This is a circular to all emailable Spokes members... [Note that if you have recently sent us a change of email address, your change may not yet be in our database, so this message may go to both your old and new addresses] We hope you'll have the time to read this circular carefully and take action on those points that concern or interest you. If using email addresses shown below, replace AT by @. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. SPOKES PUBLIC MEETING, THURS 25 NOV Tackling Bike Storage at Home and at Work - Nov 25, Augustine United Church, George IV Bridge. Meeting starts 7.30. Doors open 6.45 for coffee, stall, displays and chat. Full details on spokes website [October 10th news item] and in Spokes Bulletin 108 [page 2]. 2. ONSTREET OVERNIGHT BIKE STORAGE - ONLINE SURVEY As part of our bike storage project, Spokes is discussing with the Council possible ways to improve storage for residents in those tenements and flats where storage in-flat, in-stair and backgreen is impossible or problematic. It is possible that the Council might undertake some pilot installations of on-street storage over the next year or so, in line with their commitment on this in the new Active Travel Action Plan. We will of course be discussing on-street facilities as well as other bike storage issues at the above Public Meeting on Thurs 25 November. If you are a potential user of onstreet overnight parking, we need your views on what would make such storage attractive. Obviously there are potential problems and constraints on this type of storage, so IF YOU ARE A POTENTIAL USER we'd welcome your feedback and suggestions via a quick online survey at www.surveymonkey.com/s/3CDKRGH 3. RIDE PLANET EARTH Please remember to book for Ride Planet Earth if you can come along - on Sunday 5 December. It is important to book, and book soon, so as to ensure that enough lunches are catered for. Full details are on page 2 of Spokes 108, but the main points are... - to book: email spokes@spokes.org.uk with names & any diets [subject line: Ride Planet Earth]. Or phone 313 2114. - start of ride: 10am, Usher Hall, Lothian Rd [keep pavement clear!] - lunch: 12.30 at Out of the Blue, Dalmeny St. Lunch is £6.50 [soup/sandwiches/tea/coffee/cake] payable at the door. - if it's too wet: please come to your booked lunch (or Spokes will be left with the bill)! - if 20 miles is too far: please book & come to lunch only! 4. QUALITY BIKE CORRIDOR Consultation is underway on Edinburgh Council's proposed first QBC, between Princes Street and Mayfield/ Kings Buildings. Full details in November 1 news item at www.spokes.org.uk. Note especially the exhibition on Nov 15/19 and the drop-in sessions on Dec 1/2. Please do submit your comments to the consultation - a short welcome for the plan is really important even if you don't have any detailed comments or improvements to suggest. The email address for responses is in the above news item. 5. SCOTTISH BUDGET 2011/12 The budget was revealed on 17 November. There are a couple of positive aspects, but overall the outlook seems likely to be a significant fall in cycling investment in Scotland next year. However there is a great deal of uncertainty. The final vote on the budget is not till February, so a great deal of lobbying is needed to try and improve things. It's not too early to email your MSPs now if this concerns you. You can find an immediate and highly provisional commentary on the budget on this TEMPORARY PAGE on our website... http://www.spokes.org.uk/wordpress/downloads/internal-documents/scottish-budget-201112/ If you want to look in detail, the actual budget and its related documents are all here... http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Government/Finance/18127 6. CYCLENATION CONFERENCE REPORT See copies of the presentations, together with reports and pictures, on our website - November 17 news item and links from there. 7. SHOPPING FOR ST MARTINS (SPOKES OFFICE) For many years Spokes has used a relatively low-rent office space in St Martins Church in Dalry Road. The church is now fundraising for a major renovation to enhance the space for community organisations (including Spokes). They have to raise £0.5m, and have asked if we would publicise to members one of their fundraising schemes, which would (at no cost to you) give the building project appeal a small percentage of the value of any online purchases you make from a large number of major retailers including Amazon, M&S and many more. For more info and to sign up to the scheme, go to http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/stmcrc. You can find out more about the building project itself at http://stmartinsedinburgh.org.uk/whoarewe/our-future/. Dave du Feu Spokes 17.11.2010