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The Lothian Cycle Campaign

SPOKESWORKER 11 07 03

Spokes, The Lothian Cycle Campaign, St Martins Church, 232 Dalry Road, Edinburgh EH11 2JG 0131.313.2114 http://www.spokes.org.uk/

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 working group meetings. You can make sure to get a copy by sending us 10 or so stamped addressed envelopes. Spokesworker also appears on our Internet web site - if you wish to be notified of such updates by email, contact spokes@spokes.org.uk.

Spokes Sunday Rides Meet 10am, Usher Hall, Lothian Rd. Normally 1st Sun each month. Fairly gentle rides, 30-40 miles. Lunch at pub/café, or bring picnic. Showers won't stop us, but real bad weather may cause cancellation. We show the way, help breakdowns, wait for the less-speedy, and aim for a great time! You must ensure your bike is in good order, and ride carefully and considerately. You are entirely responsible for your safety. Children under 14 or unused to roads must come with an adult.

Dates: Aug 3, Sep 7 [picnic at Dave du Feu, Linlithgow. Free tea/coffee; bring own food]. stuart@snowcycle.co.uk 445.7073.

CTC 'easyish' rides - similar to the above. 3^rd Sunday of month, 10.30, Commonwealth Pool. Anne 657.2189.

Spokes Cycling Weekends www.bikebus.co.uk 229.6274

Go-Bike! Strathclyde Cycle Campaign rides. 1st Sunday + some others. www.gobike.org 07932.460093 info@gobike.org.

August Road Victim Month focussing on 'hit and run' offences - events throughout UK. www.RoadPeace.org 020 8838 5102.

Sep 14 Pedal for Scotland Glasgow-Edinburgh sponsored ride 0131.657.4393 www.pedalforscotland.org.

Sep 18 Cycling in Rural Areas conference [includes utility cycling - an important issue in Scotland, see Spokes 85 pp1 & 7]. www.nottingham.ac.uk/sbe/confer/index.htm. 0115 951 4875. Hugh.McClintock@nottingham.ac.uk

Sep 21 Edinburgh Car-Free Festival [probably 11am-5pm] After last year's hugely successful inaugural event, with over 12000 participants, the West End of George Street will again be entirely car-free for an even bigger occasion. The aim is to demonstrate the pleasure of a car-free street and highlight the council's commitment to sustainable transport. There will be many stalls and activities/events by the council and others, both relating to the theme of the day and commercial 'market-type' stalls. Spokes will have a stall. If you can help on our stall, please contact Spokes. Or, if you know another relevant organisation that would like a stall, contact Richard Darke 652.5940 richardd@edinburghcc.com. Relevant publicity stalls are free, but commercial stalls are charged. After wavering last year, the council is fully committed this year and is inviting a huge range of local and regional councillors, MPSs and MPs. By turning up, you will help show them the demand for car-free developments and sustainable transport. We compliment the council on sticking to the term 'car-free' rather than the weak and watery 'in-town-without-my-car' label adopted by the government and some other councils.

Sep 22 World Car-Free Day However we are also very disturbed that the Council has plumped for holding an event only on the 21^st, whereas September 22 is the genuine car-free day, regardless of the day of the week, and is observed by hundreds of towns and cities across the Earth. Whilst it is understandable and sensible that a big event is held on Sunday, that is no excuse for dropping out entirely from worldwide celebrations on the 22^nd. More info... www.carbusters.org/wcfd. For more on Europe and the UK see... www.eta.co.uk and www.itwmc.gov.uk. It is not too late for Edinburgh to mark the 22^nd - for example a statement/ announcement and symbolic gesture by the Lord Provost - please raise this with transport convener Cllr Andrew Burns, City Chambers, High St, EH1. andrew.burns@edinburgh.gov.uk.

Sep 23 Safe Routes to Schools national conference, Leicester. Details: www.srsconference.org.uk 0117.915.0100 [Sustrans].

Sep 23-26 Velo-City International Cycle Conference Can it be two years since the conference was in Edinburgh/Glasgow?? This year in Paris. www.velo-city2003.com

Nov 16 World Day of Remembrance & Hope for Road Victims - events throughout UK. www.RoadPeace.org 020 8838 5102.

• New free leaflets about various Sustrans paths in Scotland, funded by recent Scottish Executive grant to Sustrans. To obtain these leaflets send a SAE to or call at Sustrans Scotland, 162 Fountainbridge, Edinburgh EH3 9RX.
• ïClyde and Loch Lomond Cycleway [from Glasgow]
• ïHillend Loch Railway Path [Airdrie-Bathgate]
• ïPaisley & Clyde Railway Path [Paisley-Gourock]
• ïLochwinnoch Loop Line [Paisley-Kirlbirnie]

Note that all these paths are accessible with your bike by rail from Edinburgh. The Glasgow-Loch Lomond path also leads you to the start of the new Balloch-Tarbet cycleroute up the west side of Loch Lomond without having to use the A82.

• Cycle Ayrshire Circular cycleroutes in Ayrshire. Free booklet produced by Drew Moyes / Ayrshire CTC, funded by Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire. The accompanying press release says that 6 of the 8 routes can be reached by rail from Glasgow, but unfortunately stations and rail lines are not shown in the booklet! This and the following two guides are available by sending a SAE [C5 envelope for A5 booklet] to Drew Moyes, 24 New Bridge Street, Ayr KA7 1JX.
• Kilmarnock Cycle Routes and Irvine Town Trail. Guide leaflets by the local councils.
• National Trust Green Transport News Spring 2003 edition of free newsletter about rail/bus/cycle access to many English NT properties [no equivalent by NT Scotland]. More info about NT's green transport initiative - John.Hobby@ntrust.org.uk 07774.402444. To go on the GTNews mailing list, send 4 second-class stamps to National Trust, Green Transport News, PO Box 30, Bromley, Kent BR1 3XL.
• Edinburgh Bicycle website EBC must be complimented on its website, with its interesting, funny and useful information in addition to the commercial side. The InfoCentre [Information and Inspiration] in the Resources section is definitely worth a look. Also photos from this year's Edinburgh-St.Andrews ride [in the News section]. www.edinburgh-bicycle.co.uk
• Redefining Prosperity Governments use GDP as their main measure of progress, and aim to maximise it, but this report from the UK Sustainable Development Commission asks for full consideration for environmental aspects, and what we are leaving behind for future generations. As they point out, it was Tony Blair himself, announcing the Sustainable Development Strategy, who said "Real progress cannot be measured by money alone. We must ensure that economic growth contributes to our quality of life rather than degrading it."

The (lengthy) new report, Redefining Prosperity is online at... www.sd-commission.gov.uk/pubs/index.htm.

Bike Transit Cases - Elite Case Company. Spokes knows nothing of this Glasgow company so we do not recommend for or against their products. www.eliteflightcases.com. 0141 764 3914.

• REINSTATEMENT OF OPENINGS IN ROADS

The Scottish Executive is consulting on a revised code of practice for how and, to some extent, when, holes dug in roads, pavements, cycleroutes, etc, should be reinstated. i.e. man-made potholes and trenches, as opposed to those from traffic-wear. Comments must be made by 1^st August. Details should be on www.scotland.gov.uk, or email iain.gardiner@scotland.gsi.gov.uk or 0131.244.0838. Please note that the code is a large document and is quite technical in many parts. On the other hand, potholes [of all types] are a huge concern for cyclists!

• ROAD WORKS (INSPECTION FEES)

At the same time, the Executive is consulting on changes to the Code on how councils charge utility companies for the cost of inspecting their holes, trenches, repairs, etc. - including making sure after a specified period that the repair is still adequate. The consultation ends 31 July, and contacts are the same as above.

• COWGATE PLANNING BRIEF

A draft planning brief has been produced by the Council on the gap site in the Cowgate/South Bridge created by the Cowgate Fire of December 7-8 2002. Copies are available from Anna Grant 469.3659, and comments must be submitted by 25 August.

• MILNGAVIE RESERVOIRS

Although not in our area, a Spokes member living closer has commented on the draft Recreation plan associated with the £100m water treatment works planned at this massive site. If you know and are interested in the area, more details from our member Robin Brown, 46 Buchanan Street, Milngavie G62 8AP.

• EDINBURGH GREENBELT NETWORK
• MOBILE PHONE LEGISLATION

See separate sections below for both the above two action items

The government is to legislate to ban use of handheld mobile phones when driving, but against all the evidence they are to allow use of some hands-free sets. The consultation period is now over, so now it is essential to write to MPs and MSPs asking them to persuade the government to extend the proposed legislation to cover all forms of mobile phone. Contact details for MSPs are on the back of Spokes 85. For MP's, write to him/her at House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA - if you don't know who they are, phone the CAB 0131.557.1500.

The Guardian published an excellent editorial [25.6.3] putting the case for banning all forms of mobiles, and we print it here...

The government is right to ban the use of mobile phones while driving but completely wrong to exclude hands-free sets. The Road Research Laboratory found that reaction times were "significantly slower" for drivers using phones compared to drivers who had drunk alcohol to the legal limit. Another finding of the research was that there were significantly fewer warnings missed by drivers under the influence of alcohol compared with users of hands-free phones.

It is obvious what is going to happen now. Even though, in theory, hands-free drivers could be prosecuted for dangerous driving (just as users of handhelds can be under existing legislation), in practice they will not, because of the difficulty of securing a conviction. As a result there is likely to be an explosion in demand for hands-free sets, especially as handsets can now be linked to earpieces through short wave wireless technologies like Bluetooth. And the more handsfree phones become embedded in cars as a standard fitting, the less likely that future governments will have the political courage to ban them.

This is therefore a time to act. A survey released yesterday said that despite a steady drop in deaths on roads over the years, the UK still has a bad record in terms of accidents per head compared with other EU countries. Successive governments have made very good progress in cutting accidents through alcohol limits, speed cameras, sleeping policemen, speed limits and so forth. But this good work could be undermined by yesterday's indecision. It is no use arguing against laws that are difficult to police. If hands-free phones increase accidents and deaths, they should be banned. If everyone else in the car knew it was illegal to phone and drive there would be great pressure on the .driver to desist. The government is often accused of failing to see the unintended consequences of policies. In this case the consequences are all too predictable.

Following a Cockburn Association [Edinburgh Civic Trust] initiative a meeting of some 40 community associations decided to set up the above network. Our member Tony Galloway, from Spokes Midlothian, attended the inaugural meeting and sees great opportunities to develop cycle routes in and through greenbelt areas, as well as participating in the general effort to enhance the greenbelt and protect it from many impending threats.

The aims and objectives of the Network are shown. If this interests you, please answer the questions below, and send them to Martin Hulse, Cockburn Association, Trunks Close, 55 High St, EH1 1SR, with if possible a copy to Spokes and to Tony Galloway, 42 Mitchell Street, Dalkeith EH22 1JQ.

The Edinburgh Greenbelt Network - Aims

The network is formed to promote and campaign for a reassessment of the role of the Edinburgh Greenbelt and surrounding countryside including the effective protection of its rural character, biodiversity, recreational quality and amenity offered to local communities.

The Edinburgh Greenbelt Network - Objectives

• ïTo co-ordinate and support the efforts of local organizations and individuals, informing them of the issues affecting other communities and promoting appropriate means of representation to campaign for the protection of the Greenbelt
• ïTo devise scenarios for growth in Edinburgh City Region that seek a genuine, holistic balance between all the principles of sustainable development and safeguarding and enhancement of environmental, recreational and quality of life values for communities
• ïTo enhance environmental & recreational linkage of Edinburgh's Greenbelt with the city edge and its rural hinterland and to promote a recognition that the region's most valuable natural resource is its productive top soils
• ïTo promote a review of Scotland's six greenbelts to provide an understanding of their condition, development pressures and performance that will help to formulate a new Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) to replace the current Planning Circular 24/85
• ïTo ensure that future management by central and local government of the city edge & its rural hinterland is derived from a new Greenbelt SPP and occurs through the measured long-term development plan process and not through the short term and reactive development control process
• ïTo promote the highest standards of design for all work undertaken in the Edinburgh Greenbelt and associated lands.

YOUR COMMENTS

Please help our Steering Group by giving us your responses to the following questions.

Your Name... Organisation (if applicable)...

Address... E-Mail...

1) Do you agree with our Aims and Objectives as set out? Yes/No

2) If no, please tell us why.

3) Please LIST any other objectives you would like to add.

4) Which objectives do you feel are most important? Please list in order of priority

5) Would you like to take an active involvement in the work of the Network or simply be kept in touch with progress?

6) Do you have any skills, experience or knowledge that can be of assistance to the Steering Group

• The Bike Station is arranging courses in cycle training and in first aid, all geared to people who want to learn to train adults and/or children in basic on-road cycling. The next set of courses will be late August / early September. The training is accredited and run by qualified tutors. There is a growing demand for trainers from Edinburgh community centres, schools, etc., and requests are having to be turned down due to too few trainers. More info - Grace Nicol 558.1682.
• Local Walks Project Worker Part-time job in an innovative pilot Currie/Balerno walks programme aimed initially at less-active older residents. Applicants should be interested in the outdoors and community development work with older adults. Closing date 12noon, 24 July. Vivienne Mackay 477.7733.