PoP press release
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This year's Pedal on Parliament will see record numbers of politicians joining people from across Scotland to call for safer cycling on Scotland's roads. The grassroots cycle campaign, which will be holding its third mass bike ride on the Scottish parliament on Saturday at 12 noon, will be joined by 10 MSPs from across the political spectrum - and both sides of the independence divide - and two MPs, as well as councillors including the leader of Edinburgh council, Andrew Burns, and its transport convenor, Lesley Hinds. They will join the families of cyclists killed in recent years, including the family of Andrew McNicoll, who was killed in Edinburgh riding to work in 2012. The ride comes in the wake of four cyclists' deaths already this year, with 2014 already on course to be as deadly as 2013, which was Scotland's worst year for cycling fatalities in recent years.
Despite this sombre background, the ride itself will be as much a celebration of cycling as a protest, with families expected to be at the fore. Last year, there were children who completed the ride from the Meadows to the Parliament on balance bikes, as well as on tagalongs, in child seats, in trailers, and pedalling under their own steam. This year, it will be the children itself taking centre stage, with speeches coming from young campaigners Kyle Thomas (11), Daniel Brennan (8) and Katharine Dorman (7) as well as Lynne McNicoll, step mother of Andrew. Answering them will be the Minister of Transport Keith Brown, Green MSP Alison Johnstone, Labour MSP Claudia Beamish. LibDem MSP Willie Rennie and Conservative Councillor Cameron Rose. Participants will also be encouraged to lobby their MSPs, MPs and councillors directly at a lively 'meet the constituents' session down at the parliament building. Pedestrians will be joining in too, with a 'Pedestrian on Parliament' march down to Holyrood alongside the bikes.
Organiser David Brennan said 'It's been a lot of work putting this all together but it will be worth it if my kids can have the freedom to ride their bikes growing up. We'd like to see organisations across Scotland and the government working together to create a proper road map for safer cycling and walking - not just a vague vision or an educational initiative to teach children how to ride in traffic. In this year that Scotland decides its future, whatever the outcome of September's vote, we know we can build a future for cycling in this country for our children and our children's children.'
Ends
Notes for editors
Phone Contact for Press Release:
Sally Hinchcliffe:
The full list of politicians attending are
Mark Lazarowicz, MP Edinburgh North and Leith (Labour)
Ian Murray, MP Edinburgh South (Labour)
Marco Biagi, MSP Edinburgh Central (SNP)
Alison Johnstone, MSP, Lothian (Green)
Patrick Harvie, MSP, Glasgow (Green)
Jayne Baxter, MSP, Mid Scotland and Fife (Labour)
Cara Hilton, MSP, Mid Scotland and Fife (Labour)
Alex Rowley, MSP, Cowdenbeath (Labour)
Willie Rennie, MSP, Mid Scotland and Fife (LibDem)
Kezia Dugdale, MSP, Lothian (Labour)
Sarah Boyack, MSP, Lothian (Labour)
Claudia Beamish, MSP, South Scotland (Labour)
Malcolm Chisholm, MSP, Edinburgh North and Leith (Labour)
Councillor Andrew Burns, Leader, Edinburgh (Labour)
Councillor Lesley Hinds, Convenor of Transport, Edinburgh (Labour)
Councillor Cameron Rose, Edinburgh (Conservative)
Councillor Adam McVey, Edinburgh (SNP)
Councillor Steve Burgess, Edinburgh (Green)
Councillor Alan Moir, East Dunbarton (Labour)
Councillor Jim Orr, Edinburgh (Independent)
Cyclists killed in Scotland this year:
Jan 08 (knocked off bike December 30th) Robert Don, A9
Feb 18 George Fairley B800 Kirkliston to South Queensferry
Mar 20 Sheila Hyslop, Albert Road Dumfries
April 16 Grant Gourlay. A926 Angus
Pedal on Parliament’s eight-point manifesto asks for 1) proper funding for cycling; 2) cycling to be designed into Scotland’s roads; 3) slower speeds where people live, work and play; 4) cycling to be integrated into local transport strategies; 5) improved road traffic law and enforcement; 6) the risk of HGVs to cyclists and pedestrians to be reduced; 7) a strategic and joined-up programme of road user training; and 8) improved statistics supporting decision-making and policy. More information: http://pedalonparliament.org/the-manifesto/
The first Pedal on Parliament on April 28 2012 brought 3000 people onto the streets of Edinburgh, and the second saw 4000 gather, including hundreds of kids. Several children completed the 1.5 mile protest ride on balance bikes, with others on tagalongs, trailers, child seats, or pedalling alongside their parents. Cyclists rode in from as far afield as Aberdeen to join the event.
The website address for Andrew Cyclist is http://www.andrewcyclist.com
Images: These images are free to use, as long as they are credited to the named photographers
Photos
The assembled crowd wait at the Meadows for the start, Allebong on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/79632047@N05/8753647499/
Graeme Obree makes his point, Anthony Robson on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/blackpuddinonnabike/8755012202/
Organiser Kim Harding with Ian Fyfe, widower of Audrey Fyfe, Anthony Robson on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/blackpuddinonnabike/8754995200/
Side-by-side accessible tandem Pedal on Parliament 2, Kim Harding on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/49194391@N00/8759264606/
Girl on balance bike, Chris Hill on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chdot/8753859389/
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