Speakers/candidates will be…

[Update 14.2.12, 23:40 ... The Spokes draft response under 'More Information' below has been updated]

At the start of the final budget debate, Finance Secretary John Swinney announced an additional £13m for active travel over 3 years.   We later discovered this will comprise [...]]]> A significant chunk of the severe cuts planned to active travel in the government’s original draft budget were reversed in the final version, approved by Parliament this week…

At the start of the final budget debate, Finance Secretary John Swinney announced an additional £13m for active travel over 3 years.   We later discovered this will comprise £4m in 12/13, £5m 13/14 and £4m 14/15.

We understand that all or most of this additional funding will go to Sustrans for their work with councils and other partners across Scotland.   As a result of this, together with funding from other budget headings, Sustrans is expected to receive the following, a significant rise on this year’s reduced £5.5m…

• 2012/13   £7.16M
• 2013/14   £8.16M
• 2014/15   £9.16M

Sustrans requires match-funding from its project partners, and thus much of the above money will effectively be doubled-up.   Spokes is urging councils to provide some or all of their match-funding from their own ‘internal’ transport funds, like Edinburgh is doing, rather than from their government CWSS [Cycling Walking Safer Streets] allocation.

Regrettably the government at the same time announced an additional £72m for road construction projects – despite the trunk roads and motorways budget line already having a £100m increase on last year.

Spokes is still awaiting further detail on a number of figures, but our initial impression is that the budget changes overall still mean a fall in the proportion of transport spending going to active travel – both in 2012/13 and as a total over the whole Spending Review period up to 2014/15 – despite the SNP manifesto promise of an increase.   We hope to be able to come up with a clear position before long.

Nonetheless the budget changes are hugely welcome, and Spokes thanks and congratulates all who contributed to the campaign, including…

• The literally 100s of individuals (you?) who sent personal letters/emails to MSPs.   This is what above all brought results – without this, nothing below would have happened.
• The MSPs of all parties who pressurised ministers as a result of the above.  We particularly thank local Edinburgh SNP MSPs Jim Eadie and Marco Biagi for major efforts – despite the fact that they belong to the party which was proposing the cuts.
• The Labour, LibDem and Green parties at Holyrood who combined to send a joint letter to the Finance Secretary asking for budget changes on active travel.
• The national organisations such as SCCS, Transform and WWF who took up the cause, notably organising the big St Andrews House demonstration.
• Sustrans and Cycling Scotland who, despite depending on government funding, plucked up their courage to highlight the effects of the impending cuts.  The Sustrans budget submission was also particularly helpful in showing the widespread employment benefits of Sustrans investment in Scotland [See final bullet point here].
• Last, but not least, the government, for listening – notably Transport Minister Keith Brown who took the situation seriously,  lobbied his senior colleagues effectively, and tells us he is still on the lookout for additional funding – for example if major capital projects slip behind schedule during the financial year.

Needless to say, Spokes will continue to campaign for proper funding levels.  Present totals still look likely to be down on last year, seem unlikely to meet the SNP manifesto commitment and are certainly too low to achieve the government’s target of 10% of trips by bike by 2020 – a target also embedded in its climate change and obesity strategies.

For further details on what is needed see the briefing we produced for our recent meeting with the Transport Minister.

The council decided today that 5% of its transport capital budget will be invested in cycling infrastructure and projects [p19 of budget motion, 1.7MB].  Importantly, too, this [...]]]> [Big update below, 14.2.12]   Edinburgh City councillors have taken a remarkable decision on cycling investment in today’s Council 2012/13 budget, setting a completely new standard for other councils…

The council decided today that 5% of its transport capital budget will be invested in cycling infrastructure and projects [p19 of budget motion, 1.7MB].  Importantly, too, this is quite apart from additional ‘external’ funding, which can itself be quite substantial.  To our knowledge, no other Scottish council has set a percentage for cycling, let alone such an ambitious figure.

———————————————UPDATE STARTS

Important update 14.2.12 [some of this only relevant in Scotland]:   Several people have contacted us about trying to get this excellent ‘% of transport budget’ idea adopted in other councils.   That’s great and very exciting.   If you are doing so, please think about two very important points…

• Don’t ask for ‘x% of the transport budget‘.  Ask for ‘x% of the council’s transport budget excluding outside funding such as CWSS or Sustrans.‘  Currently around half of Scottish councils put zero into cycling from their own internal transport funds, and depend entirely on external or ring-fenced funding like CWSS or Sustrans money.  This is discussed further under ‘campaign idea’ below.
• Be realistic, don’t be greedy!   Edinburgh has decided on 5%, but remember, first, that over 5% of trips to work are already by bike in Edinburgh, and, second, that Edinburgh is already used to putting a significant chunk of its own money into cycling.   In many councils the % mode share is 1% and they are used to putting zero of their own money into cycling and relying entirely on external funding.  You may be dismissed as lunatic if you suggest 5%!  Try it if you want, but if you suggest roughly the % of existing modal share, that sounds like being fair and harder to argue against.    Once you’ve got the 1%, 2% or whatever you can try and raise it in future years (esp. if bike use is starting to grow).  Also remember that if putting their own money in then the council has a reasonable chance of doubling that up with Sustrans match funding – a good argument with councillors!  Again, more on this below under ‘campaign idea’.

———————————————UPDATE ENDS

Edinburgh’s sustained investment in cycling over many years under a variety of political adminstrations has paid off in rising levels of cycle use, and the current council is now taking that further.  The Scottish Household Survey suggests that between 5% and 9% of all trips to work were already by bike in 2009 (a percentage in line with the 5% budget allocation!) and Spokes traffic counts show continuing growth in bike commuting.

The budget decision also agrees to raise the 5% figure by 1% annually (presumably during the 2012-16 period of the budget statement).

It seems like we are in a virtuous circle with cycling infrastructure and initiatives leading to greater interest in using a bike to get around, with that in turn encouraging the council to act on its targets and its ambitions to grow cycle use.   The new investment will hopefully feed this exciting trend.   The growth in cycling also encourages, and is encouraged by, many community initiatives, such as the Bike Station, Spokes Maps, employer initiatives, online forums, innertube and many recreational ride organisers.   It’s also boosting employment, with new small local shops and Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op’s 5-year development plan for 100 new jobs.

The 5% decision means that the Council will invest around £1m in cycling infrastructure and projects from its own internal transport funds, up from £600k this year and £475k in 2010/11.   On top of this will be several £100k from the government CWSS fund (unfortunately reduced in the government budget), plus an excellent chance of substantial Sustrans investment (since bids to Sustrans depend on councils investing matching sums), plus other external funding such as from developers.  Although such figures will not be known for some time, Edinburgh could be heading towards the sort of total investment levels seen in bike-friendly European towns.

The council’s 5% commitment includes a new revenue cycling budget for promotional work etc – previously money for such ‘soft measures’ had to be put together from assorted other budgets.

The new money will be used to speed up implementation of Edinburgh’s Active Travel Action Plan, which takes off this Spring [Spokes Bulletin 111, p1] with its first two major projects.

Of course, there are council elections on May 3rd – it is really important for concerned individuals (you?) to contact their councillors and candidates, and ask them to maintain or improve on these existing decisions.  A bike-unfriendly council would be perfectly within its rights to reverse current priorities in future years.

Individual councillors also matter – in particular, having a transport convener such as current convener Cllr Mackenzie who understands the value of cycling as a transport mode is as important as official party policies.   Thus we need as many bike-friendly councillors as possible to be elected!

A CAMPAIGN IDEA IF YOU LIVE OUTSIDE EDINBURGH!!

Edinburgh’s excellent initiative suggests a new campaign idea for concerned groups and individuals around Scotland.   Nearly half of Scotland’s councils currently invest zero in cycling from their own internal transport capital* – relying entirely on government CWSS funding, bids to Sustrans and other external sources.  We would like to see every Scottish council follow Edinburgh’s example, and invest from their own internal transport capital at least the same percentage as the cycle commuting percentage amongst their own citizens – in addition to whatever funding they get from CWSS, Sustrans, etc.

Note too that if a council is investing in cycling they can bid to Sustrans for matching funds for cycling projects.  And, following the recent Scottish budget, which reinstated a fair bit of the planned active travel cuts, Sustrans will actually have improved funding, meaning that councils with good projects have an improved chance of winning Sustrans matching funds.

Consider using this idea in lobbying before and after the council elections.   Make sure that any % commitment is from the council’s own ‘internal’ transport budget, i.e. not including CWSS or any external funding they may obtain for additional cycling investment.  Please let us know of any helpful responses from your local council.

Data Sources…

*Find total ‘internal cycling investment’ (using Edinburgh Council’s definition) in 2010/11 for all mainland councils by adding up columns d and f in the Spokes financial survey on page 7 of Spokes Bulletin 111.  Please be aware that there are many assumptions in drawing up this table, and there may be inaccuracies or uncertainties for some councils. [Note that in our survey we counted CWSS money as 'internal,' since councils have discretion how much of it to invest in cycling; but under Edinburgh Council's definition it is counted as external because it comes direct from government].

Find the % of journeys to work by bike in your local council area from table 1 of the Scottish Household Survey local transport tables [pdf 342k].  Note that this is based on small samples.  Thus whilst Edinburgh is shown as having 7.3% bike share, the true figure is probably anywhere between around 5% and 9%.  For smaller councils the possible variation from the figure shown may be even greater.

[Feb 7 update: excellent Transform Scotland pre-budget-debate briefing to all MSPs  [pdf 78k]]

The Herald today reports that, although the SNP has an overall majority, they are seeking as broad agreement as possible from other [...]]]> In advance of Wednesday’s final budget debate and vote, Finance Secretary John Swinney is “looking carefully” at “sustainable travel budgets” …

[Feb 7 update: excellent Transform Scotland pre-budget-debate briefing to all MSPs  [pdf 78k]]

The Herald today reports that, although the SNP has an overall majority, they are seeking as broad agreement as possible from other parties.   Mr Swinney is reported to be under pressure from opposition parties over several issues including the severe planned cuts to active travel.

Recently Labour, Lib Dems and Greens at Holyrood joined forces to write to Mr Swinney [letter, pdf 116k] pointing out the huge level of concern over cuts to active travel, particularly in the light of the SNP manifesto which promised to increase active travel as a proportion of total transport spending.

Last week Spokes met Transport Minister Keith Brown and although there were at that stage no hints on budget changes the Minister did appear to be taking the situation seriously and pro-actively, and to be concerned about ensuring that manifesto promises are fulfilled in the eyes of the public.

We believe that the government was also taken aback by the level of public concern, as expressed by literally hundreds of individually-written letters and emails to MSPs (Jim Eadie MSP alone has received over 100 so far) and the impressive public demonstration organised by Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, Transform Scotland, WWF Scotland and other Scottish organisations.

To achieve a full reversal of the planned cuts, or to reach the SNP manifesto promise in this budget, would require a clear shift in funding – albeit tiny in terms of total transport spending [see section B of our Minister's briefing document - pdf 175k], whilst to have a realistic hope of meeting government cycle-use targets now seems clearly beyond the scope of this budget [briefing, section C] and needs a big re-think of spending priorities.

However, we will find out on Wednesday whether the government at least now recognises that active travel must be a significant element of transport policy, not just an added extra which can be squeezed out when the money is wanted elsewhere.

A last-minute email supporting a change-of-heart might still help!   Try the following, who are involved in the inter-party discussions…

SNP: John.Swinney.msp@scottish.parliament.uk
Labour: Claudia.Beamish.msp@scottish.parliament.uk
Lib Dem: jim.hume.msp@scottish.parliament.uk
Green: Patrick.Harvie.msp@scottish.parliament.uk
Con: Alex.Johnstone@scottish.parliament.uk

The meeting took place thanks to local Edinburgh MSPs Jim Eadie and Marco Biagi, and thanks to more than 100 members of the public – including many of our members and readers – possibly you! – [...]]]> Spokes and the Bike Station met Transport Minister Keith Brown MSP on February 1st to discuss cycling investment in Scotland…

The meeting took place thanks to local Edinburgh MSPs Jim Eadie and Marco Biagi, and thanks to more than 100 members of the public – including many of our members and readers – possibly you! – as explained below.

We had submitted in advance to the Minister a briefing document [pdf 175k].   This shows very clearly that the tiny proportion of the transport budget now going to active travel, already on the slide, is to be cut drastically in 12/13 [see section B of the briefing].  This at the same time as trunk road spending gets a huge rise (thanks mainly to the next Forth Road Bridge).

As feared and expected, the Minister confirmed that no changes had been made since the draft budget was published.

Nonetheless, and given that depressing background, the meeting was surprisingly constructive, with the Minister himself suggesting various actions and a follow-up meeting in May.

There was disagreement on the actual level of government active travel investment, but the Minister asked Spokes to meet government officials to try and come up with an agreed position on the facts, which would form the background to the May meeting.   We are confident of the case in our briefing document – but certainly the budget is far from transparent in terms of active travel, making it very difficult for the ordinary MSP to understand the detail of what is happening.

Our briefing [section E] therefore supports the Parliamentary All-Party Infrastructure & Capital Investment Committee, who made this very point and called for “a separate budget line for active travel” – which would eliminate this time-wasting and frustrating debate  [see Budget report pdf, Annex I, the ICI report, para 73].  However, despite the confusion, the Committee had obtained “the Cabinet Secretary’s [John Swinney MSP] own confirmation” that active travel funding “has been reduced in the draft budget.”

The meeting which the Minister promised for May is to cover…

• Agreement, if possible, on the facts of active travel funding [as above]
• The extent to which this ties up with the SNP manifesto promise
• Whether current investment and policies are on track to meeting the government’s 2020 target for 10% of trips to be by bike [the CAPS annual progress report should be out by then]
• Report-back on possible additional funding for 12/13 if there is slippage in major capital projects [the Minister will ask officials to assess this]; or from Barnet Consquentials [though subsequently we learn that the latest BCs have just been allocated, with none to active travel].

These are potentially very significant points, which we greatly welcome, hopefully bringing greater clarity about what is happening in reality – in terms of funding, of keeping promises and of achieving targets.  With also the possibility of some additional funding part-way through the year.

However, we emphasise that present funding levels, let alone after the planned 12/13 cuts, are nowhere near adequate to meet government targets or to bring the health, emissions and transport benefits which other countries are achieving.   See section C of our briefing.

Today’s constructive meeting does not mean that the decision makers at the very top – such as  Finance Secretary John Swinney MSP – have suddenly recognised the value of cycling as a transport mode, or that cycling investment is now recovering.   Rather it means that the pressure bubbling up from below is getting more powerful, and reaching further into the decision-making process.  Please keep it up!!

THANK  YOU  TO  …

• Jim Eadie MSP and Marco Biagi MSP, local Edinburgh SNP MSPs, who arranged and attended the meeting, which resulted initially from a Parliamentary Question to Keith Brown by Jim Eadie.   Whilst we are disturbed at the lack of understanding of cycling as a serious transport mode amongst top SNP decision-makers such as Finance Secretary John Swinney, we are impressed with the efforts of JE and MB, who hopefully represent a new younger generation.
• Spokes members and many others who have lobbied their MSPs have made all the difference – thank you if you are one of them.  Jim Eadie told the Minister he had received over 100 individual letters/emails about this, whilst Marco Biagi told the Minister that loyal SNP local members had been asking him what on earth is going on.  Without this pressure, Jim Eadie’s PQ would not have been asked, and these meetings would not be happening.   Please keep up the lobbying – it is tragic that no changes have been made to the budget and that none of the latest Barnet Consequentials have been allocated to active travel.
• Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, Transform Scotland and other national organisations, who raised the campaign to a new level – in particular organising the big demonstration outside Alex Salmond and John Swinney’s offices at St Andrews House.
• Sustrans whose budget submission [pdf 431k] impressed the Minister at our meeting, when we showed him its lengthy appendix listing local contractors in every part of Scotland who have benefitted from government cycling investment via Sustrans.  We highlighted firms in and near his constituency – and this could be done for most if not all MSPs in Scotland!

Our election manifesto [pdf 68k] calls, amongst other things, for parties contesting the elections to commit to…

Indeed Damien Henderson, transport correspondent at The Herald, tweeted  “Naked spin from Scot Gov today as it re-announces £50m from draft Budget [...]]]> The new Future Transport Fund, announced in the draft budget, was fleshed out somewhat today by Transport Minister Keith Brown – but does not redress the Scottish Government’s drastic cuts to active travel investment.

Indeed Damien Henderson, transport correspondent at The Herald, tweeted  “Naked spin from Scot Gov today as it re-announces £50m from draft Budget for Future Transport Fund after brutal cuts to active travel.”

An excellent press release from Transform Scotland and FOE Scotland accused the Scottish Government of ‘smoke and mirrors.’

In our own press release  Spokes commented…

“After today’s announcement the SNP manifesto promise to ‘increase the proportion of transport spending on … active and sustainable travel‘  remains in tatters as far as active travel is concerned. Spokes calculates that, far from being increased, this proportion will be cut from 1.21% in 10-11 to 1.03% in 11-12, 0.70% in 12-13 and 0.63% in 13-14, roughly half its previous level.” [detailed calculations - pdf 157k]

The new Future Transport Fund (£3.25m in 12/13, £7.75m in 13/14 and more in later years) is to cover far more than just active travel – for example, freight facility grants and green bus funding, both of which were formerly funded from other parts of the transport budget.   There are indications that as these and other worthy ‘relatively big spenders’ ramp up their projects, the amount of FTF allocated to active travel will remain low, probably £1.5m in 12/13 and just £1.25m in 13/14).

Meanwhile the other main elements of the budget which fund active travel, SAT and CWSS, are being chopped by far greater amounts than the new FTF addition [see table in our detailed calculations].

SAT in particular (which, like FTF, covers a multitude of tasks) contributed £11.5m to active travel in 10/11 and £9m in 11/12, but this looks likely to be chopped to at very best around £3.5m in 12/13 and for several years after that.  A letter to MSPs from Infrastructure Cabinet Member Alex Neil MSP  [and his Annex A] attempting to explain these cuts was singularly unimpressive [see Appendix B to our detailed calculations document].

A further element of cycling investment is from the trunk roads budget – although paths beside trunk roads are often more for holidays than for the everyday trips needed to meet government targets.  However, although the trunk roads budget rises by a huge £100m in 12/13, we don’t expect its cycling element to rise because most of the £100m goes towards the ‘replacement Forth Crossing’ – which does not include a path for cycling and walking [see article in Spokesworker 6.1.12].

MSPs CALL FOR A CLEAR ACTIVE TRAVEL BUDGET LINE

It is tempting to ask why cycling/walking investment is buried deep in both FTF and SAT (and CWSS) rather than having one clearcut active travel budget heading.  It’s certainly an excellent way for government to confuse and hide what is happening, and re-interpret their manifesto (surely that’s not their intention!)   Spokes made this point in our original budget submission – and the Parliamentary All-Party Committee on Infrastructure and Capital Investment adopted that recommendation – though whether Ministers will implement it remains to be seen.

[see end of article for Jan 13 update]

Although the government initially refused to attend, by yesterday it was clear that turnout would be very high, reflecting the huge level of concern – so Transport Minister Keith [...]]]> Around 350 people turned up for the budget protest today – an inspiring gathering of highly motivated citizens…

[see end of article for Jan 13 update]

Although the government initially refused to attend, by yesterday it was clear that turnout would be very high, reflecting the huge level of concern – so Transport Minister Keith Brown MSP decided to come, speak and receive the protest letter…

The Minister’s message was that cuts were inevitable given the cuts imposed on Scotland by the UK government.  This did not impress the audience, or the other speaker, SCCS convener Tom Ballantine, given that regardless of any UK cuts the Scottish government has found the money to increase trunk road spending by £100m.   Yet only £10m would be needed to keep cycle/walk funding at the same level as in 2010/11, or just £6m to keep it at the same level as  2011/12′s already-cut level of investment  [for details, see Spokes budget update - pdf 118k].

The most positive note in the Minister’s speech was a brief and rather obscure (but welcome) technical point – that he is trying to persuade other SNP Ministers to allocate some money from ‘consequentials’ to boost active travel funding.  Consequentials are extra sums which Scotland gets from the UK government from time to time, not known in advance, and so not in the current budget.  Any such active travel funding boost would be highly welcome, and shows the need to keep up pressure throughout the year on the SNP and on its manifesto promise.  However odds and ends such as the consequentials, arriving part-way through the financial year in which they have to be spent, are far less satisfactory than active travel being given proper consideration in the budget document (which also sets the pattern of spending for future years).

Overall, the huge audience looked pretty sceptical at the Minister laying the blame for Scottish active travel cuts on the UK government…

Please keep up the pressure on your MSPs. Use www.writetothem.com.  Remind MSPs of all parties about the SNP manifesto promise.

The almost-final version of the budget will be published some time before 20th January, followed by a debate in Parliament, with the chance for further amendments before a final vote expected in early to mid February.

The Spokes protest handout [pdf 774k], of which 300 copies were distributed at the event, gives more detail about what is happening and urges you to lobby your MSPs before it’s too late.

Spokes thanks Stop Climate Chaos Scotland and Transform Scotland for organising this fantastic event, in which Spokes was delighted to participate.  Thanks also to you  if you turned up and/or if you’re contacting your MSPs.

For more pictures of the event see…
https://www.facebook.com/events/250701758325849
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stopclimatechaos/sets/72157628824301203 [by Colin Hattersley]
https://t.co/Frh2UCGw [by Michael Naysmith]

UPDATE 13 JAN

We were delighted to see several prominent politicians coming along in the crowd [tell us if we've missed anyone] …

Cllr Gordon Mackenzie [LibDem, Edinburgh Council] – Convenor of  Transport Committee and the impetus behind Edinburgh Council’s Active Travel Action Plan and this year’s big 2 projects – Quality Bike Corridor (KB to city centre) and Leith-Portobello link.
Alison Johnstone MSP [Green, Lothians] – who said she is about to join Spokes
Elaine Murray MSP [Labour, Dumfriesshire] – Shadow Minister for Transport and Housing
Claudia Beamish MSP [Labour, South of Scotland] – activist in Labour’s green pressure group, SERA
Cllr Steve Burgess [Green, Edinburgh Council] – who has helped us within the council on several occasions

There’s been some excellent media and other coverage … here are some of the best …

BBC Scotland video – David Miller reports
STV local - Alastair Tibbitt reports
Changeworks - innovative charity working on energy, environment and transport
Transform Scotland - includes links to many other media reports

TS Action Alert …

If you’ve not yet contacted your MSPs, or not all of them it’s still vital (you have one constituency MSP plus 6 or 7 regional MSPs).   Use www.writetothem.com or use the Transform Scotland Action Alert  [over 200 of these have been sent already - keep up the pressure!]

Unless the draft SNP budget is amended, cuts in walking/cycling investment look to be even worse than Spokes predicted, with only some 67 pence of every £100 transport spending likely to go to active travel.   Please contact your MSPs and join the lunchtime protest on Weds 11 January  [click on the graphic and see [...]]]>

Unless the draft SNP budget is amended, cuts in walking/cycling investment look to be even worse than Spokes predicted, with only some 67 pence of every £100 transport spending likely to go to active travel.   Please contact your MSPs and join the lunchtime protest on Weds 11 January  [click on the graphic and see end of this article].

JAN 9 LATEST -  See our new BUDGET PROTEST HANDOUT [pdf 774k].  Over 250 people now signed up to come, including from around Scotland!!

Investment in walking/cycling in the budget is not specified separately, but is buried within 3 separate headings – CWSS, SAT and FTF.  Thanks to questions by people like you to their MSPs, the detail has become clearer.   See the Spokes update briefing to MSPs [pdf 118k] – the update also includes a response to an extremely unconvincing letter from Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure Alex Neil MSP [2.1MB].

Instead of the 20% cut to active travel which we had predicted, the draft budget looks likely to mean a 32% cut in 2012/13 (following an 18% cut this year).   Thus walk/cycle investment in 2012/13 will be little more than half its level in 2010/11 – and that was miserable enough!   From a mere 1.21% of total transport in 2010/11 it falls to 1.03% this year, and is set to plummet to 0.67% in 2012/13 if the draft budget is not changed.

Maybe we could understand it if total transport spending was plummeting.  But no! – it is shooting up, thanks to a £100m boost to trunk road spending – an increase which is 8 times the total  likely investment in walking and cycling in 2012/13.

Maybe we could understand it if the SNP had promised to cut walking and cycling.   But no! – their 2011 Holyrood manifesto promised to “increase the proportion of transport spending on … active and sustainable travel.”

Maybe we could understand it if our arguments were shown to be wrong.  But no! - our budget submission was complimented by the all-party Parliamentary MSP Committee who scrutinise transport issues, and who said in their report on the draft budget, “The Committee notes that the best estimate of levels of funding for active travel is provided by Spokes…” and “recommends that the Scottish Government should give consideration to setting the active travel budget as a proportion of total transport spending.“

WHAT YOU CAN DO

• Contact your MSPs urgently if you’ve not done so, or if you’re unhappy with their answer.  Find them at  www.writetothem.com.   If it helps, see our thoughts on the responses from government MSPs.   Discussions are still ongoing on the final version of the budget, and it will then have to be voted on in Parliament.
• Come to the protest at 1pm on Wednesday 11 January at St Andrews House, Regent Road – the offices of First Minister Alex Salmond MSP and Finance Secretary John Swinney MSP.   John Swinney has been invited to come outside and receive a letter about active travel funding.   Organised by Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, Transform Scotland, FOE, WWF, and with Spokes support, already over 150 people have said they’ll be there!!  Click here for more information.   If you can or hope to come, please sign up on facebook [and see everyone else there!] or email gailATstopclimatechaosscotland.org (replacing AT with @).

The 2008 Spokes budget demo at Scottish Parliament.   Then we were arguing for cycle funding to be raised to a realistic level, in line with government cycle-use targets.  This time we are arguing against savage cuts, alongside a huge rise in trunk road funding, and we expect many more people.   [NB - remember the protest is at St Andrews House, not at the Scottish Parliament].