SPOKESWORKER 21st. November 2001

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 also diary page. Other cycling events may be found on the Internet at http://www.scottishcycling.co.uk/events.

Bike Week 2002 is to be on June 15-23, with a 'Bike to Work' theme for the whole week, rather than a Bike to Work day as in previous years. For Spokes plans, or to help, contact: Jackie 0131.664 0526. For more details at UK level: nick@harvey.co.uk.

SPOKES STALLS / DISPLAYS We are planning a new impetus on stalls, displays and general Spokes presentation in 2002. For example, display boards, sales materials, competitions and games for use at stalls, staffing of stalls, and so on. We have provisionally fixed a planning meeting for 16 Jan - venue to be decided. If you would like to get involved - or if you have ideas but not enough time to come along - please contact Rosemary 0131.553.5819 or Lyons.R@btinternet.com. ACTION NOW - PLEASE HELP CHILDREN AND CYCLING
Overleaf is a Lothian Safe Routes/SCU briefing paper(now on web site). Please note its recommendations, which are backed by Spokes, Sustrans and other cycling organisations. A big effort is being made to persuade the Scottish Executive to adopt them. For example, all Lothian school boards have already been asked to discuss the briefing paper and write to the Education Minister.

You too can help! If you are involved with a school board or other relevant organisation, please ask them to discuss the paper, and either to write to the Education Minister or ask the local MSP to raise the subject with the Minister. Please also write yourself to your MSP. Phone 0845.278.1999 for their name/address.

AGENTS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
Friends of the Earth Scotland is looking for people with time and energy to improve their local environment. Agents receive £1800 a year plus expenses. To apply, you must be active in your community, willing to commit 300 hours a year (6 a week), and undertake an extensive training programme. For more info, contact 0131.554.9977 or agents@foe-scotland.org.uk. There will be info sessions in Edinburgh, Glasgow and elsewhere on Mon 3 December. Closing date for applications: 14.1.2002.

CONSULTATION ON THE PLANNING SYSTEM
The Scottish Executive has launched a 4-month consultation on public access to the planning system - planning applications, Local Plans, etc. The consultation paper Getting Involved in Planning, is on the S.E. web site www.scotland.gov.uk/planning, or 08457.741741. Comments to be in by 31.3.2002.

ECOTOPIA BIKE TOUR 2002
Two 6-month positions [not sure if paid, or just expenses] to organise this one-month ride to Ireland for the annual EcoTopia gathering - 'an experiment in sustainability'. This will involve liaising with relevant green groups across Europe. www.eyfa.org.

MONEY AVAILABLE!! These grants could help you set up a local cycling-related project, either as an individual or as a Spokes project...

Edinburgh Environmental Partnership Grants £1-£50,000 for sustainability/environment initiatives 0131.469.3607
Community Grants Fund One-off grants to increase community involvement or local planning. 0131.469.3595.
Community Enterprise Fund Grants/loans for community enterprises. 0131.475.2345.
Awards for All Small Lottery grants now available for health, education and environmental projects 0845.600.2040.

A701/A7 CONSULTATION The council is consulting on 'Quality Bus Corridors' from East Preston St to Straiton (A701) and via the new Royal Infirmary to Ferniehill (A7). This is part of a massive Public Transport Fund scheme funded by a government award, and includes bus lanes, bike lanes, advance stop lines, toucan crossings, and traffic lights at Lady Rd roundabout. The plans are on www.edinburgh.gov.uk. Also 1 Cockburn St 19 Nov-21 Dec (open till 6 Thurs, 3.30 Fri). There will be public meetings, all 7.30pm... Dec 3 at St Margarets School, E.Suffolk Rd; Dec 10 Liberton High School, Gilmerton Rd; Dec 13 Moredun Primary, Moredunvale Place. A summary leaflet of the proposals, times/places of displays, meetings, etc, is free from 0131.469.3765. Please do send in your comments on the scheme (by 21 Dec at latest), copy to Spokes a.s.a.p. so we can use them, and if possible go to one of the public meetings. CAR-FREE DAY The disappointing local and UK response to European car-free day 2001 was reported in Spokes 80, p3. There are now efforts at many levels to develop a much bigger and more potent 2002 event, which will be on 22 September [www.22september.org]

Though London had by far the best event this year [Spokes 80], Mayor Ken Livingstone proposes a "much more extensive road closure programme" in 2002 [Local Transport Today 1.11.01].

Locally, Transform Scotland is asking the Scottish Executive to commit to the day and encourage councils to take part. Please write to your MSP - ask them to lobby the Transport Minister.

Worldwide initiatives include... the radical carbusters group is promoting events Sept 13-27 [www.carbusters.ecn.cz, bulletin 29]. Sept 13 1899 was the first ever US road death - Britain's was 17.8.1896. On the academic side, Eric Britton [www.ecoplan.org] seeks 'critical thinking' on how to use Car Free Day to achieve 'actual concrete moves to more sustainable transport in cities'.

BAD NEWS FOR SCOTLAND The Scottish Executive is supporting the M74 extension, a 3-lane 5-mile urban motorway through Glasgow. They will pay £214m, with local councils raising the remaining approx £36m. There are big arguments against the road even for those living elsewhere...

£250m is a huge sum - enough for safe routes to every Scottish school, or 8000 Home Zones, or new Edinburgh rail lines to Penicuik, Galashiels, Airport and the Suburban [Spokes 80]. Without the M74, the Public Transport Fund could rise hugely.
The road contradicts government policy - Councils wishing to build roads must "demonstrate they have looked at alternative solutions ... and that the road scheme is consistent with an integrated transport strategy" [S.E. Guidance on Local Transport Strategies], yet the government has not done this for the M74! - their Edinburgh-Glasgow corridor multi-modal study is still far from complete, and yet the government has OK'd the M74!

JAM74, the action group seeking a sustainable alternative, urges you to contact your MSP, asking them to get replies to these points from the Transport Minister. Please copy the reply to us. More info: www.geocities.com/jam74_uk 0141.4014394. SMALL ADS [free in Spokesworker] For sale: Tandem frame, Buckley 531 standard size. R Wilkes 0131.652.0678.

For sale: Ridgeback 602sls 19" male blue mountain bike. 21speed shimano megarange with EZ-fire shifters, front suspension, v-brakes. Two years old. Excellent condition. £120 ono. Leo du Feu 01506.670165

Wanted: Front tandem riders for leisure rides. Ronnie Wilkes 0131.652.0678.



Tel: 0131 313 2114 (a/phone only) or e-mail to spokes@spokes.org.uk