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The
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SPOKES Leaflet 81, Early 2002 - Web
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Editor: Dave
duFeu .Printer: Barr Printers Print run: 11,000
Copyright details:SPOKES
may be quoted freely, if the source is acknowledged and our address given.
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Back copies of other recent SPOKES Leaflets
are available by sending a stamped self-addressed envelope to SPOKES (addressat
bottom of page).
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For a set of all available back copies, please
send £1 (we have copies left of roughly 50 issues).
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Back
to main news page
TRANSPORT
TURMOIL
Back in 1996 Spokes accused the then
Conservative Scottish administration of schizophrenia - a big impetus on
cycling, but also a massive road programme. Today public transport is rather
better served, but otherwise the situation seems surprisingly - depressingly
- similar!
On the plus side, latest
figures suggest bike use is rising in Scotland - from 24 miles per
person in 1995/97 to 33 in 97/99 [UK National Travel Survey
- NB: fairly small sample size]. And more Scottish councils
- though still too few - are bidding to the government Public
Transport Fund for integrated projects with a major cycling component
[see article on web page 2].
But the scale and cost of new trunk
roads is horrifying: a still-growing £500m programme [TS
1.2.02, H 6.2.02]. The new capacity will boost car use, CO2
emissions [p8], and local traffic to the new roads;
and reduce competitiveness of other modes. Green MSP Robin Harper
says it makes 'a nonsense' of the government's sustainability promises.
The colossal costs will also mean less for sustainable alternatives.
And this massive road-spree did not even appear in the Labour or Liberal
1999 election manifestos!! There are also other transport and cycling
issues where government action or re-assurance is urgently necessary...
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Recent Ministerial changes may downgrade
cycling [p4] by putting all emphasis on 'delivery'
of 'big transport'. Stop press: Our fear is intensified
by reports where the Minister, despite a welcome and strong commitment
to rail expansion, seems to totally neglect cycling/walking [H 6.2.02]
- does she realise that more people in Britain get to work by bike than
rail?
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A powerful National Cycling Board
is being set up to boost England's Cycle Strategy. What for Scotland? [article
on web page 2]
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Many councils don't allocate enough staff
to cycling, so cycle budgets are often underspent [article
on web page 2]
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Some councils still spend nothing
on cycling [Spokes 80].
The lead
article in Spokes 80 showed how prominent on-road cycle facilities
are boosting cycle use in Edinburgh.
The same picture is found in Glasgow, with cycling up from 0.8% to 2.5%
of trips in 5 years. But the government only encourages councils
to work on cycling. To meet Scotland's target of quadrupled bike use by
2012, all councils must be required to implement cycle strategies
- and there must be funds (ideally from the roads budget) specifically
to aid this.
The Scottish Cycle Forum, which leads
Scotland's cycle strategy, is soon to report to Ministers on such issues.
Please help them by asking your MSP to raise your concerns with the Transport
Minister.
Spokes
Spring Public Meeting
CARS
AND BIKES...
ROOM
FOR MANOEUVRE ??
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Motorist perceptions of cycling and cyclists
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Encouraging motorists to cycle for some
journeys
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Cycling within local Green Transport Plans
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Edinburgh City Car Club
A panel of expert speakers, then questions/discussion...
Sue Granville of George Street
Research [see report below].
Tom Rye of Napier University Transport
Research Institute, researches into Green Transport Plans [see
report below].
Judith Bolton of Edinburgh City
Car Club [contact below].
When: Thurs 14 March, 7.30
[6.45 for coffee, stall, chat]
Where: The Royal Overseas
League, 100 Princes Street[between Frederick and Castle Street,
on right of Boots]
USEFUL
BACKGROUND MATERIALS
FOR
YOUR DIARY
A comprehensive list of other rides, conferences,events
etc. can be found on our diary
page.
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: Mar 3, Apr 7, May 5, June
2, July 7.
For further details or to help:Stuart
0131.445.7073.
Spokes Cycling Weekends- for programme
contact Harry 0131.229.6274 or see http://www.bike.bus.co.uk
Go-Bike!(Strathclyde
Cycle Campaign) also has a big rides programme - usually 1st Sunday each
month, and some weekends. www.gobike.org
07932.460093 or info@gobike.org
Mar 7 A Vision for Improving Scotland's
Health Dr E M Armstrong, Scotland Chief Medical Officer. Public Health
Seminar, 5pm, Sydney Smith lecture theatre, Teviot Place.
Mar 12 Midlothian Transport
Strategy talk at City Chambers, 7.30. Details: john.webster.balerno@talk21.com
Mar 14 SPOKES PUBLIC MEETING
see article above
Mar 21 Policy Implications of
the Flexing City TransForm Scotland evening seminar. Contact: as
Apr 22.
Apr 4 Home Zones evening
slide show. Contact: as Apr 22.
Apr 16 Achieving Cycle-friendly
Infrastructure conference, Nottingham University. £110/£25.
0115.951.4132.
Apr 22 Is Transport good for
your Wealth? TransForm Scotland day conference on links between transport
and economic activity. Speakers - Transport Minister Lewis MacDonald,
Prof Phil Goodwin, Prof David Begg. Contact: 467.7714 campaigns@transformscotland.org.uk.
June 1 Corstorphine Fair
- to help at Spokes stall, contact Rosemary 553.5819, Lyons.R@btinternet.com.
June 15-23 Bike Week 2002
theme'Bike to Work'. Details: nick@harvey.co.uk, www.bikeweek.org.uk.
Locally includes...
June 16 Glasgow CycleFest
0141.287.9374 David Marsh
[Edinburgh Meadows CycleFest
probably off due to lack of help - STOP PRESS Edinburgh CycleFest going
ahead but volunteers still needed]
June 19 Edinburgh Bike Breakfast
Jackie 0131.664.0526.
Sep 3-14 World Summit on Sustainable
Development - 10 years after Rio conference. www.johannesburgsummit.org.
Sep 13-27 World Car-Free Days
www.carbusters.ecn.cz.
Sep 22 European Car-Free Day
www.22September.org.
How can we learn from &
use car-free days? see www.ecoplan.org
Sep 23-29 Road Safety Week
- theme 'Safer Streets.'
Other events - www.scottishcycling.co.uk/events.
MAPS
AND GUIDES
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Spokes maps - Edinburgh, West Lothian,
Midlothian. Normally £4.95 each, but just £4 post-free
from Spokes.
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Sustrans National Cycle Network maps
now online; also a 'virtual tour' of the network. www.sustrans.org.uk
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Millennium Canal Link Edinburgh-Glasgow,
tourist map. £4.75 from tourist info centres or GEO Projects.
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Dundee Green Circular 42km circular
route round the city. £1.50, Dundee Tourist Info Centre 01382.434277.
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Lowland-Highland Trail 60-miles of
National Network, Drymen-Loch Tay. Free(?) map-leaflet 01877.382352.
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Border Loop 250-mile signed route
Peebles-Berwick-Kelso-Hawick-Peebles. £4.50. 01721.720138.
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How and Where to Mountain-Bike in the
Pentlands free leaflet from Pentland Ranger Service 01968.677879.
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VisitScotland website http://cycling.visitscotland.com
Online maps hopefully included from April.
CAMPAIGNING
INITIATIVES
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All parts of the Lothians now have
Spokes contacts...
E.Lothian Mark James
01368. 864717. Midlothian Gerry Lawson 440.4412. W.Lothian
Dave du Feu 01506.670165.
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Heriot-Watt University Cycling Development
Group is lobbying for Riccarton expansion to be bike-friendly, plus
speed-reduction, dropped kerbs, better parking, etc on the existing site.
The group will also increase pressure for a Riccarton-Edinburgh Park/Gyle
route, long argued for by Spokes. This would require an A71 crossing -
the top priority for many respondents to a campus survey. Contact:
Dr Georgina Rosair. G.M.Rosair@hw.ac.uk.
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Castlecliff Bike Workshop has
 |
Environment
Minister Ross Finnie presents the workshop grant. He wished to "persuade
our young people to ditch their cars and view cycling as a viable alternative."
won government funds for a 3-year part-time
outreach worker. Grace Nicol of Sustrans, who also won the 2001 CycleMark
award for personal contribution to promoting bike/rail, has been appointed.
Already the workshop renovates bikes for school and other projects in less
well-off areas. Details: i.maxwell@gn.apc.org.
See also www.castlecliff.org.uk.
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Become a qualified Cycle Trainer,
then be employed on an hourly basis to teach adults or children how to
cycle. Details: cathyscott@scottishcycling.co.uk 0131.662.4461.
MONEY
AVAILABLE!!!
These grants could help you set up a bike-related
scheme, either as an individual or as a Spokes project...
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Edinburgh Environmental Partnership
Up to £50,000 for sustainability/environment initiatives. 469.3607.
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Community Grants Fund One-off grants
to increase community involvement or local planning. 469.3595.
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Community Enterprise Fund Grants/loans.
475.2345.
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Awards for All Small Lottery grants
for health, education and environmental projects 0845.600.2040.
USEFUL
PUBLICATIONS
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Highland Cycle Campaign newsletters
and other HCC info... www.kilcoy.freeserve.co.uk/hcc
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Tourism without Traffic: Good Practice
Guide How to promote non-car-based urban/rural leisure/tourism,
with details/contacts for over 50 initiatives already in place. £20.
Transport 2000. 020.7613.0743.
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Bus & Coach services that carry
Cycles CTC leaflet (free?) 01483.417217. Also at www.ctc.org.uk.
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TransFORM Scotland publications
Commentaries on the proposed Glasgow M74, Ardrossan bypass, and Central
Scotland Corridor Studies (A8/A80/M74). www.transformscotland.org.uk/info/publications.html.
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Waverley Railway Project -
reopening the Borders line by 2008. New website: www.waverleyrailwayproject.co.uk
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World Transport Policy and Practice
environmentally-aware quarterly web journal. Vol 7 no.3 is an excellent
cycling special. www.ecoplan.org/wtpp/wt_index.html.
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Transport across Scotland Scottish
Exec statistical bulletin TRN/2001/4, from Scottish Household Survey. [£2
Stationery Office 228.4181, or www.scotland.gov.uk/stats].
While bike use is low, the figures suggest it is highest in rural towns,
as in Angus, Moray, Dumfries & Galloway. The same was found in the
1991 census [Spokes 69].
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Rural Transport: An Overview of Key
Issues Study for the government Commission for Integrated Transport.
[www.cfit.gov.uk]. Emphasises
the variety of rural access and transport needs. In many areas much could
be done to reduce car-dependency through safer walking and cycling, better
location of essential services, and more appropriate public transport.
But rural roads are getting more dangerous compared to urban: most deaths
(and most cyclist deaths) are on rural roads. It is also found that fuel
prices do not generally impact more on rural than urban dwellers,
except for people on low incomes.
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Traffic Advisory Leaflets -
free government advice leaflets for councils etc. Phone Neil Weston 0131.244.
0847 or see www.dtlr.gov.uk
then click Local Transport.
10/00 Road humps: discomfort, noise
[includes cyclists]
11/00 Village traffic calming - reducing
accidents
4/01 Cycling Bibliography
[government publications]
5/01 Traffic Calming Bibliography
7/01 Walking Bibliography
8/01 Promoting a Successful Cycling
Project [lessons from UK Cycle Challenge. See also Spokes
79]
9/01 Nottingham Cycle Friendly Employers
Project
10/01 Home Zones - Planning and Design
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Cycling Solutions: guide to innovative
cycling projects free government leaflet www.nationalcyclingstrategy.org.uk
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Education & Training for Cycling
Practitioners free leaflet about paths to a career in planning
for cycling/ walking. 020.7944.2977 tal@dotditm3.demon.co.uk.
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Velo Vision "a quarterly dose
of cycling inspiration" - a major aim is to promote cycling as a practical
means of transport for all parts of the world. Who else would cover the
Pan-African Bicycle Conference, which is lobbying African leaders to take
cycle-transport more seriously; or the York load-carrying bike couriers
who have replaced 150 van journeys a day with pedal power. To subscribe:
01904.438224 www.velovision.co.uk.
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Towards Justice Excellent road
traffic penalties report from RoadPeace [UK traffic victims charity].
A year's death toll on Britain's roads equals 5 Lockerbie's plus 140 Hatfield's
plus 50 Paddington's plus the Paris Concorde tragedy. RoadPeace is keen
to contribute to relevant discussions on Scottish as well as English law.
Contact: 020.88385102 www.roadpeace.org.uk
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Tackling Obesity in England Very
important document (England only) from House of Commons Public Accounts
Committee, concludes that obesity costs over £2.5bn p.a., and seeks
cross-government action to tackle it. www.parliament.uk/commons/selcom/pachome.htm.
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Walk in to Work Out UK government
pack, based on Scottish experiments, for organisations running green travel
plans - including cycling as well as walking. From: DTLR Free Literature,
POBox236, Wetherby LS23 7NB
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Monitoring of Edinburgh City Car Club.
Research into failure of original Club. £5. 0131.228.4181 [govt bookshop].
ABBREVIATIONS
USED IN LEAFLET
H The Herald LTT Local Transport
Today G
The Guardian SE Scottish Exec. press release
SH Sunday Herald DTLR
Dept of Transport UK TS
TRANSform Scotland STR Scottish Transport Review
