SPOKES LEAFLET INFORMATION

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Labour's Scottish Parliament manifesto promises "extended support" for walking and cycling. With a
Labour/Liberal coalition, this chimes well with a Lib Dem promise of "more ... safe cycling routes" and to "reserve more road space for buses and cycles". However, Spokes also has some fears about 'coalition fudge' - see article on web page 2.

Spokes has already written to new Environment and Transport Minister, Sarah Boyack, suggesting how the Labour manifesto promise could be implemented.

Hefty increases in everyday walking and cycling are also crucial to the government's exceptionally ambitious public health targets for huge increases in adult 'moderate physical activity' by year 2005 [target details in Spokes 72].

Since most provision for cyclists is by councils, the big question is how the government can ensure that all Scottish councils take cycling far more seriously, and fully integrate it into transport (and other) policies.

Our annual survey of council cycle expenditure showed huge variation [Spokes 70]. Several councils spent nothing on cycle provision or Safe Routes to School, whilst West Lothian allocated nearly 20% of its transport capital budget. Adding in external cycle funding raised by councils, expenditure per head of population ranged from zero in some councils to £6.63 in Clackmannanshire.

The main criterion for a bike-aware council seems to be forward-looking councillors/staff, rather than the type of area, since such councils can be found in cities, rural and intermediate areas. However, as our last survey concluded, "One remarkably clear feature is that councils already working on cycling plan to continue, but those who have done little plan no change either. Government must now firmly tackle the laggards."

More recently, Spokes has been hugely impressed by the firm government action on such problems in England, where a different funding method allows the government to ensure that councils implement green transport policies. Out of 92 English councils recently granted 'transport package' funds, some 90% included cycling and/or Safe Routes to School elements! English councils have been clearly told that funding will only be given if they take these issues seriously. In contrast, most Scottish capital transport spending is at council discretion.

The Scottish Office has announced some dedicated transport cash in a welcome 3 year £90m Public Transport Fund [Spokes 71]. But - the fund's very name omits walking and cycling, and the guidance on how to apply sees walking & cycling mainly as an adjunct to public transport. So, unlike England, few of the newly successful bids incorporate substantial cycling provision.

Our letter to the Minister on how the manifesto promise can be implemented therefore suggests...

• the government should re-assess the method of council transport capital funding to ensure that all councils pay full attention to cycling and walking as transport modes
• the Public Transport Fund should be renamed 'Integrated' or 'Sustainable' Transport Fund and its guidance changed to give similar priority to walking and cycling. The Fund should be increased by a transfer from the trunk road budget - which surprisingly has been increased, despite the big government run-down in roadbuilding [Spokes 71].

[See below to find the name of your MSP; or phone the Scottish Parliament 0131 348 5000; or see www.scottish.parliament.uk. The address is: The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh EH99 1SP].

ALSO IN THE MANIFESTO...

Other Labour manifesto promises you could write about...

• Early legislation on transport - we hope this will allow car-parking charges at out of town developments [see article & Spokes 71] as well as the promised workplace charges.
• Develop the Safe Routes to School policy.
• Extend schemes like Edinburgh's Greenways - but it is vital to ensure these are bike-friendly, like Edinburgh's.

New figures from York show a 10% bike-use increase over 3 years (16% for bike-commuting), along with a 30% fall in cycle accidents! [CycleDigest Spring 99]. The same pattern occurs across the Netherlands, and elsewhere in Europe, confounding outdated traffic 'experts' who said more cycling must mean more accidents.

Spokes Sunday Rides - Meet 10am, Usher Hall, Lothian Road. Normally 1st Sunday each month. Rides are fairly gentle, 30-40 miles. Lunch at pub/café, or bring picnic. Odd showers won't put us off, but real bad weather may cause cancellation. We show the way, help with mechanical malfunctions, wait for the less-speedy, and try to ensure all have a wonderful time! Please ensure your bike is in good order. Cycle carefully/considerately. You are entirely responsible for your own safety. Children under 14, or not used to roads, may only come with an adult.

Dates: Jul 4 [Linlithgow picnic at Dave/Susan du Feu. Free tea/coffee, bring own food], Aug 1, Sep 5, Oct 3.

For further details or to help: Stuart 0131.445.7073.

The Spokes Cycling Weekends programme is on the website; or phone Paul 0131.662.0074.

Go-Bike! (Strathclyde Cycle Campaign) also has a big rides programme - usually 1st Sunday each month, and some w'ends. Richard 0141.563.7871 or drmarsh@bigfoot.com.

Critical Mass: 5.30pm last Friday each month at the Mound.

June 5-13 Green Transport Week, and

June 8 National Carfree Day Details: Environmental Transport Assn, 0181.946.0912 or www.eta.co.uk

June 10 Euro-Elections

Jun 12-20 National Bike Week 01483.417217 www.nbw.co.uk

June 12 start of Jubilee 2000 Edinburgh-Cologne ride to call for 3^rd World debt cancellation. 313.3647 Andrew.

June 13 Airdrie/Bathgate fun ride on Sustrans railway-path sculpture trail, and chance to see work of Central Scotland Countryside Trust. 0131.623.7600 Sustrans.

June 16 SPOKES BIKE BREAKFAST - free breakfast for you & your bike, City Chambers 8-10. Rosemary 553.5819.

June 19 Lepra ST.ANDREWS ride 01968.682369.

Jun 20 Edinburgh CYCLEFEST organised by Sustrans & Spokes. Victoria Park, Newhaven 12-4. New Spokes map, live music (renewable energy PA!), best-dressed bike, bike doctor, cycle skills, stalls, etc. To help or for details, phone Mark James 623.7600 or 334.2653. Easy rides to Cyclefest..

10.45 from Davidson's Mains Safeway car park
11.15 Middle Meadow Walk
11.30 Scottish Office, Leith

June 30 Sustrans Safe Routes to School UK conference, York. 0117.915.0117. Cathy Scott attending for Spokes.

July 4 Sustrans Ride the Net pilot event and Glasgow Cyclefest both centred in Kelvingrove Park. Also Indepen-dence from the Car day. Andy Dunn - contact below.

July 13 Transport Priorities for the Scottish Parliament conference. Includes Transport Minister. 01224.263134.

Aug 15 WWF ride - Aberdeen. 01887.820449.

Sep 26 Active for SAMH Glasgow ride 467.7905.

2000, June 19-25 Ride the Net 2000 Sustrans Millennium 3000-mile network opens ... "stunning participatory events"

Spokes contacts: Cathy Scott 667.6740; Mark Symonds 229.7190
Scotland: Andy Dunn 01505.614302 amdunn@compuserve.com

For a Ride the Net email/fax occasional bulletin - contact Andy.

Useful Internet web sites for Scottish holiday planning...

www.edinburgh-bicycle.co.uk - see their holiday info page

freespace.virgin.net/bike.bus - Harry Henniker's famed BikeBus holidays [and Spokes cycling weekends]

www.holiday.scotland.net - Scottish Tourist Board - go to 'outdoor activities' then 'cycling'

Guided cycle tours of Edinburgh including bike hire. Advance booking. Various languages available. 556.5560.

Kilmartin House, the archaeological eco-museum south of Oban, offers a 20% discount to visitors arriving by bike (not bike on car-rack!). 01546.510278 or www.kht.org.uk
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A new Spokes Edinburgh Cycle Map should be out this summer - hopefully in June. Computer-based and brightly coloured, the map will cost £4.95. Special Offer ... Spokes readers may order one or more maps at just £4 post-free. Cheque payable to 'Spokes'. Offer ends 31^st July 1999.

Our Pathways Group (path construction/maintenance) is working hard on Loanhead-Bilston disused rail line - ending at historic Bilston Viaduct, now being restored to carry the path by Midlothian Council. To help with tasks, phone Tim 0131.554.7264. To suggest new projects, Peter 453.3366. Our thanks to everyone who has helped in recent months.

We are considering a Millennium Art Competition to promote the Sustrans National Network in Edinburgh & Lothians. Entrants would be given a high-quality postcard on which to prepare a sketch/photo/poem/painting/map - it's up to you! - on the above theme. We hope the top 50-100 entries would be displayed in a prestigious location, with public voting for the top entries. Help & ideas needed with organisation, prizes, etc. Cathy 667.6740 or Mark 229.7190.

One of the many new features of the superb Spokes Web Site is a section on Green Commuting / Green Travel Plans / Employer Initiatives, including details of relevant government & Sustrans info sheets. Also info on new MSPs, councillors, etc, and related web links.

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