This is a circular to all emailable Spokes members... Notes: 1. If this circular appears in long lines, click file - save as, then save it, then open the saved file. 2. In email addresses replace AT by @. This is an anti-spam measure. A. SCOTTISH BUDGET PROGRESS - BUT EMAILS NEEDED *URGENTLY* The full story (and further background evidence) can be found in the December 7th news item at http://www.spokes.org.uk/wordpress/. In case you don't have time to read that, the main point is that the Parliament's all-party Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee (TICC) has just published its report on the draft budget. For the 3rd year running it expresses its (ever stronger) concern over Scottish Government funding for active travel, which has been static or even declining. Most importantly, the Committee then recommends... “that the Scottish Government should conduct an exercise to establish what scope exists across the transport budget for reallocating resources in order to reverse the incremental decline in the active travel line. It further recommends that this exercise is conducted prior to the debate on the Finance Committee’s report on the draft budget and that the results are submitted to both committees.” In other words, the Committee is asking Ministers for an *immediate* exercise looking into a transfer of funding into cycling and walking from elsewhere in the transport budget - so that the results are ready for the full debate on the draft budget later in December (17th?). In our view, with a total transport budget around £2500m (of which nearly half is trunk roads) a modest reallocation must surely be possible! [The Spokes budget submission - which is complimented in the TICC report - suggests a new £20m cycle projects fund, in addition to existing funding sources]. *** But going on past experience the government is likely to ignore the recommendation to conduct this immediate exercise - unless they come under pressure. So, please contact your MSPs urgently – it's easy using www.writetothem.com. a. Tell them very briefly why more cycling investment matters to you. b. Tell them how pleased you are that the Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee has recommended in their report on the draft budget 2010-11 that there should be an immediate investigation into reallocating some funding within the transport budget, and that the results should be ready for the December debate on the draft budget. c. ASK YOUR MSPs TO TAKE THIS UP URGENTLY within their party, and with Ministers, to ensure that the investigation exercise into funding re-allocation does happen and does happen immediately. d. Finally, ask them to let you know what they have done, and what is the result. B. SPOKESWORKER 5.12.09 The latest issue of Spokesworker is now online - go to www.spokes.org.uk/wordpress and click on Spokesworker at the top of the page. As always, lots of things going on, letters to write, etc. Includes exciting project ideas on tenement bike parking, bike initiatives with small and medium employers, and bike trailer hire. Also cycling neglect in plans for new Gogar rail/tram interchange; and background to our Ride Planet Earth climate change event on Sunday 6 December. C. TRAMLINE TRYOUT/TRAINING SESSION With Princes Street re-opened many cyclists have found problems with the tramlines, and two are known to have slipped and fallen off already - luckily without injury. As one immediate response TIE and the Bike Station are holding a training and familiarisation session this Sunday 13 December. There will be a coned-off traffic-free section of Princes Street and specialist instruction. Register at Castle Street any time between 11am-2pm on Sunday. For full details see the Dec 7 news item at http://www.spokes.org.uk/wordpress/. The Bike Station has also offered us the chance to do a survey of views about Princes Street amongst the participants. They would welcome a few Spokes members to help with conducting the survey. If you can help, please introduce yourself to the Bike Station stall and ask if help is needed when you arrive. D. NEW 2010 SPOKES MAPS - EDINBURGH AND WEST LOTHIAN We intend producing new editions of the above two maps in 2010. Please send us any corrections or suggestions - including any comments on which roads should be marked as quiet/useful or as dangerous - have we got it right? Also get in touch if you would be willing to cycle round an area of the map and do some checking. Please use the contacts below. Edinburgh map - send comments by mid January to imaxwellATgn.apc.org West Lothian map - send comments to timATvizualz.co.uk E. SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT INQUIRY INTO ACTIVE TRAVEL Spokes provided written and oral evidence to the Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee for its above inquiry. There are links to documents, transcripts and videos in the Nov 27 news item at http://www.spokes.org.uk/wordpress/. [added for second batch - forgotten first time] F. RIDE PLANET EARTH - SPOKES RIDE REPORT Our Ride Planet Earth event on Sunday was very successful, with around 70 people, great weather, good food and a strong message to the politicians. For a report and a link to pictures, see the Dec 6th news item on our site at http://www.spokes.org.uk/wordpress/. Best wishes Dave du Feu for Spokes