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The Lothian Cycle Campaign |
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The Lothian Cycle Campaign |
See also diary page. Other cycling events may be found on the Internet at http://www.scottishcycling.co.uk/events.
May 20 Borders Rail Freight Day conference, Hawick. Free? The Waverley line looks likely to reopen to Galashiels. Could it be extended through to Carlisle as a freight route, thus also making it easier to reopen to passengers? ianpanth.norton@virgin.net.
May 23 World Summit on Sustainable Development- the dangers and opportunities of the Johannesburg summit later this year - talk by FOE Scotland Director Kevin Dunion, who will attend (as will First Minister Jack McConnell - see Spokes 82. Friends Meeting House, 7 Victoria Terrace. 7.30pm 552.4833.
June 30 Saughton Kids Cycle for Children 1st (Entry fee e.g. £10 for family of 4). Almost entirely on cycle paths. Free BBQ for entrants at end. 347.1815 edinburgh@children1st.org.uk
July 23 FOE Benefit Night Stand Comedy Club 558.7272.
Sep 8 Borders 'Reiver' Sponsored ride for Action Research. Choice of distances, start Galashiels. 0131.446.9212.
Sep 22 Car-Free
Day [In Town Without My Car] - see Spokes 82 - Glasgow is also to make
a major contribution, with George Square and some surrounding roads shut
to traffic. And the Scottish Executive is now urging all Scottish cities
(all councils?) to take part [Herald 10.5.02].
There is 'growing' concern over the huge distances travelled by food, whether for processing or purely for extra profit, leading to increased CO2 emissions from aircraft and lorries, more road traffic, and decline in local economies. The concern has also sparked a more critical approach to organic foods.
An editorial in the HDRA organic growers magazine [Spring 2001] says, "Organic proponents are on weaker ground on issues like transport or food processing. It is hard to make the case for organic food being environment-friendly when it is transported thousands of miles. Over 80% of organic food sold in the UK is from abroad ... food-miles will become ever more important as mankind is forced to come to grips with global warming caused by excessive use of fossil fuel". www.hdra.org.uk.
Other related initiatives
include the Sustainable Local Foods Campaign of the excellent Campaign
for Preservation of Rural England www.cpre.org.uk;
and the Soil Association's Eat Organic, Buy Local 0117.987.4562
action@soilassociation.org.
HOPETOUN ESTATE, WEST GATE
Several cyclists have written to Hopetoun Estate about closure of the Blue Gate at the west entrance, and have been given the same unsatisfactory reply, which is in many ways misleading. The 1980's 'consultation' on an 'alternative' route is irrelevant, and the cycling organisations have no record of being consulted. The alternative route itself involves lifting the cycle over two barriers each about 60cms (2 ft) high, passing a 'Private Road' sign, negotiating a 400m-long narrow and rough footpath, and gaining about 40m height only to lose it again. And as this route is not signed, it's unlikely anyone would ever find it. The letters describe this as a 'reasonable' alternative; in practice it is completely unacceptable.
The route through the Blue Gate runs past Hopetoun House and down to the foreshore, is tarmac throughout and much less hilly, with no barriers. Cyclists have enjoyed this route for over 20 years, as have pedestrians and others, so it is an asserted Right of Way.
We urge cyclists to continue to use the route, lifting bikes over the gate if necessary (the gate is supposed to be open when the House itself is open). Please note that it is a typical farm gate in style, about 1.5m high, so you may need help to get the bike over. If there is more than one person, the first bike can be used to activate the gate from the inside, by passing over the loop in the road (look for the telltale 'score' marks).
It's important to establish usage as much as possible, as the route could become a key element in a proposed Round the Forth cycle route, which would keep as close to the coast as possible.
Please also write to: Richard Seligman and Donald Noble at Hopetoun Estates Office, Newton, Broxburn, W Lothian EH52 6QD. We need to emphasise that:
The Braid Burn valley route, through the Hermitage, is potentially very useful for cyclists but has been banned for a number of years. There is no good reason for the ban, as was shown by the Council's response to a letter. The only reason offered was "to preserve areas of recreation exclusively for pedestrians".
This is scarcely justifiable, since the majority of the city's parks are (unlike Glasgow) also banned to cycling - and where are there any areas reserved exclusively for cyclists? The fact is that all our facilities are shared by other modes - and modal sharing is the normal pattern, on roads just as on shared-use paths, where pedestrians and cyclists must (and do) co-exist.
The advantage of the Hermitage route is that it is off-road, sheltered, well-graded, safe, and attractive, unlike any road-based alternative. The section down to the Hermitage itself is a tarmac road with humps, used by Council vehicles! - even more reason to make the bike ban seem ludicrous!
The Council are presumably
being influenced by the local pedestrian lobby. We need to let Councillors
know that cyclists want to share the route and see no good reason for not
doing so. Please write to your local Cllr and ask them to raise the issue
with the Recreation and Transportation Departments.
After a long gestation period the Scottish Executive has published a report Meeting the Needs, describing the indicators to be used to measure progress or otherwise towards sustainable development. Indicators relevant to transport include...
RR Scotland organises day and evening walks, including the following. Contact - Arthur Homan-Elsy 01506.842897
May 23 Cousland
branch line (East Lothian)
June 18 Stirling
to Alloa (part) - a line that may re-open soon!
July 23 Causewayend/Whitecross
(West Lothian)
Sep 12 Newtongrange
colliery line (Midlothian)
RR members also visit other areas, as with a group from near London who came up to cycle along the Penicuik-Bonnyrigg, Pencaitland, and other paths. East Lothian tourist officials should be proud of them! Their report may be of interest..
SCOTLAND VISIT - WALK/RIDE REPORT
by Phil Wood from Hertfordshire 01279.507905.
Over the weekend of 5-8 October 2001 we went to Scotland. We stayed in a superb 6-berth caravan overlooking the Firth of Forth at Longniddry. This was one of the newspaper offer deals at £38 for 3 nights and the best caravan I've stayed in so far!
After arriving on the Friday evening we travelled into Edinburgh on Class 305 EMUs dating from 1959 and formerly used, when new, on the Cambridge line.
Saturday dawned a beautiful sunny morning but did not stay that way! We saw the 'Royal Scotsman' at Millerhill before going on to West Saltoun for a ride on the Pentcaitland Way to Crossgatehall. The line was opened in 1861 mainly to serve the local coal mining industry. It closed to passengers in 1933 but not to goods until 1964. We cycled upgrade initially through pretty countryside seen from the embankment then down the 1 in 50 bank to Pentcaitland; sign still in situ. We passed through Ormiston Station site, goods platform seen, also some 'planted' signal posts but no arms. Several former colliery sites are marked by plated memorial stones, for example Bellyford Pit (closed 1958). More remains such as cultivated slag heaps are seen on this very pleasant ride.
Our next cycle ride was from Penicuik to Bonnyrigg - closed to passengers in 1959, goods in 1967, Railtour ran with steam in 1964. Once again in sunshine and very, very scenic - quite spectacular. From Eskbridge, on the outskirts of Penicuik, the line ran downhill through woodland then open meadows, crossing two bridges over, before reaching the bank of the North Esk River. At Auchendinny it used a tunnel, then a former mill, before crossing a viaduct with superb views. It passed through another tunnel, a viaduct over deep ravines - it was hard to believe you were in southern Scotland and not the Highlands. A climb to Roslyn Castle Station, in the woods and very nicely restored with name-boards. From the summit it was downhill all the way to Bonnyrigg, passing the platforms of the former station at Rosewell. In Bonnyrigg parts of the platforms survive in a children's playground. A superb ride/walk.
[Next section omitted - Waverley Line walk & trip to Crianlarich].
Next morning, and time for one more cycle ride, before the long journey home. This time from Longniddry to Haddington. I set off uphill towards Haddington in drizzle, with forecasts of 'severe weather' later in the day. Most bridges intact, before the summit is reached, then a slight diversion to pass under the A1 then into Haddington, where the trail ends at a small car park. Go into town to find the superb station building, with platforms in use as offices.
A very good weekend - but, as my friend said, "A long way to go for a bike ride!" We will return next year.
US SENATE ADOPTS CONSERVE BY BIKE AMENDMENT
During the April 11 debate on the energy bill, the United States Senate adopted an amendment that would promote energy conservation through bicycling. The Conserve By Bike Amendment establishes within the Department of Transportation a Conserve By Bicycling pilot program. This program would oversee up to ten pilot protects geographically dispersed across the US designed to conserve energy resources by stakeholders from transportation, law enforcement, education, public health, environment, and energy fields. The Department of Transportation is also authorised to conduct a study on the feasibility and benefits of conversion of car trips to bike trips. The amendment authorises $5.5 million for the pilot protects and the study. The full energy bill is slowly making progress through the Senate, but debate on drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge has yet to occur.
BIKE SUMMER 2002 IN PORTLAND
Bike Summer is a month long festival of bike-related activities to celebrate cycling and encourage more folks to bike. It started in San Francisco, USA, in 1999. Since then it has been held in Vancouver, Canada; and Chicago, USA. This summer it will blast off in Portland, Oregon, USA. From Bicycle Ballet and Bike Polo to workshops, actions, lectures and more. Bike Summer 2002 will be an incredible month. For more information, check out www.Bikesummer.org or e-mail <bikesummer@pdxbikes.org>.
END OF THE ROAD GATHERING
The conference to mark resurrection of road-protests in the UK was a great success, attended by between 50-100 people from all over the country and beyond. Strategy meetings laid down the blueprints for future campaigns, training events and networks. Obviously we can't tell you too much. But look out for a newsletter appearing for the network sometime soon.
NEW GRAPHICS BOOK: LAST CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
We're putting the final touches on the new Car Busters Graphics Book and CD-ROM. This is your last chance to submit any graphics to us for consideration, preferably as 72-dpi JPEG or Gif files or gaper originals. (If we decide to include your graphic in the Graphics Book we'll ask for a higher-resolution version later.) Basically we're looking for high-quality transportation-themed graphics that can be made available for free reuse by activists and campaigners around the world, for their fliers, posters, newsletters and other graphic materials. Please send them as e-mail attachments with the subject headline Graphics Book Submission, by June 1.
CARFREE TIMES & TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES
Carfree Times: Issue 25 of the quarterly on-line newsletter was released April 16: www.carfree.com/cft/i025.html
Transportation Alternatives: The Spring issue of this New York City-area magazine includes news on bicycle, pedestrian and sensible transportation issues, features, etc. View the Table of Contents or request a copy: www.transalt.org/about/current.html
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