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.
I'm still digesting, but it was great to meet a few more CCE faces - notably i, arellcat and, it seems, a close brush with the mythic chdot, who tried to sell me a tee-shirt without success.
I'm certain that Keith Brown said nothing of substance. I know why, but it's irritating nonetheless.
I think if there's a PoP 2015 it needs sexed up a bit. That was great, but it was a bit...well...worthy. I hope I can say that here, amongst friends, without causing ructions.
Anyone else?
This was the first time I've attended so can't compare it previous events.
I really really really enjoyed it: from the feeder ride starting at Five Ways, joining up with the Broughton High ride it felt like "something was building".
It was great to see so many kinds of people on so many kinds of bikes.
The ride through town was brilliant - I loved seeing the wee kids on balance bikes going down the Royal Mile. I just kept thinking "this should be normal".
The end was a bit disappointing - it was impossible to hear the speeches on the side furthest from the Parliament building.
I certainly didn't feel the event was "worthy" (although maybe if heard the speeches.....)
I also liked all of the cycle polis lining up for a group photo afterwards- it would be nice to know that they are all out and about regularly. I also laughed when one of the policemen told his boss to join the photo. He replied "I haven't got my bike helmet on - someone will complain about it!" It was also good to see a squad of the bike polis filtering up the stationary traffic on the Royal Mile - that would get the EEN commenters fuming!
Biggest disappointment was rejoining the real world afterwards and having to battle with traffic afterwards.
Huge thanks to everyone of the volunteers who made it happen. You deserve a big drink tonight!
I had a really good day out but as a PoP newbie (and someone who used to attend a lot of protests as a photographer) there are a few things if like to see
- Improvement to the sound. The speakers nearest Arthur's seat kept cutting out.
- It would have been useful to have more info at the start, particularly with the minute silence.
- Could we consider a longer route? Many marches go along Princes St for instance. A longer distance would engage the public more
- Toilets at the parliament would be great - lots of people were looking, particularly those with kids
- Some more social media links from the website would be good - e.g I'm going / went to PoP single button status post
I'd also suggest engaging the Edinburgh Hacklab as many attended. If you want a bicycle projected onto the parliament building or a wifi sound system to act as a PA between bikes they would love to take on that sort of project. They could also probably do some accurate bike counting.
Partial repeat from another thread:
Loads of kids at POP this afternoon, which was good to see. My son was very impressed that children were making the first speeches, and was craning to listen in. I thought it was a very good idea to create a platform for children to engage with the campaign in this way.
Oh my son also noticed lots of grown ups with cameras, and (without any prompting from me) went straight onto YonTube as soon as we got home to see if any footage had been uploaded...
Other than that, I would just say the whole thing was very well organised this year. Bigger turnout than last year too, maybe around 5,000 folk attending. I particularly liked the 'critical mass' effect of thousands of cyclists wheeling down the Royal Mile in unison. Like the first year in 2012, much better atmosphere than 2013 where we were split up into wee batches.
As to worthy.....I don't think there's anything wrong with that. More of a CND march than a Vietnam protest. No point getting aggressive with so many youngsters around.
Spotted. Another white Urban backfeits, several laidbacks, hunners of Bromptons, various tag a longs, tandems, and trailers. A few balance bikes wooden and metal, a lpad on cce ers incl srd, min (I know your real name now), cyclingmollie, hackcheif, Mr srd, arobcomp, sally hinch, kim, riffian, and a scared chdot (I assume as at the sight of all those bikes, had climbed a lamp post to get away? ;0)
"PoP 2014 - Thoughts?"
Many.
Once again the weather played its part - against earlier 'forecasts'.
If this was a commercial event. It wouldn't have happened.
There are key organisers and crucial cogs in wheels, BUT PoP works because so many people want to (and do) small things - a few posters and flyers, the odd tweet, conversations with colleagues and friends.
As a couple of speakers said, this is a 'grass roots' movement/organisation.
Not actually a phrase I like - or actually know what it means!
But politicians seem to - and value, or fear depending...
Whatever you think of Keith Brown he is actually listening. Maybe one ear and maybe a bit late.
He turned up and was hardly booed, he was pleased with his announcement about 'more money for Bikeability'. The important bit was his explanation that he had been round his colleagues and got money from Education and Sport.
That isn't (just) cheapskating and not wanting to spend Transport money.
To get colleagues to agree that 'cycling' isn't 'just transport' is actually an important step in joined-up-thinking. Next a big chunk of Health money(?)
It was clear from the other speakers (young and old) that 'cycling' needs/deserves more money/attention.
Cameron Rose said that 'not everyone will cycle' but not as a 'don't expect too much' but as (I hope) a way of saying that cycling is an important element of doing things differently.
I think (after only two and a bit years) things have changed. PoP (not just the 'we don't know what we are doing, but it has to be done' people - I paraphrase!) but PoP, the mass who turned up wanting/expecting more/different.
The politicians mostly arrived by bike - not the 'once a year PR stunt'.
The two who are not 'cyclists', Lesley Hinds and Marco Biagi, didn't just 'turn up' at Holyrood, they walked from the Meadows. This isn't cynical populism, it's genuinely important.
I think PoP has reached a level of importance/maturity where next year (it's clear there will be some sort of 'next year') it doesn't matter if there are more people than ever for the fourth time.
Success is no longer (just) about numbers. It's about winning arguments (not bad so far!) and motivating more people to press those who decide on policies and spending priorities.
This can't (just) be done by a handful of exceptionally motivated/dedicated people. It's about getting ideas of improving things for people/cities (and rural areas) spread widely and increasingly accepted as 'sensible'/normal.
So if you were at PoP today (or not) it's up to you - ride more, walk more, write more (to politicians or on Twitter, Facebook etc).
You are not part of some awkward loony minority, you are just part of a growing number of people who (perhaps) used to complain, but now realise that things CAN change for the better - and little things (done with other people) is how that happens!
We thoroughly enjoyed the day, having our picnic on the grass in the end.
We did feel like we were the only ones walking (and therefore felt a bit left out). We also watched in awe at the vast array of 'equipment' and felt humbled that we did not have the same - i.e. the right bikes/seats/trailers etc to carry all the kids without walking.
Mibbee next year...
And Kezia Dugdale cycled in on the Porty feeder because 'we' engaged with her last year and lent her a tandem and she was brave enough to ride it (with Ian Murray on the back!) - probably first time on a bike since she was a teenager!
She is 'just another person' who really likes the idea of cycling, but not entirely confident on the roads as they are now!
PoP press release
"
Families were to the fore at Pedal on Parliament this year, with a throng of parents and children joining politicians and marchers to lead off the mass bike ride on Holyrood. Even Transport Minister Keith Brown, a last-minute addition to the roster of MSPs, MPs and councillors who had accepted their constituents' invitation to take part, took to two wheels on the day. The newly installed bike counter on the Meadows cycle path was quickly overwhelmed by the thousands of bikes of all shapes and sizes, with organisers estimating more people joined them than last year , when 4000 pedalled on the parliament, including a substantial contingent on foot, led by the McNicolls, founders of safer cycling charity Andrew Cyclist. The colourful crowd filled Edinburgh's Royal Mile and it took half an hour before the last rider left the Meadows to cover the short distance to the Scottish Parliament
At Holyrood, children once more played a key role, with the speeches opened by Kyle Thomas (11), Daniel Brennan (8) and Katharine Dorman (7). Kyle said 'I believe cycling is the future for Scotland... Cycling down the high street I thought to myself that this is how cycling should be, there wasn’t a single car on the road but lots of cyclists as it should be.'
Daniel said 'I’d love to be able to go for a bike ride without going in the car to cycle with my family. It would be great if Scotland was like Amsterdam where everyone can cycle with their friends.'
Katharine said 'Let’s make Scotland a cycle friendly country!'
Lynne McNicoll, stepmother of Andrew McNicoll, killed cycling to work in Edinburgh in 2012, said ' I was at the first Pedal on Parliament and to see so many more people attending today is just fantastic. The children have said it all for us – but I’m here because I don’t want anyone else to feel the way we feel every day since Andrew was killed on his bike.' She urged everyone who attended to talk to their MSPs and get their support.
Replying for the government, Keith Brown said 'We have to educate our children if we’re to make the network safe for children and their parents. We’re unapologetic about investing in education but it’s not the only thing to be done – we’re investing in safer routes to schools…. We are making progress on infrastructure with more than £32 million spent on infrastructure… It will take time for Scotland to become as safe as Amsterdam. We have to change driver behaviour as well… we need to have the same attitudes as Scandinavian countries aiming towards zero deaths.'
For the Greens, Alison Johnstone said, 'This is a growing movement – and it strikes me every year that this is not a niche activity – everyone is here, young and old, fit and not so fit… Cycling will help us cut congestion, improve our woeful health record – it’s a solution to all the challenges we face. We shouldn’t have to pedal on parliament – investing in cycling is just common sense… I will come here every year until we see the situation in Scotland change for the better’
Lib Dem Willie Rennie said 'As I was cycling up Queensferry Road on my bike I could not think of any more thrilling experiences – but it’s not an experience I’d like my son to share. .. We need to invest so much more in active transport this year and every year from now on.'
Labour's Claudia Beamish said 'I’m a rural cyclist who’s experienced how terrifying urban cycling can be. I have to keep getting off and walking – this situation needs to change… We need transformational change. I will push strict liability with my party. I want to emphasise that it’s about how the infrastructure is designed but segregated tracks along busy roads – it shouldn’t just be lines on the roads…. It’s about a good quality of life for the whole of Scotland urban and and rural.'
Councillor Cameron Rose, Conservative, said 'There is a lot to be done, but we need to celebrate what has already been done, but London’s investment is more than double Scotland’s per head. We need to move on, step by step until Scotland is a good place for cycling.'
Chris Oliver from Road Share said ‘Presumed liability is a big ask but we need to protect the vulnerable road users, not just cyclists but pedestrians. Please look at what we’re asking for and support our campaign.’
Ends
Notes for editors
Phone Contact for Press Release:
Sally Hinchcliffe:
Photos will be available from 3pm at:
https://www.flickr.com/groups/pop2014press
Images: These images are free to use, as long as they are credited to the named photographers
"
@edd1_e
In previous years I've offered people loans of kiddie-wrangling kit - seats, trailer, tagalong, tandem.
I didn't do so this year, partly because we weren't quite sure what of it we might be using, but we should have. In the end, we used pretty much everything we had - except tagalong - so it wasn't sitting at home unused. But still, sorry I didn't offer.
There is a plan for an Edfoc event for 'bike curious' families to try out various kit. Would be great if you came along to that. we have also had previous CCE events where people experiment with stuff - eg really good ride at Cramond where mini-srd tried mini-roibeard's islabike before we ordered hers.
So - don't ever be shy of asking to try/borrow kit. OR letting people know if you're looking for second-hand - which is what all of ours is/was.
AS always, many many thanks to all of you who flyered, leafleted, donated funds, bought t-shirts, took pictures, and came along.
It's not a cliche to say that it would be nothing if you guys weren't there to support, contribute, participate.
Thanks everyone.
It seemed to go really smoothly this year (almost too smooth as the ride down the Royal Mile went all too quick and once we got to parliament I didn't spot quite as many folk as I have in the past two years), so kudos to all involved.
The politicians' speeches suggested that more of them at least understood the issues better (more mentions of infrastructure), but I can't help wondering about the perversity of them joining a protest against their own failure to take action ;o)
I know some of them do cycle to some extent in their own time (I've seen Mark Lazarowicz out on his bike on Rodney Street before) and can only hope they all cycled home and clocked how bloody awful it can be to ride in traffic.
I thought that the kids at the front of the procession was very cool and if that could be amplified still further in future years it would send out a powerful enduring message.
I am a big fan of PoP. Great to see all the kids, funny bikes, thousands of bikes, happy people. I thought about the same number at the start as last year, good given weather but less people stayed.?
The best bit is definitely the cycle on the closed roads.
The open air venue without any stage means speakers really need to project (well shout) to be heard. Even with a big PA.
Despite all the publicity the thousands of leaflets and media interest there were still some cyclists coming across the meadows who didn't know what was happening, they were amazed. Also coming in from Balerno on slightly circuitous route due to my better half banning me from cycling in from Balerno (still not well enough) lots of cyclists going the other way. You feel like shouting why aren't you going to the meadows? But as there is a feel good vibe about this thing you just smile.
My view is that managing to repeat the PoP for three years on the trot maintains the momentum. Looks to me like approx 4000 people will show up for such an event (never had a washout). I bet anyone who was there will want a fourth.
I thought it was a very civil protest. Two lovely kids cycling in front of me with well heeled enunciation declaring We're protesting, we're protesting.
Is this what IWRATS is hinting at about worthiness?
Now my buddy had a leather strap gizmo on his cross bar for carrying a bottle of Bordeaux red, which we drank with his sister and a big lad called Fergus. Accompanied by sandwiches of my homemade wholemeal bread, Comte cheese and tomato pickle, so as I am fully paid up member of the middle class, I suggest this is the demographic of PoP?
Cycling used to be a working class pursuit for those who were too skint to buy a car. Much knitting at the event, again a phenomenon which has travelled from working to middle class.
Another of my hobbies though - making bramble jelly I was interested to discover recently was previously an activity exclusive to the well off as before 1780s a Jeely pan was beyond the reach of the peasants. So what am I saying? Things change but slowly??
I will always support PoP I think it is great
"as I am fully paid up member of the middle class, I suggest this is the demographic of PoP?"
To a greater or lesser.
But, for good or bad, this is also (these days at least) the segment that tries to change things and one that politicians (mostly MC) 'relate' to.
Unless of course 'we are all middle class now'.
I agree with the previous comments about the one minute silence and then bell ringing not really working towards the back of the queue and that the lack of effective amplification meant that most of the speakers were nearly impossible to hear from the edges, which led to a lot of people leaving part way through the 'serious' part of the proceedings...
I still had a fun afternoon and managed to convince a few of my cycling friendly friends to come along in support!
Reading over this thread is very interesting, and heartwarming. I've realised that my first post looks a bit mean - and I think I know why. Because I was marshaling I missed out on the sugar rush of the mass ride on closed roads. I re-iterate: I am a massive fan of PoP. I want it to succeed and I think it should happen until it isn't a protest but a regular trip to thank our representatives for what they have done - made cycling unremarkable in Scotland.
So, we got the front page of Scotland on Sunday and the first item on Reporting Scotland. That takes some doing. I doff my polystyrene bicycle hat to the organisers.
Next year....toilets definitely. Maybe the parliament could spring for them? That's the third year I've taken a wild slash in the woods on the way up Queen's Drive afterwards. How do we get people through from other cities? It's almost impossible to take a normal bike on a bus or train, let alone a tandem, trailer etc. How do we get more young people, and non-middle class people? I'm as bourgeois as they come, but cycling won't be unremarkable until working class people are doing it.
On the morning of the ride I was buying milk in the Co-op, where the lady on the till is German. I explained what PoP was and she looked wistful and said 'Ah yes, in Germany we have a different way on the road. Bicycles with baskets and shopping....' I live in an area that isn't predominantly middle class, and I didn't bother putting a PoP poster on the Co-op notice board. It just didn't seem worthwhile, and I'm not sure what to do about that.
Third time at PoP for me. I like the worthiness; the amateur (no criticism intended) feel of the set-up adds to its credibility - ordinary people organising an extraordinary event. I actually thought the sound at Holyrood was better than in previous years. If permitted, it would be nice to have some stalls at the end to feed, water, educate and entertain the masses after the speeches, but I appreciate that would change the event somewhat, and would require more effort...
A big thank you to the organisers and all who helped, from this humble participant :-)
Food and drinks stalls are a good idea! A couple of my party disappeared almost immediately upon arriving at parliament to go and get teas and snacks and so missed some of the speeches which also prevented my group from re-positioning to try to get within range to hear better.
I did put pop leaflets on Scotmid notice board in Balerno, also gave one of the staff a poster after I had taken it down yesterday evening from end of WoL path. She liked it.
Anyone going to the Scotmid ÀGM this Monday in west end Hilton hotel from 6pm free sarnies and buns? If so Vote Gembo (I am seeking election to their board,running on a greater democracy/transparency ticket. Not that there isn't democracy and transparency, just that the committee are largely same people, volunteers v hard to find, tho with co-op bank going bust might be I do get elected?)
You need a ticket but if you get there early with your membership card they will probably let you in.??
Toilets: ironically as we discovered after the speeches, nearby there were row after row of chemical loos on the grass just the other side of the car park, for the Great Run.
Demographic: whatever the self selecting class bias, PoP is still the biggest demo ever outside the Scottish Parly. So far. Also, Alison Johnstone was right, this is a growing movement. A few days ago, I noticed a PoP poster on the wall of our stair, near all the bikes. I was surprised because it wasn't me that put it there. At the Parly, all became clear as I spotted a neighbour in the crowd. I was intrigued: did he hear about this independently, or was it the Spokes newsletters I keep putting through his letterbox once a quarter? Anyway, it was good to see him there, listening to speeches. It showed that PoP has still the potential to grow to reach many more than at present, even within Edinburgh.
Also we spotted lots of club cyclists out in packs on the way in from Porty. Maybe they were heading to PoP, but maybe not. I spoke to some cycling parents I know, who knew about PoP but were not coming. So some folk won't come, for whatever reason. But others will, if they know about it.
Growing pains: aye, the PA wasn't always audible (possible to get closer if you wanted to hear), but the marshalling was first rate and the whole thing went smoothly. I witnessed a crash on the Royal Mile, and a marshal was straight out waving blue flag to stop a big pile-up.
I know quite a few folk on this forum who were at the Stop Climate Chaos demo outside St Andrews House back in 2012, which arguably was the event that sparked involvement for many in organising PoP. Back then, amongst news of impending cycling budget cuts, Keith Brown was heckled by an angry, but small crowd of a few hundred. How far we have come in just two years! KB's tone was much less dismissive when faced with thousands of demonstrators, and young children making speeches.
Apart from putting pressure on politicians, one thing PoP has achieved that is worth celebrating is the engagement with a civic political process by many ordinary people, whether they think of themselves as cyclists or just folk who ride a bike occasionally. That is important, and could lead to real change.
If its all going to go the way of food and drinks, toilets, entertainment etc, then may i suggest just assemble directly at Holyrood for the demo / protest and have your festival later at the Meadows.
This is an extract from a piece about the Indyref in today's Sunday Herald.
It's by someone who used to work for the Yes Scotland and seems disappointed that 'head office' is not supporting the various 'xyz for Indy' groups.
By putting it here, I am NOT IN ANY WAY criticising the organisers of PoP. As I said (upthread) PoP was started with a core of people who have done an amazing job - with the help of hundreds.
BUT these hundreds (and thousands on the day) are now (or could be) the new "grass roots" (see previous post).
PoP is (effectively) a 'movement'. It probably has similarities with the National Collective which is taking culture/entertainment on the road (with a message).
I have not spoken to anyone in the PoP 'core' since Holyrood so I don't know any individual or collective plans - apart from a bit of a rest...
I'm sure there will be another PoP event at Holyrood next year. Maybe there is now the scope/appetite to do other events at different times of year and/or in other places. This may or may not be under any sort of PoP 'umbrella' - CERTAINLY NOT just organised by the same people!
The message will be broadly the same - 'more stuff to make it easier for more people to want to cycle'.
It's very clear from yesterday that 'cycling' is not party political - just political.
SH piece - (think 'cycling' not "independence" or "constitutional").
"
These same people could be used to flood local newspapers and radio stations with voices and arguments in favour of independence, backing up the work of local campaigners. Yes Scotland has a massive pool of supporters and activists to dip into, so why isn't it doing so? Also, why is the Yes campaign rarely seen in the consumer media? Imagine if Yes Scotland was a business selling a product called 'Yes'. It would use every means and outlet available to promote positive awareness of that product, yet Yes Scotland continues to ignore the consumer media, instead limiting its media relations efforts to assuaging the demands of a small number of voracious and hard-to-please political journalists.
If the constitutional debate is so important, why is it not being covered by every one of the thousands of magazines on the news stand, especially as the Yes campaign holds within its body something or someone of interest to absolutely every one of them.
I.e. 'Cycling' is about fun, health, leisure, education, travel, tourism, localism, shopping, sport - even transport and PEOPLE (all ages).
Maybe some people could contact/talk to press/magazines/radio/TV/journalists about 'cycling' - not just the infrastructure/policy stuff.
REPEAT - this is NOT any sort of criticism of PoP (or what it has done or intends to do) just "thoughts" about harnessing some of the enthusiasm of yesterday and what people might do (after they have written to all their MSPs, MPs and councillors...) to make cycling more normal/mainstream and talked about (positively).
Last year there was a burger van at meadows and this year an Ice cream van at parliament. Watched a girl with a cone for her sibling and a massive 99 for herself it was mr whippy rendered pig and was in danger of toppling, it could have ended in disaster. I always bring my own food and try to ensure I do not need toilet. This is harder with kids etc.
Next year I want to get there first but then cycle back up to meadows where there will still be people leaving as biggest ever crowd and do the closed road cycle again. That has been the best bit in all three years and was better this year than in the previous two years I have done it. Also as said before loads more kids this year which was nice.
Meant to relate my drunk man story
in grey horse pub in Balerno on Thursday for committee meeting (of our cinema Balerno Village Screeen). Beforehand I had been doing some PoP leafleting. In middle of our committee meeting one of the pub regulars stoats into the lounge from the public bar holding a PoP leaflet. He directs his attention to our meeting and says. Did you put this on my bike? I sense my film committee colleagues tensing, so I say Yes I did and smile. he then says thank you very much nobody has ever given my bike a leaflet before I bought it in 1978 you know.....
Beginning of a wonderful friendship
One gripe at the council - why was it that a cyclist protest ride was stopped at various points to allow traffic flow?
Probably more police than council(?)
I thought the sound system worked very well and there was plenty of room where I was for folk to move to if they couldn't hear the speeches where they were.
"
Three From Leith (@threefromleith)
27/04/2014 12:18
What would be fantastic would be if all #pop2014 attendees wrote positive comments to drown the usual haters out:
"
Hello all, thanks for all your comments - do keep them coming, critical as well as complimentary. We take them all on board - many of the things we did this year are as a direct result of suggestions made here and elsewhere; we're making this up as we go along and it's very helpful to hear what does and doesn't work.
Chdot is right that POP has to be more than just the core organisers - it's pretty much everyone who comes along. As to how we can harness that enthusiasm more widely, I don't know - I wish I did. Personally I'd like to think that we're planting the seeds of greater involvement in cycle campaigning locally (had two chaps from Inverness who were talking about how to try and step up their campaigning up there) but at the moment I don't think we've any clear idea what the next steps will be. I think that will become clearer over the next few months as we decide what the next steps will be. For now, we're just 7 very tired people who are just relieved it's over and another (I think?) success...
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