April 2012
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PoP phenomenal!

Pedal on Parliament exceeded all expectations, with a police estimate of 2500 people, and others suggesting 3000+

Not only the biggest ever cycling demonstration in Scotland, but MSPs told us it was probably the biggest ever demonstration on any subject to take place in the public arena outside the Scottish Parliament.

Pedal on Parliament was fantastic, and the organisers deserve huge thanks from everyone who wants conditions that feel truly safe and welcoming for getting about by bike.

You can see literally 100s of pictures on the PoPScotland flickr site.   You can find some particularly relevant to Spokes here (see the captions for more info).   One picture [also below] shows all the politicians who spoke, with brief notes on each in the caption.

WHAT TO DO NOW

All the speakers made the point that it is vital to keep up the pressure on politicians.  Here is what you can do in the immediate future!! …

  • Sign the PoP manifesto petition.  It will be formally presented to the Parliament in a few weeks, so it’s not too late.
  • Ask all concerned friends, family and colleagues to do the same.
  • Take part in the Local Elections on May 3.   Check out party manifestos [this link is Edinburgh manifestos only] and check out your local candidates.
  • Vote on May 3.  Our advice, in italics, has been endorsed by a member of the Electoral Reform Society:  You number the candidates in your preferred order, 1,2,3, etc.  For your vote to have maximum effect, number every candidate.  Enjoy putting your least favourite candidate last as well as your best first.  [NB:  This advice does assume you know at least something about all candidates/parties, so you can put them in order.  If you know nothing at all about some, try to find out.  Otherwise just slot them in between those you’d be content to see elected and those that you’d hate to be elected].
  • If you’re not a Spokes member, join Spokes!   Our 3-a-year Bulletin and our roughly-monthly email circulars to members aim to keep telling you when is a useful time to contact who about what – politicians continually tell us that emails, letters and visits from individual voters really matter.  They are much more likely to listen to Spokes, PoP etc if they are also hearing from you!!

REPORTS, BLOGS AND VIDEOS OF PoP

Here are some of the best…

The PoP post-event press release [pdf 82k]
The PoP thank-you to everyone involved
blog  http://mccraw.co.uk/pedal-on-parliament-triumph
blog  http://cityexile.wordpress.com/2012/04/29/paddle-on-parliament
STV local blog http://local.stv.tv/edinburgh/magazine/97310-how-3000-cyclists-came-from-all-corners-of-scotland-to-reclaim-the-roads
Greener Leith report http://www.greenerleith.org/greener-leith-news/2012/4/30/leithers-pedal-on-parliament-to-call-for-safer-cycling.html
Edinburgh Bike Co-op report http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/blog/2012/05/pedal-on-parliament/
short video  http://vimeo.com/41210899
short video  https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=3500523705271
longer video  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkHr5IrgMAk

And lots more blogs/videos linked from the PoP website.

POLITICIANS WHO CAME TO PEDAL ON PARLIAMENT

Most politicians were very busy campaigning for the local elections, so we’ve included them here even if they only came along for part of the time. We have also included anyone who is standing as a candidate in the council elections. Please tell us if we have missed any

[*means that they are a Spokes member]

CON
*Cllr Cameron Rose [Southside/Newington]
GREEN
Cllr Steve Burgess [Southside/Newington]
Gavin Corbett [Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart]
*Alison Johnstone MSP
Lindsay Ashford [Sighthill/Gorgie]
John Palmer [Craigentinny/Duddingston]
*Gary Bell [Midlothian Council – Penicuik]
LAB
*Sarah Boyack MSP
*Sheila Gilmore MP
*Mark Lazarowicz MP
*Ian Murray MP
LIBDEM
Cllr Gordon Mackenzie [Southside/Newington]
SNP
Jim Eadie MSP

The picture shows the politicians who were speakers.  Click here for brief comments on them and on the others in the picture [or, at least, those in the foreground!!]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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