cycling being in rural areas, particularly 'remote small towns.' However, our evidence from the census and other sources shows that rural use is falling whilst urban is BIKE FRIENDLY EMPLOYER rising, and the result is fairly static usage across Scotland as a If your employer is bike-friendly, suggest they enter for this whole. Our calls on the government to research why rural national award. If they're not, the scheme can supply materials to use is falling, and do something about it, continue to fall on help them do better!! Scotland's Health at Work (SHAW) – info deaf ears. They are squandering a precious opportunity – from www.cyclingscotland.org. please raise this issue with your MSP if it concerns you.