CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
"What we want For Scottish transport" (Transform Scotland 'manifesto')
(12 posts)-
Posted 8 years ago #
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I want this elephant to become transport minister.
From your link - 84% of Scots agree priority should be given to fixing the existing road network
But the SNP know best.
Posted 8 years ago # -
"But the SNP know best." Isn't the problem that the SNP only thinks about "fixing the road network" but ignores other visions in this brochure? Or, to be more precise, supports the "visions" but doesn't actually do much to make them happen, except for "fixing the roads" (for cars)?
This document from Transform Scotland is certainly interesting and all parties should sign up, but the problem is not that any party disagrees with any of the principles and demands, but that not all parties are actually willing to act accordingly.
It's good that Transform Scotland has some very concrete demands in there, like "By 2020, each of Scotland’s seven cities should have in place at least one high-quality, segregated route on a key commuter road; by 2030, all main roads should be provided with cycle facilities matching the best in Europe."
The real test is not signing up to the document, but which politicians/parties then proactively push for such routes, who just says nice words but then doesn't get involved in practice, and who actively opposes plans that require to reallocate space.
If each city should have at least one segregated route by 2020, they have to plan them now. Edinburgh at least has a plan for one to Roseburn, so let's see which parties make it happen.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Some good stuff here, but the rail and bus sections are very weak. The problem with the bus industry isn't a lack of bus lanes - it is the deregulated nature of the industry. Operators only have to provide commercially viable services, while local authorities subsidise loss making services. The squeeze on public finances means many of these services are being cut - leaving many of the most marginalised people without any access to public transport. Even the Tories are proposing to extend London style bus franchising powers to other English cities. About time these were seriously considered for Scotland.
Same really for the rail industry - the future of Network Rail is currently under review and the Scotland Bill would allow a public sector operator for ScotRail. How about proposing an actual integrated public sector ScotRail, rather than allowing the Dutch Government and bank owned rolling stock leasing companies from hoovering vast amounts of taxpayers cash out of the system.
Posted 8 years ago # -
"The real test is not signing up to the document, but which politicians/parties then proactively push for such routes"
Exactly. Politicians have signed up to 10% of journeys by bike by 2020, and that's less than 5 years away, so it's not going to happen.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Isn't the problem that the SNP only thinks about "fixing the road network" but ignores other visions in this brochure? Or, to be more precise, supports the "visions" but doesn't actually do much to make them happen, except for "fixing the roads" (for cars)?
Well yes, that is true. But ignoring the horrible state of the current roads in favour of building more and more and more, against even the wishes of actual motorists is a very bad sign indeed.
Posted 8 years ago # -
"But ignoring the horrible state of the current roads in favour of building more and more and more, against even the wishes of actual motorists is a very bad sign indeed."
That's a good way of putting it.
I was surprised/intrigued to see "All of Scotland’s roads could be fixed for £2.25 billion – a small share of the £9 billion currently planned for new roads."
Even if the real figure is double that, it shows that 'all' potholes are "fixable" - for a reasonable/affordable price.
Also -
"Repairing existing road infrastructure would be of huge economic benefit: local firms could carry out the work, and it would also support Scottish local authority finances."
Posted 8 years ago # -
I was surprised/intrigued to see "All of Scotland’s roads could be fixed for £2.25 billion – a small share of the £9 billion currently planned for new roads."
We should remember this quote for the next EEN commenter who suggests £9mil for a cycle lane would be better used to fix pot holes.
Really puts it in perspective.
Posted 8 years ago # -
"But ignoring the horrible state of the current roads in favour of building more and more and more, against even the wishes of actual motorists is a very bad sign indeed."
Well it depends which motorists you're talking about. I'm willing to bet the 16% of motorists who are in favour of building new roads are regular users of the A9, A96, and live in the Highlands or North East of Scotland.
They want THEIR new dual carriageways, and they want them now. Any attempt to delay, let alone suggest the new roads are unnecessary, is dismissed as Central Belt bias, holding back the essential development of the Highlands and North East.
These people have the ear of SNP politicians because, surprise surprise, senior party members and cabinet ministers' constituencies are served by these roads...
Posted 8 years ago # -
They don't really stay fixed though ... our road got patched fairly thoroughly and surface dressed (with those loose chippings) less than a year ago and there are potholes you could lose a Brompton in along it now
Posted 8 years ago # -
You need a papal visit*. Roads get fixed in no time. I'm still waiting for N Lanarkshire to fix a stank I told them about when Jack McConnell was FM.
*Might also work for presidential or Brenda visits.
Posted 8 years ago # -
"They don't really stay fixed though ... "
Posted 8 years ago #
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