The Scottish Office has already done a lot to move away from the old roads-dominated transport agenda. For example, an almost complete halt to building of new trunkroads, the trunk 'roads review' - still underway after nearly 2 years, the fuel duty budget increases, proposals to test road-tolls on the M8 and congestion-charging (of some form) in Edinburgh, conversion to public-transport schemes of the previous Conservative's Challenge Fund which largely went on council road-building.

There is no doubt that new Transport and Environment Minister, Sarah Boyack, is fully committed to the government's election manifesto promises for an integrated transport policy, road-user charging to pay for improved sustainable transport measures, and much closer links in decision-making between transport and environment, public health and the economy. Specifically on cycling, we await a reply to our letter asking how the manifesto promise to 'extend' support for cycling will be carried out [ Spokes 73], but have had hopeful signs.

However, anyone reading the Scottish press will be aware of the considerable opposition to such policies, in those areas where they 'hit' the motorist. This is also being reflected in the New Parliament where many of the Parliamentary Questions and debates on transport focus on lobbying by MSPs for new roads in their local area - including Labour MSPs, regardless of the cautious attitude to new roads in the Labour manifesto.

The pressure on government from the road-lobby (supportedby much of the press and by AA/RAC campaigns) is very intense;and a proportion of Labour MSPs at all levels would like to see a more motorist-friendly policy, regardless of traffic levelscontinuing to rise as a result. If these MSPs were to gain theupper hand, even perhaps if the government were frightened into appointing a different Minister at the next re-shuffle, it would be very serious for transport policy over the next few years. This is a real danger for, say, a year's time, with the road-lobby promising that their campaign is only now beginning.

We therefore urge you to make your voice heard! Please try and influence the current debate, both in the new Parliament and in the press.

If you see newspaper letters or articles which you disagree with, please do send in a reply. Also, write to and/or visit your constituency MSP (and, if possible, all the 'list' MSPs for your area, e.g. Lothians). Do not write a lengthy letter - choose one or two main points. Better to write another letter a few weeks later,or to another MSP, with other points. Ask your MSP if they agree with you, and what they will do about it. Ask them to raise your point with the Transport Minister, or to ask a Parliamentary Question on the matter.

You may well have points you already feel strongly about, but if not, here are some things Spokes would like you to raise. If you use one or two of these ideas, please phrase them in your own words, or add your own explanation and views. There are plenty more ideas in Spokes 73. Please send us any useful replies.

• What does the government propose to do to implement its manifesto promise to "extend" support for cycling.
• Does the Scottish government propose to set Scotland-wide traffic-reduction targets, as the UK government already  is committed to doing, and if so, when.
• How does the government propose to ensure that councils have more money for things like walking, cycling, safe routesto schools, preferably in the near future, and that they do spend it on those things [also give your own example why more is needed in your area].
• The Scottish government's Transport Bill promises charges for workplace car-spaces. Will they also bring in charges on large superstores for the number of car-parking spaces, as recommended by the House of Commons Select Committee on Transport [Spokes 73].
• Does your MSP agree that the government should not be increasing road capacity through new or wider roads, because of the affect on towns, cities, the countryside, public health,and the global environment?
• In view of common claims that new roads are vital for the national or local economy, will the government agree to delay the Scottish Roads Review, to take account of the forthcoming SACTRA report into the relationship between new roads and economic development. [This is an independent report being prepared for the UK government, due out in August].
• How will the government ensure that Public Health and the Environment are given full consideration in all decisions on transport by councils and by the government itself? [give oneor two examples of why this is important].

For any queries about who is your MSP: 0131.348.5000

The LOCAL MSPs in and around Edinburgh are:

Edinburgh Central - Sarah Boyack   Edinburgh East - Susan Deacon

Edinburgh North - Malcolm Chisholm    Edinburgh Pentlands - Iain Gray

Edinburgh South - Angus Mackay    Edinburgh West - Margaret Smith

Linlithgow - Mary Mulligan    Livingston - Bristow Muldoon

Midlothian - Rhona Brankin    East Lothian - John Home Robertson

You can also write to all the Lothians LIST MSPs:

James Douglas-Hamilton, Con    David McLetchie, Con

David Steel, LibDem    Kenny MacAskill, SNP

Margo MacDonald, SNP    Fiona Hyslop, SNP

Robin Harper, Green

Whether writing to your Local MSP or List MSPs, put their area in brackets: eg if you live in East Edinburgh, write to:

Susan Deacon MSP (Edinburgh East), or when writing to a list MSP, say, James Douglas-Hamilton MSP (Lothians); then put the address, The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh EH99 1SP.
 
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• Blue Dawes tandem for sale. £500. Trailer free to purchaser. All in excellent condition. 01506.847955.
• Support worker posts for Robin Harper, the new Lothians Green Party MSP. Admin officer (£11-15K) and Policy officer(£14-17K). Phone 0131.478.7896 (ansaphone) for application pack. Applications must be in by Fri 16 July.
• Bike-friendly guest house accommodation, Dumfries, near rail station, advice on cycle routes. Irene Pearson 01387.252262.

July 18 Livingston Family Cycle Organised by Ranger Service,2-4pm. Meet at Lanthorn community centre, Dedridge. Bring own bike and snack. Cost £1/50p. Book/details: 01506.415441.

August National Road Victim Month RoadPeace, the UK road traffic victims charity, plans a series of simple events [eg public poetry readings, leafleting, etc] across Britain, to highlight the stillhuge toll of road death and injury. If you can help in local events phone 0181.838.5102, or email info@roadpeace.org.uk or see www.roadpeace.org.uk. [RoadPeace also have a helpline for road traffic victims/families. This is 0181.964.1021].

Sept 3 Clackmannanshire Cycle Network Opening - dateprovisional. A map of the network (street maps of Alloa & other towns on reverse) has just been published for the Council by Harveys 01786.841202. Free copy of map to everyone attending the opening. Details Derek Halden or Neil Deasley at Clack.Council, Development Services. 01259.452000.

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Scottish Councils are being asked to submit Local Transport Strategies to the government. Without such a plan, they cannot apply to the government Public Transport Fund. The first councilin our area to issue a draft strategy for consultation is Midlothian,who want replies by July 30. The draft strategy costs £5 (cheque to Midlothian Council, or call with cash) from Rico Nombro,Midlothian Council, 8 Lothian Road, Dalkeith EH22 3ZN. 0131.271.3518; or you can inspect it at that address. Please do send in comments - and send us a copy too - soon if possible, so we can take them into account in our own submission.

We have only just received the draft, and it has not been considered yet by our Planning Group, but a few obvious points...

• p38 - The council is allocating reducing funds for transport,and the sum for 'improvement schemes', which includes  cycle schemes, fall from £148K in 1999 to just £6K(!) in 2001.
• The strategy in general shows a new emphasis - at least in words - on sustainable transport modes, especially rail.
• See also comments on this below, under Spokes Pathways Group.
• However, it includes a mass of road reservations (p24).
• The controversial A701 dual-carriageway proposal is buried deep (p24 & 37), but we imagine it is still a top priority.
• p12, 27 & others refer to safe routes to school, but at first look I didn't spot a mention of the planned major new Dalkeithschools campus. Its location is going to be vital to how future generations travel to school, and this must be included.

     Britain and the other European members of the World Health Organisation, have signed up to a Charter on Transport, Environment and Health. This commits governments to significant steps to integrate policies in the 3 above areas. For example, health impact assessments of strategic transport decisions will be required, the costs of not adopting healthy-travel modes must be considered, taxes etc must be modified to reflect cost to the community, and cycle and  walking networks must be developed. The WHO is now to look into whether such commitments could/should be legally binding. The charter is on the Internet at www.who.dk/london99/

     Most councils now have Lottery Millennium Grant funds for individuals or communities organising projects to celebrate the Millennium. Contact your local council general enquiry office for details. For example, Edinburgh has grantsof around £2000-£5000 for individuals for new projects "which contribute towards sustainable development". Have you dreamed of setting up a local bike workshop; distributing a map of local cycleroutes to every household in your neighbourhood; organising an adult cycle-training scheme;etc??? If you have the time, this could provide the money! Details: 0131.469.3583 Marianne Mason.
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• 'Bikefest 2000 at the Meadows' - already booked, following the success of our recent Victoria Park event. Sun 25 June,2000, with convergence rides along Sustrans routes 1 & 75. If you have ideas - especially for any Cycling Celebrities who might like to come along - contact Mark 0131.334.2653.
• We are hoping to produce a Spokes 2000 Book, possibly like our Edinburgh for Cyclists of 1980(!), and/or maybe including map centre-pages. Contact Mark (above) with ideas.
• Edinburgh and Glasgow have won the bid to host the Velo-City international 2001 cycle conference. This will bring 500 delegates to Edinburgh on Sep 10-11, then cycling to Glasgow for Sep 13-14. Spokes and Strathclyde's Go-Bike have been heavily involved in preparing the successful bid,and now we must work up ideas & facilities for the event. We may also raise money to bring cycle campaign delegates from developing countries. Ideas/help: Ian Maxwell 0131.669.6542
• Our 1999 Edinburgh Cycle Map is now out, cost £4.95 from shops. Special £4 post-free offer from Spokes till 31.7.99.
• The person who in the past has leafleted bikes parked at the Scottish Office for us has moved to another office. He asks if any other member who works at Victoria Quay would like to take over [approx 40 bikes to be leafleted 3-4 times a year]. Contact Spokes if you work at Victoria Quay and could do it.

For further details & to help, contact Tim Smith 0131.554.7264.
 

• Controlling path vegetation. This is the worst time of year - lots of rain, vigorous growth. Vegetation obstructs visibility,smacks you in the face, catches pedals, etc. You could report bad cases through Clarence (0800.232323), but Edinburgh Council has minimal funding - one visit per path per summer, with flail tractor.

For large-scale tasks, contact Tim for group help and tools.

• Adopt-a-path. Whether or not you are a member of Pathways group, would you check and 'trim' a path near your home regularly, say for a few hours a month? This would allow us to cover the whole area more thoroughly. Contact Tim if you like this idea - there may be others near you to help.
• Giant Hogweed Alert!!! A very invasive plant, which can be harmful. When green looks like giant cuddly rhubarb, but its sap is caustic and reacts with sunlight to cause serious long-term burns. If found near a path, report to the council Recreation Dept - they have a statutory duty to kill it. Also follow it up by checking that spraying has been done effectively over the whole site - plants go yellow, then black.
• Straiton to Loanhead railway path. Great progress has been already made in clearing the route and filling holes in the ballast. However, this year's growth has been amazingly vigorous! The path is 'open', and if you have a mountain bike and kevlar buttocks you could possibly cycle it now!
• Bilston Glen Viaduct - a magnificent Grade 1 listed structure and a vital cycleroute link - being renovated by MidlothianCouncil - due to reopen 31.8.99 (8 months late). We should use this to publicise our work (with Loanhead conservationgroup) above. Any ideas? A mass ride from Straiton? We will need a few more work sessions in the next two months to clear the last debris, so, cardholders, expect a call from Tim!
• The Green Belt Trust are contracting for a tarmac path from the viaduct into Loanhead, to be built by end 1999. In the longer term, Midlothian Council are hoping to reopen the rail line from Millerhill to Loanhead and/or Straiton or Penicuik. [see Midlothian Local Transport Strategy article].We don't yet know if a cycleway can be included, but a light 'tram' type of scheme might allow it. Why not send in comments on this to the Strategy consultation?

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