Additions and Updates to this site www.spokes.org.uk Frames version
The new Bikeennium begins with 5000 miles of Sustrans national cycleroute network officially opening in June this year. See Diary for provisional info for your diary for the Millennium Festival of Cycling, 17-25 June.
On the very serious downside, however, 1999 ended at UK level with the autumn of 1000 cuts to the government's integrated transport policy. Basically, although the government originally promised much, through its 1997 Transport White Paper, they failed to lead, educate and debate with the public. As a result there is little public appreciation of the links between transport policy and public health, the environment, social inclusion, or even congestion or the local economy; and so the government allowed the initiative to pass to the AA, much of the press, and the opposition parties - who came up with simplistic and populist solutions for 'cutting the burden on the motorist'. Now with an election in prospect in 1-2 years, the government seems to be adopting several of those simplistic prescriptions, which will help no one in the long term - not even the motorist! Fuller details on this in the next [Feb] issue of Spokes Newsletter.
Fortunately in Scotland the retreat so far is much less than elsewhere in the UK - but Transport and Environment Minister Sarah Boyack is under severe pressure from both main opposition parties, from several newspapers, and from some of her own MPs, to follow the London example.
It is therefore really important to keep up the pressure for sustainable transport policies, so MSPs and Ministers see that many members of the public do look beyond the windscreen.
If you have not yet written the letter suggested in the Spokes 74 main story, or in the 16.11.1999 Spokesworker, please do so now! And overleaf we print a letter from the Slower Speeds Initiative on one immediately urgent issue. Please write that letter NOW, and also if possible copy it as shown.
FOR YOUR DIARY Jan 24 Transport - the Way Ahead for the Scottish Parliament conference by (John) Smith Institute, Sheraton Hotel. £58.75 exc lunch. Speakers include Sarah Boyack, transport minister, and David Begg. 0131.447.8440. Feb 5 Spokes 75, Mailout provisional, Dave 01506.670165. Feb 22 Links Sports Fair Huge evening event at Boroughmuir School 6.30-9.00pm to promote physical activity [not just sport]; organised by 3 secondary-school clusters centred on Bruntsfield Links. 5000 families will be mailed about the event. There will be Spokes stall selling maps [special £4] plus displays etc. Stall helpers needed - especially if you live in the area. If you have ideas or can help, contact Tim 554 7264. Mar 7 [possibly 14] Spokes Public Meeting - What Now for Sustrans. Speakers Tony Grant, Scottish Sustrans Manager - what next for Sustrans after the 5000-mile national network?? Also slides and Andy Dunn, coordinator of Sustrans Scotland June 2000 Millennium Cycle Celebrations. Provisonally Friends Meeting House, Victoria Terrace. Rosemary 553 5819. May 28-June 10 Jubilee 2000 Orkney-Glasgow via Edinburgh & Carlisle ride!! [publicising campaign to cancel Developing World debt]. Also needed - offers of free accommodation for riders. Mark 0131.229.7190 or mark.symonds@informatics-cds.com May 28 Edinburgh / June 11 Glasgow / June 18 Inverness Bike to the Future annual FOE Scotland sponsored ride. Also looking for ideas for improved routes. Tim Burrows 0131 554 9977. June 17-25 Millennium Festival of Cycling including... W 21 Spokes Bike Breakfast 8-10am, Edinburgh City Chambers, High Street. Rosemary 553 5819. W 21 Midsummer Day - Sustrans Network Opening Day - every stretch of Sustrans route will be ridden. Several such rides likely to start from Spokes Bike Breakfast. Contact Rosemary or Cyclethon contacts below. Su 25 Sustrans/Spokes Meadows Bikefest Mark 623 7600 19-25 SAMH No-Car Week major campaign to promote walk /cycle/bus, Morningside to West End. Ian Reid 467.7905 22-25 Sustrans Cyclethon opening events/rides across Britain 0117.929.0888 or see www.ridethenet.co.uk. Scottish contact Andy Dunn 01505.614302. Cyclethon includes... 24/25 Ride for Health British Medical Assn & Sustrans (to highlight health aspects of cycling) 020 7383 6872. September Car-Free Day UK car-free day joins the European date. In 1999 parts of over 166 towns in Germany, France & Italy became car-free for the day. 020 7613 0743 [Transport 2000] CONSULTATIONS The Scottish Executive has sponsored research on women and transport. If you could complete a short questionnaire [called Women & Transport - Moving Forward], contact 01592.874677, or email movingforward@rhassoc.co.uk Edinburgh Council is to consult on how to 'promote' cycling - i.e. to encourage more individuals to cycle - both as a long term strategy and also to get maximum attendance at the June Sustrans Millennium events in Edinburgh. Send any ideas to the Spokes address before end January. West Lothian Council Local Transport Strategy. For a copy, contact Alastair Short 01506.775222. Closing date unknown. Spokes has not yet replied, but a few thoughts... Whilst the general principles stated are good, this seems less evident in the practical proposals. The main scope for increased cycling is seen as the Edinburgh-Glasgow cycleroute rather than general utility cycling - to work, school, shops, etc. No mention of Sustrans year-2005 Edinburgh-Linlithgow-Falkirk-Stirling route plan. Little major rail expansion envisaged. New travel-generating development is to be centred round the M8 corridor (rather than rail corridor). If you live/work/travel in W Lothian, get a copy and send in comments. Please copy them to Spokes so we can use them in our own submission, or phone Dave at 01506.670165. Falkirk Council Environment Strategy. If you know the area, get a copy (and questionnaire) from D Gorman, 01324 504712. Submissions by 18.2.2000. SMALL ADS [free in Spokesworker] Worn-out shoes seeks wheels [i.e. bike] to extend range & speed. Contact Gabriel Hummerstone c/o St Martins Church, 232 Dalry Rd, EH11 2JG. Also helmet [head is 7 3/8"].
Jan 24 Transport - the Way Ahead for the Scottish Parliament conference by (John) Smith Institute, Sheraton Hotel. £58.75 exc lunch. Speakers include Sarah Boyack, transport minister, and David Begg. 0131.447.8440.
Feb 5 Spokes 75, Mailout provisional, Dave 01506.670165.
Feb 22 Links Sports Fair Huge evening event at Boroughmuir School 6.30-9.00pm to promote physical activity [not just sport]; organised by 3 secondary-school clusters centred on Bruntsfield Links. 5000 families will be mailed about the event. There will be Spokes stall selling maps [special £4] plus displays etc. Stall helpers needed - especially if you live in the area. If you have ideas or can help, contact Tim 554 7264.
Mar 7 [possibly 14] Spokes Public Meeting - What Now for Sustrans. Speakers Tony Grant, Scottish Sustrans Manager - what next for Sustrans after the 5000-mile national network?? Also slides and Andy Dunn, coordinator of Sustrans Scotland June 2000 Millennium Cycle Celebrations. Provisonally Friends Meeting House, Victoria Terrace. Rosemary 553 5819.
May 28-June 10 Jubilee 2000 Orkney-Glasgow via Edinburgh & Carlisle ride!! [publicising campaign to cancel Developing World debt]. Also needed - offers of free accommodation for riders. Mark 0131.229.7190 or mark.symonds@informatics-cds.com
May 28 Edinburgh / June 11 Glasgow / June 18 Inverness Bike to the Future annual FOE Scotland sponsored ride. Also looking for ideas for improved routes. Tim Burrows 0131 554 9977.
June 17-25 Millennium Festival of Cycling including...
W 21 Spokes Bike Breakfast 8-10am, Edinburgh City Chambers, High Street. Rosemary 553 5819.
W 21 Midsummer Day - Sustrans Network Opening Day - every stretch of Sustrans route will be ridden. Several such rides likely to start from Spokes Bike Breakfast. Contact Rosemary or Cyclethon contacts below.
Su 25 Sustrans/Spokes Meadows Bikefest Mark 623 7600
19-25 SAMH No-Car Week major campaign to promote walk /cycle/bus, Morningside to West End. Ian Reid 467.7905
22-25 Sustrans Cyclethon opening events/rides across Britain 0117.929.0888 or see www.ridethenet.co.uk. Scottish contact Andy Dunn 01505.614302. Cyclethon includes...
24/25 Ride for Health British Medical Assn & Sustrans (to highlight health aspects of cycling) 020 7383 6872.
September Car-Free Day UK car-free day joins the European date. In 1999 parts of over 166 towns in Germany, France & Italy became car-free for the day. 020 7613 0743 [Transport 2000]
CONSULTATIONS
SMALL ADS [free in Spokesworker]
Worn-out shoes seeks wheels [i.e. bike] to extend range & speed. Contact Gabriel Hummerstone c/o St Martins Church, 232 Dalry Rd, EH11 2JG. Also helmet [head is 7 3/8"].
URGENT LETTER FROM THE SLOWER SPEEDS INITIATIVE
c/o 213 College Road, Norwich NR2 3JD tel/fax 01603 504563 http://www.harbug.freeserve.co.uk/leaflets/ssindex.htm
Dear Friend URGENT ACTION - Your help is needed in achieving lower speeds. Please write to Tony Blair before 14 January. If every supporter of lower speeds wrote one letter, the impact would be very powerful. If you belong to an organisation please distribute copies of this letter to your members. If you are an individual, please include a copy of this letter in with your New Year cards [and thank-you letters!] The Slower Speeds Initiative is urging you to participate in a nationwide plea for safer roads. Ministers are planning to publish national speed review proposals for consultation in early February 2000. We would be truly grateful if you could find the time to write a short letter to Tony Blair, to arrive before January 14, seeking his assurance that the Government will take action to introduce lower speeds and tougher enforcement measures. Following a commitment in, A New Deal For Transport: Better For Everyone (1998) the Government has conducted a wide-ranging national speed policy review. For the first time, government has examined the contribution of reduced speeds to environmental, social and road safety objectives. The signs were positive that the speed review proposals would include wider use of 20mph zones, lower speeds on rural roads and proper enforcement. However, the backlash in the media against speed restrictions, especially in the tabloid press, has put No. 10 Downing Street and their spin doctors on the defensive. Vulnerable road users stand to lose the case they felt had been won. No. 10 has intervened to say that the Government is not minded to lower the speed limit on rural single carriageways from 60mph to 50mph. It is also resisting proposals which would result in lower speeds in villages and in town and city streets. Lower speeds would save lives and substantially improve the quality of life. A speed limit of 30mph through all villages would have widespread support. Many urban areas are equally blighted by speeding traffic. A presumption in favour of a 20mph limit on urban roads which are mainly residential should be introduced as soon as possible. We believe that the Government has seriously misjudged public opinion on this issue, with serious consequences, not only in terms of the numbers of deaths and injuries on our roads, but also quality of life for countless people and the freedom of our children. Last year, 10,481 pedestrians and 3,312 cyclists were seriously injured or killed by motorists in Britain. More than a third of these deaths were directly related to speeding. Spokes Note: Speaking in late 1998 about the Speed Policy Review, government Minister Lord Whitty said, "inappropriate speed is a contributory factor in one in 3 road casualties. How fast we drive is crucially important to how safe our roads are". . How you can help ... by writing a letter If there is to be any chance of really effective changes in speed policy, we have to make our views directly known to No. 10 before the speed policy review proposals are finally decided. Please write a short letter to the Prime Minister describing how speeding traffic blights your life and how lower speeds would improve the quality of your life and that of your family and local community. Ask Tony Blair to send you an assurance that the Government will bring in lower speed limits and tougher enforcement measures. Write now to Rt. Hon. Tony Blair MP, 10 Downing Street, London SW1A 2AA. The letter must arrive by 14 January. It would be helpful if you could also send copies to: Lord Whitty, Road Safety Minister, DETR, Eland House, Bressenden Place, London SW1E 5DU, and: Sarah Boyack, Transport & Environment Minister, The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh EH99 1SP, and: Your MSP, The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh EH99 1SP [ask if they support your views, and to raise them with Ministers]. Further information We would be pleased to send you a copy of the Slower Speeds Initiative information leaflet setting out our aims. We are encouraging individuals and organisations to endorse the Initiative as a way of demonstrating to the Government the groundswell of public support in favour of generally lower and better enforced speed limits. We regret that we are unable to meet detailed requests for information, owing to our slender resources. However, inquiries can be made to the following organisations: * Campaigning for lower speeds in your street or community Streets for People, Transport 2000, The Impact Centre, 12-18 Hoxton Street, London N1 6NG tel 0171613 0743. * Campaigning for lower speeds on country lanes CPRE, Warwick House, 25 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W OPP tel 0171976 6433 * Campaigning for Home Zones (lOmph residential areas with legal priority for pedestrians) Children's Play Council, 8 Wakley Street, London EC1V 7QE tel 0171843 6094 * Also, in Scotland... Transform Scotland, 72 Newhaven Road, Edinburgh EH6 5QG tel 0131 467 7714. Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. Thank you in anticipation for your help. Yours sincerely, Denise Carlo, Co-ordinator Slower Speeds Initiative
URGENT ACTION - Your help is needed in achieving lower speeds. Please write to Tony Blair before 14 January. If every supporter of lower speeds wrote one letter, the impact would be very powerful.
If you belong to an organisation please distribute copies of this letter to your members. If you are an individual, please include a copy of this letter in with your New Year cards [and thank-you letters!]
The Slower Speeds Initiative is urging you to participate in a nationwide plea for safer roads. Ministers are planning to publish national speed review proposals for consultation in early February 2000. We would be truly grateful if you could find the time to write a short letter to Tony Blair, to arrive before January 14, seeking his assurance that the Government will take action to introduce lower speeds and tougher enforcement measures.
Following a commitment in, A New Deal For Transport: Better For Everyone (1998) the Government has conducted a wide-ranging national speed policy review. For the first time, government has examined the contribution of reduced speeds to environmental, social and road safety objectives.
The signs were positive that the speed review proposals would include wider use of 20mph zones, lower speeds on rural roads and proper enforcement. However, the backlash in the media against speed restrictions, especially in the tabloid press, has put No. 10 Downing Street and their spin doctors on the defensive.
Vulnerable road users stand to lose the case they felt had been won. No. 10 has intervened to say that the Government is not minded to lower the speed limit on rural single carriageways from 60mph to 50mph. It is also resisting proposals which would result in lower speeds in villages and in town and city streets.
Lower speeds would save lives and substantially improve the quality of life. A speed limit of 30mph through all villages would have widespread support. Many urban areas are equally blighted by speeding traffic. A presumption in favour of a 20mph limit on urban roads which are mainly residential should be introduced as soon as possible.
We believe that the Government has seriously misjudged public opinion on this issue, with serious consequences, not only in terms of the numbers of deaths and injuries on our roads, but also quality of life for countless people and the freedom of our children. Last year, 10,481 pedestrians and 3,312 cyclists were seriously injured or killed by motorists in Britain. More than a third of these deaths were directly related to speeding.
Spokes Note: Speaking in late 1998 about the Speed Policy Review, government Minister Lord Whitty said, "inappropriate speed is a contributory factor in one in 3 road casualties. How fast we drive is crucially important to how safe our roads are".
.
How you can help ... by writing a letter
If there is to be any chance of really effective changes in speed policy, we have to make our views directly known to No. 10 before the speed policy review proposals are finally decided. Please write a short letter to the Prime Minister describing how speeding traffic blights your life and how lower speeds would improve the quality of your life and that of your family and local community. Ask Tony Blair to send you an assurance that the Government will bring in lower speed limits and tougher enforcement measures.
Write now to Rt. Hon. Tony Blair MP, 10 Downing Street, London SW1A 2AA. The letter must arrive by 14 January.
It would be helpful if you could also send copies to:
We would be pleased to send you a copy of the Slower Speeds Initiative information leaflet setting out our aims. We are encouraging individuals and organisations to endorse the Initiative as a way of demonstrating to the Government the groundswell of public support in favour of generally lower and better enforced speed limits.
We regret that we are unable to meet detailed requests for information, owing to our slender resources. However, inquiries can be made to the following organisations:
* Campaigning for lower speeds in your street or community
Streets for People, Transport 2000, The Impact Centre, 12-18 Hoxton Street, London N1 6NG tel 0171613 0743.
* Campaigning for lower speeds on country lanes
CPRE, Warwick House, 25 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W OPP tel 0171976 6433
* Campaigning for Home Zones
(lOmph residential areas with legal priority for pedestrians)
Children's Play Council, 8 Wakley Street, London EC1V 7QE tel 0171843 6094
* Also, in Scotland...
Transform Scotland, 72 Newhaven Road, Edinburgh EH6 5QG tel 0131 467 7714.
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. Thank you in anticipation for your help.
Yours sincerely,
Denise Carlo, Co-ordinator
Slower Speeds Initiative