http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Tag: sustrans - Recent Posts en Wed, 13 May 2026 01:52:23 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19121#post-291475 Tue, 18 Sep 2018 12:23:52 +0000 gembo 291475@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Sounds like tyhe Sutrans Chuggers are raising money in this country for their less well funded sister down south?</p> <p>I would resist </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19121#post-291451 Tue, 18 Sep 2018 10:45:56 +0000 Morningsider 291451@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Sustrans have 85.9 FTE staff in Scotland - by far their largest office, employing 30 more people than their London area office. They may be a charity in the rest of the UK, but in Scotland they are better funded and staffed than most local authority transport departments - at the taxpayers expense. </p> <p>This isn't a criticism of what they do - but it is clearly false to portray themselves as a charity. </p> <p>I regularly see the chuggers about in The Meadows and on the canal. I stopped once and the conversation can be summarised as:</p> <p>Chugger: Do you know about the NCN?</p> <p>Me: Yes.</p> <p>Chugger: Have you heard about Sustrans?</p> <p>Me: Yes, I was chatting with (Sustrans bigwig) yesterday?</p> <p>Chugger: Who?</p> <p>Me: Bye...</p> <p>They do more harm than good, I reckon.</p> <p>Details: <a href="https://www.sustrans.org.uk/sites/default/files/file_content_type/sustrans_annualreview_2017-18_withaccounts_signed.pdf" rel="nofollow">https://www.sustrans.org.uk/sites/default/files/file_content_type/sustrans_annualreview_2017-18_withaccounts_signed.pdf</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19121#post-291450 Tue, 18 Sep 2018 10:05:05 +0000 acsimpson 291450@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Are they the same contractors who Sustrans blame for poor driving/parking of branded vehicles? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19121#post-291341 Mon, 17 Sep 2018 12:42:57 +0000 threefromleith 291341@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Given their driving and parking a 4x4 on the Chancelot Path by the junction, and standing interviewing <strong><em>in the middle of the path</em></strong> at the busy Fiveways junction, I really don't think much of the chugger volunteers at all.</p> <p>Rather than endear Sustrans to cyclists, they just turned this one right off them! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19121#post-291339 Mon, 17 Sep 2018 12:33:14 +0000 neddie 291339@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@IWRATS</p> <p>Agreed. Active travel needs to be seen as mainstream, a 'must do' not a 'nice to have' and certainly not as a charity. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19121#post-291336 Mon, 17 Sep 2018 12:27:48 +0000 I were right about that saddle 291336@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Given that <a href="https://www.sustrans.org.uk/sites/default/files/scotland_review_2018.pdf">98% of Sustrans' funding comes from Transport Scotland</a> what on earth would anyone 'join' for?</p> <p>Sustrans is the civil service without the disclosure or accountability. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19121#post-291332 Mon, 17 Sep 2018 12:11:15 +0000 crowriver 291332@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Most of the routes I cycle I heard about first through Sustrans. "</p> <p>That's interesting. For me, it was Spokes and their wonderful maps (and the wee booklet "My Favourite Edinburgh Bike Rides") that alerted me to various off-road routes I had no idea existed. Sustrans came afterwards, as they advertise(d) in the Spokes newsletter. The Sustrans site, and the waterproof maps they produce, are very useful for touring, family cycling, even audax route planning.....helping one avoid that busy A road in favour of a quieter NCN unclassified road or surfaced path.</p> <p>I've been approached in the past by Sustrans chuggers at 5 ways and by Glasgow Green. In both cases I answered their questions but declined to take up membership. Surely it's useful for them to know that folk have actually heard of them, the NCN, etc? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19121#post-291330 Mon, 17 Sep 2018 11:54:12 +0000 DaveC 291330@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Sustrans had 'charity recruiters' Chuggers at the 5 ways junction all summer. I stopped once and was given the blurb and asked to donate regularly. I declined as I have a couple of charities I have signed up for this year. It is really off putting when charities put the recruitment out to 3rd party professional companies. I know everyone has to earn money but I prefer not to be recruited by a paid employee who is not part of the organisation. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19121#post-291316 Mon, 17 Sep 2018 10:41:31 +0000 paddyirish 291316@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Not wishing to defend this, especially any false claims of creating paths, but what proportion of cyclists in Edinburgh are genuinely aware of the innertube, spokes maps, current campaigns and the great work that campaigners do? </p> <p>A disproportionate people of this parish are deeply aware of all issues affecting Edinburgh Cycling, but Sustrans resources will be spread thin nationally and only skim the surface. That said, if I was wanting to ask locals for funding, I'd want at least a basic knowledge of the key local issues.</p> <p>As an analogy, if you read an article in a "quality" newspaper about something you have little knowledge of, it seems useful. That is, until you read an article on which you have more knowledge than the journalist and suddenly you spot all the mistakes, and wonder how accurate their articles are on issues you are not up to date on. </p> <p>Sustrans are working on the lowest denominator and trying to reach cyclists who know little of these efforts, so they will not add anything for those who are already knowledgeable or active campaigners. </p> <p>Most of the routes I cycle I heard about first through Sustrans. Now I'm much more aware of the resources out there and the power of local groups, they are less useful to me, but they did get me started and if I moved to a new area, especially wanting to get between towns, they would probably still be the first place I looked. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19121#post-291311 Mon, 17 Sep 2018 10:19:14 +0000 chdot 291311@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>At best I assume it’s Sustrans members volunteering, though ‘professional charity collectors’ seems more likely. </p> <p>Either way it would seem they are getting inadequate training exampled by exaggated claims eg ‘responsible for creating NEPN’ (post on different thread). </p> <p>Has to be assumed ignorance rather than deliberate, certainly unfortunate. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19121#post-291307 Mon, 17 Sep 2018 09:58:55 +0000 lingcat 291307@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Them being charity muggers makes so much sense. Thanks for solving my wee mystery! </p> <p>This explains all the blank looks when I mentioned the Innertube and the delay on the canal-Meadows link -- and also the weird comments on things like showers being super-important, and the whole women-don't-cycle-because-of-skirts thing (said by a woman, to a woman, wtf).</p> <p><blockquote>"Also, it grinds my gears that representatives from Sustrans are clearly less interested or knowledgeable about their subject than I."</blockquote></p> <p>Yeah, and it seems like a poorly thought-out strategy, given that the people who are most likely to stop are probably the nutjobs like me who just want to talk about transport policy all the time. I'd love to see some data on how many people they sign up that way, compared to how many cyclists they send off with a terrible impression of Sustrans. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19121#post-291305 Mon, 17 Sep 2018 09:26:30 +0000 Nelly 291305@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I spoke to the Meadows sustrans lot last weekend when out with my son - asked if I had a couple of minutes to answer questions.</p> <p>Was a bit disappointed that, when asked the questions about commuting, my opinions on cycling in Edinburgh etc etc.........none of it was recorded.</p> <p>She was, of course, quick to record my details in order that Sustrans could sign me up for a minimum of £5 a month.</p> <p>That one went straight to Spam when it arrived. It might have had a better chance of success if it had been a bit more apparent from the off what this was about. </p> <p>Also, it grinds my gears that representatives from Sustrans are clearly less interested or knowledgeable about their subject than I.</p> <p>Sadly, I think they are only there to sign up bodies and it feels no different to the "got a few minutes for Oxfam" bods on MMW, Princes Street etc. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19121#post-291288 Sun, 16 Sep 2018 22:11:11 +0000 gembo 291288@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I was flagged down by Sustrans at Harrison park once. I said this flagging folk down must be tricky, they said yes. I said why don't u go along the towpath a bit to The Canal Festival where Sustrans have a lovely stall. They had no idea. Maybe this flagging bit of Sustrans are just Charity Muggers with Sustrans t shirts today, oxfam t shirts tomorrow? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19121#post-291281 Sun, 16 Sep 2018 21:15:31 +0000 ARobComp 291281@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I was at the playpark this morning and the two ladies by the tennis courts tried to flag me down on my way to coffee. </p> <p>I say flag me down... one of them reluctantly raised an arm and mumbled something about "NCN". </p> <p>Maybe it was too early. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19121#post-291278 Sun, 16 Sep 2018 20:37:46 +0000 neddie 291278@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yep. Same thing happened to me when I was stopped at 5-ways</p> <p>They had no clue the council were about to spend £900k on the North Edinburgh Path Network</p> <p>They were only interested in if I’d “heard of Sustrans” &amp; if I’d seen their “amazing” map showing how Sustrans had grown* the National Cycle Network </p> <p>*Mostly paths &amp; minor roads that were already there </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19121#post-291276 Sun, 16 Sep 2018 18:48:01 +0000 lingcat 291276@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Ohhhhhhhh, they're trying to get members? She did ask if I was already a member, and I said yes, so I guess I scuppered the main point of the interaction. </p> <p>By that stage she'd already asked if I felt safe cycling in Edinburgh and received an earful (not an aggressive one, but one with Opinions), so I guess she was a bit sorry she didn't ask the most important question first.</p> <p>Not sure why they're not providing their (presumably) volunteers with a passing knowledge of the local bike issues. It was a frankly weird interaction, just constantly feeling like I was waiting to get the point of why I'd been stopped. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19121#post-291275 Sun, 16 Sep 2018 18:34:49 +0000 wingpig 291275@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I passed them several times over the course of several years before one hailed me when I went past. I was disappointed that they knew nothing of the locality and were basically just trying to get personal info, not collecting opinions. I provided some anyway, particularly about Gilberstoun/Paddockholm-style convolutions. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19121#post-291274 Sun, 16 Sep 2018 18:31:28 +0000 lingcat 291274@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hello CCE! Long-time lurker, first-time poster here. I stopped for the second time today to chat to some Sustrans folk at the Meadows, and was wondering about others' experiences of them and if anyone knows what they're trying to achieve with this.</p> <p>Both times I've stopped for a chat, I've got the impression that the people I was talking to weren't fantastically well-informed (today, I was told the planned Meadows to New Town route wasn't going to be segregated ... but also that there would be a barrier between the bike path and the road -- and also that fewer women bike because of the kind of clothes they wear!), and didn't really have any particular questions to ask other than "Do you know about Sustrans" and "Have you heard about the NCN". </p> <p>Just curious, really! Find it a bit baffling as I can't work out what their goal is here. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19071#post-289652 Sun, 26 Aug 2018 16:52:26 +0000 AIMC 289652@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>First primary school pump station ready for installation at Sciennes Primary. Junior Road Safety Officers worked with Sustrans staff to produce this colourful and useful information board. <img src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1856/29343132847_ff2c00a2a2.jpg"></p> <p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/chdot/29343132847/sizes/o/">Original size</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16263#post-216606 Thu, 14 Apr 2016 12:34:44 +0000 Min 216606@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Astonishing that the subcontractor even considered driving along there. Lazy b*. </em></p> <p>"I'm doing my bit for the environment" BROOOMMMMMM! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16263#post-216604 Thu, 14 Apr 2016 12:32:12 +0000 PS 216604@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Astonishing that the subcontractor even considered driving along there. Lazy b*. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16263#post-216587 Thu, 14 Apr 2016 11:36:12 +0000 bruce_mcadam 216587@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I saw a similar sign and hi-vis presence at Bruntsfield Links yesterday (no car, but they stood in middle of path rather than on the grass). Are they actually stopping people to ask questions or doing some sort of count? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16263#post-216574 Thu, 14 Apr 2016 10:40:05 +0000 chdot 216574@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"</p> <p>John Lauder (@John_Lauder)<br /> 14/04/2016, 10:37 am<br /> @SRDorman @SustransScot @CyclingEdin @LAHinds Yes, it was a subcontractor, not observing contract. Is now off path. </p> <p><a href="http://pic.twitter.com/2QvcPrBPTZ" rel="nofollow">http://pic.twitter.com/2QvcPrBPTZ</a></p> <p>" </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16263#post-216573 Thu, 14 Apr 2016 10:30:23 +0000 himupstairs 216573@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>It was still there at about 9.45. From a distance it looked like a stolen and abandoned car.<br /> Seemed pretty daft. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16263#post-216572 Thu, 14 Apr 2016 10:15:17 +0000 Min 216572@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>*speechless*</em> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16263#post-216571 Thu, 14 Apr 2016 10:03:18 +0000 SRD 216571@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thanks for this Davidsonsdave - too horrible. Chdot and I have both tweeted. No reply yet from sustrans. presumably they 'outsourced' the survey? can only desperately hope that no one who actually works for them would be idiotic enough to do this. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16263#post-216560 Thu, 14 Apr 2016 09:25:02 +0000 panyagua 216560@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yes, I saw that. If I hadn't been hurrying to work I would have stopped and asked why they felt the need to bring a car onto the path. What kind of signal does that send out? Given the only people likely to have time to fill in questionnaires at 8.20 in the morning are more likely to be walking dogs than heading to work, I fear the results may not reflect the views of the cycling community very accurately. I hope I'm wrong. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16263#post-216557 Thu, 14 Apr 2016 09:20:49 +0000 davidsonsdave 216557@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Did anyone else balk when they saw the sustrans survey taking place on the Roseburn Path this morning? It was less than 100m away from a road where one could park a car.<img src="https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/106112457/IMG_20160414_082328.jpg"> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13086#post-159848 Mon, 21 Jul 2014 09:48:23 +0000 cb 159848@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Strathyre to Kingshouse path is <a href="http://www.sustrans.org.uk/news/new-cycling-and-walking-path-officially-opened-between-strathyre-and-kingshouse">now open</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=56.3490&amp;mlon=-4.3290#map=15/56.3490/-4.3290&amp;layers=C">Not on OSM yet</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13135#post-159679 Fri, 18 Jul 2014 10:27:17 +0000 algo 159679@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@gkgk - that's fantastic advice…. a bit like "well if you wanted to get there, I wouldn't have started from here"... </p>