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SPOKESWORKER 7th. February 2000


Spokesworker is an occasional ("roughly monthly") news sheet, with stop-press news of forthcoming events, and of road, traffic and planning matters. It is not automatically sent to all members. A copy is enclosed if we are writing to you anyway, and copies are handed out at meetings of working groups. It is also published here on the website. If you wish to be notified by email of a new Spokesworker or of other major updates to the Spokes website, contact spokes@btinternet.com. Also, you can make sure of getting a paper copy by sending Spokes 10 or so stamped addressed envelopes.   



FOR YOUR DIARY

See diary page for more events.

Feb 22 Links Sports Fair Huge evening event at Boroughmuir School 6.30-9.00pm to promote physical activity; organised by 3 secondary-school clusters centred on Bruntsfield. 1000 families expected. 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 0131 554 7264.

Feb 29 Transport White Paper update 12.15-1.45, Grange Manor Hotel, Grangemouth. Meeting of Central Scotland Energy & Environment Business Forum. [promoting environmental considerations in business]. 01786.451030. Entry free.

Mar 2 Multi-Modal Studies & Transport Appraisal Transform Scotland seminar, led by Derek Halden. Glasgow, 6pm. Free, but limited spaces. To book a space contact Colin Howden 0131.467.7714 or email campaigns@transformscotland.org.uk

Mar 7 Spokes Public Meeting - What Now for Sustrans? Speakers Tony Grant, Scottish Sustrans Manager - what next for Sustrans after the 5000-mile national network?? Also Andy Dunn, coordinator of June 2000 Sustrans events in Scotland. Friends Meeting House, Victoria Terrace. Rosemary 553 5819.

Mar 14 Virgin Trains future in Scotland Allan McLean of Virgin, former Scotsman Transport correspondent. Meeting of Capital Rail Action Group, 7pm, City Chambers, High St., Edinb. Lawrence.Marshall@cityedin.demon.co.uk

Mar 18 Scottish. Association. for Public Transport AGM with guest speaker Sarah Boyack, Scottish Parliament Transport Minister. 11am, City Chambers. You are welcome to attend, but will not be able to participate in the AGM business if not a member.

May 27-29 National Cycle Try-out Show At York, organised by Open Road/Encycleopedia/Bike Culture, where you can try out folders, city bikes, child-carrying attachments, trailers, etc. 01904.654654 or www.bikeculture.com

June 18 Bill Brockie Retiral 'Eucharistic Ceilidh' (service cum party) Bill is the Minister at St Martins Church, where Spokes rents office space. Bill has been a member and good friend of Spokes for many years, and he invites everyone who knows him to this event to mark his retirement, to be held at a local Brewery! Note - this invitation is only for people who know Bill - through any connection. More details from Bill 0131.337.5493.

June 17-25 Millennium Cycle Week See diary page

June 24 Durris Family Cycle Fun Day If you happen to be in Aberdeenshire during National Bike Week, go to this event in Durris Forest. MarkHagger@aol.com or phone 01330.811328.

Sep 18-22 Change Travel Week Replaces June 19-25 previously advertised 'No Car Week'. Organised by Active for SAMH in partnership with Edin Chamber of Commerce. Concentrating on boosting cycle, walk and bus use in Lothian Road to Morningside corridor. SPOKES volunteers requested - see below. Also...

Sep UK and European Car-Free Day In 1999 over 150 towns became car-free for part of the day. 020 7613 0743.


VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!!

CHANGE-TRAVEL WEEK

Ian Reid, SAMH organiser, requests Spokes members to help during the week (giving cycling advice, mechanics, or staffing a stall on Lothian Road) or with advance publicity (leafletting, etc). The odd hour or two will help a lot. Ian Reid 467.7905.

NORTH SEA RIDE

May/June 2001 sees an inaugural ride on the above 6000-mile route through Scotland and Scandinavia. A Spokes representative is requested on the Scottish organising committee - preferably a regular Spokes volunteer. Contact Dave.duFeu@ed.ac.uk, 01506 670165. You must be able to devote some time to this, including meetings on weekdays. First meeting Aberdeen 25 Feb, 11-2.

EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY BUG

As readers of the University Bulletin will know, the University needs to draw up an effective Green Travel Plan - or they will not be able to get planning permission from the Council for various new developments. This is therefore an ideal time for interested cyclists at the university to set up a Bicycle Users Group, to suggest and lobby for routes, parking, even financial incentives to encourage bike commuting and cycling between campuses. There were a couple of previous attempts, with some small successes on parking, but there is now a great opportunity to feed ideas into the Transport Issues Group which is to draw up and operate the Green Travel Plan. We could also apply to them for support, as they would probably see a BUG as a helpful development.

If interested, especially if you are a potential organiser, please contact Dave.duFeu@ed.ac.uk [I don't have the time myself].

Much help on BUGs and Green Transport Plans is available. For example, Green Transport Plans free from 0870 1226 236 [quote ref. 99 ASCS 0174A]; and Strathclyde University BUG web site www.strath.ac.uk/campus/cycle. Advice on BUGs is also available from Dave Marsh, SCDP officer, 0141.287.9374.

CYCLE COUNTS

It is some years since Spokes stopped holding regular annual cycle counts, due to the amount of organisation involved. Now Ian Maxwell is hoping to organise periodic counts in the Portobello area, as part of a PB community project to measure a variety of 'community indicators'. Cycle counts would be done in the rush hour, probably twice a year. If you can help count, organise or analyse, contact imaxwell@gn.apc.org or 669.6542.


CONSULTATIONS


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