CityCyclingEdinburgh was launched on the 27th of October 2009 as "an experiment".
IT’S TRUE!
CCE is 16years 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.
Min, I think gembo meant my comments re: existing infrastructure.
Gembo, sorry if it came over as whinging - I just want the future for cycling to be better - like all of us.
However the amount of money they need to spend to make MY commute cycle friendly means that I dont believe it will happen any time soon.
Happy (delighted) if I am proved wrong.
I will keep badgering my MP, Councillors etc so they can never say they dont understand the issues.
Here is the text that the original Spokes e-mail linked to [now that I re-read it - a curious e-mail indeed]
"
Edinburgh City councillors have taken a remarkable decision on cycling investment in today’s Council 2012/13 budget, setting a completely new standard for other councils…
The council decided today that 5% of its transport capital budget will be invested in cycling infrastructure and projects [p19 of budget motion, 1.7MB]. Importantly, too, this is quite apart from additional ‘external’ funding, which can itself be quite substantial. To our knowledge, no other Scottish council has set a percentage for cycling, let alone such an ambitious figure.
Edinburgh’s sustained investment in cycling over many years under a variety of political adminstrations has paid off in rising levels of cycle use, and the current council is now taking that further. The Scottish Household Survey suggests that between 5% and 9% of all trips to work were already by bike in 2009 (a percentage in line with the 5% budget allocation!) and Spokes traffic counts show continuing growth in bike commuting.
The budget decision also agrees to raise the 5% figure by 1% annually (presumably during the 2012-16 period of the budget statement).
"
Spokes clearly taking a very upbeat line on this one. "We" should definitely join them.
"
Spokes clearly taking a very upbeat line on this one. "We" should definitely join them.
"
Spokes has a longstanding 'policy' of highlighting/praising good things. Over the years I think this has been very successful and confirms the reality that it wants to be constructive.
Much of the work is done (on a voluntary basis) by a fairly small number of people - some have been doing it for more than 30 years!
The announcements of the past week (both CEC and SG) are quite remarkable and give cause for optimism.
BUT
I've been involved in 'Edinburgh and cycling' long enough to know that politicians' wishes are not always delivered by the officials.
CEC staff directly involved with 'cycling' are very good. Other people (understandably) have different interests/pressures/priorities. Sometimes not enough 'seeing the bigger picture'.
I hope things are now (and in the future) better. CEC has a (fairly) new Chief Executive who has made a difference - not least with the tram.
My view is that some of what is now due to happen - eg repainting the red and white bits on the road should always have been part of normal maintenance and not subject to 'no money' excuses.
There are also issues like 'money for mending potholes'. All well and good but 'we' know that pothole filling doesn't always last and does little to address the fact that too many of Edinburgh's roads are made up of sunken or raised utility trenches and past and future potholes.
I think 'we' (in the widest sense) have succeeded in convincing enough politicians that 'active travel', AKA encouraging walking and cycling, is a GOOD THING - there might even be votes in it.
But to use a misquote 'the price of progress is eternal vigilance'.
Praise where it is due (both for Spokes and as Spokes does), but keep the pressure on for the money to be spent wisely and - when it is and the results are positive - campaign for more!
Meanwhile in London -
"
cyclistsinthecity (@citycyclists)
2/11/12 5:37 PM
Surprisingly impressed to see @labourtransport show genuine understanding of need for change on UK's streets to make cycling option for all
https://www.twitter.com/citycyclists/status/168434209587855360
"
ALL parties are now getting on message!
Important to remember that Edinburgh is actually fortunate in what infrastructure it's got - many other places in the UK will be envious.
But it's important to balance the 'we know best (because we are right)' with 'not everyone wants to cycle so I have to consider them too'.
People on this forum cycle for many reasons and want 'things' to be better for themselves, other cyclists and also people who 'want to cycle' but 'don't think it's safe'.
It's important to show that 'we' are not just being 'selfish cyclists' but thinking in wider terms of 'environment', 'liveable cities', reducing 'exclusion' etc. etc.
Not always easy...
It's important to show that 'we' are not just being 'selfish cyclists' but thinking in wider terms of 'environment', 'liveable cities', reducing 'exclusion' etc. etc.
So when will motorists have to show all these things? Oh I forgot, that's the 'status quo', that's 'normal'. In order to get something more / sustain what 'we' have it will be necessary to show that cycling will cure many, if not all, of society's ills? A tall order, methinks!
Yes, broader uptake of cycling (and walking) will potentially deliver many benefits. 'We' all know that. Say the Council manages to meet the target by 2020. Cycling infrastructure and promotion might deliver that alone, but I doubt it. Curbs on motor traffic will have to be part of the mix. I know there are some plans for full or partial pedestrianisation in the city centre, which should help. 20mph zones will also help, though they'll need to be much more widespread than just the south of Edinburgh. Somehow though the percentage of journeys by car needs to drop: not easy to see how that will occur.
"So when will motorists have to show all these things?"
Well they already do/try in the sense of manufacturers proclaiming 'greener', 'lower emission' cars.
One thing that this forum has shown is that a lot of people also drive.
So it's not really the either/or of cycle/personal motor vehicle.
I would love to see levels of taxation/regulation that meant that fewer people left their cars at the sides of roads. But that shows part of the black/white/grey consideration. A parked car may well be owned by someone who cycles to work.
What is required (especially in urban areas/Edinburgh) is for the number of short car journeys to be drastically reduced - and consequently cars being sold and more use be made of bikes, buses and the City Car Club.
This is happening and will continue. Whether it speeds up due to (a package of) new measures remains to be seen.
My reference to 'selfish cyclists' was trying to make the point that however much 'cyclists' are seen, by themselves and (more importantly) others as out/other, the (increasing) reality is that they are 'normal' people with cars, families, work colleagues etc. etc. and not some 'special' group wanting special treatment.
Of course there are those who would see all this as part of the 'war on motorists', but they are wrong and being increasingly marginalised - even by the political class that has largely forgotten the art of leading the public...
"Spokes clearly taking a very upbeat line on this one. "We" should definitely join them. "
Meanwhile "I" will not join anyone who makes stupid jibes at the people who are really responsible for increasing cyclist numbers in Edinburgh, those who are actually getting on their bikes and cycling.
I'm trying to read this topic again to see why we're all so upset. Is there a news comments section I missed?
</baffled>
To me this is an opportunity for ultracautious optimism blended with a huge dollop of healthy cynicism, i.e. I emailed my councillors to thank them for having the cojones to pass such a policy but admit that I'd be amazed if half of what is hoped for came to pass. It would require a paradigm shift from all the employees of the council, not just their elected leaders... not to mention normal people actually getting out of their cars!
As I say, cautious optimism. If they manage to address e.g. Missoni and the St Andrews Sq debacle then I'll revise upwards...
@Dave, I think the disquiet comes from the Spokes email quite, rather than the story itself:
"The article is great publicity for Edinburgh, although the picture is awful, with a group of artificial-looking cyclists, rather than ordinary people using bikes, and obviously photoshopped onto the street!"
(my bold)
It would be interesting to know what Spokes means by ordinary people as the scene looks pretty typical to me (@SRD, the lady at front looks pretty 'unfriendly looking' too... :P ). No backpacks/panniers etc would suggest it was the end of a wee organised ride? I don't think you'd have a set-up pose of riders to come past camera on an open street like that.
As for whether it's photoshopped or not... Seems like it would be a lot of effort to go to when photos of cyclists in Edinburgh would be readily available.
Anyway, the story itself, excellent news. The comments from Spokes, a little random (and for all you who wear helmets and yellow jackets Spokes doesn't think you're normal...). Actually, in truth I think the ordinary cyclists comment is aimed at the fact the Spokes bod thinks the photo is 'shopped, rather than the cyclists themselves being weird.
Ah. I read that bit as "artificial looking" = it's been photoshopped, rather than "ordinary people" (a photo taken in the street), not that the riders themselves were somehow mutated.
I don't think it's been photoshopped although the wheelie man is rather a puzzle. The dour and miserable riders fit exactly into the miserable setting.
Personally I think they could hardly have chosen a less encouraging or flattering photograph if they tried (grim and haggard looking cyclists being chased down by a horde of buses in the rain? Please!) and suspect that was a subversive act by a minion in the newsroom, given the ready availability of photographs of cyclists in the sun.
"Personally I think they could hardly have chosen a less encouraging or flattering photograph if they tried"
I wonder how much choice there was when the picture editor typed cycling and Edinburgh into The Times' photo library database.
It's possible that it was chosen as 'this is now but this story says it's going to get better'.
More likely because it looks like a typical London rush hour with Edinburgh buses to establish location!
There was a time when the Edinburgh Evening News seemed to only have one photo of cycling in traffic.
There was a shot of someone cycling up Leith Street to go with an article showing 'problems' - not much change there then...
The photo was re-used for several years with 'cycling' stories.
I'm feeling very happy about the 5% (+1%-each-year) result! I think people are right to be cautious though, it depends how it's spent: Improving conditions for cyclists will, at some point, mean taking some road space from cars/parked cars and slowing traffic in places. That's where the decisions will be hardest for the council. However, at least with the money now, the cost won't be the problem blocking progress.
I hope in the long run this will be the continuation of a virtuous cycle. It might have been the creation of the off-road cycle lanes in North Edinburgh which started the increase in cycling, but now that a good number of people cycle (including more women hopefully), there is more political will to improve conditions. This will lead to more cycling...
...clearly we can't sit back now: We need to make sure the money is wisely spent. But I feel there is hope :D
PS We all need to write to our councillors to thank them for this improvement. Maybe with suggestions?! :)
I am assured that the photo desk at the scotsman and the EEN are very aware of this problem of 'just running the stock photo' . Some of those photo desk people might even be cyclists!
Found this randomly (searching something else) and think we have seen some improvement on this (even if EEN photo desk no longer in existence). That said, I was a bit disappointed with pic they ran with my opinion piece. The original news story had a good pic, but the one in mine was a bit grim. Was half-expecting some of you to comment in it. Are we losing our edge?
"Are we losing our edge?"
Perhaps 'campaign fatigue'(?)
And a certain amount of 'don't read the (EN) comments'.
Sorry. Typo.
'Expected some of you to comment on it' I.e. On the picture.
So two years on, do "we" think things are any better?
Well, the Council have (nearly) finished the shared use path to Portobello. New paths alongside the tramlines in places. Widened paths in Barnton, and on the A90. 'Re-modelled' junction in Craigleith. North Meadow Walk has been resurfaced. There's a public bike counter in the Meadows. A few chicanes have been installed around the place, also lots of signage. Many plans for the future: 20mph, Leith Walk segregated cycle lane, Canal-Innocent link, etc.
Er, that's it.
that's not a bad report. if only some of it had been done right first time...
Also would add gritting of priority 1 paths in winter
Resurfacing of WoL offshoot-links to West Bowling Green Street and down the slope that leads to St Mark's Park.
When was the Chancelot Path resurfaced?
When was the Chancelot Path resurfaced?
I think that was more than 2 years ago, as was the "quality" bike corridor. Previous administration.
Update: It was the summer of of 2011, finished August/September. So just at the beginning of the new coalition. Presumably budgeted for by previous one. Nearly 3 years ago...
Getting cycling nirvana in Edinburgh is like attaining nuclear fusion. We're always "getting there" or "getting close", but it's always just "n years away".
Oh I forgot the spiffing bridge 'twixt Seafield Crematorium leg of the Restalrig Railway Path and Leith Links. That was a major investment. Also the various on-ramps on Restalrig Railway Path, proper access to Seafield Street, etc. All within the past two years IIRC.
For my money, Leith Walk and the East-West link between Roseburn and Leith Walk are going to be the litmus test for whether the Council is taking cycling seriously enough to give it proper infrastructure. If it looks like something we know works (cf, direct A to B Copenhagen-style grade segregated lanes), I'll be impressed; if it's a case of "we can squeeze it onto that bit of pavement there and put you round 3 sides of a square" then the answer will be a resounding no.
You just need to look at the dangerous state of the roads to get a good idea of how much our council really cares. Uncomfortable in your car, potential death trap on your bike.
The only infrastructure we need is well maintained roads. I get less bumped coming down a red route at Glentress than down Leith walk in the mornings. Really trying not to drive but even with front suspension I can have sore wrists at the end of the week after four or five days of cycle commuting.
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