CityCyclingEdinburgh was launched on the 27th of October 2009 as "an experiment".
IT’S TRUE!
CCE is 15years old!
Well done to ALL posters
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Nordic Revolutions - Cycling in Copenhagen Dec 4th Committee Room 2 with Cycling Cross Party Group 6-8.30pm
Organised by the Cycling Cross Party Group with Nordic Horizons
Hosted by Alison Johnstone MSP
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Free
http://www.nordichorizons.org/2012/10/cycling-in-copenhagen-nordic-revolutions.html
AJ "highly unlikely to meet SG 10% target"
Tell us something we don't know... ;)
"Tell us something we don't know... ;)"
Difficult...
The only thing I really learned about Copenhagen was that increasing bike capacity on trains - I'd seen pictures of red carriages with large white bike logos on the outside - actually worked and increased passenger numbers!
The main speaker (like the Dutch at that recent conference) wasn't impressed with Scottish cycle infrastructure. He showed pictures of Glasgow cycle lanes diving onto the pavement.
Of Edinburgh he said "would not feel secure cycling here".
Oh and Danish car tax is 180%.
Thanks chdot for posting the meeting. I wouldn't have known about it otherwise. It was 2 firsts for me.. My first time in Parliament... It's impressive.. and.. My first cycling political meeting. It was energising for me, and really interesting... Soren was a good speaker and presenter.. Lesley Riddoch chaired it well too! Couple of points that struck for me... The political impetus came from the municipalities rather than the government. A lot of civic pride in Copenhagen about it, and they now seem to competing with Amsterdam and Stockholm for best cycling city.. He said that there was a tipping point (maybe about 10% cycling) when politicians 'got it' and didn't resist cutting back on city car space, and investing in segregated cycle infrastructure... One key fact.. Denmark has 180% tax on new cars (bigger ones I think), and petrol is the most expensive in Europe. He also cited that if forced by economic situation, it's better to start with a targeted route into the city centre, and make it properly good so it becomes a poster child (Leith Walk?).
"A lot of civic pride in Copenhagen about it, and they now seem to competing with Amsterdam and Stockholm for best cycling city"
Yes, but -
I understood him to mean that the 'competition' wasn't about cycling (as such) but about making Copenhagen a nicer place to live for existing residents (who can no longer afford to flee to the suburbs - my interpretation)) AND attract new residents/business/investment.
Edinburgh imagines that it is a world class city and knows how to attract "inward investment" - that was part of the justification for the tram.
Soren is currently involved in the complete rebuild of Copenhagen's main railway station/integrated transport hub - complete with MASSES of cycle parking.
As someone in the audience pointed there is not a single cycle route to/from Waverley.
Yes.. you're right.. He did say that they were competing for residents against those other cities, and based on overall quality of life, where cycling plays such a huge part..
Good point on Waverley.. I think someone also highlighted that there are no cycle routes from most of the central tram destinations either. Unlike Copenhagen!
I enjoyed this. It was a bit depressing too. The Danish fellow, Soren, mentioned the policy of limiting parking spaces. The politicians present said they thought maybe we were doing that too - which we are, but also reducing city centre parking charges up til xmas iirc.
They talked about these great Copenhagen pavements - the road, then a raised cycle lane (2.5m wide) then a further step up to the pedestrian pavement, and about having any parking bays right beside the road, not with the cycle lane in between. I listened while imagining what the Leith Walk redesign will bring. Not 2.5m of cycle lane beside the pavement I'm thinking. Not a cheery contrast.
One guy was from the uni, he said. That was a weird moment. He claimed he's running a course next term all about dangerous cyclists. Leslie Riddock fairly gave him a telling, about how she does what she has to to feel safe and doesn't plan on getting squashed on a box junction, then asked if he had any thoughts on what she said, which was a magnificent flourish. At this point I'd got confused and thought she was Leslie Hinds and had just made this bold assertion about her RLJing!
At the end, the uni guy exchanged cards with someone, hopefully not the evening news person.
Soren pitched his talk mid-level, mostly familiar stuff but nice to hear. There were a couple of town planners or roads dept guys sitting in front of me I think (taking notes and passing jovial asides back and forth like workers at a training day, and doing a mock brow swipe of relief when Soren said the rogues' gallery images were from Glasgow not Edinburgh). Good to see them there, if that was what they were.
Great turnout too. The room was filled, almost.
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Cllr. Andrew D Burns (@AndrewDBurns)
05/12/2012 07:47
Looking forward to Scottish Cities Alliance 'Leadership Group' meeting this morning, right here in central Edinburgh: http://www.scottishcities.wordpress.com
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From above link -
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The partnership will develop Scotland’s potential as a competitive and world class place to live, work, visit, invest and do business
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Well if anyone from today's meeting was at the one last night, they will know what to do...
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Some of the UK’s largest cities are actually some of the country’s “greenest” places. The CO2 emissions per capita of the UK’s ten largest cities were all lower than the national average. This is primarily because of density. Concentrated activity both encourages walking and helps support extensive public transport systems.
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http://www.centreforcities.org/assets/files/2012/Cities_Outlook_2012.pdf
No mention of cycling in 68 pages!
(No surprise there then)
Thanks a lot for the reports. I'm cheered to hear that Lesley Riddoch chaired the meeting. I find her very impressive, she has an amazing knack of talking loads of sense at the drop of a hat on just about any subject you care to name; so refreshing, and she so often gets it bang on. I thoroughly recommend her website and her other website and her weekly podcast; loads of good material, some cycling-related, most not.
Interesting, this idea of competing municipalities. How can we raise the ambition of our local politicians, not just about cycling but about livability in general? My impression is that the standard of ability of local politicians is very poor. Do we need directly elected mayors? Say what you like about Boris, he is a national figure.
Boris is a national figure partly because he has a flair for PR and partly because he's in London, also the home of the "national" media, which still sees its job as reporting London to The Empire.
For decent local politicians go straight to another of Lesley Riddoch's favourite issues, that Scottish local government is stretched far too thinly over far too huge an area and is far too powerless. Most other countries have massively more local government than we have, and it's massively more local, too. Imagine if every town had its own powerful town council, independent of central government. What happens is that real people, you or your neighbours, get involved and get things properly organised and done right. A search for local council on lesleyriddoch.com
My impression is that the standard of ability of local politicians is very poor.
That has been the case for a very long time. I recall a friend of mine (he was a German emigré) saying exactly the same thing about Edinburgh councillors back in 1990, in the old Edinburgh District Council days...
It's not just local politics though. The standard of politicians at Holyrood, with a few exceptions, is pretty mediocre too.
Never mind though, the SNP government is already floating ideas in the media about making Scottish local authorities even bigger, more distant, and less accountable, than they are now. It's all to save money, you understand. Nothing at all to do with centralising power in Bute House, oh no.
I've lived under a few elected mayors. Sadly most of them were buffoons at best and malicious and ignorant at worst.
"I've lived under a few elected mayors. Sadly most of them were buffoons at best and malicious and ignorant at worst."
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Mayoral directives can kick-start the creation of pedestrian action plans, pedestrian-oriented street design guidelines, and multiagency collaborations to meet safety goals set by mayors. They are often faster and easier to institute than a city council ordinance, but can provide the impetus for city council-crafted bills to institutionalize a mayor’s pro-walking efforts.
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(Not suggesting that a 'mayor' in Edinburgh is a good idea/would make this sort of difference!)
Enrique Peñalosa is possibly the exception that proves the rule.
Lesley Riddoch? ... she should have her own radio show (again!). But would BBC Scotland have space for her? STV's 10.30 slot have had her on at least once.
Ta, shuggiet. I thought this was interesting (below). I wonder how many of the "ingredients" Edinburgh has?
Recipe :
- Personal political dedication is crucial
- Personal dedicated leadership in the administration is crucial
- Build a showcase - testing and experimenting are the vitamins for real changes
- Take specially care of intersections and crossings
- Choose signature projects that communicates the idea of a human scaled city
- Aestetics matters ! If it doesn ́t feels right - it won ́t work....
- Provide credible documentation and ongoing monitoring
- Make investments for the next cyclist
"about making Copenhagen a nicer place to live for existing residents" (above)
America too -
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Streetsblog Network (@StreetsblogNet)
06/12/2012 17:48
Cities trying to transition from attracting young professionals to retaining young families
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http://dc.streetsblog.org/2012/12/06/will-cities-hold-on-to-younger-residents-as-they-have-children
Don't know where Edinburgh is with this concept. It is planning Family Cycle Networks, but not sure how well these will integrate with wider transport and other policies.
Here's Lothians Green MSP Alison Johnstone blogging about the recent event. Interesting snippet at the end about the meeting with John Swinney...
Danish dreaming and Scottish reality
Hm. There's a link to 'press coverage' there which talks about billions in investment. Government's take on that:
Ms Sturgeon said: " By working in partnership as part of the Scottish Cities Alliance, cities are now developing opportunities which are likely to lead to an investment of around £6 billion into infrastructure, creating and securing jobs, and supporting businesses.
"I look forward to exploring how the Scottish Government can best support our cities and their regions, and deliver these opportunities for growth."
She added that work had already started on improvements to the M8, M73 and M74 motorway network, and said the preferred bidder for Aberdeen's Western Peripheral Route was expected to be announced in the summer, describing 2014 as "a big year for infrastructure and connecting our cities"
The Deputy First Minister continued: " There are a number of exciting investments in Scotland, from the Forth Replacement Crossing to the A96 improvements between Inverness and Aberdeen, to modernising the Glasgow subway, but a more joined up approach will make the prospects even greater.
"Over the last two years the Alliance has built collaborative partnerships at a level not previously seen, which benefit our cities, their regions and Scotland as a whole."
So, 'investing in cities' = building more motorways/dual carriageways to connect them? Sigh.
"So, 'investing in cities' = building more motorways/dual carriageways to connect them?"
Pretty much
She could have mentioned some rail initiatives for 'balance'.
It really is a shame that the SNP Gov is so wedded to traditional/conventional economics and yet seems genuine about its carbon targets (even if it fails to meet them - possibly something to do with its transport policies...)
Although Keith Brown is a useful 'hate figure' I'm sure he's only fitting in rather than leading in a different direction from his colleagues.
That said, often seems that Transport Scotland is less led/constrained by politicians than it should be.
I'm sure (for instance) TS doesn't go 'but Minister(s) dualling the A9 won't be cost effective', only to hear the reply 'we know, but it's what our constituents want'.
As an agency of the Scottish Government, TS does what Ministers tell it to do.
"As an agency of the Scottish Government, TS does what Ministers tell it to do."
That's the theory.
But it's a bit like expecting the various road bits of CEC to implement the spirit of existing policies (it's not always clear if they manage the letter either).
In both cases political policies are (to a greater or lesser extent) 'informed' by officials' recommendations.
There has always been a view among officials (not just transport ones) that 'we'll still be here when the politicians have moved on'.
True, but Ministers (and Special Advisers) do get involved in anything significant and the last thing officials want is the grief they get from an unhappy Minister.
Also true.
Generally people don't like upsetting others. Some Ministers (not just Scottish ones) and councillors are keener to get their way and some officials more willing/able to resist/delay.
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