-------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 @. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Our summer mailout and Bulletin comes out on June 1st, but this is an urgent email because of item A below... A. URGENT - FUTURE OF PRINCES STREET & CITY CENTRE As you know, the council has been consulting on the future of Princes Street and George Street. A report is expected for the Council Transport Committee on Tuesday 4 June. We don't yet know what will be in the report. Under the Council's consultation proposals, cyclists were to be treated just like buses and taxis in Princes Street - eastbound completely banned, and westbound continuing to mix it with buses and taxis next to the tramlines. Anyone wishing to cycle along Princes Street eastbound would be sent up to a George Street traffic-free 'National Cycleroute' then back down again. Our GUESS is that the consultation will have found significant support for a traffic-free cycle route in Princes Street; and for cycling to be seen as for access to shops and facilities, not just as an east-west route for travelling through the city centre. However, we not at all sure that the Council will agree to this. Some top officials and councillors seem to feel that an east-west George Street 'National Cycle Route' is all that is needed. For more background information and links about the consultation, see the April 27 news item on the spokes website... http://www.spokes.org.uk/wordpress/2013/04/are-cyclists-buses-or-taxis/ In addition to the arguments in our website article, spokes members have pointed out the following subsequently ... - Edinburgh's tourism image: Imagine a Danish tourist arriving in Princes Street on the tram from the airport, or at Waverley Station, only to find 'No Cycling' signs awaiting them in Edinburgh's premier street! - Local use: Imagine a family wanting to visit Princes Street Gardens then cycle to a couple of shops - but banned! - Public Bike Hire: We understand that the Council is now again considering a public bike hire scheme, and this will doubtless be encouraged by the recent announcement that Glasgow will have public bike hire in place in 2014! An Edinburgh city centre public bike hire scheme, with visitors as a main target, would be doomed if cycling is banned in Princes Street! WHAT YOU CAN DO... *** At the Committee on 4 June, councillors have the power to amend the proposals or to send them back for further consideration. *** If you live in Edinburgh and are concerned about this, please email your councillors, asking them to speak to their colleagues on the Transport Committee, to ensure that traffic-free cycle use is allowed in Princes Street. Find your councillors at www.writetothem.com. *** If you live outside Edinburgh, but visit sometimes and need to use a bike in Princes Street, email the Council Leader andrew.burns@edinburgh.gov.uk, and cc your email to the Council's Deputy Transport Convenor, jim.orr@edinburgh.gov.uk, who handles cycling policy. B. WAVERLEY BIKE HUB ?? Right next to the potential Princes Street bike ban there is some really good news from Network Rail, who have been discussing with the Council [Cllrs Lesley Hinds and Jim Orr] and others a possible Bike Hub at Waverley, offering services such as supervised bike storage, spare parts, bike servicing and next to a station cafe. See the news report and lovely drawing in this Scotsman article... www.scotsman.com/news/transport/waverley-station-overhaul-to-create-city-piazza-1-2936467 C. GLASGOW PUBLIC BIKE HIRE For background on the scheme mentioned in (A) above, see this Herald newspaper report... www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/city-to-get-on-its-bike-with-13m-cycle-hire-scheme.20853782 D. DATES FOR YOUR DIARY [more details will be in our summer mailout] June 19: Spokes Bike Breakfast, City Chambers, 7.45-9.45am See the report of our 2012 breakfast at... http://www.spokes.org.uk/wordpress/2012/06/bike-breakfast-record/ Rides from local areas to the breakfast are again being organised, with the intention of also bringing along local councillors and MPs/MSPs from each area. Find out more, join in and help at.. http://breakfastbikeride.org.uk/pwp/wordpress/ June 15-23: Edinburgh Festival of Cycling A fantastic programme of events. All members will be sent a printed programme, but find out more in advance at http://www.edfoc.org.uk/ Dave du Feu Spokes 24.5.13