CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Events, rides etc.

POP reboot meeting - Sept 20th

(39 posts)
  • Started 8 years ago by sallyhinch
  • Latest reply from I were right about that saddle

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12

  1. sallyhinch
    Member

    POP's been going five years now, and it needs fresh ideas and fresh blood - especially with crunch local elections coming up.

    We're planning on holding an open session on the evening of the 20th September for anyone who might be interested in helping out in some way or has ideas (I know there are plenty on here). We're keen not to exclude anyone, so looking for somewhere that isn't a pub or at least too pubby a pub, ideally near either Waverley or Haymarket, and where people don't feel they have to buy a meal to sit down. We do have a small amount of budget if need be

    Thinking it would likely be 5:30 - 7:30 pm to catch the homeward commuters.

    Of course, those who can't make it can still express an interest in getting involved or make suggestions - and I know some of you have already.

    Thoughts on venues, timings, or more widely (I know this forum ...) welcome

    Posted 8 years ago #

  2. unhurt
    Member

    Might be able to make it - not yet sure. But if helpful re: non-pub venues (and while I don't like their coffee much in either case!) Hanover St Costa Coffee are open till 7pm, and Starbucks on Princess Street till 9pm. (NB Both are upstairs; I'm not sure if either has a lift.)

    Posted 8 years ago #

  3. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Fountainbridge Library handy(ish) for Haymarket and Canal. Open until 8PM on a Wednesday and has a community meeting room which can be hired, website says its £21.50 for 3 hours.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  4. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    It is a pub, but also a social enterprise with an upstairs meeting room, just off NCR1;

    http://www.theskinny.co.uk/whats-on/edinburgh/pubs-bars/southside-social

    They've been very welcoming about another group I'm in using the upstairs for meetings without consuming vast quantities of anything.

    I may well not be around on the 20th, but will write down thoughts if I'm not.

    This meeting is an excellent idea and PoP is an excellent thing.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  5. dessert rat
    Member

    wot is POP ?

    Posted 8 years ago #

  6. wingpig
    Member

    http://PedalOnParliament.org/

    Posted 8 years ago #

  7. chdot
    Admin

    "PoP is an excellent thing"

    Indeed.

    I'm not a 'core group member' and I know those who have been will never get the true recognition they deserve for sustaining this so far. Clearly there are people who have done lots of work. (Particularly Sally - for anyone new to Edinburgh/CCE).

    I don't know how much Dave Brennan does between the annual PoPs (it was his idea to do a Scottish version of something planned for London. I think that one only happened once). If he did nothing (not the case of course) except turn up and MC that would be enough.

    The point is that, as with any successful event/organisation there are a range of skills and time commitments required.

    Some 'invisible', some very specific - litter picking on The Meadows is probably the least taxing (5000 people with bikes leave remarkably little trace!)

    Flyering - onto bikes or standing at the side of cycle paths increase the numbers turning up on the day.

    If you've done things before I hope you'll do some again. Just telling friends/family/colleagues is an important something!

    Next year may well be the most crucial PoP ever because of the local elections. There will be extra opportunities for encouraging candidates to turn up and be encouraged to take an interest in 'ActiveTravel'.

    So more to do than before and some people may have less time to make PoP happen.

    Obviously if you can't make this meeting (or don't want to) plenty of other chances to offer to help in large or little ways..

    One person *only* designs a poster each year.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  8. chdot
    Admin

    "wot is POP ?"

    Doesn't matter if that is a real or ironic question.

    There are MILLIONS of people who have never heard of it.

    And hundreds of thousands (in Edinburgh alone) who have never been.

    But it's not a solemn statement by serious cyclists.

    One very noticeable thing from the very first PoP is the wide range of 'cyclists' (people with bikes).

    All ages, most styles of bikes. Clothing optional - actually everyone wears quite a lot. All PoPs have happened with hardly any rain. The sun usually comes out for the speeches. But April is seldom summer.

    Just need a 2017 date to tell people about.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  9. chdot
    Admin

    PoP has always been a learning process.

    In the first year many more people than were expected turned up. But there have been no real problems with the actual ride or the Meadows or Holyrood ends.

    The Police do a great job helped by highly responsible PoP volunteer marshals.

    Feeder rides have developed. For 2017 rides from all CEC wards have been suggested.

    There have been some "reverse feeder rides", which are clearly a good idea but harder to deliver.

    One thing that is 'missing' is entertainment for those waiting for a long time on The Meadows. But organising something may be more trouble than it's worth!

    Posted 8 years ago #

  10. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Pedal on Polling Stations.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  11. Firedog
    Member

    I've been to all the POPs so far, and remain in awe of the organisation that it involves. Really fantastic event.

    One thing I'd like to see tried out at some point is focus on a single issue, whether something big such as presumed liability or small - eg Roseburn route Option A. I've felt in recent years that the broad aims of POP have allowed politicians to offer platitudes. A push on a single issue is a lot more difficult to skirt around.

    (That's not to say that what has been achieved so far has not been impressive. It was just an idea that struck me on the way in this morning).

    Posted 8 years ago #

  12. Klaxon
    Member

    Keen to come to the meeting but will be limited by having to leave to go to work. Closer to the centre of town the better!

    Posted 8 years ago #

  13. Blueth
    Member

    "Clothing optional" - now there's a way to boost coverage of the event☺

    Posted 8 years ago #

  14. Rosie
    Member

    @chdot - I have thought that a load of people arrive at Holyrood and then after a few speeches people trickle away and it's a bit anti-climactic. An official procession departing would be good. I don't know about entertainment - as you say, that is a lot to organise. The procession itself is the big "entertainment" i.e. taking over the Royal Mail.

    Refreshment stalls would be terrific. I'm panting for a coffee by the end of the speeches and it's a trek to get to the one van in the car park. However there are probably regulations against the food vans turning up.

    In no way am I dissing the event which is brilliant.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  15. chdot
    Admin

    "I have thought that a load of people arrive at Holyrood and then after a few speeches people trickle away and it's a bit anti-climactic."

    Yes, and a lot don't stop for the speeches!

    Some people stop and have a picnic, listening to the speeches, but most head off.

    I think a few more 'return rides' is about the most that can be expected in terms of afterwards.

    Decide in advance where they will go - Meadows? Leith? Porty? Harrison Park? And fix a leave time for about 1/2 hour after speeches expected to finish(?)

    I'll just head for Hemma (free wifi) to upload photos to the Flickr Press Pool

    Posted 8 years ago #

  16. Rosie
    Member

    @chtdot Up path by Holyrood Drive then to St Leonard's and through the route to the Meadows. However the uphill cycle path would be a bit much for some of the wee ones.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  17. gembo
    Member

    Good to see two of my hats in the one picture. Also that wine was a very good Syrah from Montes Alpha of Chile via Scotmid.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  18. Frenchy
    Member

    taking over the Royal Mail.

    This is the kind of ambition we need!

    Posted 8 years ago #

  19. Neil
    Member

    I reckon the person that wrote the West Midland Police blog post I just posted should be invited to give the keynote speech *followed* by the head of Police Scotland (for a response).

    I've only made it along one year, and I didn't find the speeches particularly inspiring (diplomatic). I see that I missed Graeme Obree the year before though! Fewer (or no) politicians would be better I think.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  20. sallyhinch
    Member

    Thanks for all the suggestions.

    We will be meeting at Southside Social (the room upstairs) - drop in any time between 5:30 and 7:30 on Tuesday 20th.

    If you can't make it, but have suggestions and/or are interested in getting involved, you can email us on hello@pedalonparliament.org (this is slightly easier to share onwards with the wider group than a PM on here)

    Hope to see some of you next week.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  21. sallyhinch
    Member

    Just bumping this as a reminder

    Posted 8 years ago #

  22. gembo
    Member

    Will try to remember.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  23. chdot
    Admin

    TOMORROW

    "We will be meeting at Southside Social (the room upstairs) - drop in any time between 5:30 and 7:30 on Tuesday 20th."

    Posted 8 years ago #

  24. unhurt
    Member

    Will be there from about half five - it's very handy for work!

    Posted 8 years ago #

  25. sallyhinch
    Member

    Cool, see you there!

    Posted 8 years ago #

  26. kaputnik
    Moderator

    I should be along between 530-6ish.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  27. Stickman
    Member

    Any bike parking nearby?

    Posted 8 years ago #

  28. Frenchy
    Member

    Any bike parking nearby?
    Few racks at east end of Buccleuch Place, fences on Buccleuch Place, dozens of racks on George Sq.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  29. chdot
    Admin

    8 people so far, room for plenty more.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  30. dessert rat
    Member

    Looking round the room trying to work out which person is chdot....

    Posted 8 years ago #

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