CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Cycling News

Map of councillors' support for Space for Cycling

(14 posts)

  1. neddie
    Member

    Today we’ve published our map of councillors who support Space for Cycling in their area. Is your councillor on there?

    http://www.ctc.org.uk/campaign/space-for-cycling/space-for-cycling-your-councillors-views

    The Space for Cycling campaign aims to improve the design of our streets and neighbourhoods so that everyone can can enjoy the benefits of cycling. Local councils have the planning powers to make these improvements on the majority of our roads.

    Over 10,000 messages have been sent to councillors across the country – and 250 of them have already signed up.

    You can email your councillor using our quick-and-easy form at: http://www.space4cycling.org.uk

    Why it's important to contact your councillor:
    • Firstly, to ensure local authorities design our roads and neighbourhoods to make safe space for cycling.
    • Secondly, many councillors say they agree with the need for improved cycle design standards but lack the funding to make it happen. We need to build a support base in local authorities who can press for funding from national government.

    For some commentary on the map, check out the Guardian Bike blog coverage here.

    Thanks for your support.

    Robbie Gillett
    Space for Cycling Campaigner
    http://www.space4cycling.org.uk

    Posted 9 years ago #

  2. chdot
    Admin

    So far -

    "
    In Edinburgh, City of there are 220,673 people in employment, of whom 9,478 cycle to work (4.30%)

    A total of 140 letters have been sent to 57 councillors

    6 councillors have signed up, they are:
    Cllr Jim Orr (Independent)
    Cllr Nigel Bagshaw (Scottish Green)
    Cllr Lesley Hinds (Labour)
    Cllr Andrew Burns (Labour)
    Cllr Angela Blacklock (Labour)
    Cllr Bill Henderson (SNP)

    11% have signed up.

    "

    From pop-up on Edinburgh on map.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  3. neddie
    Member

    Also, you can click on an area (e.g Edinburgh) of the interactive map and see which councillors have signed...

    Posted 9 years ago #

  4. SRD
    Moderator

    I've emailed mine. Would be great if we could get more of Edinburgh signed up. Especially when you remember that some of our councillors will be contesting Holyrood seats very soon.....

    Posted 9 years ago #

  5. chdot
    Admin

    "some of our councillors will be contesting Holyrood seats very soon....."

    Who do you know apart from LH?

    Posted 9 years ago #

  6. chdot
    Admin

    Not sure about "very soon" - unless you actually mean Westminster?

    Posted 9 years ago #

  7. neddie
    Member

    Oops - chdot beat me to it!

    Posted 9 years ago #

  8. SRD
    Moderator

    yes, I meant LH, but presuming some of the others are looking to move up to from murmurings I've been hearing.

    and yes, I was sort of conflating W'minster and H'rood. But also think we need to start planning soon for both of them, if we want to raise the profile of cycling.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  9. chdot
    Admin

    "Oops - chdot beat me to it!"

    Faster than a speeding bicycle.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  10. chdot
    Admin

    "some of the others are looking to move up"

    Does it depend on the September vote?...

    "from murmurings I've been hearing"

    You shouldn't listen to inaudible mumbles.

    Presume you haven't heard Andrew Burn's name. He is one of the few 'senior' politicians without further 'aspirations'.

    If there is a Yes vote, the scramble to re-orient careers will be entertaining!

    Posted 9 years ago #

  11. SRD
    Moderator

    although only one was showing in the list above, all three of my councillors have now written to say that 'of course' they are on board.

    so, worth doing?

    Posted 9 years ago #

  12. Baldcyclist
    Member

    2 of my 3 councilors replied positively, one said he had received lots of emails about this and that a paper was being presented at local council level as a result. Will push him on this because I'm not quite sure who would have written a paper in the local community, and I wouldn't mind seeing it if it does exist. He's also very keen to be +ve in correspondence but not so likely to 'do' anything.

    The other councillor who replied is certainly keen to help with small issues, and I've been in contact with her a few times about issues regarding signage, and drainage, and have had agreement that they will be implemented, but they take an eternity to actually happen (the drainage is happening in next few weeks apparently). I'm not so sure of her apetite to think any larger scale than signage, or fixing bits here or there (I've suggested as much to here), but of the three she is the one most likely to get involved.

    The third councillor, well he's just not going to reply. My best bet would be to catch him in the pub.

    Although, anoyingly, neither appear to have actually 'inked' their support on the website, despite me posting the map where I know at least one of them will see it, and also publicly naming the one Fife councillor who has signed up.sigh!

    Posted 9 years ago #

  13. NiallA
    Member

    I've just received responses from all 3 councillors from my ward within about an hour of posting the letters from the campaign web site - I think that's pretty impressive actually.

    Reasonably positive noises from 2 (in a slightly form-letter response kind of way), the third suggested I might like to meet him to discuss in person. I've responded positively to that, and floated the idea of perhaps a group of local cyclists meeting him at the same time. If anyone is in NW Edinburgh (Almond ward) and would like to come along (if we can get dates to work), let me know!

    Posted 9 years ago #

  14. neddie
    Member

    If a 'busy' councillor can tick a box in under an hour, it probably means they are not reading (& almost certainly not understanding) the material and what they are actually signing up to :(

    Doh!

    Posted 9 years ago #

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