Additions and Updates to this site www.spokes.org.uk Frames version
Well over 100 parents and children gathered at Liberton Primary School on Thursday evening (13.5.99) to hear how the school's Safe Routes project was progressing. Head Teacher Susan Laidlaw (right photo) gave a positive report on the activities at the school, including the forthcoming Walk to School Week. Three pupils gave a road safety rap which entertained all including the council's Road Safety Curriculum Development Officer Ron Dingwall (pictured left). He told the audience about his work which included researching the history of the area. Apart from the obvious educational value, it also helps to encourage children to walk to school as it makes them more aware of their general environment.
City Development Department official Kevin McMahon reported the preliminary results of the survey carried out recently at the school. This looked at present and desired travel modes and also highlighted danger spots on the way to school. As is common at most schools, 50% of older pupils said that they would like to cycle to school. Perhaps more significant was the fact that 20% of parents said that they would like their children to cycle. At present none do. The school is likely to get racks installed soon to give pupils somewhere secure to leave their bikes.
Chris Hill of Lothian Safe Routes pointed out that a successful Safe Routes project was only possible with a supportive Head Teacher. He said that in Denmark, which had decided to do something about child accident rates 20 years ago, 60% of pupils cycled to school in many areas. While optimistic that the new Scottish Parliament could make a difference he felt that it would be a long time before any school in Edinburgh reached that level of cycling pupils. He urged the audience to write to their new MSPs and also newly (re-) elected local councillors calling for more money for things like traffic calming and Safe Routes and pressing for the main Gilmerton Road to be included in plans for 20mph zones.
Background to Liberton project. Initial findings of survey at all Lothian schools
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Work is nearly complete on the first full-colour SPOKES map for Edinburgh. This will join the recently published Midlothian map. It is hoped to produce maps for East and West Lothian in due course. The new map will also have outline details of cycle routes around Edinburgh plus a wealth of other useful cycling information. Due to be published in June - just in time for the long hot summer (well maybe!) |
As revealed here on Sunday, newly elected councillor Mark Lazarowicz is to be the new Transport Convener for City of Edinburgh Council. This was officially confirmed today (13.5.99.) at the first council meeting after the elections. It is likely that he will largely carry on where David Begg left off. It will be interesting to see how he handles controversial plans to remove cars from the south side of Princes Street as it will have a knock-on effect on his Broughton ward (particularly Broughton Street).
Mark is a longstanding member of SERA (Socialist Environment Resources Association) so there can be little doubt that he will favour walking, cycling public transport, slower speeds and Safe Routes to School. He is unlikely to be such a well known public face as David Begg. Begg 's high profile style has undoubtedly help the cause of 'Sustainable Transport", but now is perhaps the time to concentrate on details rather than the 'big picture'. As a lawyer Mark should be well suited to such a change of emphasis.
As always, politicians can be influenced by letters. So why not write to Mark Lazarowicz, City of Edinburgh Council, High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 with your view of what needs to be done in Edinburgh.
Kenneth Harrold remains as Vice Convener to provide some continuity as Cllr. Lazorowicz has not been a councillor for eight years. He used to be on the District Council when transport was handled by Lothian Regional Council.
Paul Williamson is the new Convener of Education. Lothian Safe Routes had a useful meeting with Cllrs. Begg and Williamson just before the election. Cllrs. Lazarowicz and Williamson have agreed to meet SPOKES and LSR in the new future to discuss a whole range of walking, cycling and Safe Routes issues.
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One MP (Gavin Strang left), two prospective MSPs, three local councillors plus City of Edinburgh Council's Director of Education, other officials, teachers and parents came to Portobello High School to celebrate a great win. |
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Pupils at Portobello High School have won second prize in a 'green transport' competition organised by the RAC. The Grass Routes competition is "designed to tackle traffic congestion generated by the school run". Competition judges "felt that Portobello's inventive use of video, use of humour and the ability to engage their peers in the issue made the entry stand out." (Full press release).
The four members of the prize winning team showed the video that had impressed the judges and gave fair warning to the councillors and officials (see above) that as soon as the elections were over they would be campaigning hard not just for secure cycle parking, (which the £1000 prize will help to provide), but also for speed reduction measures and cycle lanes on roads around the school.
Please e-mail us with your comments and suggestions.
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