May 9/10: UK Cycle Campaign Network weekend conference, hosted by SPOKES and Edinburgh Council. Opening speech by Cllr David Begg (now a government adviser on the forthcoming Transport Policy White Paper). 100 delegates from across the UK expected to attend. Spokes members welcome. Lots of volunteer help still required. To offer (free) floor/bed accommodation to delegates, phone Mark 0131.229.7190 or Peter 0131.453. 3366. To help organise before or at the weekend, or to help lead rides round local bike facilities, phone Sandy 0131.551.2663. More details on conference and booking form.
May 16: 2nd UK car-free conference (Isle of Wight). Fee only £5 + £10 evening meal. Paul 0191.273.8042.
May 15-17: Folder Forum - for folding-bike users. Isle of Wight. Fee £5 + £10 for evening meal [if attending above event also, note the above meal is shared, so only pay £10 once] 01963.351649.
May 21: Seminar on fundraising for path construction. Organised by Paths for All Partnership. Venue: Alloa. Cost: £25. Details: Christine Murphy 01259.218888. [Book by 8 May].
June 4: Seminar 'Paths to Health', on health benefits of walking/cycling. Speakers probably from HEBS and Grampian Health Board, who reportedly are prescribing walking to patients! All other details as for May 21 seminar. [Book by 21 May]
Late May: MAILOUT TO ADVERTISE BIKE BREAKFAST (poster/flyer only, no leaflet).
June 10: SPOKES BICYCLE BREAKFAST. For details, or to help or suggest/offer stalls/displays etc, tel. 0131.553.5819.
June 20: Rail re-opening conference, Cambridge. Cost £14 inc lunch. D soames, 158 Atherstone Av, Peterborough PE3 9UN.
Late June (?): MAIN SUMMER SPOKES MAILOUT & SUMMER LEAFLET
July 30: Livingston Cycle Day - stalls, rides, maintenance, police, etc. We have been asked to run a stall, but haven't found any volunteers able to staff this, so will probably not be able to. If you can help, phone Dave 01506.670165.
Aug 13-17: Bike Events 5-day Holland ride in aid of Greenpeace. Details 01225.480130. Entry fee £229.
Sep 10: Paths for all ages. Details as May 21 seminar.
Nov ?: Sustainable transport for countryside access. Details as for May 21 seminar (provisional).
More events: See Diary page.
EDINBURGH COUNCIL CYCLE STAFFING
As reported in recent Spokes leaflets, dedicated cycle staffing in the council has fallen steeply. From the original Cycle Team of 3 full-time staff set up by Lothian Regional Council, the new Edinburgh Council now only has one full-time cycle officer! (Note: Edinburgh Council replaced Lothian in the City area when the last government abolished Lothian).
Admittedly, a lot of cycle facilities are now funded and handled through specific other projects (eg the Greenways, or the forthcoming A90 and CERT bike-routes). However, even here the one cycle officer has to get involved, and we feel there is far too much work for them to achieve all they should across the whole area of transport in Edinburgh.
One area which we feel is not working well enough is ensuring local
road/traffic/planning decisions are always bike-friendly - it is impossible
for one cycle officer to have a proper input into so many ongoing
decisions. Another example is that whilst Lothian used to bring out several
route leaflets a year, none have appeared in the 2 years since Edinburgh
took over. Another significant point - which emerged from our survey of
councils in 1997 - is that Edinburgh's level of specialist cycle staffing
is
now much lower than in any other Scottish cycle-friendly council.
We would like each of the Council's Area Teams to have one designated cycle officer, whilst the HQ unit would go up from its current one cycle officer to two. These staff would then together comprise the Council's Cycle Team.
Our concerns and our proposals were highlighted late last year in SPOKES 67 - and since then the cycle staffing has fallen even further, from 1.3 to 1.0! But now a new opportunity has arisen to press our case, since we hear that the City Development Department (which runs transport) is to be re-organised. We would greatly appreciate members writing to their councillor, asking them to raise with Cllr Begg [Transport Chair] the need for additional specialist cycle staffing.
In your letter, use the points above, and/or in Spokes 67. Also, if you know of recent road, traffic or planning schemes which have neglected cyclists, mention these as examples where more specialist cycle input was needed.
To find the name/address for your councillor, phone the citizens advice bureau (0131.557.1500) or use our Factsheet 1 - Councillors and MPs in Edinburgh and Lothian. Copy your letter and the reply to Spokes.
The government has launched a consultation on how the new Scottish Parliament should work. Responses are needed by 31.5.98. The (short) consultation can be found on the Scottish Office web site at www.scottish-devolution.org.uk.Or, phone 0131.244.5538, Mrs McCracken. Please send us a copy of your submission.
In preparing your comments, see the article on the Scottish Parliament in Spokes 68. Note, however, that the government has already changed the plans so that rail will now come under the Scottish Parliament.
The 1998 Sustrans price list is out - phone 0117.929.0888 for a copy.
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