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SPOKES may be quoted freely, if the source is acknowledged and our address
given.
There is no sign yet of action on Labour's Scottish Parliament manifesto promise of extended support for walking and cycling. Government transport policy has much to commend it, but "extended support" means significant new policy initiatives - and, so far, there is no new government expenditure on these modes, and no means to ensure that councils spend more.
And our latest annual survey of council spending [see articles] shows less Council money going to local transport - and cycle budgets falling correspondingly.
The government has a target to double 1996 cycle use by 2002. Halfway through that period, more than 50% of Scottish councils still spend under 2% of their transport capital budget on cycle and Safe Routes to School [SRS] schemes! Several spend nothing. Edinburgh Council [formerly Lothian] has shown cycle use can be doubled - but by consistent spending/planning over a long period. Without an early successful initiative, the government target date will not be met. The recent Household Survey suggests no cycling increase from 1991 Census figures.
We are also half way through the Public
Health target period [see Spokes
72 - to increase the proportion of adults taking 30+ minutes of moderate
activity at least 5 times weekly from 32% of men and 22% of women in 1995
to 50% and 40% by 2005]. Whilst the target was just announced early
this year, only substantial early action can achieve such a huge change
by 2005. The Public Health White Paper's main example of everyday moderate
physical activity was walking and cycling - so again early action on the
manifesto promise of "extended support" is critical to meeting this target.
SPOKES
EXPENDITURE SURVEY
Of course, our survey does show much good work. Top council overall is Dumfries & Galloway [D&G]. Top for the proportion of the transport budget spent on cycling and SRS are W Lothian, D&G and Glasgow. And a few councils have been extremely successful raising outside funds for cycle schemes - with total cycle funding per head of population being highest in Moray, D&G, Stirling, Clackmannanshire. However, the government has not succeeded in making the bulk of councils see cycling as a serious transport mode, requiring funding.
This is very different to England, where government has greater control over council spending, is increasing transport package funding for councils from £631m in 1999/2000 to £1016m in 2001/2002, and has ensured that only council transport bids which take walking and cycling seriously get funds [Local Transport Today 1.1.1999].
THE
MANIFESTO PROMISE
Shortly after the Scottish elections,
Spokes wrote to new transport and environment Minister Sarah Boyack,
pointing out the contrast with England, and asking how the promise of "extended
support" would be implemented.
We suggested, first, that the Public Transport Fund be renamed 'Sustainable' or 'Integrated', its funding raised, and greater emphasis given to walking/cycling. Under current plans, the fund is static at £30m p.a. for 3 years, while trunk road money rises over inflation from £186m in 99/00 to £209 in 01/02 [SO press release 1.4.99], albeit for maintenance, not new build. Second, we asked for council funding to be re-assessed, so that [like England] more money is available for, and spent on, sustainable transport.
The Minister was sympathetic, but gave no assurances. Councils will retain complete discretion on the priority to give to walking, cycling and SRS. Nor did she explain why the Public Transport Fund remains static despite over-inflation trunk road budget increases, or say how the manifesto promise would be implemented.
It is not good enough for the Scottish Executive to say that expenditure priorities are solely at the discretion of councils. Labour promised extended support for walking and cycling. That is what they must deliver - and in the lifetime of this Parliament!
Please write to your MSP. Say how you would like to see Labour's manifesto promise implemented, and ask your MSP to raise your points with the Minister.
Stop Press: The Scottish government's October budget brought £35m more for trunk roads - on top of the over-inflation increase above. The Public Transport Fund stays at just £30m p.a., and nothing new for cycling/walking. In the debate the SNP sought £180m for the M74 extension, and Conservative Annabel Goldie offered them an "unholy alliance" to get more road spending! So much for a sustainable transport policy! Lobbying of MSPs from all main parties clearly remains vital. By the time you read this, government policy should be clearer, with the trunk road review published - watch the press, and lobby your MSP again!
From the book of Zacharia, chapter 8... "I will return to Jerusalem, my holy city, and live there. Once again, old men and women will be sitting in the city squares. And the streets will again be full of boys and girls playing".
And, lo, to celebrate the Millennium, Jerusalem's local council is to pedestrianise three large parts of the city!
[Thanks to Transport Retort, Summer 99, for this information]
The initial UK National Cycle Network to
be opened on 21.6.2000 will be 5000 miles instead of 3000! Within
Scotland, routes brought forward include Inverness/John O'Groats,
Campbeltown/Ardrossan and [at interim standard] Newcastle/Edinburgh/Aberdeen.
For map info phone 0117 929 0888. For opening event contacts
see date on diary page.
Culture Minister Rhona Brankin
MSP opens the Leith milepost starting Sustrans national route
75 [Clyde-Forth] with Sustrans chief engineer John Grimshaw
Royal Bank sponsor Jim Bellamy and Sustrans volunteer rangers Rosemary
Lyons & Stanley McWhirter
Despite these great efforts, serious problems
of funding, access and standards remain for future and existing routes.
Some councils will not stand up to landowners where new access
is needed for a safe route, and others are building below proper NCN standards
for surfacing or safety.
It is hugely to Sustrans's credit that they have achieved so much, but it is crazy that government seeks to build a National Network through a charity without legal powers or national funds, entirely dependent on the goodwill of countless landowners and councils! Spokes continues to call for a national 'trunk' cycle network for which the government would have ultimate responsibility.
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: Dec 5; Jan 9 [not 2nd.]; Feb 6; Mar 5.
For further details or to help: Stuart 0131.445.7073.
Spokes Cycling Weekends - for programme phone Harry 0131.229.6274 or see http://freespace.virgin.net/bike.bus/
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.
Nov 11 Path Maintenance conference Battleby 01738.828470
Nov 24 SPOKES PUBLIC MEETING - see details above
Nov 26 The Environment in Politics conference, Edinburgh 01738.630804. Transport Minister Sarah Boyack to speak.
Nov 29 Home Zones conference in Stirling. By Stirling Council, Spokes and others. Transport Minister Sarah Boyack expected. Members £25. 01786.430120.
Dec 2 Gearing Up conference, York. £60-£105. Looking to more/better adult/child cycle training. 01904.551331.
Dec 7/8 Environment exhibition/conference Edinburgh Conference Centre. Angus Murdoch 0131.469.5462.
December Scottish Executive National Cycle Conference Edinburgh. Attendance likely to be limited.
2000, end April SPOKES postcard competition ends [see details].
June 19-25 Ride the Net 2000
Sustrans Millennium 3000-mile network opens ... "stunning participatory
events" incl. "World's largest Cyclethon"June24/25 [bigger
than China??!]
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. More
info at www.ridethenet.co.uk
and www.sustrans.org.uk.
June 25 'Bikefest 2000 at the Meadows' after the success of our 1999 Victoria Park event, with convergence rides along Sustrans routes 1/75. Join the Steering Committee or send ideas (eg local cycling celebrities) - Mark 0131.334.2653.
June Scottish Cathedrals Cycle Challenge promoting a project on religious communication in the world of new technology. 01506.825803 or standrewschurch@stones.com.
2001 Velo-City 2001 international cycle conference Edinburgh and Glasgow have won the bid to host this major event, bringing 500 delegates to Edinburgh on Sep 10-11, and cycling to Glasgow for Sep 13-14. Spokes and Go-Bike (Strathclyde) helped substantially in preparing the successful bid, and now have a group working towards the event. We may also raise money for cycle campaign delegates from developing countries. Ideas/help: Ian Maxwell 0131.669.6542 More information: www.spokes.org.uk/velocity.
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