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.
"Now I know you're having me on."
Only the green ink bit.
I'm sure some people will pay more attention to paper than email, because it will be increasingly rare.
Worth hand writing the envelope too.
Some politicians respond to everything (except abuse) others seem incapable of replying to anything.
Just written to all my councillors.
Here's how I would approach lobbying in the run up to the meeting, which should be at 10am on Tuesday 30 August.
1 - This week - emails to your ward councillors supporting the scheme, making special mention of your support for Option A.
2 - Friday-Monday - emails to Transport and Environment Committee members.
3 - Monday night/Tuesday morning - social media firestorm of support for the scheme/option A
4 - Tuesday morning - "ride the route", a peleton of commuters rides the full east/west cycle route in the morning rush hour - documenting the current problems on Twitter/Facebook as they ride and how the scheme would solve these. Invite journalists to attend - no problem if they don't, they should pick up the social media feeds as it will be pretty photogenic.
I would keep emails nice and short, you can link to Hanchief's excellent website and blog for detail. What councillors need to hear is why you think it is a good idea, and most importantly that you and (if you have one) your family will use it.
Paper letters would certainly be more memorable than emails, as almost no-one writes them anymore. However, it's a pretty minor detail and well written emails are effective. If you can actually speak to a Councillor in the next week then that is the best way of getting the message across.
Oh, and just in case I didn't make this clear. Option A - if everyone said something like "It's a no-brainer, the best way to ensure the success of the scheme" that would be great. A consistent message that it is the best, in fact the only sensible, option is required - as this is the real issue of contention.
I would make no mention of the opposition - simply ignore them. Mentioning them could be taken as showing we consider their ideas worthy of consideration - they aren't. Better to make a positive case for the scheme being presented at the meeting - remember we are reinforcing what the officials want the councillors to agree.
Thanks Morningsider. I'm up for the 'ride the route' Tuesday morning (30th August). Will George Street be clear by then? Maybe the 'route' on Tuesday should be Charlotte Square, starting outside Bute House, to Roseburn as the eastern section is less contentious and also less well defined.
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Tuesday morning - "ride the route", a peleton of commuters rides the full east/west cycle route in the morning rush hour - documenting the current problems on Twitter/Facebook as they ride and how the scheme would solve these. Invite journalists to attend - no problem if they don't, they should pick up the social media feeds as it will be pretty photogenic.
"
Or W-E (or both)
HOWEVER
For best chance of social/media that cllrs might notice, better not on the day surely?
So Monday or - perhaps better - this week.
I'm up for the peloton.
If someone were to blog something along those lines and ping me a tweet or email between now and midnight, it will appear in the Cycling Embassy blog roundup, which may help spread the word (although how big the Edinburgh readership which is not on here is, I don't know)....
happy to provide a blog to host said blogpost if one is needed,
Good idea for the peleton.
What day works best?
Monday 29th is a Bank Holiday for some - may make it easier for people to come along (& hang around) - and could still get in the media before the meeting.
Alternative would be this Thursday so any press would get published on Friday.
Hi folks, happy to attend a mass cycle if I am around when it goes ahead. Sounds fun :)
I could make Friday or Monday but not Thursday I'm afraid.
How about we also send an open invite to every councillor asking them to join us cycling the route?
How about we also send an open invite to every councillor asking them to join us cycling the route?
If doing this, it would be worth checking which day might work best with a supportive councillor.
Can someone please take on responsibility for organising this and make some decisions?
I'm happy to support it but will struggle to make it happen.
Thanks
If the point of the peloton would be to point out difficulties, is it most likely there will be problems due to deliveries and loading/bad parking etc.on a Monday? Is there a time and day when it's likely to be worst?
Okay. I'm going to start making some decisions.
Monday 29th.
I think we have 2 rides.
1. 7.45am Invited members of the press and transport committee members and a select number of cyclists to accompany them and talk about the scheme and what it's like without the cycle route.
2. 8am Massed ranks. A group can set off at the same time as us and 'ride the route'
Anyone who misses or can't make the start can also 'ride the route' and give us a ding-ding on their bell as they pass.
Anyone interested in accompanying the select group please let me know. I was thinking we would keep the select group to a manageable size of maybe a dozen.
Further suggestions welcome...
Ok, see you there - meet at the Roseburn bridge?
Dress code? 'Normal' or hi-viz/helmet?
I was thinking that we ride East to West so that we can spend whatever time is needed at the Roseburn at the end of the ride.
Where's good to meet in the East? Omni Centre or St Andrew's Square?
Dress code = whatever
Thanks HankChief for the decisions. I would add as they are East West rides that we start at Charlotte Sq. (Outside Bute House) rather than do the whole thing from Leith. That will cover the 'difficult' bit and might encourage press and Cllrs to attend.
Sorry HC cross-posted. I would recommend Charlotte Sq though as start because a) quiet place to gather, and b) George St is a separate project so not so relevant to decision on 30th.
I'm in
I'll be there for the 8 O'Clock set off
"I would recommend Charlotte Sq ..."
+1
I can deploy the EdFoC Urban Arrow. Practical zero emission vehicle for deliveries.
https://twitter.com/davidfkeySNP/status/766585085768458240
Encouraging tweet from David Key - SNP Cllr
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Whilst Edinburgh frets over Route A or B, look what's happening down south:
https://t.co/mBOf46zYpv
#cycle
@adamrmcvey
"
The link is to Kingston in London offering free bikes to all residents for a month.
I am available next Monday morning for peloton et cetera
I'very had a go at a quick blog for Monday's event. I'm not very good at this so any comments welcome.
Could someone put it on Facebook as an event please?
The TEC papers are due out today so it could all be about to kick off...
Excellent. Have linked on Twitter.
I'll be there on Monday.
Another from David Key:
"many thanks for the invite but I do the morning school and nursery runs (walks).
But you have my full support.
#OptionA"
"
“The transformation of Melbourne into a bike friendly city started many years ago,” says Richards.
“The stages were incremental, not dramatic [and] that policy has been supported by political parties of both persuasions and most local governments and councils.”
While cyclists commuting into Sydney appear to overwhelmingly support the introduction of physically separated bike lanes, that city’s comparatively rapid rollout, coupled with the forced changes and disruption as well as the publicity that has ensued, go a long way to explaining the heat being generated.
"
http://www.governmentnews.com.au/2016/04/why-sydney-hates-cyclists-and-melbourne-loves-them
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