SPOKES,
The Lothian Cycle CampaignSPOKES,
The Lothian Cycle Campaign
Safe
Routes to Schools Cllr. Cairns has sent me a copy of your memo q/hk/mw. Firstly I am sorry if there has been any confusion in schools caused by the name Lothian Safe Routes. I understand why CEC decided to use the term SAFER routes for its pilot project. SPOKES decided to stick to the established term "safe routes", which Sustrans has used for some time. Incidentally Henry McLeish used the words "safe routes" when he announced the Scottish Office Cycle Challenge winners (SPOKES was awarded money for Lothian Safe Routes - with the support of all Lothian councils) last December.
I am very interested to note from your letter that "there is encouragement for parents' groups and others to develop training schemes in other situations". I would be very pleased to talk to you or whoever else in your department is responsible for this initiative as it is very clear that there is a demand for training for adults in cycling matters - both for themselves and for teaching their or other people's children about cycling on roads.
I too am looking forward to the Scottish Road Safety Group's report, due in July. I think that it is reasonable to assume that it will strongly advise some form of on-road training. It is certainly not the case that SPOKES' "preference for on-road training" is asking for anything unusual.
Your letter implies that the Police will implement any recommendations. Though as the Police RSTOs no longer provide cycle proficiency training to children I am not sure what will in fact happen. The RSTOs now give cursory training to volunteers, some of whom are neither cyclists nor drivers. In view of the fact that many schools have difficulty in getting volunteers for playground training, I am not optimistic that there will be many volunteer for the extra responsibilities.
I am well aware that every school in Edinburgh is not ideally situated for on road training locally. However I am concerned that there may be some feeling that unless it can be provided at all schools it shouldn't be an option at any. In view of the fact that risk assessment would have to be carried out at each site, it would seem sensible that a number of areas are identified within the city that can be used by several schools. Most schools don't have their own playing fields or swimming pools so arrangements have to be made to get pupils to the appropriate sites.
Compared with the cost of providing and maintaining pools and fields, providing for cycle training would cost very little. Playground training would also be greatly enhanced if the Education Department or the Police invested in dummy road signs. Sets are available in educational equipment catalogues for around £100. I know one school which is about to purchase its own set. It would also be a good idea if playgrounds used for CT had road markings painted on them. I know from personal experience (this week) that chalk marks and heavy rain showers are not a satisfactory combination!
I am sure that the pilot schools will produce valuable answers in a number of areas but there can be little doubt that better and more widely available cycle training will be of great benefit to children at schools throughout Edinburgh. So I look forward to working more closely with you and your colleagues to find the optimum solution to the problem.
Some other councils are employing people specifically to do cycle training. This may be worth considering in Edinburgh. I am aware that this is a matter of resources and therefore ultimately may need to be a political decision. I would like to think that the Government would propose providing money in the forthcoming Transport White Paper. It is possible but...
I have been led to believe that scaling down of involvement of the police in cycle training is due to a change in priorities to target young drivers. I certainly wouldn't disagree that this is an important priority area as young drivers have a disproportionate number of serious accidents. However I think that there can be little doubt that teaching road sense at an early age through good cycle training can only be beneficial, not only for those who cycle, but also if/when they become drivers.
A head teacher recently told me that she had been told that the police weren't keen on cycle training as there was evidence that it led to an increase in cycling accidents. This could well be true as presumable some of the children are allowed to cycle on the road for the first time. I would argue that it demonstrates the need for better training. Another school approached the local police for advice on cycling for its pupils. The blunt reply was "don't".
I am aware that some people involved in road safety still believe that the only way to protect pedestrians and cyclists is to keep them off the roads! Evidence from Denmark shows that positive measures to favour pedestrians and cyclists makes the roads safer for everyone (it took 20 years). In many areas an incredible 60% of children cycle to school.
Edinburgh is pioneering many measures to redress the balance between cars and public transport, walking and cycling. I would hope that the Education Department would be keen to at least match the "best practice" elsewhere in Britain.
I will shortly be helping RSTO Linda Brown to train a group of pupils at the Royal High to be able to deliver cycle training to primary pupils and act as on-road "buddies". This is an exciting initiative that has developed from the school's Bicycle Action Group. I hope it can be replicated elsewhere.
Chris Hill (Lothian Safe Routes)
Letter to those who have
passed first used at Stenhouse School Edinburgh
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