For many years I have dutifully renewed by membership of Spokes, it seemed the right thing to do. But this year I'm hesitating. The only contact I ever get from them is a once a year bulletin that's almost impossible to read. The layout is all over the place and it's full of acronyms and 'transport planning committee speak' that mean nothing to me. To be persuaded to renew my membership again I'd like a clear understanding of what Spokes has actually achieved in the last year.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Questions/Support/Help
Spokes - are they worth it ?
(66 posts)- Started 11 years ago by Charterhall
- Latest reply from chdot
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Posted 11 years ago #
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You should get a 'mailing' every time there is a new leaflet.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Their mailings - paper and mail - definitely require a certain amount of 'investment/knowledge' to read. I'm glad I have made that investment over the years, but I do agree that they probably don't reach as wide an audience as they might, simply because of their style/density.
My husband was complaining yesterday about the tendency of the deliverers to ring the bell and wake the baby from nap. I'm not sure it's that much of a hardship though.
I do appreciate their email contact, especially when they mail me about things in my area (although sometimes these areas need to be more widely defined to take in commuter routes. )
Since Sookes doesn't have anything resembling an AGM, I can definitely see the point to a 'what we've done this year' sum up - I suspect it would impress most folk, as so much happens under the radar.
But I do wish we could renew our membership on-line!
Posted 11 years ago # -
We certainly couldn't have drawn up the POP manifesto without the info from Spokes - and they've become the nearest thing to a Scottish-wide cycle campaign, especially with their attention to the detail of things like the budget. I think its A Good Thing that Spokes exist, and worth supporting for that alone... CTC Scotland are beginning to waken from their slumber, but aren't yet anything like as good at holding the Scottish Government (and I assume Edinburgh council) to account as Spokes are at the moment
Posted 11 years ago # -
"What Spokes has actually achieved in the last year"? Well 5% of the Edinburgh City Council transport budget to be spent on cycling, amongst other things. It is their detailed knowledge of 'transport planning committee speak' that makes them so effective.
Can Spokes can be criticised for their support of the "dual network" approach, and I have done so, but they have been the one of the most effective cycle campaign groups in Scotland for many years.
Without Spokes we would have such a vibrant cycling seen in Edinburgh and things we take for granted like the cycle lanes across the Meadows. Spokes may have its flaws, what organisation doesn't? However, it is still worth supporting, if you want to better conditions for every day cycling in Edinburgh and beyond.
Posted 11 years ago # -
@Charterhall why not come along to the next Spoke public meeting and then decide if they are a useful way of holding local Councillor and council officials to account.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Two concrete things just in recent months -
1. spokes suggested the NMW revamp to Council when money came available for 'shovel ready' projects.
2. Council/planning approach/policy to bike sheds under revision - two rejections for planning app successfully appealed for the first time ever.
Posted 11 years ago # -
I've been a Spokes member for a few years now. I also help deliver the mailouts around once a quarter in my area of the city. If I had the time I would try and help them more.
Folk may quibble about style or ways of doing things with Spokes. I think we need to remember though just how long and hard Spokes has campaigned for better cycling infrastructure in this city and across the Lothians. Without them I very much doubt we'd have most of the off-road paths network or on-road cycle lanes we now take for granted. The Spokes maps are still a great resource even in the age of GPS and Cyclestreets.
Put this another way: if Spokes was not there, who exactly would be fighting cyclists' corner in Edinburgh, the Lothians, or even at national level? Yes you could say CTC, or PoP. As others have said though, without Spokes' lead and their constant, careful lobbying would the others be in a position to wield the influence they do now?
Posted 11 years ago # -
I think of Spokes as an essential foundation. They are tremendously valuable, although not perfect (what is? You'd get a different answer from every cyclist anyway).
It's clear that grassroots activism like PoP (or the bloggers who were name-dropped WRT Boris' London investment) is growing in power, but only because it can stand on top of the more traditional organisations who have put in all the groundwork.
Spokes appears to me to be overly deferential but there's clearly a judgement call to be made where you can either try to work from the "inside" (and behave in public) or come out swinging (and not be welcome). The latter is a role that can be filled by individuals where the former isn't, so perhaps Spokes position is actually better considered than many would give them credit for.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Thanks for all the nice comments re Spokes role.
On a longer-term perspective, can you believe when Spokes began it was illegal to cycle anywhere at all through the Meadows. That campaign took 7 years, opposed by the likes of Cllr Brereton (Scotsman letter - "Spokes can get lost and take its commie friends with it.")
At that time 1% of trips to work in Edinburgh were by bike - now around 7%, having doubled every decade, against a background where cycling was static or declining in Scotland and UK as a whole.
Recently, not just the 5% decision 18 months ago under the previous council, but the new council agreeing to the policy to add 1% each year (though that could change in future years if councillors get cold feet) but now is definite 6% for 13/14. There is no other council in Scotland, and possibly even in the UK, that has allocated anything like 5% on an ongoing basis to cycling.
Sadly the total Edinburgh transport budget is only around £20m (though rumoured it will be higher next year) so 6% is not a huge amount in absolute terms. London is now going to invest far more, but from a huge total transport budget (bigger than the Scottish Government's transport budget); so in fact London is still only investing less than 2% in cycling. See latest news item at spokes.org.uk.
@charterhall As a spokes member you should receive 3 mailouts a year plus something like 8-12 email circulars [email circulars are not at regular intervals but come out when there is something to say or to suggest that people do]. If you've not received the email circulars, then either you've not given us your email address or it is incorrect, though we always follow up on rejected emails.
There's also news on major developments in website postings, and smaller things by checking the left-hand column 'Recent Updates'.
Whilst writing, a couple of other points...
Spokes view is that it is really important to combine criticism with praise (where it is at least to some extent due). If you point out the positive then you have greater credibility when being critical. Also, just constantly highlighting the negative can eventually put councillors off - they are human beings. We could return to the position, normal in almost every other council, where there isn't a % to cycling at all. Therefore no scheduled gritting of bike routes, no projects like the planned canal-Meadows-Innocent link, etc, etc.
Second, Spokes emphasises to members the importance of making their own personal submissions to consultations, emails to councillors, MSPs, etc, giving their own perspective and ideas on the current issue(s). It is really important also to do this at the time of consultations, not just once the result appears on the ground, as is often the case, when it's too late. Spokes makes an effort to notify members about consultations that are ongoing, ranging from the current big one on Edinburgh's Transport Strategy through to small local-area items where there is cycling potential such as housing developments providing opportunities for new connections.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Okay, other than the campaigning, researching, organising, communicating and representing, what have Spokes ever done for us...
Posted 11 years ago # -
"what have Spokes ever done for us..."
Well they used to organise annual rides that went to exotic places like Calton Hill, Holyrood Park (inc. Robin Cook MP and Cllr Alistair Darling) and Princes Street - led by Cllr David Begg.
The next one will be down Leith Walk with Leslie Hinds inspecting the segregated cycle/pedestrian infrastructure.
She will return to the City Chambers (with her bike) on the tram.
Oops sorry, got carried away there.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Oh yeah, I forgot about Spokes rides. They still happen every month, usually first Sunday IIRC. About 50 miles, in winter a restaurant is usually booked for a meal.
I used to go on these regularly before spending time on audaxes instead. Next one is 7th April, start 10am outside Usher Hall.
Posted 11 years ago # -
I've been involved, on and off, in Spokes for ever.
I claim to have been at the inaugural meeting in September(?) 1977 - but (last time I mentioned it) the exact date had been mislaid.
They have paid me for a few photos for Edinburgh Map covers and provided money (some channelled from the Scottish Office) for various projects.
I have never been one of the 'inner core' - not really that dedicated.
Spokes must be one of the longest surviving campaign groups in the world. All the more remarkable for never having had any paid staff.
As DdF says -
"
Spokes view is that it is really important to combine criticism with praise (where it is at least to some extent due). If you point out the positive then you have greater credibility when being critical."
A fine philosophy and it has allowed Spokes to work closely with Councils and (to a less productive extent) Governments. Other campaign groups have been more confrontational and less successful.
I think Spokes made a mistake by being more positive about the QBC than it deserved.
Fortunately Andrew Burns took a look and blogged about it and now Leslie Hinds openly says -
"
that is why I am aware there has been criticism of this project! Lets learn from this project?"
I'm sure Spokes has noticed too and will "learn" a bit as well.
Though such criticisms are nothing compared with the work done (seen and unseen) over the years.
I also agree that the print in the Spokes leaflets is too small...
Posted 11 years ago # -
Thanks all for your replies but I'm still none the wiser about why Spokes needs my membership and why they request a donation. If everything is done by unpaid volunteers what is this used for ?
Posted 11 years ago # -
In the 1980s, when cycling was almost non-existent and definitely mostly freaks (including me), SPOKES put in a lot of work developing unused & derelict railway paths. Often this work was manual hard labour done by volunteers. There certainly weren't any council funds.
I am sure that without SPOKES, there wouldn't be a North Edinburgh Path Network at all - the whole thing would have been converted into 'relief' roads.
Today, SPOKES are very good at vetting planning applications for cycling facilities and even informing the politicians themselves the total amount of money being spent on cycling! SPOKES I'm sure have encouraged a lot of families to start cycling with their Sunday rides. One of SPOKES' weak points is that they accept incremental improvements, even when the overall design is poor (e.g most of the red painted-on cycle lanes in Edinburgh)
Posted 11 years ago # -
@Charterhall - can't speak for Spokes per se but it's helpful as a campaign group to be able to say they represent X many members (and paying ones are better than non-paying as it's a sign of commitment). I don't imagine printing & distributing the newsletter comes cheap either, even with a bit of advertising.
Posted 11 years ago # -
What have SPOKES done this year? For me, the key thing they produce each year is the annual funding survey. The only comprehensive survey of what is spent on cycling in Scotland. Incredibly, these figures are used by the Scottish Government and Parliament. Just think - a group of volunteers that produces better figures than our national Government. I can't think of any other examples of this happening.
Without these figures it wouldn't be possible to hold the Government to account for how little they spend on cycling - they could just claim that the amount was unknown as the figures "are not collected centrally" - a favorite Government tactic when they want to hide something embarrassing.
As an aside, I've always wondered why a well staffed organisation such as Cycling Scotland doesn't put a bit of manpower into collecting such figures and producing some useful research on cycling investment in Scotland, as opposed to funding adverts of children flapping their arms about.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Bike breakfast June 19th this year, first twenty in queue get a free spokes map. I have them all now, they are very good.
Posted 11 years ago # -
kaboom! And with that, Morningsider nails it.
Why are we whinging abut ur cycle campaigning orgs, when we should be appalled at what Cycling Scotland and Transport get away with, despite their best efforts?
Posted 11 years ago # -
Spokes also seed-funds other cycling oriented projects, like the Bike Station.
Posted 11 years ago # -
And has supported Pop, both materially and morally.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Oh dear @charterhall to have any organisation you need to have a base to organise from, and all sorts of other things don't appear by magic even if the volunteers give labour free - after all organising a work crew requires 'employers' liability' insurance whether or not the 'employees' are paid, and HSE expects them to have gloves, boots etc.
SPOKES has consistently shown an inspired approach, by NEVER setting a membership fee, and requesting as an alternative a donation of skills, time or other resources. It is a faith, perhaps similar to the bhuddist, that all that the organisation needs will be delivered if they are doing the right thing and have support of their 'supporters'
The resources are almost always 'found' when needed and the creativity that this requires has kept SPOKES fresh and vibrant for over 30 years. More organisations should follow their example, and one might compare the Edinburgh Campaign continuity with that of Glasgow.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Tulyar - that sounds more like George Macleod & the Iona Community to me :)
Posted 11 years ago # -
"sounds more like George Macleod & the Iona Communi"
In spite of being 'based' in a church basement. Spokes is surprisingly secular.
Posted 11 years ago # -
I wasn't suggesting they were not secular, but that Tulyar could look closer to home than Buddhism.
you are completely correct that they are, of course, totally secular.
However a very high proportion of folk I have met who self describe as founder member of Spokes, actually do have church connections (at least 5 that I can name) most of them not actively involved these days, albeit still cycling to limited extents and very supportive of new endeavours.
More of a commentary on the times and place of Spokes founding, than anything else, i think.
Posted 11 years ago # -
I wasn't suggesting you were suggesting.
Just slightly wondering if anyone assumed anything because of the 'postal address'.
Posted 11 years ago # -
Q: Ok, so apart from the mailings, research, campaigning, traffic counts, public meetings, maps, rides, bike-breakfast and seed-funding what has spokes ever done for us?
A: Shall I get another breakfast bike-ride organised to the bike-breakfast? It seemed to get more people to the breakfast (and many councillors!)
minimoth+myself's main criticism might have been the dense format of their leaflets and (to us) overly complicated negotiations - but I think now that this is really necessary. Also: now there's POP to do the sort of the big/simple message/protests - it means SPOKES can concentrate on doing what it does well.
Posted 11 years ago # -
"Shall I get another breakfast bike-ride organised to the bike-breakfast?"
Yes please.
"now there's POP to do the sort of the big/simple message/protests - it means SPOKES can concentrate on doing what it does well."
I think that is a good point.
Presume Spokes and PoP agree(?)
Posted 11 years ago # -
Is NO-ONE going to pick up on the excellent Life of Brian reference from EddieD? Sheesh...
I've never been a Spokes member, but can see the good they've done over the years (even if on some points I disagree with stances, I'd still rather they were there than not).
Posted 11 years ago #
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