http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: "My last Transport and Environment Committee today after 5 years" en Thu, 21 May 2026 18:33:41 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17532#post-245197 Tue, 21 Mar 2017 20:26:09 +0000 chdot 245197@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"I remain pessimistic"</p> <p>Recent change?</p> <p>"but happy to"</p> <p>OK</p> <p>"Be wrong"</p> <p>Your choice </p> <p>"I am very used to that"</p> <p>Doubt it </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17532#post-245196 Tue, 21 Mar 2017 20:23:48 +0000 chdot 245196@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'm <em>sure</em> he knows that bicycles are "vehicles". </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17532#post-245193 Tue, 21 Mar 2017 19:58:46 +0000 I were right about that saddle 245193@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@chdot</p> <p>Well done on hacking into Mr Bridgman's mind. Don't delve too deep - we need you here. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17532#post-245191 Tue, 21 Mar 2017 19:40:50 +0000 gembo 245191@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Ok ChDot I remain pessimistic but happy to. Be wrong I am very used to that. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17532#post-245186 Tue, 21 Mar 2017 18:26:37 +0000 chdot 245186@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"</p> <p>Mike Bridgman (@MABridgman1)<br /> 23/06/2016, 10:53<br /> @hackonteur At what time should pedestrians be on a road, when it's safe to cross, pavements for pedestrians, Roads for vehicles!</p> <p>" </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17532#post-245185 Tue, 21 Mar 2017 18:14:48 +0000 chdot 245185@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"maybe implement the work of predecessors but again she implemented it"</p> <p>Didn't say/think that.</p> <p>"if you agree to say she was simply the best"</p> <p>No, that's Tina Turner. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17532#post-245184 Tue, 21 Mar 2017 17:51:30 +0000 I were right about that saddle 245184@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>As long as <a href="http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/councillors/60/michael_bridgman">this guy</a> doesn't get Transport. Positively Faragian. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17532#post-245183 Tue, 21 Mar 2017 17:46:43 +0000 Rosie 245183@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>LESLEY! LESLEY! LESLEY! (prolonged bicycle bell ringing) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17532#post-245182 Tue, 21 Mar 2017 17:19:29 +0000 gembo 245182@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@CHDot, - great fan 0f David Begg but he was done in. :Lesley survived to maybe implement the work of predecessors but again she implemented it.</p> <p>Anyway I will be optimistic if you agree to say she was simply the best :-) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17532#post-245174 Tue, 21 Mar 2017 15:28:44 +0000 chdot 245174@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"I think it is important to recognise we have achieved the high water mark in a local politician with Lesley"</p> <p>You <em>might</em> be right, but apart from pessimism I see no reason(s) to think that.</p> <p>My next sentence might sound pejorative but it's more my take on 'reality'.</p> <p>LH is a highly creative machine politician (see Morningsider's view above).</p> <p>Again, I'm not writing her off or trying to diminish her - she is perhaps from a fading age. Politics is more complicated and her party is not currently in any sort of ascendency.</p> <p>She has undoubtedly presided over a most successful period of increased cycle infrastructure and attitude changes. That is <em>not</em> to say it would have happened anyway if someone else had run the key committee over the past few years.</p> <p>She clearly encouraged/enabled officials to be a bit 'bolder' than previously.</p> <p>I would say that David Begg did more for Transport than Lesley, but LH has managed to make a significant difference for 'cycling'. She took over from Gordon MacKenzie who achieved a lot under trying circumstances (partly tram related) and wasn't even re-elected because he was a LibDem. What GM achieved <em>could</em> have been the "high water mark", but LH probably accelerated things.</p> <p>Begg made the bus lanes happen (LH messed with their use times). Off-road routes were the main cycle feature of the Begg era (good thing too, but relatively uncontroversial).</p> <p>Begg was 'of his time' and clearly more interested in transport than furthering a political career. Unlike Burns, Hinds had aspirations for the 'next level' of politics - expecting to win a seat at Holyrood.</p> <p>I have no idea if Adam McVey hopes/wants to take over - or if he would be worse/similar/better, clearly there are people who might do the job with less interest/more hostility (to ActiveTravel).</p> <p>Whatever happens in May and however much 'high quality people' are put off from standing for councils, I think it's pessimistic/unwise/defeatist to think things <em>can't</em> get better than the ending LH era. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17532#post-245170 Tue, 21 Mar 2017 14:40:02 +0000 gembo 245170@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@CHDot, I don't think it depends this time. I think it is important to recognise we have achieved the high water mark in a local politician with Lesley. She has seen through a cycle (and people) friendly agenda and taken all sorts of flak with aplomb. So whoever gets her brief will not be as good. And could be more like Donald TRrump.</p> <p>However, we can address the issues on different fronts and PoP, Spokes etc can build links with the new landscape after Lesley, just woint be as good for a while </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17532#post-245169 Tue, 21 Mar 2017 14:32:30 +0000 chdot 245169@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"I always thought she must have liked attending Spokes public meetings where she would be warmly greeted &amp; cheered."</p> <p>Not really the case before she took the T&amp;E C job - previously she had actually given the impression she wasn't particularly interested in cycling (had a genuine concern about the, more neglected, pedestrians) and often seemed under-prepared.</p> <p>So she, somehow, (as used to be said) "got" it. From then on things really looked up. I'm sure Andrew Burns will have influenced her, but also the work of Spokes, and individual contacts by various people. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17532#post-245167 Tue, 21 Mar 2017 14:15:18 +0000 Rosie 245167@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Morningsider - yeah, the personal comments aimed at her in the EEN were a disgrace. </p> <p>I always thought she must have liked attending Spokes public meetings where she would be warmly greeted &amp; cheered. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17532#post-245166 Tue, 21 Mar 2017 14:07:52 +0000 Morningsider 245166@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I have to admit, when Lesley got the Transport and Environment post I was a bit concerned that she was just another party hack. Well, she proved me wrong. She personally championed the east-west cycleway, 20mph limits and George Street changes (plus others) in the face of political and public opposition. She rather skillfully built alliances to guide these things through I thought.</p> <p>I also think she faced more (and worse) criticism because she was a woman - one of the few high profile women in Edinburgh politics. </p> <p>Well done, I say. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17532#post-245165 Tue, 21 Mar 2017 14:00:17 +0000 chdot 245165@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"It will only get worse for us now"</p> <p>Depends.</p> <p>Obviously 'figurehead'/leadership important, and we don't know who will be 'in charge' after the election.</p> <p>Clearly LAs have fewer staff and less money than in previous golden ages (fantasy bingo dates).</p> <p>Don't really see much likelihood of a complete reversal of idea of 10% for cycling - SNP and Lab broadly in favour.</p> <p>PLUS much greater public awareness of why walking/cycling/pedestrianisation/better air quality etc. are good ideas and worth extending rather than rolling back.</p> <p>Also think PoP has increased numbers who care/willing to be active. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17532#post-245161 Tue, 21 Mar 2017 13:50:29 +0000 gembo 245161@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I agree with SRD, LA Hinds has done a good job. It will only get worse for us now. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17532#post-245159 Tue, 21 Mar 2017 13:41:04 +0000 crowriver 245159@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Ed1, I think those comparisons are rather ungracious of you. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17532#post-245153 Tue, 21 Mar 2017 12:43:16 +0000 Ed1 245153@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Think this often seems to occur when elected members depart, I recall watching tv when thatcher departed office in 1990 a lot of ungracious comments.</p> <p>Still as with other spheres of life, Fred Goodwin also suffered ungracious comments following resignation. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17532#post-245152 Tue, 21 Mar 2017 12:35:19 +0000 Rosie 245152@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The negative comments really tick me off. It's the same if someone dies. Be gracious at that time. IF you didn't approve of what they did, keep your gob shut &amp; just be silently glad of their departure. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17532#post-245151 Tue, 21 Mar 2017 12:30:09 +0000 chdot 245151@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"</p> <p>Lesley Hinds (@LAHinds)<br /> 21/03/2017, 09:53<br /> My last Transport and Environment Committee today after 5 years. Thanks to the Committee for all their hard work. Long list of achievements!</p> <p>"</p> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/lahinds/status/844124885941174272" rel="nofollow">https://twitter.com/lahinds/status/844124885941174272</a></p> <p>"</p> <p>SRD (@SRDorman)<br /> 21/03/2017, 11:12<br /> @LAHinds you’ve accomplished a huge amount Lesley, despite horrendous barracking. Well done. and thank you.</p> <p>"</p> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/srdorman/status/844144689494310914" rel="nofollow">https://twitter.com/srdorman/status/844144689494310914</a> </p>