Spokes

Thurs 5 May: 2022 Council Elections

Council elections are approaching and are critical to cycling and transport policies and budgets for the next 5 years. We’ll tell you here how to make the most of the election opportunity locally. Please use our info to contact and try to influence your own candidates. Send us any useful replies you receive from them.

This article is being filled out further as the election approaches and more info, such as manifestos and hustings, becomes available.

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Achieving Traffic Reduction: #SpokesMtg report

It’s extremely tough; much tighter timelines are needed, especially on demand management; and the public must be part of decision-making on implementation – but, nonetheless, the Scottish Government 20% and Edinburgh Council 30% ambitions for car-km reduction by 2030 can and must be achieved.

This perhaps summarises the outcome of one of our meatiest and best attended public meetings ever, with over 80 attendees, most of whom stayed for the full 2 hours.

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#SpokesMtg: Traffic Reduction commitments in Scotland & Edinburgh

The Scottish Government has made a remarkable “commitment” to reducing car-kilometres by 20% over the 2019 pre-covid figures, by year 2030 – primarily as a response to the climate crisis, although with many additional side-benefits for public health and community. Edinburgh City Council has followed this up with a 30% ambition – albeit a “target” rather than a commitment.

Our online public meeting on Monday 21 February [7.30-9.30pm] brings together Scottish Government Minister Patrick Harvie MSP, responsible for active travel policies and Cllr Lesley Macinnes, the City’s Transport Convener, to explain, debate and be challenged on the route to achieving these very tough ambitions.

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CCWEL: work begins after an arduous evolution

Work has at last begun on CCWEL, the long-awaited City Centre West-East Link cycleroute, a largely protected route from Roseburn in the west, through the city centre (George Street) and onwards to Leith Walk. It will also link to the residential and university area of inner South Edinburgh via the George Street to Meadows route (MGS), with work expected to begin there next year.

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Hopes & Challenges for 2022

Stop Press 13.1.22: Traffic Reduction ‘Route Map’ published. Much as we predicted (2 & 2.2 below) – some good stuff, but without tougher Demand Management, notably Road User Charging, the 2030 traffic reduction commitment is very unlikely to be met. Consultation opens, closing 6 April 2022.

What can we expect in Edinburgh and Scotland for bike use and wider sustainable transport in the uncertain year now beginning? What will Spokes – and you! – need to support, to oppose, to provide, to improve or to highlight in order to encourage and speed up the move towards more sustainable and healthy places to live and get about? This article outlines some topics, large and small, which we expect to matter in 2022.

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Scottish Budget 22/23

The budget brings a welcome rise in active travel [AT] funding, up by £34.5m from 3.5% of the total transport budget to 4.3% … but it’s less than we expected given the SNP/Green promise of 10% by 24/25.

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Edinburgh Spokes Cycle Map – new edition

The 11th edition of our highly praised Edinburgh Cycle Map is out!! The entire city was surveyed by Spokes volunteers, and the map then completely revised and updated by a skilled cartographer from our maps group.

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Pedalled on COP26

Congratulations to the magnificent 200/300 people who cycled from Edinburgh to Glasgow through unforgiving weather to demonstrate their climate concern and to highlight the vital place of bikes in a more climate-friendly transport future. And to the magnificent organisers, Edinburgh Critical Mass & @AlexDRobertson for the Edinburgh ride. And to Pedal on Parliament & Cycling UK Scotland for the whole event, with over 1000 people arriving by bike in 20+ feeder rides.

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Bikes up in city centre

The November 2021 Spokes city-centre traffic count found bike numbers up 18% from November 2020, rising from 229 to 270, totalled over our 4 city-centre count points during the 8-9am peak period. Because of increases in motor traffic, the rise in bikes as a % of all motor traffic was more marginal, up from 10.3% to 11.0%.

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Cycling Champion Awards 2021 – Edinburgh

Two of the four 2021 ‘Cycling Champion’ Scotland awards have gone to people based in Edinburgh. Dave du Feu of Spokes has been awarded Visionary Champion of the Year, and Farrout Deliveries Business Champion of the Year.

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