CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!

PoP 2017

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  1. chdot
    Admin

    I'm sure the last thing PoPpers want to think about is something two years away, (not least because there WILL be one next year), but -

    The next Scottish local elections will take place in 2017, on Thursday 4 May..

    This year there was a PoP type event in Aberdeen, maybe next year too, and perhaps some other places as well.

    Just wondering aloud if -

    A) PoP organisers might need/deserve a break.

    B) Some of the organisational skills/expertise might instead (for 2017) be offered to help various local groups to walk/ride to their councils(?)

    Posted 9 years ago #
  2. sallyhinch
    Member

    It's something that has occurred to me too. I think we'd need at least 5 events across the country to make the same sort of impact as one POP - I imagine the Edinburgh one would be pretty substantial and I think Glasgow could be big. Aberdeen might have a head of steam up by then too.

    Whether it would be more or less work than POP proper, I don't know...

    Posted 9 years ago #
  3. chdot
    Admin

    "I think we'd need at least 5 events across the country to make the same sort of impact as one POP"

    More a case of events in places that haven't had any(?)

    Encourage/help people thinking of running a event, rather than organising it/them.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  4. wingpig
    Member

    Pedal on Pollingbooth? Well in advance of polling day (so there's sufficient time for the sufficiently-interested to modify their tickets) persuade a few people each from various widespread places to describe/publish how even the short route from their house to their designated local polling-station (to keep it on-theme, though similar difficulties would be simple to find for other popular journeys such as getting-kids-to-school, getting-to-work or getting-to-local-shop) is a right pain in the face to travel to actively, open-lettering their electable candidates to sample it and highlighting where changed thinkings and investment are needed?

    Edinburgh has had the Bike Breakfast with the bolt-on of trying to get councillors to attend by bicycle and the other Spokes drag-out-those-in-purported-control-of-the-reins rides, so something similarish (but ultimately about getting people in positions of control/influence onto their feet or a saddle, the better to enable them to empathise) but multi-site and widely-publicised?

    Posted 9 years ago #
  5. amir
    Member

    We certainly need to "reach" out to councils given their role in implementing cycle facilities but I'd be a worried about a reduction of impact. It might work in larger cities but I think areas like Midlothian could struggle. It needs thinking about carefully.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  6. chdot
    Admin

    "It needs thinking about carefully."

    Indeed.

    Looks like the thinking has begun!

    Posted 9 years ago #
  7. chdot
    Admin

    "I think areas like Midlothian could struggle"

    Maybe not now it wants to raise its profile -

    Pedallers on Midlothian House wouldn't all need to live in MidL!

    Better facilities would encourage more people to visit.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  8. Tulyar
    Member

    I rather appreciate the fact that cycling to Edinburgh for most riders means at least 10 miles with the prevailing wind behind you and slightly downhill.

    POP obviously is Holyrood focussed and an assembly & ride (1-1.5 miles) model needs to be considered with a final destination to have an impact (Glasgow would be George Square - perhaps assemble on Glasgow Green) but few places have the ambience of the area outside Holyrood

    Posted 9 years ago #
  9. gembo
    Member

    The grassy knoll outside holyrood was designed for accommodating marches and demos. However, most protests are smaller affairs at the parliament and in fact I am informed by a parliamentary insider that POP is the only demo that uses the knoll as it was intended.

    It is the same four thousand people who turn up each year but moving the event elsewhere would reduce the numbers.

    However, many cyclists still don't know what PoP is. Even in Edinburgh. PoP press best ever due to elections. There is an argument for keeping it simple and doing the same thing seven times before people hear your message?

    Posted 9 years ago #
  10. acsimpson
    Member

    Could POP be extended so that after the main event riders head out to surrounding councils to take the message to their council leaders? It would need a decent number of ride leaders/local organisers to handle each of the rides and someone to coordinate.

    Posted 9 years ago #
  11. Baldcyclist
    Member

    I'd be happy to be involved in helping organising something in Fife.

    I'm not sure that events should run concurrently with PoP though. If you have enough of them, there may be a danger of diluting the main event in Edinburgh. Midlothian, West Lothian, Fife may be close enough to take number away?

    OR

    Maybe it would encourage the people who wouldn't travel to Edinburgh to come out and pedal?

    Posted 9 years ago #
  12. chdot
    Admin

    Posted 9 years ago #
  13. sallyhinch
    Member

    RIGHT. Firing this thing up again. We have approval from the council for POP 2017 on April 22nd. An official announcement will be made shortly, but we are also planning POPs in Glasgow as well as the usual event in Aberdeen (and possibly other cities as well...).

    If any of you can help we particularly need hands in Edinburgh as we seem to have worn out most of our organisers.

    There was talk of feeder rides from every ward in Edinburgh to which I can only say - yes please, that would be fab

    Posted 7 years ago #
  14. HankChief
    Member

    Hooray.

    I'll be running a West Edinburgh feeder ride from Gyle Park and picking up people from St Margaret's park in Corstorphine & Roseburn Park and the zig-zags on Russell Road.

    (I assume my helpers from last year can help again...)

    Looking for even more people cycling through Roseburn this year :-)

    Posted 7 years ago #
  15. jdanielp
    Member

    Happy to do a feeder ride from City Centre or perhaps more usefully help another ward out...

    Posted 7 years ago #
  16. chdot
    Admin

    "There was talk of feeder rides from every ward in Edinburgh"

    Previous thread (revive or start a new one?)

    http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=16308

    Posted 7 years ago #
  17. HankChief
    Member

    Assume Noon start from the Meadows again?

    Posted 7 years ago #
  18. sallyhinch
    Member

    yes

    Posted 7 years ago #
  19. Stickman
    Member

    The Edinburgh March for Science is happening on the same day.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  20. sallyhinch
    Member

    Yup. We're in contact with the organisers and we're trying to work out how to work it so that people can attend both. I'm just hoping folk won't be completely marched out by then...

    Posted 7 years ago #
  21. sallyhinch
    Member

    Just had a chat with the Science March organisers, and they're going to try and work out timings so that people can do both. The current thinking is to hold it after POP so that POPpers can do POP, and then possibly skip a few of the speeches to cycle round to the starting point for the Science March, and then march (wheeling bikes) with them. But it all depends on what the authorities will allow in terms of road closures, so watch this space.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  22. sallyhinch
    Member

    More questions - I've asked both on the Facebook group (and some of you have answered there) but not everybody is on FB. This year, we're going to be running a crowdfunder campaign because covering three cities adds substantially to the cost. The crowdfunder will include t-shirts and hopefully hoodies as rewards as well as sticker packs, and other slightly more random things such as 'vintage' PoP posters (five years is vintage, right?) and some bits of memorabilia.

    So my first question is, how much would you pay for such things, bearing in mind that the crowdfunding platform adds a layer of cost, and that the main point is to raise money, not sell stuff (we will continue to do our traditional on-the-day t-shirt sales at the lower price reflecting the lower logistical complications of a pile of t-shirts in a box and fistfuls of cash). People will also have the option of just donating, for the glory of the thing (and their name if they want on the POP website)

    My second question is - have you any feedback on last year's t-shirts in terms of colour, design, quality, fit, or anything else.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  23. chdot
    Admin

    "have you any feedback on last year's t-shirts in terms of colour, design, quality, fit"

    Just GRRRReat.

    Need to be on sale early.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  24. sallyhinch
    Member

    Well, the crowdfunder will bring the sales forward but the usual practical issues means they're unlikely to reach people any earlier. We struggle with this every year, but it's the price of using volunteer effort

    Posted 7 years ago #
  25. chdot
    Admin

    "

    Pedal On Parliament (@POPScotland)
    07/03/2017, 15:54

    Now have confirmation Glasgow #pop2017 will be on closed roads. Keep 23rd April free for Glasgow and 22nd April free for Aberdeen/Edinburgh

    "

    Posted 7 years ago #
  26. sallyhinch
    Member

    You have no idea how painful a process that was! One for Magnatom's memoirs ...

    In other news, we will really need some help with distributing flyers and posters in Edinburgh this year. Can anyone volunteer to act as a central distribution point, as well as going out and doing individual shops, places etc.? We've got a super dynamic team getting things off the ground in Glasgow ... Edinburgh may have to raise its game

    Posted 7 years ago #
  27. biketrain
    Member

    @SallyHinch. Are this year's 2017 POP flyers and posters available on the POP website? I just had a look but could not see them.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  28. sallyhinch
    Member

    Hi Biketrain - we're still finalising the design (the preview I've seen is pretty fab though). We'll have printable PDFs up on the site as soon as they're ready. Cutting it a bit fine this year!

    Posted 7 years ago #
  29. biketrain
    Member

    @Sallyhinch. I am looking forward to seeing the new design. Then will print and display in my parish and on my commute.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  30. chdot
    Admin

    "

    Cycling Edinburgh (@CyclingEdin)
    09/03/2017, 10:37
    @IanMurrayMP hope you'll all be coming this year

    #POP2017 22nd April Ed & Aberdeen 23rd Glasgow

    @scottishlabour @POPScotland @kezdugdale

    http://pic.twitter.com/ek5YiOGDLB

    "

    https://twitter.com/cyclingedin/status/839787221947465728

    Posted 7 years ago #

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