Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:18:28 +0000 http://www.spokes.org.uk/ PostNuke Powered Site en-us http://www.spokes.org.uk/images/logo.gif http://www.spokes.org.uk/ webmaster@spokes.org.uk http://www.spokes.org.uk/Article170.html Spokes is in the process of moving to a new website, but the changeover may take some weeks to complete. The new site is www.spokes.org.uk/wordpress/ From now on all news and new downloads will be entered only on the new site. However the Forum will continue meantime on this Postnuke site. To participate in the Forum you still have to be registered on this site. There are still many things to be worked out and developed on the new site, as well as linking up the forum, so at the moment you may still need to come here - for example to look up old downloads, links etc. However, the new site is much easier to update so we've decided to start the changeover now even though everything isn't fully sorted on the new site. Note that you cannot register on the new site. Any comments are welcomed - please email Spokes. Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:18:28 +0000 http://www.spokes.org.uk/Article169.html Final proposals for the Old Dalkeith Road bus and bike scheme have been published. Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:44:01 +0000 http://www.spokes.org.uk/Article168.html How can Edinburgh Council meet its ambitious Charter of Brussels target of 15% of trips to be by bike in 2020? Sustainable transport and cycling consultant Richard Armitage visits Edinburgh Sept 17-18 and will address this question at a presentation/discussion for Spokes members [open to the public] and will illustrate what has been achieved in some European towns and cities. Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:37:28 +0000 http://www.spokes.org.uk/Article167.html ScotRail's first cycle information board, produced by Spokes at ScotRail's initiative, is being unveiled at Linlithgow Station on Friday 11 September. Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:29:12 +0000 http://www.spokes.org.uk/Article166.html "The government sets the target (10% of all journeys in Scotland to be by bike by 2020) - therefore they have the primary responsibility for achieving it." This is a main theme of our response. There are some excellent ideas in the government's action plan - but no commitment to funding the Plan! - and without European-style funding the government's European-style target cannot possibly be achieved. Fri, 21 Aug 2009 12:22:10 +0000 http://www.spokes.org.uk/Article165.html Edinburgh Council is consulting on major proposals for higher bus priority between Cameron Toll roundabout and the new Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. Comments must be submitted by 27 August, and there will also be a staffed exhibition on Sat/Sun 15/16 August. Fri, 07 Aug 2009 21:03:10 +0000 http://www.spokes.org.uk/Article164.html The Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Spice) has published a briefing paper on cycling in Scotland. The document incorporates the summary table from our Spokes 2009 Funding Survey, which it calls, "the most comprehensive analysis of funding for Scottish cycling projects." Tue, 04 Aug 2009 23:12:29 +0000 http://www.spokes.org.uk/Article163.html The third edition of the Spokes cycle/walking map for Midlothian has just been published. Sun, 26 Jul 2009 19:43:06 +0000 http://www.spokes.org.uk/Article162.html If the next summer downpour keeps you inside, head for your computer... Respond to the government's Cycling Action Plan for Scotland, enter the Spokes One Million Pounds Competition, and complete the Bike Station online survey.... Tue, 21 Jul 2009 23:54:35 +0000 http://www.spokes.org.uk/Article161.html The Summer Spokes Bulletin is out, featuring the annual Spokes survey and analysis of cycle project investment in Scotland. We show clearly that cycle investment (already far below countries such as Denmark) fell yet further in 2008/09, the first year of the new SNP government's policies and budgets, and is likely to fall even further this year, 2009/10, unless policies and decisions are changed. Tue, 09 Jun 2009 21:04:34 +0000 http://www.spokes.org.uk/Article160.html Tell us how to get more people cycling more often in Scotland, now and into the future, for ordinary journeys like work, shops, school, family leisure, holidays, whatever. The best ideas will win from a selection of great prizes - and with a real stroke of luck your idea could even come to fruition... Fri, 05 Jun 2009 19:16:21 +0000 http://www.spokes.org.uk/Article159.html The Government's Cycling Action Plan consultation draft is just out [please respond, as below] and the Spokes annual cycle funding survey is complete [details will be in Spokes 104]. The government is setting a hugely ambitious target for cycling, at the same time as investment is at miserable levels, and falling further. The Herald put these two stories together in an excellent article on 29 May. Click below for full story and what you can do. Fri, 29 May 2009 12:18:17 +0000 http://www.spokes.org.uk/Article158.html Spokes emailed the parties / top list candidates for the Scotland constituency in the Euro elections, asking if they would support the European Cycling Federation 10-point plan - which includes substantial funding for cycling programmes. Mon, 25 May 2009 13:45:19 +0000 http://www.spokes.org.uk/Article157.html Unfriendly Locals Ruin Etape Caledonia The Etape Caldonia, a charity ride that raises money for Macmillan Cancer support, has been sabotaged by someone who laid sharp tacks across the road along several sections. Sun, 17 May 2009 11:34:24 +0000 http://www.spokes.org.uk/Article156.html The Spokes May 12th traffic count shows growth in bike use over May 2008 at all 4 counting points. Bikes now form 14.4% of all vehicles at these points combined, compared to 12.6% in 2008 and 11.9% in 2007. Sat, 16 May 2009 10:33:33 +0000 http://www.spokes.org.uk/Article155.html Although cycling is a very safe form of transport, unfortunately crashes do occur. What would you do if it happened to you? - or if you were there when it happened to someone else? ... Sat, 09 May 2009 16:17:27 +0000 http://www.spokes.org.uk/Article154.html The Spokes campaign for Princes Street to become tram, pedestrian and bicycle only is being received remarkably positively by some of Edinburgh's top decision-makers, and is gaining a momentum of its own... Tue, 28 Apr 2009 18:16:58 +0000 http://www.spokes.org.uk/Article153.html Under Managing Director Ian Craig (appointed in 2008) Lothian Buses are taking a highly constructive and pro-active approach to bike/bus interaction - an example of which can now be seen in our downloads section. Thu, 02 Apr 2009 00:05:59 +0000 http://www.spokes.org.uk/Article152.html A council consultation on 'Development Principles' for Picardy Place neglects bike travel - in this most critical, unpleasant and unavoidable convergence point for many bike, bus, car, lorry and (future) tram journeys. Please submit comments by 10 April. Wed, 01 Apr 2009 23:33:31 +0000 http://www.spokes.org.uk/Article151.html Spokes is considering campaigning for Princes Street to become tram, walk and bike only - allowing a European-style street with pavement cafes, shops and gardens linked, and a top-class bike route on one side of the tram. So instead of the tram removing bike facilities, it could be the catalyst for something amazing (at least in Edinburgh terms!) Wed, 18 Mar 2009 14:49:10 +0000 http://www.spokes.org.uk/Article150.html The Spring Spokes Bulletin is out, highlighting the failure of the Scottish Government to take bike use seriously in its 2009/10 budget - despite the all-party evidence-based recommendation of the Parliament's own Transport, Environment and Climate Change Committee. Yet big new money is going into trunk roads. So - a huge question mark over the government's much-vaunted aspirations for 'sustainable' economic growth and over its intentions on early action towards meeting Climate Change Bill targets. Wed, 11 Mar 2009 18:06:47 +0000 http://www.spokes.org.uk/Article149.html The Spring Spokes mailout went out today - to our 1200 members plus the usual 1000 decision-makers (every Scottish MSP, all Lothians councillors, all Scottish Directors of Public Health, tourist and enterprise agencies, relevant named officers in all Scottish councils, etc, etc) and hundreds more envelopes covering Edinburgh/Lothians bike shops, libraries, etc, etc. The vast majority are delivered by bike by Spokes volunteers See below for what members will receive... Sat, 07 Mar 2009 22:19:35 +0000 http://www.spokes.org.uk/Article148.html Edinburgh Council is consulting on "Princes Street (Blocks 1 -7a) Development Briefs." The briefs deal both with the buildings and the immediate road network for the whole length of Princes St. As usual, cycling is mentioned in general terms, but is totally omitted when it comes to the specifics. Sun, 15 Feb 2009 14:51:23 +0000 http://www.spokes.org.uk/Article147.html The Spokes Spring Public Meeting on March 25 will feature a panel of speakers from bus, rail and probably tram; plus a film of bus drivers and cyclists swapping places. See Diary. There is also a list of other Spokes-relevant February/March events in downloads HERE, which is being sent to all emailable Spokes members. Sorry no time to enter them all in the website diary! Sun, 15 Feb 2009 13:01:48 +0000 http://www.spokes.org.uk/Article146.html What a contrast!! The Scottish Government is still set on freezing cycle investment and boosting trunk roads; whilst at the same time it helps host the fantastic Danish 'Dreams on Wheels' exhibition. Surely it can see the contradiction?? The final budget vote is Jan 28, with the 2 Green MSPs now highly influential in whether cycle investment rises or stays static. Please consider a final email!! ... Mon, 19 Jan 2009 18:29:33 +0000