01 02 05 The Action-Update of Spokes the Lothian Cycle Campaign 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]. REFERENDUM ACTION NEEDED Ballot papers on Edinburgh’s package of transport investment v URGENT - OBJECT BY 11 FEBRUARY and congestion charging should arrive by post on 7 Feb or soon The Council has published two Traffic Regulation Orders to which after. Your vote must return by 21 Feb at the latest - best do it Spokes objects. We urge all affected readers to make a personal now! For other ways you can help see Spokesworker 15.1.05 - objection. Write to “Director of City Development (Transport), sent to members with Bulletin 90 and also at www.spokes.org.uk PO Box 12474, 1 Cockburn St, EH1 1ZL, to arrive no later than 11 February. If objecting to both Orders, send two separate letters. FOR YOUR DIARY Quote the Order name and reference number at the start of your letter. State in your own words why you object. If after Feb 11 See Diary in Spokes 90. The following are mainly additional/new... ask your councillor to raise the issue [go to www.edinburgh.gov.uk WEEKEND RIDES or phone 529.3186 to find your councillor]. Spokes contact for With the end of Harry Henniker’s BikeBus, there are no Spokes these Orders is Sandy , Planning Group, 551.2663. weekend rides this year. However, here are a few options... L Braidburn Terrace One-Way Traffic, reference TRO/04/84 ‚ New Heights do commercial bikebus weekends 0131.663.2104. ‚ Spokes Sunday Rides may do a weekend www.snowcycle.org.uk This Order makes Braidburn Ter 1-way, from Road to ‚ Small scale trips may be organised by members of the former Braid Road. We thought it was Council policy to exempt bikes weekend rides group. [email protected]. from all new 1-ways, but it appears not. One solution would be Mar 16 Promoting Sustainable Transport Tony Grant, Sustrans serious traffic-calming; another would be a cyclist exemption. Scotland Manager. 5.30pm. Chartered Institute of Logistics, Napier L Row Bus Priority Scheme - TRO/04/88A & 88B University, Rd. 01383.825510. www.ciltscotland.com. This Order provides a northbound bus lane in Inverleith Row with Apr 1 Transport and Environmental impact in Tourism Lunch cycle advance stop lines at Ferry Rd junction. We are happy Seminar, 1-2pm, Napier College, Colinton Rd, Boardroom. To except that, we are told, this will lie in the World Heritage Area, so book a free place, phone 455.3200. www.tri.napier.ac.uk/events there will be no red surface on the ASL boxes or cycle lanes. This Apr 25 Peak Oil conference 9-5, Royal Scottish Museum. We are is serious, as there is evidence that red surfacing encourages more nearly at the point where oil extraction reaches its peak and can no people to cycle and reduces traffic encroachment - see Spokes 90, longer meet the world’s growing demand. Speakers include David page 2. Astonishingly, we are told that the bus lane will be green! Spaven of Transform Scotland on transport implications. £50 v voluntary bodies rate. www.depletion-scotland.org.uk 020.7424.0049. Spokes 90 describes various ongoing campaigns where your help is needed writing to councillors, etc... CARBUSTERS / CARFREE CITIES www.carbusters.org L ‚ Towards Carfree Cities V conference, Budapest, July 18-22 Ensuring cycle lanes and ASLs keep red surfacing L Retaining a Princes St through cycle-facility despite trams www.worldcarfree.net/conference [email protected]. L ‚ Ecotopia Biketour 2005, July to early Aug, ending Moldova, High-quality links between Edinburgh and surrounding areas start point not yet certain. www.thebiketour.net L Parking in cycle lanes on main roads to the New Infirmary ‚ Sustainable transport educational tour by train, East Europe L Climate change government consultation [but see Corrections] 2006. [email protected] www.worldcarfree.net/onthetrain. [See also www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/climate & www.foe-scotland.org.uk] ‚ Carfree Institute - plans to develop the institute are moving v More campaigns - details in Spokesworker 15.01.05... forward. Contact J Crawford via [email protected] L Pledge to oppose airport expansion (Edinbugh and UK) THE G8 CONFERENCE, Gleneagles, July L Fight against reducted penalties for exceeding 30mph limits Several cycle rides are planned or under consideration. [See also www.slower-speeds.org.uk] ‚ Jubilee Scotland / Drop the Debt campaign Birmingham and v London to Peebles, then riding into Edinburgh 2 July. More areas where you might like to take action... L 0131.225.4321 [email protected]. The UK Parliament Railways Bill will make it easier to close ‚ g8cyclecaravan “A colourful and diverse range of human- rail lines - despite 30% rail use increase in the last decade, and powered vehicles”, London to Edinburgh, arrives 6 July. Varied an urgent need to encourage alternatives to car use. Transport objectives include promote sustainable transport and 2000 is lobbying to improve the Bill, so that it instead promotes demonstrate on climate change. www.g8cyclecaravan.org.uk. and develops the rail system. They need donations. Please also ‚ Edinburgh to Gleneagles to promote sustainable transport. write to your MP (not MSP) in support - see Spokes 90 for MP Provisional idea. If interested contact [email protected]. details. Donations to Transport 2000, Impact Centre, 12-18 Hoxton St, London N1 6NG. See also www.transport2000.org.uk. L A Green Transport Bill is to be put forward by Green MSPs. CORRECTIONS The Scottish Executive has a target to reduce road traffic to G Bulletin 90 page 2. The government is consulting about action 2001 levels by 2021 - but real-life traffic is moving in the to be taken on climate change - and recent news makes action opposite direction. The Green Transport Bill would require the even more urgent. Closing date 25 Feb. For the consultation Executive to set interim targets, publish an implementation document go to www.scotland.gov.uk/consultations - or phone plan, and report periodically on progress. Chris Ballance, 0131.224.7815, not 225.7815 as stated in Bulletin 90. Green transport spokesperson, seeks your views by 12 April. G Our letter of 30.12.04, circulated to all members with posters His consultation paper is at www.chrisballancemsp.org - or write by Get Edinburgh Moving, referred to “Conservative, SNP and to: Chris Ballance MSP, Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh EH99 1SP. LibDem” Edinburgh councillors opposing the council’s package L The Loch Lomond Park Authority is reviewing the byelaws, of transport investment and congestion charging. A SNP and and seeks views from interested groups and individuals. For the Spokes member who supports the proposals points out there are consultation document/questionnaire contact 01389.722600 or no Edinburgh SNP councillors. Apologies for this mistake - but [email protected]. [end date 8.4.05]. SNP councillors on Lothians councils are firmly opposed. L Unrepaired water leaks on roads and pavements cause ice However, Spokes is delighted that many individuals in all hazards, and member Euan Renton has written to MSPs about parties do say Yes, regardless of the stance of their councillors. the slowness of repairs. If you have any examples, please send Spokes 90, for example, listed LibDem groups and members details to [email protected], Central who profoundly disagree with Edinburgh LibDem councillors. Edinburgh MSP, and copy any useful replies to Spokes. Spokes warmly congratulates Sustrans Scotland on winning £2.6m Scottish Executive grant for the massive list of National Cycle Network projects below. Sustrans asked all Councils for suggestions, and all realistic possibilities were included to build up the funding application. Minister Nicol Stephen called Sustrans’s work last year “high standard, on budget and in tight timescales.” However, this is ‘end of year’ money which must be spent this financial year, a crazy timescale. Ask your MSP for better arrangements next year [see also Spokes 90]. Please also support Sustrans by joining - you’ll get Scottish and UK Sustrans newsletters. www.sustrans.org.uk 0117.926.8893.

NCN Organisation Project [italic - Edinburgh/Lothian] Description Km PROMOTION - leaflets etc Recruitment Leaflet; Map (routes 77 & 78); Local route leaflets (15) Active Travel Promotion Pilot North Edinburgh pilot project promoting the NCN for active travel SIGNING Many projects across Scotland, including round-Forth route ROUTE USAGE MONITORING Pilot programme to monitor NCN use, including 5 new cycle counters Engineering team management Remote engineering support Cycle parking at facilities on NCN PATH PROJECTS 7 Sustrans owned Strathspey area Upgrade running surface 10 7 Loch Venachar, Stirling Miscellaneous repair work and drainage improvements 5 7/77 Paisley Canal Ramp upgrade 0.3 7/77 Castlehead, Paisley Path realignment 0.2 7 GSK Shewalton Irvine, N. Ayrshire Construct link to factory 0.5 7 Stevenston Reconstruct path 1 1 Peel to Yair Upgrade path 1.5 73 Finishing Irvine to Kilmarnock Upgrade path 1.5 75 Hillend Loch Security fencing - 75 Cambuslang Upgrade path 0.4 75 Quarriers link New path link 0.5 75 Port Glasgow Tree management Tree management - Bridge upgrades & accesses Kilwinning Viaduct, Lochwinnoch (Lochlip Rd), Kendrum Viaduct, 16.4 Loanhead (Church St & Edgefield Rd), Bridge of Weir (Main St) 1 Aberdeen City Deeside Line Drainage, resurfacing. links, signage, earthworks. 10 1 Persley - Dyce Drainage, surfacing and removal of barriers. 3 1 Aberdeenshire F & B Way - Parkhill to Newmachar Barrier removal, resurfacing, drainage, access, seating, interpretation. 8 1 F & B Way - Auchnagatt to Maud Barrier removal, resurfacing, drainage, access, seating, interpretation. 8 1 Angus Monifeith to Carnoustie Construct cycle way on MOD land at Barry Links - match funding 5 78 Argyll & Bute Kilmartin Upgrade farm track /field paths - also potential safe route to school 1 78 Benderloch Construct path on disused railway through village to avoid trunk road 0.3 78 Appin to Portnacroish Construct path on disused railway also safe route to school 1.5 75 Br Waterways Union Canal towpath Widen towpath to 2.2m and reconstruct with type 1subbase /whin dust 1.5 76 Dunfermline to Alloa disused railway Surface/upgrade existing poor quality railway path - match funding 4 76 Cambus to Old Tullibody Design scheme and pre-tender documents - 7 Dumfries & G Stronord to Blackcraig Off-road path to avoid A75 trunk road & steep hill 1.1 1 Dundee Stannergate to Douglas Terrace Upgrading existing poor path to surfaced standard 1 1 East Lothian Smeaton railway path Resurface for multi-use, access arrangements, signage, seats, counter 1.1 1 Musselburgh GC Upgrade damaged track, signage and seats 0.25 1 Edinburgh City Haymarket goods yard Install dropped kerbs and widen gateway - 1 Upgrade to blacktop and widen existing path. 0.5 1 Installation of lighting and upgrading of ramps and safety fence - 75 W of - Coburg St/ Sandport Pl Upgrading existing surface to blacktop 0.5 75 Rodney Street tunnel Detailed design study for re-use as cycle-route - 76 Fife Dunfermline to Alloa railway path Surfacing to blacktop standard - match funded 6 1 Tay Bridge south Off-road link to new Tayport -Tay Bridge cycleroute - match funded 0.5 1 Q57 ford Upgrading of ford together with Perth & Kinross Council - 1 Aberdour - Kirkcaldy Negotiation and design work towards more suitable route - 7 Forestry Comm Loch Lubnaig Resurface, drainage, replace culverts, safety railings, ramp, reprofile 1.5 Link City of Glasgow Gorbals link On-road cycle link from Gorbals library to NCN75 0.5 7 Highland Aviemore to Inverdruie New cycle track including crossings, lighting upgrade - match funded 1 75 Inverclyde Devol Glen, Greenock Upgrade Bailey bridge, lessen gradients /bends, deal with subsidence 0.5 75 N Lanarkshire Aitkenhead Road link Shared use 2m footway on A752 including crossing point 0.5 7 Perth & Kinross Killiecrankie to Blair Atholl Minor/off-road alternative route including signing, clearance, repairs 5 1 Glen Burn - Glenalmond Improvements to ford with Fife Council - Link Renfrewshire Lochwinnoch station link Link to village including bridges, footway upgrade, crossing , lighting 1 1 Scottish Borders Innerleithen railway bridge Repainting and redecking disused railway bridge in path project - 74 S Lanarkshire Uddingston 3m bitmac path, lighting, access, drainage N British Rd -Bellshill Rd 0.5 7 Stirling Laggan Upgrade of railway path and ramps 1 76 Argaty to Doune Construction of path on disused railway - contribution 3 76 Design / negotiation studies Stirling - Manor Powis; Doune- Callander; Aberfoyle - Gartmore - 7 West Dumbarton A814 - Dumbarton Road Installation of toucan crossing - Link Balloch Station Installation of toucan crossing - 7 Bowling Upgrade existing path in park 0.2 75 Almondell Park - Phase 3 upgrade Resurfacing and realigning eroded path 0.5 Total 106