This is a circular to all emailable Spokes members. [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 your old address or possibly to both]. 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 @. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SCOTTISH BUDGET AND SPENDING REVIEW This circular comes very soon after the previous one, as we need to draw your attention to an urgent matter, particularly in view of a worrying development (see below). We understand that the Scottish budget for 2012-13 and the Spending Review setting outline spending plans for the next 3 years will be finalised and announced in the next 2-3 weeks. This may sound very 'dry' but it will *drastically* affect how much funding every Scottish council has to invest in cycling schemes over the next 3 years. In Edinburgh, schemes such as the Council's Active Travel Action Plan; the Quality Bike Corridors; the link from North Edinburgh Network to South Edinburgh; connecting the canal to the Meadows and to the Innocent; and so on and on... It is vital that MSPs hear now from constituents about the need for investment in cycling - to influence the 2012-13 budget and the 3-year Spending Review. Once the Spending Review is finalised it becomes much more difficult to influence budgets in the next 3 years. *** Our website has an article with detailed information about this and how to contact your MSPs. http://www.spokes.org.uk/wordpress/2011/09/scottish-budget-2012-13/ Since our website article was written, there has been a WORRYING DEVELOPMENT. As you will see from our article, much of the hope for realistic cycling investment, or even to keep existing investment levels, was based on the targets in the Climate Change Act, and the government's own Report on Proposals and Policies [RPP] which shows how to meet those targets. However this week's lengthy speech by First Minister Alex Salmond on priorities for the new SNP government does not once mention climate change, carbon emissions, or even its own RPP proposals to meet those targets. The only transport projects mentioned are the M74 opening and the planned additional Forth Road bridge. [The nearest he gets to the RPP is by mentioning offshore renewables - but he does that in the context of economic expansion, with no mention of climate change or the RPP targets and proposals]. The speech is at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Speeches/ProgrammeforGov-2011-12. The above does not bode well for rejigging the transport budget to give more emphasis to active and local transport. On the one hand, cycling investment would rise significantly if the government takes its own RPP carbon and cycling targets seriously [as explained in our article]. However, if 'big' transport projects are being emphasised and carbon targets are not mentioned, as in the First Minister's above speech, then funding for active travel could be set to fall. SO - please follow the advice in our website article and write urgently to your MSPs. It is well worth quoting the SNP manifesto promise to “increase the proportion of transport spending on … active and sustainable travel” [this was in the manifesto chapter called, 'climate change and environment']. OTHER MATTERS ** FOR YOUR DIARY - Spokes autumn public meeting Thurs 17 November - a fascinating meeting with speakers from Edinburgh Council and from Oxford, comparing Edinburgh's Cycling Action Plan with Oxford's 'Dual Cycle Network' [around 16% of trips to work are by bike in Oxford, compared to 4%-5% in Edinburgh]. ** SPOKES SUMMER COMPETITION - CLOSES 24 SEPT. Win some great prizes, including 1st class return for 2 between any 2 Scottish stations, a one-month Lothian Buses pass, Edinburgh Bicycle workstand rrp £89.99, family tickets to some great attractions, meal at Kalpna restaurant, set of Sustrans Scotland maps, etc. Not only can you win a great prize, but we hope the competition will come up with ideas (small or big) that Spokes can publicise!! Full details and optional entry form here... http://www.spokes.org.uk/wordpress/2011/08/spokes-competition-2011 ** UNDERSTANDING WALKING AND CYCLING. A really interesting new research paper - now on Spokes website at... http://www.spokes.org.uk/wordpress/documents/technical-and-research/inspirational-papers-and-documents/ Dave du Feu Spokes 9.9.11