http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: 21 March SPOKES Public Meeting - Hustings for Holyrood en Tue, 19 May 2026 05:29:40 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16192&page=2#post-215146 Thu, 24 Mar 2016 13:05:46 +0000 Stickman 215146@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://www.spokes.org.uk/2016/03/spokes-holyrood-hustings-report/" rel="nofollow">http://www.spokes.org.uk/2016/03/spokes-holyrood-hustings-report/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16192&page=2#post-214966 Tue, 22 Mar 2016 14:53:58 +0000 chdot 214966@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"would welcome the kayak as an option"</p> <p>They never stick to the speed limit. (Maybe it only applies to motorised boats - such discrimination.) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16192&page=2#post-214962 Tue, 22 Mar 2016 14:25:35 +0000 Rosie 214962@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Those swans don't even stick to their part of the canal. They are constantly straying on to the tow path. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16192&page=2#post-214961 Tue, 22 Mar 2016 14:24:08 +0000 UtrechtCyclist 214961@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>There are too many aggressive swans with a 'must get in front' attitude on our canals for me to consider canoeing. I prefer to drive my kids everywhere in our 4x4. It's safer. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16192&page=2#post-214960 Tue, 22 Mar 2016 14:08:52 +0000 Rosie 214960@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I do commute along the canal and would welcome the kayak as an option. I don't think though I could get away with wearing my work clothes. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16192#post-214958 Tue, 22 Mar 2016 14:06:18 +0000 Stickman 214958@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>When Alison Johnstone mentioned obesity levels last night I had a quick look round the room: certainly below the national average! Possibly a connection with cycling?! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16192#post-214946 Tue, 22 Mar 2016 12:25:34 +0000 jonty 214946@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I cycled along the canal on Saturday afternoon and spotted only one kayak and five canoes in half an hour! If they don't use the facilities they already have, why should we give them more??? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16192#post-214945 Tue, 22 Mar 2016 12:20:07 +0000 crowriver 214945@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>That comparison sums it up. It's why the cycling as sport model will never deliver mass cycling as transport. That perception that you need specialist clothing, a h*****t, a fancy road bike, etc. is off-putting to the majority who don't see themselves as particularly sporty. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16192#post-214944 Tue, 22 Mar 2016 12:02:51 +0000 Rob 214944@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>If we did build the canals, lots more people would canoe to work. It isn't safe to canoe along main roads without segregated canoe infrastructure so people don't do it. </p> <p>Just look at Venice, that could be us if we make some bold decisions. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16192#post-214943 Tue, 22 Mar 2016 11:51:03 +0000 Stephan Matthiesen 214943@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>From twitter: </p> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/jriddell/status/712027357633191937">"A whole evening of talk if active travel at #spokesmtg but not one mention of canoeing! Paddlers vote too! — jriddell (@jriddell)"<br /> </a></p> <p>That is actually a very wise word. Perhaps too many people still see cycling like canoeing - nice and healthy, but we can't build lots of canals along main roads to accommodate a small minority of canoeists. We might build a few examplary canoeing facilities to attract tourists though. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16192#post-214941 Tue, 22 Mar 2016 11:41:01 +0000 Stephan Matthiesen 214941@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The meeting was good, and the speakers are all clearly very active and supportive; this was all very positive. </p> <p>It's a bit of a shame though that one doesn't get the non-enthusiastic politicians to such meetings. There are so many good arguments why active travel is good for society, economy, city life etc., so why is it that too many still see it as a fringe interest, and how can we get them on board?</p> <p>I thought it was good that some of the Roseburn activist came along. In our group it wasn't disruptive at all, but the main point is that they listened to various other perspectives, and perhaps also got an impression that all sorts of nice people use the bike to get around.</p> <p>Listening to each others' perspective is good for breaking up preconceptions and polarised positions. It's a long process and different people get different things out of it, but it's a start. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16192#post-214937 Tue, 22 Mar 2016 11:05:14 +0000 Stickman 214937@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Along the lines of "where's your evidence for that; other countries show direct segregated routes work" </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16192#post-214935 Tue, 22 Mar 2016 10:58:25 +0000 Rob 214935@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>"Alison also put him in his place when ..."</em></p> <p>What was Alison's response? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16192#post-214932 Tue, 22 Mar 2016 10:40:27 +0000 chdot 214932@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><img src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1495/25954745896_639afa7895.jpg"></p> <p>More -</p> <p><a href="https://flickr.com/photos/19473027@N00/sets/72157666103793381" rel="nofollow">https://flickr.com/photos/19473027@N00/sets/72157666103793381</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16192#post-214928 Tue, 22 Mar 2016 09:41:16 +0000 chdot 214928@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"</p> <p>Ms Johnstone, who took part in a hustings organised by cycling campaigners Spokes last night, also called for spending on cycling and walking to be increased from under 2 per cent of the transport budget to 10 per cent.</p> <p>"</p> <p><a href="http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/politics/scrap-new-roads-to-fix-edinburgh-s-potholes-greens-1-4078762" rel="nofollow">http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/politics/scrap-new-roads-to-fix-edinburgh-s-potholes-greens-1-4078762</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16192#post-214920 Tue, 22 Mar 2016 01:17:40 +0000 LaidBack 214920@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Post meeting debrief at Fountain. Jim Orr, chdot, SRD, Hankchief, Shuggiet, Claire, Kim, DaisyDaisy, Iain I - maybe others. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16192#post-214915 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 23:27:25 +0000 Rosie 214915@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>One of the other Chairs said you should always pin the legislators on what they can actually legislate on. The Tory chap was best on that. He made the point that you could make cycling provision a prerequisite for getting a contract to run the rails as eg offering x amount of apprenticeships. Of course Tory chap's party will never be in a position to bring that about. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16192#post-214914 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 23:17:00 +0000 Stickman 214914@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Any fireworks?</em></p> <p>No. Our group was chaired by Rosie, who told him and an accomplice to take their side conversation elsewhere so that others could hear Alison Johnstone speak. Alison also put him in his place when he said "I don't agree with protected cycle lanes" and "people don't want to cycle on the main roads, side streets are better" </p> <p>I didn't get much out of the night to be honest: as HankChief said, all the speakers were cycling supporters (the Conservative to a lesser degree) and pretty much all agreed with what needed to be done. It's persuading the rest of their parties that is the challenge.</p> <p>One thing from the night was I finally got to see who my Conservative constituency candidate is. He's been completely anonymous up until now. </p> <p>Nice to meet Claire and SRD and probably some other forumites. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16192#post-214911 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 22:53:28 +0000 unhurt 214911@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Sorry not to come along (just returned from Orkney). One day the planets will align... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16192#post-214910 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 22:22:41 +0000 HankChief 214910@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Alison just summed up. Absolutely key point that need a whole party behind active travel &amp; not just 1 or 2 candidates.</p> <p>Others have talked about difficulty in persuading others. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16192#post-214909 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 22:17:15 +0000 SRD 214909@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Given that we had the roseburnites in our group, I was delighted that it was quiet. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16192#post-214908 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 22:13:57 +0000 HankChief 214908@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Disappointingly quiet in our group. </p> <p>Some good stuff but hard to know what will transfer into Party Policies - we obviously got 'The cyclists...' </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16192#post-214907 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 22:07:16 +0000 Arellcat 214907@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I haven't missed a Spokes meeting for ages, but too many other things to do this evening plus a super early start tomorrow. Plus my folding bike is 'between drivetrains' right now.</p> <p>Any fireworks? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16192#post-214904 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 20:15:17 +0000 chdot 214904@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/search/?q=%23SpokesMtg&amp;s=hash" rel="nofollow">https://mobile.twitter.com/search/?q=%23SpokesMtg&amp;s=hash</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16192#post-214900 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 19:12:27 +0000 fimm 214900@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Just had a quick look - there are two Sheffield stands actually at the St Brides Centre itself, as well as the others described upthread. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16192#post-214896 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 18:17:47 +0000 chdot 214896@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Now there's a question. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16192#post-214893 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 17:20:48 +0000 SRD 214893@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Golden Rule or Fountain after? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16192#post-214888 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 15:13:26 +0000 fimm 214888@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The Dalry swim centre racks are Sheffield stands against a wall - but useable for one bike per stand. They could be quite busy depending on what group is using the pool. I'd look at the co-op first. If you do try the racks at the pool, go for those to the right of the entrance as you look at it as there's more space for handlebars than at those on the left of the entrance (can you tell I use those racks a lot?). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16192#post-214887 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 14:54:42 +0000 Claire 214887@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I plan on attending this evening. I think there is some parking at the Lidl also. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16192#post-214884 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 14:29:34 +0000 Stephan Matthiesen 214884@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>OSM also shows parking at the Dalry Swim Centre in Caledonian Rd (no info about capacity, on Streetview it looks like 8 bikes). </p>