http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Transport Stats Show Ministers' Failure en Mon, 01 Jun 2026 04:34:15 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11020#post-162169 Thu, 14 Aug 2014 12:16:23 +0000 Min 162169@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yes. It demonstrates who is really running the country IMO.</p> <p>What we need is less jaw jaw and more war war! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11020#post-162166 Thu, 14 Aug 2014 12:00:28 +0000 chdot 162166@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"There's your problem"</p> <p>And politicians giving 'voters' what they think they want rather than looking at things - health, wellbeing, transport need, obesity, land use, Climate Change - and showing some leadership. </p> <p>We have a generation of politicians (Scotland and, even more so, UK) concerned about focus groups, certain Media owners and large international companies (usually the ones that don't pay much tax - but that's not what bothers Governments if they can get people to pay through 'austerity'). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11020#post-162164 Thu, 14 Aug 2014 11:52:50 +0000 Min 162164@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>The Scottish Government aims to get more people making active travel choices for their everyday journeys, to improve health and the environment. </em></p> <p>Yes but it aims to do it by popping up every so often and saying "hey folks, why don't you walk or cycle more?" whilst simultaneously pouring billions into motor-only bridges, motorways and duel carriageways. </p> <p>There's your problem. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11020#post-162160 Thu, 14 Aug 2014 11:25:53 +0000 crowriver 162160@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"However, behaviour change does not happen overnight."</p> <p>Are they referring to "the people" or the behaviour of Transport Scotland and government ministers?</p> <p>Certainly "behaviour change" is unlikely to happen given the current programme of building dual carriageways, bypasses and motorways... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11020#post-162141 Thu, 14 Aug 2014 09:48:04 +0000 I were right about that saddle 162141@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Well to day I had to come in to work from Leith. Leith to the Office Development That Must Not Be Named between Maybury and the airport. I figured that I'd rumble up the Water of Leith to Roseburn and take the quiet route/Balgreen path to Edinburgh Park, then go under the bypass by the tunnel to Gogar Station Road.</p> <p>Now I've lived in Edinburgh most of my adult life and cycled pretty much everywhere for all of that time. Despite this fact I kept missing turns and going the wrong way. The WoL path was blocked. I cut through town heading for the Balgreen path but missed it becase it's signposted as pedestrians only. Etc, etc, etc. I got here in the end, but if I struggle to use the cycle infrastructure a new commuter or a tourist might as well not bother.</p> <p>No wonder peoople aren't cycling. Our houses aren't designed for bicycles and our roads aren't designed for bicycles and our cycle paths....depressing. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11020#post-162135 Thu, 14 Aug 2014 09:28:07 +0000 Morningsider 162135@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Beat the Scotsman to this by a day (not a hard task admittedly):</p> <p><a href="http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13285" rel="nofollow">http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=13285</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11020#post-162122 Thu, 14 Aug 2014 08:21:01 +0000 chdot 162122@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Reviving last year's thread as the annual survey results are out again. </p> <p>"</p> <p>TRANSPORT</p> <p>Successive government campaigns appear to have failed to lessen the appeal of the car to Scots.</p> <p>Car drivers and passengers accounted for 64 per cent of journeys – 3 per cent more than in 2012.</p> <p>Walking was down by a similar amount, to 23 per cent of trips, while 6 per cent of those who walk to work in 2012 had switched to driving.</p> <p>Buses increased their share marginally, by less than half a point to 8.5 per cent, but cycling, trains and taxis were virtually unchanged at 1-2 per cent each.</p> <p>A Transport Scotland spokesman said: “The Scottish Government aims to get more people making active travel choices for their everyday journeys, to improve health and the environment. However, behaviour change does not happen overnight."</p> <p><a href="http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/state-of-the-nation-a-snapshot-of-scotland-1-3509086" rel="nofollow">http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/state-of-the-nation-a-snapshot-of-scotland-1-3509086</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11020#post-123407 Thu, 29 Aug 2013 13:56:11 +0000 SRD 123407@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Alison Johnstone again, but this time in the EEN:</p> <p><a href="http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/opinion/alison-johnstone-look-past-roads-in-transport-policy-1-3064532" rel="nofollow">http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/opinion/alison-johnstone-look-past-roads-in-transport-policy-1-3064532</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11020#post-123406 Thu, 29 Aug 2013 13:55:52 +0000 gibbo 123406@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Sorry, that first paragraph should have been in quotes and italics. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11020#post-123405 Thu, 29 Aug 2013 13:55:08 +0000 gibbo 123405@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><blockquote>Cycling still only accounts for two per cent of journeys to work; the Scottish Government has a target of ten per cent of all journeys in just seven years’ time.</blockquote></p> <p>This 10% target reminds me of a scene from the Simpsons where Homer asks Flanders why he has such a good life. </p> <p>Flanders replies it's down to hard work, clean living... and that a little prayer doesn't hurt.</p> <p>Homer says, "Prayer! So that's all it takes!". </p> <p>Like Homer Simpson, the Scottish government wants something, but aren't willing to do the work or make the sacrifices required to earn it.</p> <p>There's a reason why so many people in the Netherlands and Denmark cycle: their countries have done the work to make it safe and pleasant.</p> <p>There's a reason why so few people in Scotland cycle: it's dangerous, the roads are crap, and if someone is responsible for killing you, they get to walk free. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11020#post-123397 Thu, 29 Aug 2013 12:50:44 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 123397@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"<em>A total of 28 per cent of Scots travelled by train at least once a month, nearly twice the proportion of a decade ago, with 83.3m ScotRail passengers the highest recorded.</em>" </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11020#post-123393 Thu, 29 Aug 2013 12:39:38 +0000 cb 123393@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/scotland-sees-surge-in-number-of-car-drivers-1-3064019">http://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/scotland-sees-surge-in-number-of-car-drivers-1-3064019</a></p> <p>"<br /> Kevin Delaney, head of road safety for the Institute of Advanced Motorists, said: "This is good news"<br /> " </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11020#post-123380 Thu, 29 Aug 2013 11:22:48 +0000 kaputnik 123380@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>A proud legacy for Keith "Two More Lanes" Brown.</p> <p>And a proud legacy for the major "opposition" parties who don't appear to have any alternative to offer or be attempting to question and hold the government to account when it comes to the roads part of transport (we know the Tories probably sneakingly want to stop things like Borders Rail and EGIP as it's a waste of good roads money) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11020#post-123339 Wed, 28 Aug 2013 21:18:37 +0000 LaidBack 123339@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>There is some small hope as Edinburgh pushes ahead with more 20mph zones; I’d urge other local authorities to do the same as it is clear we cannot expect any action from Scottish ministers.</em> </p> <p>Seconded. Edinburgh's decision to act is welcome. Even if net effect has only been to decrease the amount of 40mph drivers without enforcement. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=11020#post-123321 Wed, 28 Aug 2013 17:09:43 +0000 crowriver 123321@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Alison Johnstone, Green MSP for Lothian and co-convener of Holyrood’s cross-party group on cycling, says statistics released today (28 Aug) show Scottish ministers’ failure to make the right choices on transport.</p> <p>The publication of the annual Scottish Household Survey shows the volume of traffic on Scotland’s roads has risen to over 43 billion vehicle kilometres, against a drop across the UK, while rates of walking and cycling to work and school have remained worryingly low.</p> <p>Cycling still only accounts for two per cent of journeys to work; the Scottish Government has a target of ten per cent of all journeys in just seven years’ time.</p> <p>The reasons people gave in the survey for not cycling to work were: too many cars (14 per cent), speed of traffic (12 per cent) and inconsiderate drivers (9 per cent).</p> <p>The Scottish Government recently launched a half a million pounds marketing campaign called The Nice Way Code which has been widely criticised by cycling campaigners for enforcing stereotypes.</p> <p>Alison Johnstone said:</p> <p>“A rise in vehicle traffic and no rise in rates of walking and cycling. Can there be a clearer sign that Scottish ministers have utterly failed to make the right choices?</p> <p>“Instead of shovelling billions towards dual carriageways, bypasses and bridges, and frittering precious funds on ill-conceived adverts, the Scottish Government should be investing meaningful sums in dedicated cycle infrastructure, clearer junctions and safer streets. There is some small hope as Edinburgh pushes ahead with more 20mph zones; I’d urge other local authorities to do the same as it is clear we cannot expect any action from Scottish ministers.”</p> <p><a href="http://www.greenmsps.org/transport-stats-show-ministers-failure/" rel="nofollow">http://www.greenmsps.org/transport-stats-show-ministers-failure/</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/files/documents/reports/j281378/j281378.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/files/documents/reports/j281378/j281378.pdf</a> </p>