This image is from the second, 2014, Pedal on Parliament (PoP) when THOUSANDS of people turned out to protest, demonstrate and lobby politicians, primarily at Holyrood.
Without people brought together by CCE, PoP wouldn’t have happened.
Before the first ride, organisers were nervously hoping a few hundred would come.
So they were shocked/exhilarated to see about 2000 people with bicycles!
PoP definitely changed things, with politicians changing opinions and raising ‘active travel’ budgets.
But still sticking with ‘promises’ to widen the A9 and build a bridge on the bypass.
At council level, Glasgow seems to have got unexpected enthusiasm for new cycle infrastructure.
Meanwhile councillors in Edinburgh have voted to remove a small bit of AT infrastructure which, if it doesn’t change the plan (again), will mean taking money from projects ‘in the pipeline’ and building unnecessary (and largely unwanted) cycle infrastructure NOT on a main/arterial route.
Of course improvements for people who cycle/want to cycle in Edinburgh would be even worse/non-existent without 47 1/2 years of Spokes.
It’s truly amazing the work that has been done by this group (and it continues) all without any staff EVER. (It has attracted funding for various projects -some of which I have been involved in, including The Bike Station).
PoP was always an addition/complement to Spokes, not a criticism. There’s only so much a small group of volunteers can do!
After a few years of only slight progress (a lot due to the unexpected/tragic intervention of Covid) and much greater awareness of ‘climate’ and health (particularly mental) it’s perhaps not surprising that some people are thinking of ‘retiring’ from cycle campaigning in Edinburgh.
Obviously personal choice.
Anyone involved in any sort of campaigning is aware of the effort involved and the toll it can take - if only by taking up time. For many people, circumstances change and ‘free’ time is no longer available.
It’s also dispiriting when ‘progress’ seems to stall/hit a brick wall. ESPECIALLY when (it would seem) it’s more about Party politics than improving things for people living in Edinburgh.
There will be no PoP this year, mostly because there are (apparently) not enough people willing/able to do the work required to make it happen.
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