The Lothian Cycle Campaign

Notes (link to notes) were produced for our North Edinburgh Network ride on 27 August with Cllr Mark Lazarowicz, Edinburgh City Council Transport Chair. A full reply is promised. These issues will be discussed at the Spokes Public Meeting on Tues 28 November.

The above path is being closed, in sections, for approx 10 weeks from 23 October, to allow construction of a new water main for North Edinburgh. Suitable alternative routes are to be signed by the contractors. If there are any problems, contact Edinburgh Council, Mr A Hamilton 0131.529.4199.

Note especially: Spokes Public Meeting on Tues 28 November

First Sunday each month: Spokes Sunday Ride Stuart 0131.445.7073

Last September's fuel-price protest is set to return, but will it this time be seen in the context of the climate crisis?

November 8 Chancellor's pre-budget statement with proposed action on fuel and transport taxes
November 13 Deadline by truckers and fuel-price protestors; promised huge demonstrations if government does not reduce tax
November 18 International Climate Talks at The Hague

Transform Scotland's response to the last fuel-price protest was...

• the truckers do not have a case [see Transform report No Truck with the Truckers]
• low fuel prices worsen congestion and other transport problems
• lower fuel prices will undermine UK Climate Change policy
• the government must put far more effort into explaining the purpose and the successful effects of fuel taxes
• the government must explicitly use fuel tax revenue to fund sustainable transport [a Greenpeace survey found 68% of the population happy with current fuel tax levels if that was done].

What you can do...

• Write to the press to counter any negative coverage and to support positive coverage and other letters
• Write to the Prime Minister, 10 Downing St, London SW1A 2AA. Urge him to stand fast on fuel duty and to counter public hostility by spending more of the tax on sustainable transport.
• Go to The Hague Nov 18/19 with FOE Scotland. Cost approx £60 return, with free basic accommodation from Netherlands FOE. They plan to build a sandbag dyke around the conference centre, to symbolise rising sea levels. Details FOE 0131 554 9977 or the above FOE web site.
• Sign the on-line The Hague petition at www.climatevoice.org

• The World Bank is reviewing its Urban Transport Strategy, which is used in determining which projects to invest in. Details, and how to comment, are on its web site at http://wbln0018.worldbank.org/transport/utsr.nsf

• stop investing mainly in large infrastructure projects (mainly roads), and invest heavily in walk, cycle and public transport
• stop supporting/requiring public transport privatisation
• Much of the information for Safe Routes to Stations in Spokes 77 is from Platform, a network of organisations and individuals seeking better rail services. Details of Platform from: Jonathan Bray, Platform, Transport 2000, 12-18 Hoxton St, London N1 6NG, or jonathan@transport2000.demon.co.uk
• We have already thanked members who wrote to object to the planned New Street office/carpark development [Spokes 72], which would have ruined the proposed 'Parliament Way' pedestrian/cycle route, as well as being extremely cycle unfriendly in general. New plans have now been unveiled which look far better. A free brochure Calton Gate Edinburgh - Update, Autumn 2000 outlines the plans. For a brochure, and answers to any further questions, contact Richard Thain, New Street Partners, Paxhill, Park Lane, Lindfield, West Sussex; email teamwork@cuckfieldgroup.com.

For sale - Ridgeback 602sls gents mountain bike. Metallic blue 19" frame, front suspension, 21-speed Shimano megarange gears, V-brakes. VGC - selling due to winning new bike. £140o.n.o. Leo du Feu 01506.670165.

• Transform Scotland email newsletter Sent free to Transform members who are on email. An excellent episodic publication, keeping you up to date with transport developments in Scotland. For Transform membership details, contact 0131.467.7714 or campaigns@transformscotland.org.uk
• Still Some Way to Go Response by Transform Scotland to the Scottish Executive's Integrated Transport Bill. From Transform Scotland (above) - cost unknown.
• Recreational rides web site: www3.clearlight.com/bikeroutes
• One Step on the Way excellent 'annual review of progress towards sustainable, integrated and inclusive policies for transport, access and the environment in Scotland', by Scottish Forum for Transport and the Environment. Cost £5 from: SFTE, Brian Weddell, Redwood Hse, 66 Spylaw Rd, Edinburgh EH10 5BR. 0790.973.5224.
• Campaign Against Drinking & Driving, Education Pack 2000 Pack has been circulated to all schools in UK. Further info/packs from CADD, 39 Heaton Rd, Newcastle NE6 1SB. 0191.265.7147. Cost £3.
• Accessibility - Review of Measuring Techniques Technical document published by Scottish Executive. Traditionally, transport planners have looked at one transport mode at a time - e.g. the effects of a proposed new road. Accessibility analysis looks instead at where people live, where they need to get to, and how easy this is by different transport modes. It can for example be used to compare the effects on accessibility of building different types of development, or of locating development in alternative sites. Cost £7 from The Stationery Office, Lothian Road, Edinburgh.
• Cutting your Car Use a book aiming to be a practical guide for individuals on how to use the car less - or dispose of it entirely. As well as much practical advice, there are 25 case histories of people who have lived car-less in different situations. £5.95 inc post: Green Books, 01803.863260, www.greenbooks.co.uk
• Walk In to Work Out Pack for employers to use to encourage their staff to walk or cycle. Free(?) from HEBS, Health Education Board for Scotland.
• Traffic Advisory Leaflets - advice to Councils on traffic issues. Free from 0131.244.1496

1/00 Traffic Calming on Village Major Roads -poor on cycling
2/00 Framework for a local Walking Strategy
3/00 Walking Bibliography government walking publications
4/00 Cycling Bibliography government cycling publications
5/00 Traffic Calming Bibliography
6/00 Monitoring Walking - assessing levels of walking
• Home Zones for Scotland - conference report. £7.50 post-free from Sue Gutteridge, Stirling Council 01786.430120
• Designing Streets for People, and Returning Roads to Residents - a Practical Guide Free, but you must supply large stamped SAE (44p for one, ? for both), from Assn of Municipal Engineers, 1 Great George St, London SW1P 3AA. tel 020.7222.7722.
• Institutional and Organisational Barriers to Cycling Research on why councils/employers etc are/are not cycle-friendly. For councils, availability of finance for cycle schemes is a crucial motivation! Also finds that individuals are more likely to cycle if their employers/councils have cycle-friendly attitudes. Cost £25 from Transport Research Laboratory 01344.770783.
• World Transport Policy and Practice Free quarterly journal concentrating on sustainable transport. Available on the web as a PDF file. www.ecoplan.org/wtpp/index.htm.
• Partnership in Action - Lothian Physical Activity Strategy Free from Anita Morton 1031.536.9426. Produced with the involvement of Spokes member David Leslie 441.5676.