March 2016
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Bike/rail cuts: opposition mounts

Our tweet about Transport Scotland’s bike/rail cuts is now easily our most popular ever, with 95 retweets already

Update 28 March:  nearly 150 retweets and many appalled comments (a selection below).  Also in the national press…

The Herald online 29.03.16Full story in Herald printed paper.

1603 online Herald - Campaigners_warn_that_train_refurbishments_will_slash_space_for_bikes_(From_Herald_Scotland)_-_2016-03-29_11.20.53

For the full story about severe cuts to West Highland bike/rail bookable capacity, and the bike storage downgrade on Edinburgh/Glasgow main line, see our original article, just a week ago.

Click here for our tweet – see the current number of retweets and, if you agree with us, add your own!!

It’s clearly time for the Transport Minister, Derek Mackay MSP, to have a re-think.

Several of the retweets are from SNP supporters who obviously think their own government is making a big mistake.  One tweeted his MSP saying, “This seems to conflict with SNP environmental policies. Can you ask Transport Scotland to reconsider?

WHAT YOU CAN DO
  • Ask your Holyrood election candidates by email and at hustings what they will do right now  as we understand that work on the interiors of the new and refurbished trains is likely to start soon
  • After the Holyrood election, your new MSPs can be contacted at www.writetothem.com
  • If you have contacts in the West Highlands, inform them and ask them to make a fuss too – the tourism implications are considerable.
  • For more bike/rail info, see our rail page.
WHO IS BEHIND THE DECISION?

Several people who commented on twitter blamed ScotRail, but in fact the main motivation lies with the Scottish Government and their transport agency, Transport Scotland.  Transport Scotland wishes to maximise the seat-count headline numbers which get quoted in the press, even though this continues the ridiculous situation off-peak where it is hard to get on an otherwise lightly loaded train with a pram, push chair, bike, etc because of the lack of adequate flexible spaces – for which we unsuccessfully campaigned at any earlier stage.

WHAT POLITICIANS SAY + PRESS ARTICLES

Replies & articles forwarded to us by Spokes members who have contacted their MSPs or local newspaper

WHAT THE PUBLIC THINKS

In addition to the huge retweet support, many people have commented, including the following.  There are now many more tweeted comments, which we have not had time to add.

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Here it is – our most popular ever tweet

[shown here as at March 17th – click above to see latest]

space to be cut. Pls help!–> Ed-Glasg down & slash from 6 to 2 bookable for

 

 

 

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