-------------------------------------------------------------------- This is a circular to all emailable Spokes members. [If you 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 @. --------------------------------------------------------------------- A. SPOKESWORKER 16.3.13 The latest Spokesworker is at... http://www.spokes.org.uk/wordpress/spokesworker/ It includes more on Princes Street [B below] and the usual varied collection of ideas and actions. Please follow up those topics that particularly concern you. B. PRINCES STREET 1-WAY BIKE BAN : URGENT The council has published radical outline proposals for the future of Princes Street and George Street, with one-way motor traffic in each, a traffic-free north side, and a segregated cycleroute in George Street. We support the overall concept [though we'd slightly prefer a fully traffic-free Princes Street] and we applaud the council's intention not to let this drift any further, but are extremely unhappy at one aspect - what appears to be a ban on eastbound cycling in Princes Street. Early results from our current survey of Spokes members prefer a traffic-free Princes Street, but the option of one-way motor traffic in both Princes St and George St is also strongly supported - assuming there is 2-way cycling in both. There is an article in Spokesworker [above] and a longer discussion on our website www.spokes.org.uk/wordpress/2013/03/princes-street-1-way-bike-ban/ The proposals go to the Transport Committee this Tuesday 19 March and, if approved, there will then be a public consultation. However we very much hope the apparent eastbound bike ban will have an initial airing at this Committee. Ideally councillors would decide in principle that cycling provision will be made, with the details to be worked out later. *** If this concerns you, please consider emailing your councillors this weekend if at all possible [assuming this reaches you in time!] Tell them your concerns and ask them to speak to any of their colleagues who are on the Transport Committee before Tuesday's meeting. Find your councillors at www.writetothem.com. When writing, you might wish also to congratulate them on deciding to take action to improve Princes Street and George Street, which is long overdue! Whilst Spokes would prefer an entirely traffic-free Princes Street, the council's compromise looks like a worthwhile step forward [apart from the bike ban of course]. It could lead to greater things in future, in the same way that the council initially banned cars from Princes St in one direction, and when that worked well they then made a complete ban. c. LEITH WALK The next report on Leith Walk upgrading also goes to the Tuesday Transport Committee. See the report in Spokesworker and email your councillors if you use Leith Walk and are unhappy with the proposals. We are particularly concerned that final plans may be decided without further consultation. D. A90 PATH DIVERSION If you use the route to the Forth Bridge, see Spokesworker for news of a diversion starting April 15, when the next upgrade phase goes ahead. Whilst the upgrade is very valuable, the diversion is huge and hilly - Spokes is asking for an alternative. E. EDINBURGH COUNCIL PETITIONS If you live in Edinburgh Council area, have a look at the petitions website www.edinburgh.gov.uk/petitions. Please consider signing the Spokes Princes Street petition if you've not yet done so. We will be speaking at the Council Petitions Committee and can use this to highlight our concerns in [B] above. Every extra signature adds to the weight. There is also a petition [not from Spokes] asking for Holyrood Park to ban through motor traffic, which you may wish to sign if you support this. F. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED a. Sun April 28 - volunteer needed to help at a Sustrans stall at the Scottish Bike Show in Glasgow, where we have been offered a corner for Spokes materials. Travel will be paid, but you MUST be a member of Spokes AND of Sustrans. Contact Judy.Cantley[AT]btopenworld.com. b. In the recent survey of spokes members we gave a choice of online or paper completion. Unfortunately more paper forms were returned than we expected, and it would be very helpful if one or two people [with internet access at home] could volunteer to enter a batch, ideally 50-100 forms. If you can help, ideally in around the last week of March, contact DaveduFeu[AT]gmail.com. c. We have plenty copies of new Spokes Bulletin 115 still available. If you would like a pile - for example to leaflet bikes in central Edinburgh or your local shopping area, please contact Spokes [Haymarket and Waverley bike racks have been done!] Dave du Feu Spokes 16.3.13