CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure

Hello money, may I introduce you to the drain

(7 posts)
  • Started 10 years ago by Morningsider
  • Latest reply from smsm1

  1. Morningsider
    Member

    Article in today's Herald. Public money being invested in cycle planning and tracking apps for Glasgow:

    http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/transport/smart-lighting-and-route-app-to-get-residents-on-their-bikes.21516413

    Also, "smart lighting", which sounds like normal lighting, but more expensive.

    What real value could a Glasgow specific cycle planning app have over cyclestreets/google. Also, why would you use an app that tracks routes used by current cyclists to plan infrastructure investment - given these people are the hard core cyclists used to heavy traffic (although they may take sub-optimal routes to avoid the worst traffic) - meaning infrastructure is based on routes most non-cyclists may not want to use.

    This is what valuable cycle funding is spent on. I despair.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  2. gkgk
    Member

    Was it cycle funding? Isn't it some sort of Govt tech fund? I'd not disagree with all the experts who say that that in turn is naive foolishness, money down the plug, but it's not pedal money (maybe), on the up side.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  3. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Glasgow building it's own version of Bikehub or Cyclestreets? That's useful.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  4. smsm1
    Member

    Oh dear. I've heard that Birmingham had the thought of doing similar with creating a new app to try to herald the release of some of their cycle data becoming open, with the app being used. I believe the recommendation to use the money to improve what is already there has been taken on.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  5. Morningsider
    Member

    gkgk - you are right that it isn't money that was specifically allocated for cycling by the UK Government, Glasgow City Council had freedom to spend it on other projects and chose to spend some on cycling. I think they are wasting the money as a lack of Apps has never stopped anyone from cycling. Assuming the funding needed some slight tech focus then it could have been spent on cycle priority traffic lights or some such. The thing is - now it is being spent on cycling it will be counted as expenditure on cycling by Glasgow City Council, who can now tick the "cycling" box and hopefully win a gong for their efforts at the Scottish Transport Awards.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  6. Dave
    Member

    Two things required: mainstream cycling bodies to unreservedly applaud this initiative, and that chap from the IAM to naysay it.

    Posted 10 years ago #

  7. smsm1
    Member

    Part of the issue with better traffic signals for cyclists is that the current DfT regulations don't allow for it. TfL are testing some changes such as smaller lights at eye level and a red cycle light at the TRL. I hope more councils will go to the DfT asking to use those features to put more pressure on them to allow for these things to be used.

    Posted 10 years ago #

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