The biggest & best PoP ever … literally thousands of people, all calling for proper investment in cycling as an everyday means of transport …
photo: beqi at flickr.com
photo: PoP
photo: beqi at flickr.com
photo: @hank_chief
The Spokes stall … photo: #WalkCycleVote
How many thousand people were at PoP2016 is unknown – but with every side of the speaker’s mound crowded, the previous record 4000 was certainly exceeded. The political significance of PoP is highlighted by the fact that it attracted 3 party leaders (Lab, LibDem and Green), the Transport Minister from the recent SNP government and many other politicians (see below).
With the Holyrood election imminent, policies and promises were on everyone’s mind. Investment depends on the election results and on continuing pressure on politicians, by people like you – before the election and after the election!
There’s a report of the speeches here. The politicians all promised more or less what is in their manifesto, but, in summary…
- SNP: Transport Minister in the recent Parliament Derek Mackay, who arrived on an Abellio hire bike, promised that cycling investment would not fall from its present record level (i.e. just under 2% of the total transport budget).
- Labour: The manifesto is not yet published, but Spokes member Sarah Boyack said that more investment is needed and that Scottish Labour would ‘work towards’ 10% of the transport budget being invested in active travel, following the example of Edinburgh City Council.
- LibDem: Party leader Willie Rennie, who had cycled from Fife, promised an extra £20m a year cycling investment (which would increase funding from 2% to 3% of the transport budget).
- Green: Spokes member Alison Johnstone re-iterated the Green promise to invest 10% of the transport budget in active travel.
- Conservative: Speaker Miles Briggs didn’t give any cycling investment figures, though their manifesto does have something to say on this.
Three party leaders … photo: @Political_AlanS
Transport Minister on Abellio Bike ‘n Go
Popliticians
i.e. politicians who attended #PoP2016. We’re bound to have missed some – please let us know, and send us their twitter name.
* = Spokes member
MPs
- Lab Ian Murray*
MSP candidates
- Con Miles Briggs
- Green Alison Johnstone* Patrick Harvie Chas Booth* Alys Mumford Andy Wightman Steve Burgess
- Labour Lesley Hinds Daniel Johnston Cat Headley Kezia Dugdale Sarah Boyack*
- LibDem Willie Rennie Alex Cole-Hamilton PramodSubbaraman
- SNP Derek Mackay Jim Eadie Tony Giugliano Alison Dickie Ben Macpherson
- Independent Jack Caldwell*
Councillors
- Green Chas Booth* Nigel Bagshaw* Gavin Corbett* Steve Burgess Ian Baxter*[Midlothian]
- Labour Andrew Burns [Edinburgh Council Leader] Lesley Hinds Marion Donaldson Maureen Child* Matt Kerr[Glasgow councillor – congrats on cycling to Edinburgh & back for PoP!!]
- SNP David Key
Resources
- BBC report
- STV report
- Official PoP report
- #PoP2016 tweets
- PoP photos for free use on blogs etc [photographer must be credited]
- PoP photos [permission to use may be needed]
- Spokes website PoP reports (all years) and other relevant items
- Spokes 2016 Holyrood pre-election article, including manifesto reports