Nov 7 Talk by Murray Falconer Scottish Green Party transport spokesperson. Autumn meeting of Railway Development Society (Scotland), 1400-1700pm, Quality Central Hotel, 95 Gordon St, Glasgow (near Central station). Details: 01383.416319.
Nov 17 Safer/Active routes to School seminar Health Education Board for Scotland (HEBS) , 1030-1230, Edinburgh., based on experience of current project in Glasgow, led by Glasgow Health Board. Details: Margaret Richardson, HEBS 0131.536.5500.
Dave Holladay, Spokes member and specialist
on linking bikes and public transport, wishes to contact any member with
access to use of a professional video suite, for several projects. Includes
converting US bike/rail videos to PAL format for UK use, and producing
lobbying videos on bike/rail & bike/bus potential and practice. 0141.332.4733.
Or email tramsol@aol.com
The huge lottery-funded Fife cycle project is well underway. It is now possible to get the train from Edinburgh to Dundee, Cupar or Ladybank (bike reservations necessary, but free), then cycle all the way back to the Forth Bridge entirely on cycle routes (mainly signposted on-road routes), apart from a few miles not yet complete near Kinross. Also (reservations not essential) from stations at Kirkcaldy or Thornton, cycling via Markinch and Falkland. The off-road path to Clackmannanshire border from Dunfermline is also open, with work now well underway on the continuation to Alloa. From the Forth Bridge you can if you wish train back to Edinburgh from N.Queensferry or Dalmeny. A free map of all completed Fife routes, also rail stations, forms the centre-page spread in Issue 2 of project newsletter Cycleclips. Free from Kingdom of Fife Millennium Cycle Project, Fife Council, North St, Glenrothes KY7 5LT. 01592.413043. Text of issue 1
A mass of events across the UK will mark the opening of the first 3000 miles of the Sustrans National Network, in year 2000. Spokes requests ideas from members as to what we could do. Since there will be many rides across Britain, including probably some locally, we are also looking for imaginative and different ideas! For example, some project &/or competition that members could be told about early in the year in a mailing, so members in their households, families or small groups could work on in the winter/spring, culminating in some major event/ride/exhibition etc later in the year. All ideas - and volunteer organisers - please contact Spokes as soon as possible. Without ideas, and organiser(s) we will do nothing!
Several members have asked about this proposal, which emerged earlier this year. The idea apparently emerged from the LCC management committee [LCC is much larger than Spokes, with quite a few paid staff, so has a professional management], and was highlighted in their magazine London Cyclist. However, letters in the next issue showed a distinct wariness from present and past activists and grass-roots members, and a recent LCC general meeting to discuss the issue voted 4-1 against.
Arguments for the merger had been that a single voice for all cyclists would carry more credibility, especially with the proposed new London council and mayor; that there would be big savings in staffing and other costs, allowing stronger campaign efforts; and that the CTC now does excellent campaigning work, especially at UK level - they regularly produce extremely useful campaign-related publications [much used by LCC, Spokes, etc].
Arguments against included the fact that cycle lobbying has been pretty successful in influencing government recently under the existing setup - why risk changing it and risk losing the commitment of a primarily volunteer-based campaign group?; and that campaigning is not the CTC's top priority or focus - there is a big focus on numbers of members (to generate income), and thus on services to attract members (including even some car-park discounts). A top CTC aim is 'working for all cyclists' - whether it is racing, mountain-biking, or even long-distance bicycle car-carrying [the CTC York rally provides 1200 car pitches plus an edge-of-site car park for those wishing to drive around York!] - these activities benefit the individual cyclists concerned, but are not relevant to camapign group objectives, and in some cases may be contradictory to them.Story on bikenews site
As we have mentioned in several recent issues of Spokes(Spokes 69), the council plans a cycleroute along part of the A90, as a crucial link in the Edinburgh to Forth Bridge route. The route would run between Burnshot and Dolphington flyovers, with connecting measures at each end to the relevant cycleroutes/minor-roads. The finance is as part of a government-funded package, the main element being for bus-priority measures. The package has proved more expensive than hoped, and so has had to be modified, but the council assures us that the cycleroute will still be provided. The construction date is not yet known, and design not complete.
The detailed design of the Parliament is
to be exhibited in late October or November. Keep your eyes on the newspapers
for exhibition details, then go along and make comments. See Spokes
68 & Spokes 69 for our earlier
thoughts. Points to consider include limiting car-spaces at the building
[normal Council standards for a building of that size in Edinburgh centre
would allow only 30-40 spaces, but the developers want that plus
one space for every MSP!]; closing off Holyrood Road to motor traffic [this
was in the architect's original plans - we trust that will not change];
and good access to the site for public transport, walking and cycling.
Please send us a copy of your letter when you send in comments.
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The new government, particularly in Scotland, is so far sticking to its promise to move away from building new trunk roads as the normal response to transport demands [Spokes 69]. However, it is under huge pressure on this from many quarters, not just AA, RAC, etc, but also from political opponents and even many local Labour councillors and MPs [e.g. Tom Clarke MP, on the A8/M8 in the Herald 21.10.98; and John Home Robertson MP on the A1]. Governments are very sensitive to such pressure, especially with elections looming in 1999 for Scottish Parliament, local councils and European Parliament. It is therefore essential for the government, MPs, etc, to see public support for positive decisions on sustainable transport.
When the government announced recently it was cancelling the Conservative plans for A8/M8 expansion between Baillieston and Newhouse, up to 14-lanes in places (including parallel side roads), they were attacked by Conservatives, Liberals and SNP, and there were also letters in the national press from councillors and individual motorists, with similar points. However, there was a distinct lack of letters supporting the government decision.
This is very unfortunate for the future, as if the government feels such decisions are widely unpopular, they may be tempted to a more conservative position. For example, a decision likely in the next few months is what to do about the M8/A8 in the above area - major structural and safety improvements are needed, and there is great pressure to get an additional lane built at the same time. If that happens it is likely to be the thin end of the wedge to widen the entire M8, with huge consequences for traffic growth, more long-distance car-commuting, shopping and leisure, and major impact on public transport and on traffic conditions in adjacent towns and cities. There is also a review of outstanding trunk road proposals from the last government due late this year.
One of the things you can do is actively support government decisions that you approve of - don't just wait to complain when you don't like something - it's often too late then! If you think the government was right to cancel A8/M8 motorway expansion at Baillieston/Newhouse, it's not too late to tell them! Write to your MP, explain briefly your views, and ask them to pass on your congratulations to the Scottish Office Roads Minister, Calum MacDonald, and your hope he will continue such policies.
For the future, keep your eyes on the press, and write the occasional letter of thanks/congratulation where it is merited - either as a 'Letter to the Editor', or to your MP. If you see statements by Labour MPs who are out of line with government policies (eg Tom Clarke as above), why not write to them also? Just write to the MP at House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA.
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 Spokes
is looking for volunteers to join a work group to clear vegetation from
overgrown cycle-paths...we can provide the tools if you supply the muscle!
First session is proposed for Saturday 14 November at Fiveways/Warriston. There may be further sessions between then and February (possibly done jointly with other conservation bodies) so if you are interested but can't make the above date please let us know anyway. Please contact: Tim Smith 0131-554-7264 or Peter Hawkins 0131-453-3366 |
or write to Climate Change Team, AEFD Environment, Area 1H-98A, Scottish Office, Victoria Quay EH6 6QQ
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