CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » General Edinburgh

Community Councils

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123

  1. SRD
    Moderator

    Attended an interesting meeting of the Merchiston Community Council (MCC) last night. It wasn't as bad as it might have been, but perhaps telling that the only offensive comment of the night was made about cyclists.

    The police officers in attendance highlighted cycle theft as the second most significant crime, but council members were not interested in discussing this. Their only interest was in cyclists on footpaths...

    Is this typical of other community councils? What about a concerted effort to get cyclists to campaign to be on these councils? They seem to need members, and have some influence in how money is spent. It is also a good opportunity to get to know councillors, local police etc.

    The MCC also usually has a speaker before the main meeting -- is this the same format as others? And if so, does anyone know if they ever invite people from Spokes, or other cycling groups to address them?

    Posted 13 years ago #

  2. Dave
    Member

    This isn't directly relevant, but I've always thought it might be good to follow up this kind of "problem" by taking a recording of the alleged trouble spot, to see what % of cyclists are on the road and what on the pavement (and how fast they are going).

    If positioned correctly, you could perhaps also capture the number of drivers shooting red/amber lights and contrast the two if (as you'd expect) there are basically no pavement cyclists but a lot of drivers shooting lights.

    On the other hand, it might uncover a wierd junction where everybody really is cycling on the pavement, which would be just as interesting.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  3. spytfyre
    Member

    You could also capture the pedestrians wandering onto the road on a red man pedestrian crossing or just blindly wandering across a junction without looking...

    SRD - you were quite scary when the community cooncillor suggested using cyclists as tazer practice, I had visions of you lobbing my helmet at him...

    Posted 13 years ago #

  4. spytfyre
    Member

    oh wow - I looked up history of Harrison Park and was surprised to find this:

    "Near Harrison Lane

    The large flat part of land was the home to a Cycle Speedway track, an earth track about 80 meters in length and was home to the Scottish Rangers team between 1963 and 1968. In 1962 the track was used for the World Final – the biggest cycle speedway event ever held in Scotland. Photos can be seen here"

    Posted 13 years ago #

  5. SRD
    Moderator

    "SRD - you were quite scary when the community cooncillor suggested using cyclists as tazer practice, "

    Rather blew my cover didn't I? I'd even changed into 'nice' clothes and proper shoes!

    Posted 13 years ago #

  6. spytfyre
    Member

    Yeah you should have kept the crazy cyclist lady under your hat for next time, at least until crazy allotment lady could be put away when that issue is laid to bed.
    Now you are crazy cycling allotment lady in their eyes

    I really wish I had locked the helmet up outside,

    And worn trousers,

    blew my cover before thinking cover would be a good thing...

    Posted 13 years ago #

  7. recombodna
    Member

    Dude I posted that 2 weeks ago.....
    http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=73
    get with it daddyo! ;-)

    Posted 13 years ago #

  8. spytfyre
    Member

    Dude. bite me. So I haven't read every thread every day...
    Sheesh...

    Posted 13 years ago #

  9. recombodna
    Member

    Heh heh!!

    Posted 13 years ago #

  10. spytfyre
    Member

    At least I posted the pictures :P

    Posted 13 years ago #

  11. chdot
    Admin

    "2 weeks ago"

    ??

    You must have been asleep

    http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=573#post-4598

    Posted 13 years ago #

  12. recombodna
    Member

    Right that's it fight Harrison park 5 mins!

    Posted 13 years ago #

  13. spytfyre
    Member

    bit tricky - I am in Stockbridge right now, you would have the advantage of me being fully knackered after nipping round the railway path past trinity/granton etc...

    Posted 13 years ago #

  14. recombodna
    Member

    Ha ha ha! never mind eh! Truth is I barely know how to post a link never mind pics........

    Posted 13 years ago #

  15. spytfyre
    Member

    OK I am not sure if you are beign sarcastic or not so I won't bother typing out and screenshotting a "how-to" for you, suffice to say the buttons are all there
    ^
    |

    Posted 13 years ago #

  16. Min
    Member

    Well the link posted was to a story about Danny MacAskill selling a bike for charity and doesn't seem to mention Harrison Park. So I'm a bit confused.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  17. chdot
    Admin

    "not sure if you are beign sarcastic"

    yeah that's a problem with web/e-mail

    A lot of people don't actually know to get/deal with photo URLs - either their own of Flockr etc.

    It's good to link back to source - which is another complication.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  18. chdot
    Admin

    "Well the link posted..."

    Thought that was a reference to one I did. Fortunately not - but shows it's not 'simple'.

    Correct link is http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=734#post-6418

    Posted 13 years ago #

  19. SRD
    Moderator

    Guys! I had intentionally not put this under the Harrison Park thread! (but suspect I have hijacked a few threads myself over the months....).

    Anyone want to plot an infiltration of community councils with me then?

    Posted 13 years ago #

  20. recombodna
    Member

    sorry for the confusion......I was just 'avin a laugh then I posted the wrong link at it all went crAZy....!! Those pics of harrison park bike track are great though eh?

    Posted 13 years ago #

  21. SRD
    Moderator

    No worries. But I think rather than a fight you guys need to chase each other round the speedway. We might need to get Time Team in to excavate it and show us where it was (like that roman chariot race course)....can't you just see it?

    Posted 13 years ago #

  22. cb
    Member

    So, getting back on topic, what *did* SRD do/say that was "quite scary"?

    Posted 13 years ago #

  23. spytfyre
    Member

    oh she just ripped into the poor old community cooncillor chappy for his "use cyclists on pavements as police tazer practice" comment,
    SRD said "innappropriate for this type of forum" I think
    The chairperson was rather taken aback as she said "I think it was said in jest"
    Thinking on it I think he may have been attempting to get a rise out of the only shorts wearing person in the room with a helmet in front of them (me), come to think of it I could have made a better statement if I had just upped and left shaking my head sadly at his comment

    Posted 13 years ago #

  24. SRD
    Moderator

    It was less what I said and more the tone - one usually reserved for 3 year olds and/or undergrads in back of lecture theatre who have failed to respond to being treated like grownups. Late middle aged men who are Merchiston Community Councillors are _not_ used to being on the receiving end :)

    Of course, he did mean it as a joke, but doubtless was indicative of his usual audience that he thought they would find that amusing.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  25. greenerleith
    Member

    I'm on Leith Links Community council, and Greener Leith also has good links with the other Community councils in the area. Indeed, they've all been involved in deciding to fund and locate more bike parking, and improve the cycle paths in the Leith Neighbourhood Partnership area.

    See: http://www.greenerleith.org/greener-leith-news/2010/1/15/more-safe-cycle-parking-coming-to-leith.html

    I imagine most community councils, and indeed, neighbourhood partnerships, would be delighted to see more participation, and indeed, lobbying from cyclists (if they're local residents) for better facilities.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  26. Dave
    Member

    Better would have been to tase him, perhaps! ;-)

    Where would I go, as a concerned resident of Blackford hill?

    Posted 13 years ago #

  27. spytfyre
    Member

    Morningside apparently (got a photo of Blackford Glen but no map I could find

    Posted 13 years ago #

  28. SRD
    Moderator

    The boundaries are here (another not very useful map).

    I like some aspects of the Morningside website better than the Merchiston one, although the community council specific links are a bit hidden (top right corner and bottom left). But they list all their members, some with pictures, emails etc.

    Check out the 'cycling' section on the MCC website, under 'transport' :

    ----
    Cycling

    With all the disruption many are taking to their bicycles once again. This is great for them and the environment. Commuting along the canal is very much quicker and more pleasant than slowly chugging in past all the roadworks in either a car or a bus, if that is an appropriate route for you. Others make use of the sporadic cycle lanes and unfortunately a few are not sure whether they are cyclists or pedestrians and take to the pavement. This, as well as being illegal, has caused public meetings and SPOKES have been running a campaign entitled Bike Polite to improve cycling politeness and standards.
    -----

    I find it telling that the bus section talks about 'we and 'us' and 'your' while the cyclists are 'them'.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  29. spytfyre
    Member

    Telling that is is written by a non-cyclist

    Posted 13 years ago #

  30. spytfyre
    Member

    Well SRD how did you enjoy FOHP?

    Posted 13 years ago #

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