Not only the biggest ever cycling demonstration in Scotland, but MSPs told us it was probably the biggest ever demonstration on any subject to take place in the public arena outside the Scottish Parliament.

Pedal [...]]]> Pedal on Parliament exceeded all expectations, with a police estimate of 2500 people, and others suggesting 3000+

Not only the biggest ever cycling demonstration in Scotland, but MSPs told us it was probably the biggest ever demonstration on any subject to take place in the public arena outside the Scottish Parliament.

Pedal on Parliament was fantastic, and the organisers deserve huge thanks from everyone who wants conditions that feel truly safe and welcoming for getting about by bike.

You can see literally 100s of pictures on the PoPScotland flickr site.   You can find some particularly relevant to Spokes here (see the captions for more info).   One picture [also below] shows all the politicians who spoke, with brief notes on each in the caption.

WHAT TO DO NOW

All the speakers made the point that it is vital to keep up the pressure on politicians.  Here is what you can do in the immediate future!! …

• Sign the PoP manifesto petition.  It will be formally presented to the Parliament in a few weeks, so it’s not too late.
• Ask all concerned friends, family and colleagues to do the same.
• Take part in the Local Elections on May 3.   Check out party manifestos [this link is Edinburgh manifestos only] and check out your local candidates.
• Vote on May 3.  Our advice, in italics, has been endorsed by a member of the Electoral Reform Society:  You number the candidates in your preferred order, 1,2,3, etc.  For your vote to have maximum effect, number every candidate.  Enjoy putting your least favourite candidate last as well as your best first.  [NB:  This advice does assume you know at least something about all candidates/parties, so you can put them in order.  If you know nothing at all about some, try to find out.  Otherwise just slot them in between those you'd be content to see elected and those that you'd hate to be elected].
• If you’re not a Spokes member, join Spokes!   Our 3-a-year Bulletin and our roughly-monthly email circulars to members aim to keep telling you when is a useful time to contact who about what – politicians continually tell us that emails, letters and visits from individual voters really matter.  They are much more likely to listen to Spokes, PoP etc if they are also hearing from you!!

REPORTS, BLOGS AND VIDEOS OF PoP

Here are some of the best…

The PoP post-event press release [pdf 82k]
The PoP thank-you to everyone involved
blog  http://mccraw.co.uk/pedal-on-parliament-triumph
blog  http://cityexile.wordpress.com/2012/04/29/paddle-on-parliament
STV local blog http://local.stv.tv/edinburgh/magazine/97310-how-3000-cyclists-came-from-all-corners-of-scotland-to-reclaim-the-roads
Greener Leith report http://www.greenerleith.org/greener-leith-news/2012/4/30/leithers-pedal-on-parliament-to-call-for-safer-cycling.html
Edinburgh Bike Co-op report http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/blog/2012/05/pedal-on-parliament/
short video  http://vimeo.com/41210899
short video  https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=3500523705271
longer video  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkHr5IrgMAk

And lots more blogs/videos linked from the PoP website.

POLITICIANS WHO CAME TO PEDAL ON PARLIAMENT

Most politicians were very busy campaigning for the local elections, so we’ve included them here even if they only came along for part of the time. We have also included anyone who is standing as a candidate in the council elections. Please tell us if we have missed any…

[*means that they are a Spokes member]

CON
*Cllr Cameron Rose [Southside/Newington]
GREEN
Cllr Steve Burgess [Southside/Newington]
Gavin Corbett [Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart]
*Alison Johnstone MSP
Lindsay Ashford [Sighthill/Gorgie]
John Palmer [Craigentinny/Duddingston]
*Gary Bell [Midlothian Council - Penicuik]
LAB
*Sarah Boyack MSP
*Sheila Gilmore MP
*Mark Lazarowicz MP
*Ian Murray MP
LIBDEM
Cllr Gordon Mackenzie [Southside/Newington]
SNP
Jim Eadie MSP

The picture shows the politicians who were speakers.  Click here for brief comments on them and on the others in the picture [or, at least, those in the foreground!!]

For links to the complete manifestos see our March 30th election article.  That article also includes links to party websites, lists of [...]]]> [Updated 1 May] With most manifestos for the May 3 Council elections in Edinburgh now published in whole or in part, we reproduce the sections most relevant to cycling issues in the city…

For links to the complete manifestos see our March 30th election article.  That article also includes links to party websites, lists of candidates, hustings, candidates who are Spokes members, details of the voting system, and more background information and links.

NB – Much of the information in this article is also in our Spokesworker 16.4.12  Election Special issue [pdf 161k].

We do not have details of manifestos for parties in the elections to Lothians Councils – but in those smaller councils parties often do not issue a manifesto, only the standard election leaflets about individual candidates.  If anyone knows of Lothians manifestos, we would be happy to include them.

We now list the most relevant extracts from party manifestos for the Edinburgh Council elections.    The listing below is in order of the current size of the party groups on Edinburgh Council.

There is also a brief Spokes commentary on the manifestos at the end of this article.

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT

Over £70 million has been spent on road and pavement repairs in the last 4 years, moving us from 2nd worst in Scotland to 11th best for repairs; roads needing repair have dropped from 50% to 31%; a Quality Cycle Corridor is being introduced, Kings Buildings to George Square; Edinburgh’s first 20mph limit in south Edinburgh brought in; local road safety measures introduced across the city; and cycle use increased 15% year on year.    An accessible, effective public transport system with walking and cycling encouragement contributes to our well-being.

We will:
• commit to reducing the percentage of roads and pavements in need of repair over the next five years.
• use the extra £3m in the 2012-13 budget to fix over a third of the city’s potholes with our award-winning “Right First Time” scheme, using materials and processes to make more permanent repairs. Over the next four years, we will invest additional funds to ensure that all potholes are fixed permanently wherever possible.
• building on our investment in cycling, the highest in Scotland, and our road safety measures such as mobile speed signs and 20mph zones, increase the percentage of transport spend allocated to cycling to a minimum of 5% in 2012/13 and increase by 1% annually.
• accelerate the Active Travel Action Plan, improve maintenance of the existing cycle network, target safety issues and reaffirm our commitment to the goals set out in the Charter of Brussels.
• roll out cycle training to all P6 children in Edinburgh schools.
• work with NHS, education, voluntary and private sectors to promote cycling to work or study.
• introduce more 20mph limits for areas where there is support from local residents.
• Streets Ahead Plus scheme that will use trained local volunteers to identify potential road safety problems (speeding, hazardous parking at schools, misuse of cycling and pedestrian areas) to be addressed by targeting those responsible and raising awareness.
• trial carrying bikes on trams within the first six months service.
• start to deliver Jan Gehl’s recommendations for the city centre, creating new welcoming spaces for residents and visitors; and report on potential temporary traffic schemes by the end of 2012, and on permanent schemes by the middle of 2015.

The LibDems also sent us a LD cycling manifesto [pdf 47K] which does not contain additional commitments but gives background to the main cycling commitments of their full manifesto.  As an appendix to that they also supplied the intended 2012/13 projects [doc 39K] from the much-increased budget.

LABOUR

We will set up a city-wide Transport Forum of experts and citizens to think through our modern transport needs.  It’s a complex challenge.

We’ll pay attention to the everyday things..

• bringing roads and pavements to a good standard especially in busy areas
• controlling the work standards of the utilities who dig up our roads
• extending 20mph limits to all residential and shopping areas
• encouraging more walking and more cycling by spending a minimum of 5% of our transport budget on them and increasing that share year by year.

SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY

• The SNP will continue to support the current allocation of 5% of the transport budget to cycling and will look to increase that level whenever we can.
• We will continue to develop safer routes for cyclists to increase the 7.5% of journeys to work being made by bicycle throughout the city and help to prevent serious injuries or fatalities amongst cyclists.
• We support innovative ideas such as bicycle leasing and schemes such as the Quality Bike Corridor between King’s Buildings and the city centre and the “Family Network” cycle route between Leith Links and Portobello promenade. We also recognise the need for greater connectivity between existing cycle routes.
• We will roll out a programme of cycling training for schoolchildren to help make them safer on our roads, funding it from the 5% transport budget allocation for cycling.   This will be complemented by a programme to raise driver awareness of cyclists.
• Road safety will continue to be a priority and we will consult on extending 20mph zones to protect all road users, especially the most vulnerable: children, pedestrians and cyclists.
• We will continue to support the appointment of School Travel Coordinators and strive to reduce congestion around school gates. We also aim to provide “Safer Routes” to schools, tram stops and railway stations for children and other pedestrians.

CONSERVATIVE

We will seek to deliver:

• More cycling in the city both for getting to work and for leisure and, in particular, improved cross-city routes.
• The renewal and maintenance of the city’s road and pavement infrastructure. We need to make sure our pavements are safe to walk on and potholes are fixed quickly and done correctly first time.

GREEN

Greens are committed to active and public transport and believe the needs of the 40% of households without cars should have greater consideration.  We want a step change in street design so that all users – pedestrians, drivers and cyclists – feel confident to use them safely.

Green councillors have campaigned for improved cycle-safety measures and secured improvements such as freeing up the cycle lanes on the Mound and pushing for 20mph zones.

We will work towards ensuring that Edinburgh is accessible for all its citizens by:

• Appointing a Travel Advice Officer to advise workplaces on sustainable travel.
• Bringing together all partners to strengthen the City’s Road Safety and Active Travel Action Plans, to make our streets safer and more suitable for public transport, pedestrians and cyclists, including partial pedestrianisation of Princes Street.
• Making the existing network of walking and cycling routes comprehensive across the city, incorporating Safe Routes to School and making sure that school travel plans, with cycle training, are actually implemented.
• Investing £10 per head of population in cycling by 2017.
• Introducing dedicated off-road cycle lanes, implemented incrementally with routine road upgrading and so minimising extra cost.
• Extending 20mph limits and other road safety measures where communities want them, prioritising disadvantaged areas where accident rates are highest.
• Ensuring that new developments allow access by foot, bike and public transport and have good cycle parking.
• Creating a cycle share or bike leasing scheme to help meet the Council’s target of 15% of all trips in Edinburgh made by bike by 2020. In the longer-term we want Edinburgh to become one of Europe’s leading cycle cities.

BRIEF SPOKES MANIFESTO ANALYSIS

FUNDING [from best to least good]
1. Green: highest level of funding, comparable to the European levels which have brough substantial cycle use rises.
2. LibDem: a clear 5% promise, revolutionary in British terms, and rising 1% a year – excellent.
3= Lab: the 5% promise is again excellent in British terms.  Annual increase also committed, but amount of increase not specified, and unclear if 5% for cycling+walking or 5% for each.
3= SNP: the 5% is again committed – excellent – but will only rise “whenever we can.”
5. Con: funding not mentioned.

20MPH [from best to least good]
1. Lab: shopping areas as well as residential; also all such areas.
2. Green: more but not all areas. Prioritising highest crash areas.
3. LibDem: more but not all areas
4. SNP: consult on extending 20mph zones
5. Con: 20mph not mentioned

OTHER STAND-OUT PROMISES [not in any special order]
x. LibDem: Trial bike carriage on trams within 6 months
x. Green: Princes St partial pedestrianisation [we presume that includes cycling]
x. LibDem: Trained local volunteer scheme to identify road safety issues: speeding, misuse of cycle lanes, hazardous parking, etc.
x. Green: “dedicated off-road cycle lanes” [we presume this refers to European-style physically segregated lanes; ask your candidate]

FINALLY

When deciding how to vote it is worth considering not only manifestos but also the qualities and track record of the individual local candidates in your ward.

Spokes experience over the years shows that a manifesto is very useful as background policy and in keeping successful parties on track, but how seriously cycling is treated in the council also depends on the commitment and dedication of individual councillors – from whatever party.

Find out who are your local candidates, and contact them to ask for their track record (e.g. have they lobbied for local cycle parking or better routes) and to suggest one or two things you feel need done in your local area.   Find your candidates through the links in our March 30th news item.

Peddling a change in Capital’s culture [link to EN website].

Inevitably the online version loses something of the layout and content of the printed version, so here is the full original article as submitted [...]]]> In the run-up to the May 3 council elections, Spokes has a big opinion piece in the April 12 Edinburgh Evening News…

Peddling a change in Capital’s culture [link to EN website].

Inevitably the online version loses something of the layout and content of the printed version, so here is the full original article as submitted [pdf  90K].

For more on the council elections – links to candidates, manifestos, hustings – and ideas for emails and questions to candidates – see our elections news item.

“Disgrace” is a truly apt description.   This path leads from Scotland’s capital to the Forth Bridge, Fife and the north of [...]]]> Speaking in the March 29 Parliamentary debate on cycling [pdf 1.1MB] Fife Labour MSP Helen Eadie echoed a long-standing Spokes campaign, declaring in passionate tones, “The cycle path from Fife to Edinburgh is a disgrace.”

“Disgrace” is a truly apt description.   This path leads from Scotland’s capital to the Forth Bridge, Fife and the north of Scotland.   Of all cycle routes in the entire country, it is the one most likely to be encountered by visiting tourists.  It is also a vital commuting route to the city from Queensferry and South Fife, and a major leisure route from Edinburgh to Fife, to the round-the-Forth route, and other destinations.

The path from Edinburgh to the Forth Bridge should be Scotland’s flagship cycle route, a symbol of Scotland’s intention to become a cycle-friendly nation.  Yet in parts it is not only a pathetic example to visitors, but downright dangerous.

A Spokes member recently copied us an email to his MSP about “a tourist injured when her bike hit a tarmac ridge caused by tree roots.” A regular commuter “tries to memorise the bad bits, to avoid them at night when blinded by cars!”

Other comments received by Spokes from regular path users include…   extremely dangerous and unsuitable for bike use … in places approximately one metre wide, surface very bumpy, slippery … hemmed in by stone walls on both sides … Northbound, eye-level is the same level as car headlights so as there is no lighting on the path you simply cannot see what is in front of you.

THE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE

Helen Eadie‘s comments in the debate were echoed by Spokes member Sarah Boyack MSP, “The point that Helen Eadie made about getting from Fife to Edinburgh was absolutely right“  and “I request that (the Transport Minister) looks at the trunk roads budget, because there are massive opportunities in it. It is a huge budget and he could use it to do a lot more to improve long-distance cycle routes and beef up the work that needs to be done by our local authorities.”

Summing up the debate, Spokes member and Green MSP Alison Johnstone said, “I am sad to say that (active travel) provision has been omitted from the development of the Forth replacement crossing, and cycle path provision en route to the bridge requires urgent investment. I ask the minister to consider the latter point in particular. I echo Helen Eadie’s point about the need for good cycle infrastructure between Edinburgh and Fife.”

In his closing speech Transport Minister Keith Brown MSP made no promises, but perhaps hinted that the trunk road and/or Forth Bridge budgets could be used, “We have tried to incorporate (cycle facilities) into most of our major projects, including not only the M8 and the M74 but the Forth replacement crossing; indeed, that is how we intend to use the existing Forth road bridge. We have told officials that we should make what we are doing clear to the public.”

THE TORTUOUS HISTORY OF THE A90 PATH

[For a fuller history see p7 of Spokes Bulletin 110 on our Bulletins page.  See also our local issues - A90 page]

Spokes has campaigned for a decent path here for well over 10 years – indeed, we cannot forget about it, as we continually receive emails and comments from unhappy and concerned users – including feedback about the reactions from European and American tourists.

The costs, depending on the path’s quality, lighting, etc could be quite significant in cycle infrastructure terms, with difficult engineering and permissions issues at some points – certainly over £1m.   A truly flagship route would cost more.   Although high in cycling terms, such costs are literally a fraction of 1% of the annual trunk roads or new Forth Bridge budgets.

In addition to tackling the difficult and dangerous sections, the entire route should be assessed – upgraded where necessary, signed, and linked in to adjacent routes and opportunities.  Once into the city, soon after Cramond, you are soon onto Edinburgh’s excellent railway path network, bringing you to Roseburn and Haymarket.

In the mid 2000′s funding was virtually in place for the project, thanks to a £4.6m multi-year programme to improve links between Edinburgh and surrounding areas, to be funded by Sestran, the Regional Transport Partnership.  Then in 2007 the new Scottish government scrapped all capital funding to the RTPs, effectively killing off that hope of early progress.

In 2011, some ‘end of year’ unspent government money was found and given to Edinburgh Council to build phase 1, Barnbougle to Easter Dalmeny – a section now widely praised.   Given the last-minute nature and the amount of the funding, the council was not able to use the money towards the difficult, dangerous and costly Burnshot section.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW

This project is a one-off for Scotland; it is not your run-of-the-mill project which has to be funded from ordinary government and/or council cycling money, and therefore taking funding from other important local cycle schemes.

There are convincing reasons why this flagship Scottish cycleroute should be funded from the government trunk roads budget and/or from the budget for the new Forth Crossing.

• Way back in 2007, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth John Swinney MSP said, in connection with the scrapping of tolls on the Forth Bridge:  “We will instead continue to invest in initiatives which reduce congestion, such as improved Park and Ride facilities, and improved rail, bus and cycle links. These are the kind of initiatives which will reduce traffic in and around the bridges“  [SG News Release 20.8.07].   This 2007 promise has still not been fulfilled in terms of cycling (with the exception of the Barnbougle-Easter Dalmeny section, above).
• That the A90 is not a trunk road is a quirk of history, given that it performs a trunk function.   Had it been a trunk road, the ridiculous existing path beside it would long ago have been brought up to standard through the longstanding government Trunk Roads Cycling Initiative.   And if there should be a trunk cycle route anywhere in Scotland, this surely is it.
• If the route is funded from existing government and/or council cycle sources that will impact heavily on other cycle projects elsewhere in Scotland, and given the low level of such budgets will mean a wait of probably several more years for the route to be complete.
• Transport Minister Keith Brown MSP, responding specifically to Sarah Boyack’s and Helen Eadie’s remarks about the route between the Forth Bridge and Edinburgh, said in the above Parliamentary debate, “We have tried to incorporate (cycle facilities) into most of our major projects, including not only the M8 and the M74 but the Forth replacement crossing; indeed, that is how we intend to use the existing Forth road bridge. We have told officials that we should make what we are doing clear to the public.“   That surely is an acknowledgement that this route is such a case, and so should be funded from such sources.

IF YOU USE THIS ROUTE – PLEASE HELP!!

Please don’t leave this to Spokes alone.  It is through pressure on politicians from real-life individual users like you that things get done.   So…

Please contact your own MSPs  giving your own opinion of the route and what needs done.   Point out that this is a long-overdue project of national significance, which gives a dreadful impression to visitors, quite apart from its hazards for local users, and which should be funded fully and rapidly from either the trunk roads or the Forth Crossing budgets.  Ask your MSPs to raise this with the Transport Minister.

Find your MSPs at www.writetothem.com.

Please also copy your letter/email for information  to the MSPs who raised this in the debate – Helen Eadie, Alison Johnstone and Sarah Boyack; and to Spokes [addresses spokesATspokes.org.uk, Helen.Eadie.mspATscottish.parliament.uk, Alison.Johnstone.mspATscottish.parliament.uk, Sarah.Boyack.mspATscottish.parliament.uk]

Burnshot in daytime

... and in the evening

The new 2011 Barnbougle section

[photos thanks to Tony Grant, Tony Stuart, Chris Hill]

THE NEW ROAD BRIDGE [currently named the 'Forth Crossing']

Meanwhile discontent at the absence of a foot/cycle path on the new bridge was also raised in the parliamentary debate.   Two articles about this by local Spokes member Bruce Whitehead can be found on our Spokesworkers page in issues 6 January and 25 March.

1. Official info 2. Social media 3. Topics 4. Hustings 5. Party manifestos and websites 6. Candidates [including Spokes members] [...]]]> [updated 29 April]  The Council elections on May 3 are vital to future cycling policy in Edinburgh and other councils around Scotland.   We’ll keep you updated how to help make Edinburgh even more cycle-friendly …

1. Official info
2. Social media
3. Topics
4. Hustings
5. Party manifestos and websites
6. Candidates [including Spokes members]
7. Other info

OFFICIAL INFO

Local Councils - all have election web pages, though some seem aimed more at party officials than at the ordinary voter.  Ideally they should list all candidates, wards, and how to check you are registered to vote – the deadline is Weds 18 April.   The Edinburgh site seems one of the best.

Edinburgh Council election website
East Lothian Council election website
Midlothian Council election website
West Lothian Council election website

The voting system used (STV) - how it works.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Twitter hashtags…
#votecouncil12   All Scottish council elections
#voteedin12   Edinburgh council election

TOPICS TO RAISE WITH CANDIDATES

In January we issued a Spokes Manifesto to all parties currently represented on Edinburgh Council, in the hope that some of the points would be included in party manifestos.

Since then, Edinburgh Council has passed the 2012/13 budget with its ground-breaking decision on cycling investment, so please ask all your candidates if they and their party will maintain that new council policy throughout the period of the next council.  If you live in another council check out the same web link for our ideas on how you could suggest similar funding policies to your own candidates.

HUSTINGS

Go along and ask questions that concern you about cycling and transport issues.

Apr 18 Wed Federation of Small Businesses + Evening News hustings 6-8pm, the Penthouse, Point Hotel, 34 Bread St.  Mainly for questions relevant to small business.  May need to book in advance.
Apr 19 Thu City Centre ward hustings  7-9pm, City Chambers, High St, chaired by Lesley Riddoch.  See web link or phone  558 3545.
Apr 19 Thu Leith Walk (ward 12) hustings  7–9.15pm,  Broughton St Mary’s Parish Church, Bellevue Crescent.
Apr 25 Wed City Centre (ward 11) hustings Time and place as for Leith Walk ward above.
Apr 25 Wed Portobello/Craigmillar (ward 17) hustings.  7-9pm Portobello Town Hall, organised by PB Community Council [no web link yet found for further details of the meeting, but it sounds like it is definitely on].

The Edinburgh Evening News is seeking questions to put to local party leaders, to publish in the newspaper…    Email your question to:  edelect@edinburghnews.com.

PARTY MANIFESTOS & WEBSITES

We list party election websites and manifestos as soon as we know of them.  Please inform us if anything below needs updated – manifestos are published at different times, and some parties may not issue local manifestos at all.

Edinburgh City Council – party websites & manifestos
Conservative  website [national website, with candidates list]  manifesto [pdf 2.1MB] [Can't find an Edinburgh Conservative website]
Green  website  [with candidates list] manifesto [pdf 220K]
Labour  website [see link on left for candidates]  manifesto [pdf 566k]
LibDem  website [with link to candidates] manifesto [411k]  We were also in advance sent the full transport wording – [doc 32K]
SNP website [with link to candidates]  manifesto [pdf 2.9MB]

East Lothian manifestos:  Conservative [pdf 1.8MB]
Mid Lothian manifestos:
West Lothian manifestos:

ELECTION CANDIDATES

For lists of all candidates for all councils in Edinburgh and Lothian, see Official Info above.  For lists of candidates by party [not all councils] see party websites above.

Very useful:  Information on all Edinburgh candidates has been put online by The Edinburgh Reporter.  This should make it easy for you to contact all or most candidates in your ward – remember to say you are a local voter in their ward.

Spokes does not advise who to vote for, but below we list candidates who…

• [code S] are Spokes members [excluding any who joined very recently]
• [code C] have been very pro-active in understanding and pushing cycling initiatives although they are not Spokes members

EDINBURGH CITY
Ward 2 – Pentland Hills – [S] Sheila Low, Conservative
Ward 5 – Inverleith – [S] Tim McKay, LibDem
Ward 9 – Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart –  [C] Andrew Burns, Labour
Ward 10 – Meadows/Morningside - [S] Melanie Main, Green
Ward 13 – Leith –  [S] Chas Booth, Green;   [S] Gordon Munro, Labour
Ward 15 – Southside/Newington - [C] Steve Burgess, Green;  [C] Gordon Mackenzie, LibDem;  [S] Cameron Rose, Conservative
Ward 16 – Liberton/Gilmerton –  [S] Joan Carter, Green
Ward 17 – Portobello/Craigmillar - [S] Maureen Child, Labour

MIDLOTHIAN
Bonnyrigg ward – [S] Ian Baxter, Green
Penicuik ward – [S] Gary Bell, Green

OTHER INFORMATION

Please tell us about other local-area hustings in Edinburgh or Lothians, any candidates we have missed who are Spokes members, or other information which could usefully be added to this page.

The new Spokes Bulletin 112, Spring 2012 [link to Bulletins page] highlights Edinburgh’s recent tremendous budget decision and urges people living in other Scottish Council areas to lobby their representatives [...]]]> The Spring Spokes Bulletin praises Edinburgh City’s remarkable “5% + external funding” budget decision [also rising by 1% a year] as a model for other Scottish Councils…

The new Spokes Bulletin 112, Spring 2012 [link to Bulletins page] highlights Edinburgh’s recent tremendous budget decision and urges people living in other Scottish Council areas to lobby their representatives for similar action.

We would like to see every council in Scotland invest in cycling, from its own transport budget, a % which is at least equivalent to their existing bike commuter modal share.   For example, if at least 2% of trips to work are by bike, then at least 2% of the Council’s own transport budget should be invested in making road conditions more welcoming and safer for cycling.   In Edinburgh the Scottish Household survey suggests that somewhat over 5% of trips to work are already by bike, a figure in line with the above budget decision.

At present roughly half of all Scottish councils invest zero (yes, £0) in cycling from their own internal transport budget, relying entirely on using some of the government’s CWSS grant [Cycling, Walking, Safer Streets] plus anything they can raise from outside bodies such as Sustrans.   For anyone lobbying in other council areas, Spokes provides some hints/suggestions – click this link and see section called ‘update’ .

Also in Spokes Bulletin 112…

• Government retreat on active travel budget cuts after massive campaign [see also Feb 10 news item]
• Bike use booming in Edinburgh [see also Nov 15 news item]
• Big employment boost resulting from cycling growth and investment  [see also jobs appendix in Sustrans Scotland budget submission [pdf 431k] and Edinburgh Bike Coop jobs news]
• Princes Street paradise (in December!) [see also Dec 7 news item]
• A90 ‘flagship’ bike route remains disaster area despite 2007 Scottish Government promise to invest in cycle links to Forth Bridge [for background see p7 in Spokes 110].
• Youngster independent cycling Spokes 2012 project [see also our 2011 Weans on Wheels project and factsheet]
• Council elections May 3 – important!! + Lib Dem 2007 manifesto [see also Spokes election hustings, March 29]
• The Bulletin also includes a Transform Scotland pullout supplement [pdf 1.1MB] featuring their Civilising the Streets report
• And lots more info/ideas/suggestions for letters/emails…

Also published alongside Bulletin 112 is Spokesworker 21.2.12 [link to Spokesworker page] …

• Bike/rail issues [see also Feb 14 news item for more on one aspect]
• Budget campaigns – Spokes praised
• Bike Stn 30,000th bike now recycled [see also Bike Stn blog news]
• South Edinburgh 20mph – article from Council road safety officer
• and more…

The campaign was prompted by a dreadful crash between a Times reporter, cycling to work, and an HGV, resulting in serious injury.  

The campaign has greatly raised the profile with UK decision-makers of cycling as a mode of travel: one which [...]]]> The Times #Cyclesafe campaign has made a huge impact at UK level …

The campaign was prompted by a dreadful crash between a Times reporter, cycling to work, and an HGV, resulting in serious injury.  

The campaign has greatly raised the profile with UK decision-makers of cycling as a mode of travel: one which needs to be boosted for reasons of transport, public health and environment, and one which needs far higher consideration in transport policy at all levels.  Of course, only time will tell if the campaign will bring serious government action – it is worth remembering that one of the first acts of the new UK government in 2011 was to abolish the very successful Cycling England.*

The campaign has uncovered a remarkably widespread acknowledgement of what cycle campaigners have long known – that the real problem lies in the road and traffic environment, and that should be the priority for action.   Rather than the old story of non-cycling decision-makers calling for every cyclist to don armour, educate themselves, teach themselves good manners, etc, etc.

Although most policy affecting cycling is now the responsibility of the Scottish rather than the UK government, politicians in Scotland are influenced by what is happening elsewhere and by the trend of general public opinion.   And of course some relevant matters do still come under the UK government.

You can pledge your support for the campaign [over 25,000 people have done so] at the campaign website.   Also, if any of the issues raised particularly concern you, email your MSPs (you have roughly 7 of them!) or your one MP (depending on whether you think it is a Scottish or a UK issue) – you can find them at www.writetothem.com.

Here are some interesting links on the Times’s campaign…

The Times’s campaign website

Road Danger Reduction Forum - a thoughtful commentary on the campaign and its 8-point manifesto, showing areas where the campaign falls short

UK Parliament Debate on the campaign 23.2.12 – attended by 76 MPs (an excellent turnout for Thursday afternoon, when MPs are often heading back to their constituencies) including Spokes members Mark Lazarowicz MP and Sheila Gilmore MP.   Later: There’s also now a very user-friendly transcript of the debate, with useful links and mugshots, at theyworkforyou.com.

Cyclists in the City blog commentary on the Parliamentary debate

CTC commentary on the Parliamentary debate

Guardian Cycling Blog - article on what the campaign may mean for the future.

* The main Cycling England website resources are being kindly maintainted and updated by CILT.   Also, note that the UK government trumpets its ‘£560m’ Local Sustainable Transport Fund as an effective replacement for Cycling England’s work.  However, this fund is to cover all forms of local sustainable transport, and is not annual but is for 4 years – so it is likely to represent a significant cut in cycling investment by the UK government.