-------------------------------------------------------------------- This is a circular to 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] ------------------------------------------------------------------ FOR YOUR DIARY... A. SCOTTISH BUDGET - SCCS EVENT 30 OCTOBER, 1-1.30PM A lunchtime event is being held to call for the government's cycling/walking budget to be doubled in the 2014/15 budget, and to rise thereafter to 10% of transport spending by 2020. The chances of the government reaching its ambition of 10% of all journeys to be by bike in 2020 are now looking slim, but without investment at this level the chances are zero. www.spokes.org.uk/wordpress/2013/10/oct-30-come-along-to-double-the-budget/ There is also an SCCS 'e-action' to email MSPs - you can find the link in our above article. There may also be a flyer about the event. If you would be interested in taking a pile of at least 100 to leaflet bikes, please email Spokes, with the subject line Flyer Leafletting. FOR YOUR DIARY... B. CYCLING INVESTMENT - 19 NOVEMBER SPOKES PUBLIC MEETING More details in our forthcoming Spokes Bulletin no.117 and here... www.spokes.org.uk/wordpress/2013/10/cycling-investment-spokes-autumn-public-meeting/ C. HAYMARKET TRAMLINE DANGER - TAKE GREAT CARE The new tram layout heading west at Haymarket, from Morrison Street to Haymarket Terrace, is potentially lethal. In the 2 days since this road re-opened we have heard of 3 crashes, two with minor injuries and bike damage, and one (with no apparent injury) which was video'd. You can see it, along with details on how to report crashes, here... http://www.spokes.org.uk/wordpress/documents/public-transport/tram/ We have already raised this with relevant people in the council. If you stay on the main road outside the station, you have to cross the lines at a very dangerous angle. Whilst some experienced cyclists feel they can handle such locations by a last minute turn, or a jump, please remember that many of the crashes in Princes Street have been to experienced cyclists who were shocked to find themselves grounded. The safest way to cross at this point is to turn left into the new cycle lane at the station, which then takes you round what is called a 'jug-handle' and allows you to cross the tramlines at a much better angle, though still not perfect. This solution however means you will have a traffic-light delay. A further problem is that taxis sometimes park/queue illegally on the double yellow lines outside Ryrie's pub, overlapping the tramline. That forces you to cross the tramlines earlier, and at an even worse angle. The council tells us they will be stepping up enforcement - and of course once the trams are running the queueing taxis would be blocking their path! Heading East from Haymarket Terrace to Torphichen Street, various people have suggested that a good route is Rosebery Crescent - Grosvenor Crescent - Palmerston Place. This enables you to cross the tracks at 90 degrees, and may even be quicker than the main road as you avoid some of the lights at Haymarket. D. STRICT LIABILITY TO BE DEBATED Spokes member Alison Johnstone MSP has obtained a short debate in the Scottish Parliament on Strict Liability. It already has support from MSPs of all parties. This is just a short debate about the topic, but the hope is that it will build support in the Parliament and make it harder for the Scottish Government to continue to hold out against the concept. The motion is here... http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx?SearchType=Advance&ReferenceNumbers=S4M-07934&ResultsPerPage=10 If you support this, please consider emailing your MSPs [www.writetothem.com] to ask them to attend the debate, which will be at 5pm on Tues 29th October. More info here... http://www.cycling-accident-compensation.co.uk/parliamentary-debate.aspx Incidentally, you can watch the debate live then on Parliament TV. http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/newsandmediacentre/3168.aspx E. SPOKES AUTUMN MAILOUT Our Autumn mailout, with Spokes Bulletin 117, is planned for Sat October 26. Members who have offered help with both delivery and attending a stuffing meeting will be notified of the details as usual by email in the next few days. We may also need a person available with a car in working hours on Friday 25 October to transport boxes from the Spokes office and to do a pick up from the Copyshop. If you could help, and are 100% certain you will be available, please email davedufeuATgmail.com. F. EDINBURGH COUNCIL BUDGET The Council is seeking comments on the early stages of its 2014/15 budget process. There is online info and a feedback form. http://www.budget.edinburgh.gov.uk/ The consultation is very much in outline terms and cycling is not specifically mentioned, but it is vital for us that the council continues its policy of allocating 5%, increasing 1% a year, of the transport budget to cycling. Remember too that most of this money is doubled, as the council can use it to get match-funding from Sustrans (who in turn get their money from the government). Please respond to the council survey [click 'What happens now' on the above page]. G. CONSULTATIONS: Some big Edinburgh proposals For any of the following that concern you please visit the exhibition and leave comments. If you missed or can't get to the exhibition, contact the developer to get info and to comment – also cc your email to Spokes. Initial comments below are mainly from Peter Hawkins, Spokes Planning Group, email peterhawkATphonecoop.coop. These consultations are all PANs, ie. there is only very basic info online, and full details will be at the exhibition – fuller explanation at... www.spokes.org.uk/wordpress/documents/advice/lobbying-councils/ To look up a particular PAN, e.g. to get developer contact details, search for its reference (e.g. 13/01820/PAN) at https://citydev-portal.edinburgh.gov.uk/idoxpa-web/ 13/04022/PAN FERRYMUIR GATE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT big site, lies east of A90 and of the derelict hotel, south of Stewart Terrace, north of Canmore St and the NCN1 path. Site appears to be vacant at present; brownfield. Exhib'n 6 Nov at Q'ferry High School. 13/03999/PAN CAMMO WALK RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT. East of CW, west of Maybury Rd. Big greenfield site, probably greenbelt. Exhib'n 31 Oct 1-8pm, 2 Nov. 10-1pm, at Cramond Kirk. 13/04000/PAN 44 YORK PLACE, DEMOLISH OFFICES, BUILD HOTEL. Site is just west of St Paul's Church. Exhib'n Macdonald Rd Library,5 Nov. 5-8pm; 8 Nov. 10-1pm. 13/04023/PAN EDMONSTONE - huge site for cemetery, crematorium, chapel, bounded by Old Dalkeith Rd to south, and The Wisp to east. Exhib'n Hays Business Centre, 4 Nov, 4-8pm; Danderhall Library, 7 Nov. 3.30-7.30pm, Goodtrees Centre 11 Nov, 2-4pm and 6-8.30pm --------------------------------------------- Dave du Feu Spokes 16 October 2013