CityCyclingEdinburgh was launched on the 27th of October 2009 as "an experiment".
IT’S TRUE!
CCE is 15years old!
Well done to ALL posters
It soon became useful and entertaining. There are regular posters, people who add useful info occasionally and plenty more who drop by to watch. That's fine. If you want to add news/comments it's easy to register and become a member.
RULES No personal insults. No swearing.
Interesting to see at least one of the people who don't want the bike park are involved with illegal camping activity in the park which is about to be evicted.
I've posted a few comments on the anti page. Agreeing with her point that the track is far too small but pointing out that it is a good start and suggesting we replace the road next.
I have now had a good mannered exchange on the stop the skelf page with one of the dog walkers. I like when my predictions are right. Never under estimate a dog walker of course particularly Masonic dog walkers around porty.
Thing is, come on, it is mental, cross the road and you are in the best park in a city centre in the entire world.
"you are in the best park in a city centre in the entire world"
Only if your No.1 requirement is 'must have old volcano'.
One of the antiSkelfers appears to distrust gembo as he "has a lot of friends who are cycling enthusiasts".
Who are these 'friends'?
I think we should be told...
Yes must have an old volcano obviously and these friends are the usual suspects who piled in liking my post with pictures of themselves on bicycles thus totally blowing my cover. Amateurs. If friendly. However, was looking to link the original poster to the activity of dog walking. She also seemed OK with local kids being able to use skelf on normal bikes and a barbecue area. Should be achievable.?
You've got to love a counter petition in support of something that will be a great amenity to get locals more active but facing a misguided / ill-informed petition against.
You know what to do...
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/support-the-skelf-bikepark-on-the-southside
Signed.
Given the fuss, I think that's a good piece.
Even the protesters admit that the area was hardly a trouble free paradise.
They do have a genuine grievance (though it's not clear if this is about the same bit of land) -
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“Over the last few years there has been research to ask people what they want and they do want better facilities for kids to play with and picnic areas and benches. No-one ever said they wanted a bike park. This is an idea which is being foisted upon people.”
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There have been MANY consultations with the people of Dumbiedykes over the years, with all sorts of improvements suggested - a lot have come to nothing.
One real desire was a zigzag path on the slope next to the steep path down from St. Leonards. This would be great for walkers and people pushing buggies or wheelchairs - especially when it's icy.
The people behind Skelf have revived this idea and got CEC to 'look at it again'.
"I don't mind CONCEPT X as such, some of my friends/relatives/neighbours sometimes partake in CONCEPT X, but why wasn't I personally told/perhaps there is another place for it which isn't here"?
Seems to be the heel-dragging thrust of this and quite a few other petitions I've noticed doing the rounds of late.
Seems to be a pattern developing here. Objections to cycling related projects seem to consist of:
1. Complaints that "no-one was consulted"
2. Outright lies and exaggerations about the possible impact of the project
The aims being to re-open or extend the consultation and whip up enough anti feeling in the hope of derailing the project.
Glad SKELF has planning permission, once it is granted there is almost nothing anyone can do to stop a development going ahead.
@Morningsider
Exactly
Fuller version here (inc good quotes from councillors) -
http://ginadavidsonmedia.com/work/questions-for-local-politics-over-bike-park-protest
Given his dubious political proclivities, I thought Jim Slaven would have better things to do in Dublin this Eastertide than NIMBYing around Edinburgh.
This is basically the local dog walkers up in arms, isn't it? Oh dear our dog toilet has been taken away from us.
In Roseburn, by contrast, it appears to be mainly local drivists defending their priority over others...
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The rights or wrongs of the Skelf idea are neither here nor there. The people of Dumbiedykes have long wanted the land to be enhanced – though a bike park was not top of the list.
This is a problem of communication, of consultation. A problem the new Community Empowerment Act with its focus on giving people a stronger voice in their communities might help resolve.
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The community of Dumbidykes wanted the land enhanced. Some locals then came up with the idea of SKELF, got organised, raised money, drafted plans, publicised those plans, refined the plans, gained permission and are now developing the site.
There is a difference between "wanting" and "doing" - the SKELF group could be a case study in community organisation and grass-roots development. There was no problem with consultation or communication. How do you engage with people who don't make any effort to find out what is happening in their area?
A dedicated group of active citizens made this happen. What did the anti brigade do to get this land improved?
I've nothing to do with SKELF and don't know anyone involved in it. I take my hat off to them for putting in the effort to get something done. This isn't some David vs. Goliath battle, more like some of David's neighbours moaning about him using some nearby desert to practice with that silly sling again.
AND NOW the serious work has started -
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theSKELF Bike Park (@SKELFBikePark)
09/01/2017, 23:40
Team@Architrail Measuring up parking space for bigger digger. Nae double yellow lines here tho #2big2TowAway
http://pic.twitter.com/POc0C0E5Me
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Congratulations to all (inc, at least, two CCEers).
This is the sort of project that doesn't have to happen at all. Bit of 'waste' land used by dogwalkers, drugusers, and occasionally homeless people. A bit of 'local woodland' self-established after the demolition of tenements about 60 years ago, owned by the council and bounded by a historic/'protected' wall.
Along came a couple of people with 'a vision' - to create an area where people (particularly local school age ones) could practice/develop cycling skills and have FUN.
What followed was discussions, meetings, planning, lobbying, tree surveys, form filling, meetings, public events, support from councillors and key CEC officials, support from most of local community - helped by at least one local councillor, anxieties, worries, disappointments, elations, quite a bit of physical labour, input from (paid) experts, a visit/photocall involving a Government minister.
So later this year, you, and any children you know, will be able to use it.
© AIMC
Looks like it's going to be FUN -
Progress
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Skelf Bike Park Opening Party
31 March at 13:00–16:00
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