CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!

Cyclng to Holyrood this Friday / 'Hands Off Our Parliament'

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  1. LaidBack
    Member

    This Friday the general populace get a chance to display their support for the continuance of a strong Holyrood. I'm thinking of cycling down to 'be there' as opposed to 'being apathetic'. Both are choices but I do think back to the horrible 'old days' of the 60s, 70s and 80s. Scottish matters were hardly debated and we had to endure social experiments from Malcolm Rifkind and his ilk.

    We all enjoy Pedal on Parliament - does the forum think it's worth meeting up to make a small convoy? Flags are not required btw - there will be enough Braveheartery around!
    Walking and motorcycling and driving will all be represented - why not cycling as we are one of the few groups to raise a big Holyrood centred event? (ie the good work of PoP which I know is slowly influencing the future for active travel).

    Here's a flavour...
    The human chain in defence of Parliament will be formed at 12 noon, but after that there will be Rolling Thunder convoy by YesBikers and friends who have stated: “We will be meeting up at Sheriffhall park and ride at 12.45 heading into town at 1pm to a forming up point on Arthur’s Seat.

    “We will ride from this point down towards the Parliament to line the road from the roundabout at the park to past the Parliament, we will stop and dismount to face the Parliament to give them our thunder.”
    At 2pm there will be a Show of Shields and at 3pm a Car Convoy while all day there will be a Speakers Corner featuring the National’s own Paul Kavanagh and Keep Scotland the Brand founder Ruth Watson among others.

    Easy to be hostile to the massed Harleys and other contributors but in the end everyone seems welcome and Holyrood is more useful than no Holyrood?

    Posted 6 years ago #

  2. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    An excellent idea, @LaidBack.

    Important to point out that this is an event for everyone who wishes to retain a devolved Scottish parliament, not just those of us who, like me, wish it to become sovereign.

    In fact, if anyone has a Union flag it would be helpful if they brought it.

    I'll be there at 11h00 I think.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  3. LaidBack
    Member

    I'll take some PoP fliers to hand out. (If appropriate?)

    Was planning not to ride anything reclined. Probably take a shop upright with kickstand so I can park, lock and be a pedestrian.

    Anyone want to ride in a group to arrive together?Elephant Bikers vs Harleys :-)

    Green party should be there as an influential group. RuthD may attend with flag (joking)

    Posted 6 years ago #

  4. gembo
    Member

    When are they getting rid of Holyrood? I love that building.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  5. LaidBack
    Member

    As a museum? ;-)

    Posted 6 years ago #

  6. gembo
    Member

    Thought the first parliament with Robin Harper and SSP had something about it too

    Posted 6 years ago #

  7. Frenchy
    Member

    I love that building.

    Now, now. Even you can take whimsy too far.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  8. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    I still remember the horror of realising that what I thought was the loading bay was the front elevation.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  9. unhurt
    Member

    @gembo, ignore the haters! I like it too!

    Posted 6 years ago #

  10. LaidBack
    Member

    I've got to be at shop till 11.30
    Hope to make it by 12 for big link up around Holyrood.
    As an older contributor here I would urge anyone with a passing interest of how this country is to be governed in the future to please come by.
    It's easy to think that it will be all right because MSM says so, but sadly they are part of the problem (as we know from their treatment of cycling!)
    One of our friends has just reminded us that the morally bankrupt BJ has somehow forgotten that the Russian Brexit distraction is not so simple.
    1. Russia boycotted the 1936 Berlin Olympics
    2. The England football team were instructed to give Nazi salutes.
    3. The anti-Scottish Daily Mail of course was highly supportive of Hitler and Franco.
    So a big turn out will let people know that there is an alternative - not just SNP of course as we have alternatives here thanks to a slightly more advanced voting system than the fossilised one at WM.
    Is there a real threat to Holyrood? I think there is when you see the non supportive media we currently have in Scotland.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  11. unhurt
    Member

    Not sure if I can escape office but if I can I'll try to come down for 12 and make it my lunch break.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  12. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    Just a thought for those swithering; if things keep going the way they are then Pedal on Parliament will be a three day overnight Audax ride not a morning out with the kids.

    This concerns everyone in favour of devolution - three quarters of us at the last time of asking.

    I think it will be rather genial if not jolly. I may bust out the fez.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  13. sallyhinch
    Member

    Just a thought for those swithering; if things keep going the way they are then Pedal on Parliament will be a three day overnight Audax ride not a morning out with the kids.

    Of course for some, that would be a good thing ...

    I would be there if I was in Edinburgh.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  14. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    @sallyhinch

    I could make a voodoo sallyhinch doll and take that with me?

    Posted 6 years ago #

  15. unhurt
    Member

    I may bust out the fez.
    Always good to check the equipment is fully functional.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  16. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    @unhurt

    Are you one of those tedious people puts the tent up in the garden the day before an expedition?

    Posted 6 years ago #

  17. sallyhinch
    Member

    Or the chicken?

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/disgruntled/6977749282/

    Posted 6 years ago #

  18. wingpig
    Member

    12:00 might be a wee bit tight but if I change my shoes and roll up my trousers in advance I might make it.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  19. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    I was given the chicken by a French lorry driver. How appropriate.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  20. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    @wingpig

    Expect a rolling programme of 'events' and hours of milling about. Impossible to be late or indeed early for.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  21. neddie
    Member

    MSM ???

    What does MSM stand for?

    Is it a typo? MSP? Is P next to M on the keyboard? No.

    OK, am I just thick?

    It's all very well these hipster youth abbreviations, but it makes for slow & difficult reading.

    YVMV

    Posted 6 years ago #

  22. unhurt
    Member

    Are you one of those tedious people puts the tent up in the garden the day before an expedition?

    I think Glen Avon illustrated that I am not? (Tent inner was not in fact attached to tent outer. It's a pitch-as-one job and it took ages to untangle and reconnect all the doofers...)

    Anyway, fez failure is a serious business. Proceed at your own risk.

    @nedd1e_h: Your Variance May Vary?

    Posted 6 years ago #

  23. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    these hipster youth abbreviations

    Said @nedd1e_h.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  24. gembo
    Member

    where is the meet up, i will come if not raining and the Kids for WHEC have finished with fixing my bike (there is a slight de;ay but they are getting through the work) You can admisre them if you wish by detouring past Waverley Court they are in a Gazebo from teh EBC out the front til noon

    Posted 6 years ago #

  25. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    @gembo

    Good man. I'll bring Seamus. Fear you not that WHEC will turn yer ride to a Scorpion?

    Leaving now.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  26. unhurt
    Member

    Many spots.

    Lot of folk out for a weekday not quite lunchtime.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  27. cb
    Member

    @neddie_h, MSM = Main Stream Media.
    Often not looked on in a generally favourable light when referred to as that, in my experience.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  28. Ed1
    Member

    Nothing on the bbc

    Posted 6 years ago #

  29. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    @Ed1

    It's unlikely to feature unless they can find someone who felt intimidated by the hordes of genial pensioners.

    Posted 6 years ago #

  30. gembo
    Member

    I was the youngest there, apart from Unhurt and mebbes Madame IWRATS

    Posted 6 years ago #

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