Mar 21 (provisional) Family Cycling Day based on Edinburgh off-road paths. This is proposed, possibly as an annual event, by Mike Lindup, formerly of group Level 42. Although a London resident, Mike has Edinburgh contacts and was so impressed with our off-road paths that he devised this project. To help organise or for details phone him at 0181.946.1197 or fax 0181.947.4702.
Sustrans is organising one of the most spectacular Millennium events with a week long celebration of cycling and walking right across the nation on the National Cycle Network in midsummer week (19 - 25 June) of year 2000.
The NCN then will be 3,000 miles long. In Scotland this means Aberdeen to Inverness via Elgin and Banff; Inverness to Glasgow via Aviemore, Pitlochry, Callander, and Dumbarton; Glasgow to Gretna via Paisley, Ayr and Dumfries; Gourock to Leith via Paisley, Glasgow, Airdrie, Bathgate and Edinburgh; and Edinburgh to Dundee via Dunfermline and St Andrews.
There will be different themes throughout the week. One of these is Ride for Health where Sustrans will be working with its partners in the medical profession including local Health Boards.
Midsummer day itself will contain the Longest Ride when all 3,000 miles of the NCN will be ridden in segments of 30 to 50 miles by teams. On Saturday and Sunday (the 6th and 7th days) there will be the Tour de Fun, a gala finale to Ride the Net, when the aim will be to motivate 50,000 people in Scotland alone to get out on their bikes and explore their local section of the network.
While some of the events will be stage managed, there will be enormous scope for people and organisations right across the country to become involved. For example, this could be a sponsored ride or walk (the NCN is for walkers and wheel chairs too) in aid of a charity. Or how about creating a local record of the largest number of cyclists, or the greatest number of miles covered, a fancy dress event on cycles, a tree planting effort and so on. There is no limit to the number of ideas for an event.
Sustrans has appointed Andy Dunn as the Event Manager for Scotland. Andy is looking for ideas, and volunteers to assist in the organisation, and can be contacted at 01505-614302 (phone, fax and answering machine), amdunn@compuserve.com (e-mail) or at 3 Ranfurly Road, Bridge of Weir, Renfrewshire PA11 3ES.
Sustrans' web site can be found at http://www.sustrans.org.uk/ whilst there is a serparate one for Ride the Net at http://www.ridethenet.co.uk
Two Spokes members, Mark Symonds (229.7190) and Cathy Scott (667.6740), email (thistle@btinternet.com) are Spokes contacts/organisers for Ride the Net, so please contact them too with any local ideas or if you can help.
One idea leading to Ride the Net is a major art competition on the theme of the Sustrans network in Lothian area; probably with a large cash prize, and possibly in conjunction with a newspaper and/or large institution. The competition would be launched this autumn, with entries by Spring 2000, and awards in or just before Ride the Net week. Entries could range from a photograph to a sculpture. Hopefully the winning entry could be permanently displayed/installed in suitable location. Another idea is to design a signpost to the National Cycle Network, to be placed amidst bike parking at one or more important location(s) such as the Scottish Parliament or National Museum.
The Council is considering a pilot scheme for the above. Spokes has objected. Send your comments to: Barry Cross, Transport Planning Manager, Edinburgh Council, 1 Cockburn Street, EH1 1ZL. The officer working on the proposal is Roger Hargreaves 469.3624. The proposal came from Cllr Marilyne MacLaren, Marchmont ward (City Chambers, High Street, Edinburgh EH1).
We are in a period of unending consultations. Please do comment if you have useful or strong ideas. Current documents include...
Land Use Planning under a Scottish Parliament
Free from John O'Brien, Planning Div., Scottish Office Development Dept, Victoria Quay EH6 6QQ. 0131.244.7061. Responses must be in by 31 March.
The document proposes integrating sustainable development into planning legislation. On planning application procedures, we feel too much emphasis is now on league tables for speed of processing - this means less time for objections, and staff time devoted to speed rather than to handling objections properly. In some councils, objections are often not even acknowledged, and decisions on outcomes not sent to objectors. We would also like to see cycle network plans required in Local Plans.
Regional Transport Partnerships
Free from Ewan Cameron, Transport Div 1, Scottish Office Development Dept, Victoria Quay EH6 6QQ; or email to Ewan.cameron@ scotland.gov.uk. Responses to be in by 12 Mar.
The splitting-up of Lothian into small councils by the last gov-ernment was unfortunate for transport and planning. It is highly unlikely, for example, that Midlothian's A701 plans, or out-of-town IKEA would have progressed under an all-Lothian council. In contrast, rail projects and integrated public-transport ticketing might have moved faster. Big cycling projects might have been better co-ordinated, such as earlier action on the A89 Edinburgh-Broxburn-Livingston route. This consultation covers sharing of transport responsibilities across boundaries. We also want planning responsibilities better integrated with transport, so that for example different councils do not compete with each other, for out-of-towns car-based development.
Forth Integrated Management Strategy
Can be inspected at 1 Cockburn St; free copies may be available. Contact Mark Jennison 529.3457. Responses by 1st March.
Note - covers all aspects of Forth Estuary management, from fishing, pollution and tourism to transport, with not a great deal on transport. High emphasis stated on sustainability. Spokes has been pressing for priority to a Forth-circular walk/cycle path and for opposition to resurrecting another Forth Road Bridge.
| Wanted: Volunteers to
help with cycle training
As part of its Safe Routes to School Project Sciennes Primary School, Edinburgh would like to provide good quality cycling proficiency training to all Primary 6 and 7 pupils. In the past volunteer parents have helped with this and Sciennes will continue to ask parents to help. Sciennes, however, would like as many of the volunteers as possible to be cyclists themselves and are now appealing for volunteers from outside the school to help. Cycle training will take place during school hours with one training session being held in the summer term, probably in May and another in the autumn. Volunteers can help with either or both of these sessions. Full training will be provided. Volunteers need to:-
You may also be interested to hear that the Sciennes Safe Routes to School Group is setting up a Cycling Club for Primary 5, 6 and 7 pupils and their families. The emphasis will be on safety, fun and consideration for pedestrians. We will be making extensive use of cyclepaths such as the Innocent Railway and the Union Canal towpath and the Meadows paths. After all the bikes have received a safety check our first ride will be to the Meadows where we will show the children and parents exactly where cycling is allowed and where it is forbidden. We will also be emphasizing the need to cycle safely and with consideration for pedestrians. We shall keep a number of spare bikes that can be lent out to parents that don’t have one. Our hope is that a number of parents and families that have never considered cycling will try it out. None of this would be possible were it not for the cyclepaths that the council has invested in already. I’m sure that the children will really enjoy the rides and I hope that the council will take the opportunity to increase the walking and cycling network even further. |
| Jubilee 2000 is seeking the cancellation
of unpayable third world debts by the Millennium, and as part of the Scottish
coalition. A major event is to be held in Edinburgh on Saturday 12
June 1999. The purpose of this event is to raise the awareness of
poverty stricken nations having to service huge international loans rather
than developing their own infrastructure. It is anticipated that
upwards of 10,000 people will attend.
As one of the events on the day. it was suggested that a cycle ride could depart from Edinburgh and arrive in Cologne, in time for the G8 summit on Friday 18th June. Clearly such an event would need considerable planning and so I am canvassing for support. I am looking for dynamic, Self-financing individuals who would not only be part of the cycle ride, but could also help in the organisation of the event with myself and others. There are presently three of us involved in the project at this present moment in time but the impact we make in Cologne will be much greater if we are a larger group. Obviously the logistical problems increase with the number of cyclists but with more people, the workload can be spread to a very manageable level. At the moment the idea is still at a very early stage, but I hope, with your support, that we can get this project off the ground. As a member of Spokes myself, please could you canvas your members for interest and forward their details to me. Details of a formal meeting will then be held to initiate the planning of this event. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Yours sincerely, Andrew Waugh, 8 Orwell Place, Edinburgh EH11 2AE 0131-313-3647 |
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ARE YOU UNDER 25? Do you have interests in a sport, or a hobby? Do you help your community or the environment in any way? Perhaps you're regularly involved in campaigning for SPOKES? Fancy getting away with some friends for 2, 3 or 4 days on a cycle expedition? All these activities count towards a nationally recognised youth award based on personal development, commitment, recognition and fun. The Duke of Edinburgh's Award has over 2000 activities that could count towards gaining this prestigious Award. There are over 1300 young people locally participating in the Award aged 14 - 25, and a wide variety of groups that take part. 100,000 people take part nationally every year, so it must be good! To find out more about the Award, please contact the local office on 0131 529 7074, or pop into 23 Waterloo Place, Edinburgh. LEAP 2, 23 Waterloo Place, Edinburgh
EH1 3BH
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Edinburgh Council has been granted Government funds for experimental bike parking in tenement closes. They need one more tenement in EH5/EH6 where bike parking is a problem. Preferably with a shop on the ground floor, but not essential. If interested contact Dave Holladay (Consultant) on 0141-400-2933 or email tramsol@aol.com
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