"there's nobody in Scotland of any significance doing anything to promote cycling"
"the people who have done the most for cycling in Scotland"
Those are both true.
They also highlight (part of) the problem.
I have been involved in 'promoting' cycling for many years. This has included selling people bikes, working with schools - organising rides, encouraging cycle training (not just as a tick-box activity) and encouraging 'Safe Routes' campaigning.
I have also been involved in more general 'promotion'. Some of it might have been effective.
I'm sure Keith Brown thinks he is involved in promoting cycling. I'm sure he thinks that announcing that he will ride Pedal for Scotland next year 'promotes cycling'. I'm sure he believes that actually riding PfS is promoting cycling.
Clearly Cycling Scotland believes that PfS promotes cycling.
Of course it does, and closed road sportifs, and medal winning athletes and the opening of the QBC etc.
BUT
it's clearly not enough.
There is now some consensus that what is required - to get more people just riding bikes - is better infrastructure and changed driver behaviour.
Campaigning for the first part is hard work and without the dedicated individuals within Spokes a lot of what Edinburgh has probably wouldn't exist.
Driver behaviour would change if more people cycled (that more would obviously include 'drivers'). Attitudes have changed on drink driving, but that required political action - legislation and enforcement.
There is some movement on 20mph but (so far) a distinct lack of willingness to enforce.
In London (where everything is far from perfect) probably the biggest change was the introduction of the Congestion Charge. This was done by Ken without a referendum. His Labour Party colleagues in Scotland insisted on having to hold a referendum before such 'controversial' measures could be implemented.
The 'two cordon' scheme that CEC proposed was less than ideal and the (almost inevitable) defeat somehow meant that a revised version couldn't be developed.
If there had been a Yes in that referendum, there would have been less traffic and money for PT and walking/cycling.
Of course the lack if that revenue stream is unfortunate, but the abandonment of any serious attempts to restrict traffic is really disappointing.
The massive opportunity of the tram work disruption to demonstrate what could happen if some things became permanent - eg closure of Russell Road - has been squandered.
So any significant changes are likely to require a lot of campaigning. Promoting cycling - beyond saying 'use the Family Network, it's great" is perhaps a bit premature...
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