CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Questions/Support/Help

Community councils and bikes (and dogs and canal path etc)

(40 posts)
  • Started 14 years ago by SRD
  • Latest reply from gembo
  • This topic is not resolved

No tags yet.


12

  1. SRD
    Moderator

    Went to my second community council meeting last night , and just as at first one, as soon as the police mentioned bike theft as an issue, a chorus rose up from the members about cyclists on pavements being the real problem, in the context of the canal path (see this thread for more on this) there were complaints about people riding too fast under bridges, and someone told about 'someone's dog being run over', and people complained about cyclists not ringing bells etc.

    I decided to stay quiet - for the most part - and am contemplating writing to the Chair to ask for a proper debate -- while we all agree that riders on pavements, too fast on canal path etc are a problem, I find it really frustrating that the Councillors are so resistant to even considering cyclists as victims of theft (all cases reported while bikes locked in stairwells), and so immediately turn the debate. Do they really _every month_ encounter this many cyclists on pavements that it must be brought up again and again? The police also asked for the council to highlight three problems in the area that we want tackled, which they would then prioritize, and I can just imagine that these will be cyclists and graffiti, which basically seems to criminalize all cyclists by implication (and teenagers).

    I know from previous threads that not all community councils are so anti-bike. Does anyone have any suggestions for how to try to stimulate a more productive discussion, which does not just automatically revert to 'pavement, bells, too fast' etc?

    Posted 14 years ago #

  2. chdot
    Admin

    "Does anyone have any suggestions for how to try to stimulate a more productive discussion"

    I thought you were plotting a mass take-over of CCs by bike friendly people!

    Might be useful to have an 'off the record' chat with the policeperson to see what they really think.

    Some policepeople are quite keen on bike theft (and/or preventing it).

    I believe there is some sort of 'tenement parking' project coming soon, which may produce some interesting results re problems/solutions.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  3. SRD
    Moderator

    "I thought you were plotting a mass take-over of CCs by bike friendly people!"

    To be honest, sitting through that meeting last night was so unbelievably dire that I would feel rather guilty if I encouraged anyone else to do so.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  4. Dave
    Member

    Again, perhaps it would be worth inviting the council to nominate particular stretches of pavement for subsequent monitoring by time-rich volunteers..?

    I'd certainly be willing to do a survey one evening to see how big the problem really is.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  5. greenerleith
    Member

    To some extent it requires you (as self-designated cycling advocate) to pipe up with some facts. This is because community councils are full of people who like to pipe up with "facts" all the time. If your fact sounds more "factual" than other peoples then you'll probably be taken seriously. In fact before you know it, you'll be transport convener.

    If you actually come and say, quite bluntly, that you think people are completely overstating the problem of pavement cyclists, and that every stolen bike represents a victim of a crime - you might change their views. Especially if you point out that the vast majority of cyclists do not cycle on the pavement - and rather than complaining about it, perhaps the community council could advocate for some decent cycle lanes so folk felt safer cycling on the roads. That might be a bit too blunt....

    A less confrontational approach might be to appeal to the voice of authority - in this case the Police. Next time you could ask the policeman how many complaints he's received about cyclists on pavements in the neighbourhood in the last month? How many accidents there have been recently involving 'dangerous cycling'? Ask him to compare this with the number of car accidents. The answer you're likely to get is probably going to support the view that cycling is generally not a huge problem.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  6. SRD
    Moderator

    Greenerleith - thanks for the pointers. Police (all have been female at past two meetings btw!), do acknowledge that pavement cycling is something they encounter/tell people off about. but also say (unheard/listened to), but it is a small minority. And neither time has it been something they've raised.

    Your suggested Q's to police very good. Will implement this tactic next time - thankfully not until September....

    Posted 14 years ago #

  7. Kirst
    Member

    Was Mr Stevenson at the meeting? http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/opinion/Letters-Care-centre-closure-would.6364711.jp

    ADMIN NOTE 3rd letter down (Presumably not the Transport Minister...)

    Posted 14 years ago #

  8. spytfyre
    Member

    @SRD - Sorry I couldn't be there with you to lend moral support (and jokes) but I was back in the Sick Kids with junior (what fun). I will try to get to the next one.

    @chdot - "I thought you were plotting a mass take-over of CCs by bike friendly people!" - now that is an idea I had mulled over... time we got some sane people on the CC to balance out the power hungry/crazed ones already getting their personal soap boxes a yellow pages higher than everyone else.. (SRD knows who I am talking about here)

    Posted 14 years ago #

  9. SRD
    Moderator

    Spytfyre - sorry to hear that. Figured if you weren't there and/or in HP something might be up.

    All the usual suspects up to their usual games. the bike stuff was actually innocuous in comparison to vituperation heaped upon people who have taken up the 'fad' for barbecues...'In my day, we laid out a picnic blanket and had a picnic' and so forth...(I stayed quiet on that too).

    We did have one minor success when several people other than me denied vehement claims that it is illegal to drink alcohol in public in Edinburgh. However a letter is being sent from MCC to the waterways about the 'biased' consultation on HP. What annoyed me most was not this, but that no one reported the actual consultation results (which at least three councillors had copies of).

    Sigh.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  10. spytfyre
    Member

    Ah yes, sounds like our friend "no change... EVER" who would like to continue to discriminate against the disabled...

    Posted 14 years ago #

  11. SRD
    Moderator

    "I thought you were plotting a mass take-over of CCs by bike friendly people!" - now that is an idea I had mulled over..."

    Before the next MCC meeting shall we have an informal get together of like-minded folk to see if we can get more public attendance at meetings and gradually build this to people willing to stand?

    Posted 14 years ago #

  12. SRD
    Moderator

    "I thought you were plotting a mass take-over of CCs by bike friendly people!" - now that is an idea I had mulled over..."

    Before the next MCC meeting shall we have an informal get together of like-minded folk to see if we can get more public attendance at meetings and gradually build this to people willing to stand?

    Posted 14 years ago #

  13. recombodna
    Member

    Yeah what about a boozy barbeque in Harrison park?

    Posted 14 years ago #

  14. steveo
    Member

    What then drunkenly cycling along the pavements? Give them something to complain about.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  15. SRD
    Moderator

    "Yeah what about a boozy barbeque in Harrison park?"

    You do know that the grass _NEVER_ recovers from the effects (Imagine this said in tones of hyacinth bouquet (or whatever her name was).

    Wish I could find some pics of fabulous municipal park near my mother-in-law's with barbecues, picnic tables, rain shelters, all full of families, grandparents, kids having an absolute blast together on summer evenings.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  16. spytfyre
    Member

    I could certainly round up some of the Playgroup folks under the banner of "they don't want to allow a ramp for buggies up to Watson Cres"

    Posted 14 years ago #

  17. Min
    Member

    Well buggies are a menace to society. They kill 100s of innocent pedestrians every year, attract lions in to the centre of town where they then pull rubbish bags out of wheelie bins and are responsible for the gulf oil spill.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  18. spytfyre
    Member

    @Min - exactly - little known fact that a buggy off it's leash sank the titanic...

    Posted 14 years ago #

  19. gembo
    Member

    We should cross pollenate these strings, there was one earlier in the week all about the crazy stunts our fellow cyclists were pulling. It is undeniable that people cycle on pavements. Similarly, older people (apart from Tony Benn) are resistant to change and people who regularly go to CC meetings have a greater tolerance of boredom. I have no solution (I see Pete Townsend has not died before he got old). What I love is ringing my bell for ages on approach to mature person, slowing down to standstill, speaking loudly to alert them I am coming past and then being asked why I don't have a bell. Last night, a guy I recognised criticised me for ringing my bell when the path was perfectly wide enough for me to get past. You cannot win. My wee ting is meant to alert people that I am there, I am not tinging to say get out my way.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  20. recombodna
    Member

    Ha ha ha Gembo that happened to me in the Meadows the other day. Fat guy in a suit taking up the whole cycle path . me ting ting ting stop" excuse me " him "bloody cyclists where's yer bell?"

    @Steveo Yeah!! I lke yer style!

    Posted 14 years ago #

  21. Dave
    Member

    @gembo - I don't like bells (and don't have one) for that exact reason - to me they are like a car horn, blasting people out of the way (or at best, insisting that everybody needs to take notice, even if you could ride around, ting ting, there's a cyclist coming, ting ting).

    Obviously I don't think that most (or even many) cyclists actually *mean* that they want you out of the way for them, but as a walker that's how it comes across.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  22. miggy_magic
    Member

    Like Dave, I don't like using a bell. I feel awkward using one in case people think I'm shooing them out the way. I'm a sensitive kinda guy.

    So instead, I set up my front brake pads to howl like a banshee when I apply them. They still work really well but a quick squeeze is all i need to alert everyone within 1000 yards to my presence.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  23. steveo
    Member

    Ah i like it, i've gone for the rattles and cracks like a 100 year old haunted house approach on my mtb. Must deal with that.....

    Posted 14 years ago #

  24. spytfyre
    Member

    Air Zound
    For when you absolutely have to scare every single mofo on the path out of their skin... (or turn it down to low for a subtle honk honk)
    better than a ting ting as it jangles different responses in the pedestrian brain along the line of "how quaint" or "chitty chitty bang bang is here?"
    (unless on full volume when the response is more of a "shEEzuz!")

    Posted 14 years ago #

  25. Kirst
    Member

    I'm wondering how to mount a vuvuzela to my bike.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  26. chdot
    Admin

    "I'm wondering how to mount a vuvuzela to my bike."

    You'd need to rig up some sort of air supply (dynamo powered???) to have a continuous sound...

    Posted 14 years ago #

  27. spytfyre
    Member

    oh yes... then we all need one and go for a little hurl along Princes Street...

    Posted 14 years ago #

  28. Dave
    Member

    Stick something in the spokes that is sprung so it makes a continuous rattle. Could be a big seller.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  29. gembo
    Member

    You can get wee coloured plastic things to stick on the spokes, they go up and down and rattle a fair bit - you know for kids

    Posted 14 years ago #

  30. chdot
    Admin

    "you know for kids"

    The kids on here know...

    Posted 14 years ago #

RSS feed for this topic

12

Reply »

You must log in to post.


Video embedded using Easy Video Embed plugin