I saw the transport minister had a wee shot on the trams when the 1st section of line was handed over. I actually saw the tram running on the line, and thought he should join me on my commute from ingliston to city centre on the bike. I wrote to him inviting him to join me to see 1st hand the cycling infrastructure, but it seems he has a very busy diary and has had to decline my kind offer. Och well, quel surprise.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Cycling News
Commute with Transport Minister
(25 posts)-
Posted 12 years ago #
-
Yes it would have been nice to put your bike in the boot of the ministerial limo and test out the bus lanes with Keef.
Of course his diary would have been so busy that he needed to take the 35 minute drive rather than the 40 minute cycle.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Oh, you are silly sg37409. The Minister's annual cycling photo op is at Pedal for Scotland - why would a Minister get on a bike when no-one else is looking?
Posted 12 years ago # -
I have it on good authority that the Minister is "very interested in cycling". It is unclear, however, how exactly this interest manifests itself...
Posted 12 years ago # -
"unclear, however, how exactly this interest manifests itself"
Hoping the pesky campaigners will go away?
Posted 12 years ago # -
The interest is arguably limited to how much cycling interferes with his motor-dominated ideologies.
/apathy
Posted 12 years ago # -
Allegedly, Finance Secretary John Swinney is "a keen cyclist". Or so I read some years ago. Keeps it under his hat, though, eh? (Or would if he wore one).
Or maybe not:
"Thousands of cyclists gathered on the start line alongside a stream of celebrities, Olympic athletes and elite cyclists who heard a rousing Highland welcome from Minister for Finance & Sustainable Growth, John Swinney, a keen cyclist and the area’s MSP." (Etape Caledonia, 2010)
"John Swinney, who is a keen cyclist and fits in regular daily cycle ride into his demanding government schedule, will first bear witness to the nuptials of Rick Millin who will marry his fiancée Jo Louden on the start line of the event at 6am sharp, before proceeding to welcome all 5000 participants to this year’s Etape Caledonia." (Etape Caledonia, 2011. Fellow dignitary Graeme Obree).
Posted 12 years ago # -
I was just thinking the other day when I saw Mr Swinney on the telly how thin he looked compared to his glorious leader.
An advert for the health-giving properties of cycling or an indication of the stress involved in trying to work out how to pay for all those promises?
Posted 12 years ago # -
I think this is worth quoting in full.
"Spokes Bulletin 103 Spring 2009
“I'm an enthusiastic cyclist” - THE KISS OF DEATH !!
It's great for politicians and senior officials to get about by bike. But, if they start by telling you, “I'm a cyclist,” or, worse, a “keen” cyclist, that is often the absolute kiss of death. It's like “I really understand cycling, I'd love to encourage it. But let's face it, 'big transport' is all that really counts.” Such 'enthusiastic' cyclists rarely cycle to work, but may take a bike on holiday (by car), and so innately regard cycling as leisure, a hobby, not transport.
The budget outcome was thus surely clear from the moment Cabinet Secretary John Swinney gave evidence to Parliament's Transport, Infrastructure, Climate Change Committee and was asked by Labour Transport Speaker Des McNulty MSP if he had read the Spokes submission. Ominously, Mr Swinney began, “As an enthusiastic cyclist ... I am much attracted by the lines of argument that Spokes puts forward.” The rest is history!
Oddly, rarely does a decision-maker begin “As a keen motorist...” A personal declaration isn't needed, because it's understood. The question is only how much they will spend on yet further motorisation. And Mr Swinney is clearly a keen motorist, given his 200 metre drive from Parliament to the adjacent BBC HQ [The Journal 15.2.08]! Paradoxically, genuine cyclists in positions of power can also be a problem. Some fear being seen as pushing a personal interest – again, driving is ok! Others, if very experienced, see no need for infrastructure to encourage the average and novice cyclist – as with some recent top Edinburgh officials, dismissive of coloured surfacing. A solution? Cycle investment should be based on evidence and decided by non-cyclists - provided only that motoring investment is decided by non-motorists!"
Posted 12 years ago # -
too true! I've been getting this a lot from Council officials of late.
Posted 12 years ago # -
its like those red faced motorists who tell you they aren't in the wrong because "ahm a cyclist masel"
aye, right
Posted 12 years ago # -
It's great for politicians and senior officials to get about by bike. But, if they start by telling you, “I'm a cyclist,” or, worse, a “keen” cyclist, that is often the absolute kiss of death.
I'm just waiting for KB to trot out the line "some of my best friends
are cyclistsown a bike".Posted 12 years ago # -
"Finance Secretary John Swinney is "a keen cyclist" "
He certainly has been known to cycle in Perthshire (his home/constituency area) in a leisure way.
As Finance Secretary he has to attempt to 'spend money wisely'.
Somehow looking at how relatively small amounts of money have been spent is more important than taking a more critical look at mega projects which are 'obviously' good for the economy.
The 'economics of cycling' - less road wear, less time wasted in traffic jams, savings for the NHS (in the short term if road safety improves and for the future in improved general fitness) etc. are either not calculated or just regarded as unimportant.
"Transport" is obviously about big things. 'Strategic' cycling across Scotland is dealt with by Sustrans - which gets most of its money from SG.
Everything else is the responsibility of local authorities - and they get a chunk of money and are left to spend it how they choose (statutory responsibilities and legal requirements get in way sometimes.)
Cycling's weakness (and strength) is that it is so multifaceted and therefore no-one's (and everyone's) responsibility.
It's transport - local and slightly longer - but that's 'optional' and most people don't (for many reasons)
It's healthy - exercise, weight loss etc. - but there are other ways...
It's the economy - well there are a few shops and a few odd foreigners come across and wander about - but they can't spend as much as Japanese golfers can they?
It's sport - ah yes that's important. Olympics, CG2014 - would you like a new stadium?
There are actually some serious 'Enterprise' initiatives for developing Mountain Biking in Scotland. Partly because Scotland has the geography for it - and the fact that it tends to be in 'more neglected'/rural areas.
'We' can see that cycling is all those things and CCE certainly shows that there are people who do more than one 'type of activity' - but too often politicians/officials have their own interests/briefs/jobs.
There are some people who think that the various organisations - CS, SC, CTC, Sustrans, Spokes should work together more/better and have a more (presumed effective) united front.
But life's not really like that. They exist as organisations for good reasons with their own strengths/weaknesses/interests. Getting together and saying 'more money for cycling please' isn't enough.
Spokes probably has more in common with TransformScotland than ScottishCycling. The CTC is perhaps closer to ramblers and rights of way organisations.
It ought to have been easy to get through to an SNP Government that talks about smarter, healthier, etc. Scotland - but it hasn't.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Yes, theres a world of difference between pottering round the campsite in provence on your bike and dealing with 3 lanes of traffic on the A8 at rush hour.
A bit more walk the walk not just talk the talk is needed.I thought I stood a small but not insignificant chance with the TM. He looks a bit out of condition but I'd have waited on him. Even offered to lend him a bike.
I dont mind being fobbed off but his fob-off was shit. "diary full", ok you commute anyway, and I left the day to him. I might try with john swinney.Posted 12 years ago # -
I might try with john swinney.
I suspect his diary is even fuller than 'yomper' Broon's. However: "John Swinney, who is a keen cyclist and fits in regular daily cycle ride into his demanding government schedule"
So, more of a lunchtime spin on a road bike, perchance? Rather than a slog around the 'infrastructure' on the way into work...
Posted 12 years ago # -
If they ever did take you up on your offer I wonder if they would like to go in the front and spot the potholes and cars pulling out unexpectedly or ride two abreast and take the outside spot so you can have a chat or perhaps follow along behind and enjoy the proximity of vehicles to the back wheel. What you really want is royalty to tag along, imagine the flurry of activity as they built a majestic cycle path from the P&R all the way to your office for the occasion.
Posted 12 years ago # -
"What you really want is royalty to tag along, imagine the flurry of activity as they built a majestic cycle path from the P&R all the way to your office for the occasion."
And someone in Edinburgh would actually get to ride along an unbroken red surface for once, even if it was a carpet!
Posted 12 years ago # -
"I might try with john swinney"
You should (and all the other ministers).
He no longer has a house in Edinburgh and 'commute' involves Ministerial Car.
Posted 12 years ago # -
"So, more of a lunchtime spin on a road bike, perchance? Rather than a slog around the 'infrastructure' on the way into work..."
When I go for a lunchtime spin I'm using the same infrastructure as when I ride to work...
Posted 12 years ago # -
... does my 16 miles each way commute/stealth training consume more or less infrastructure than my 5 mile total bike-train-bike effort?
Posted 12 years ago # -
Meanwhile,
Smart and Sustainable Transport 2013 :: 28th May in Edinburgh
Keynote address: Keith Brown, Minister for Transport and Veterans, The Scottish Government
Posted 12 years ago # -
Will that be another pre-recorded speech like it was at the Dutch themed cycling conference? Maybe not, because he'll probably be talking about buses...
Posted 12 years ago # -
@crowriver No, not buses - they're so efficient with road space that if we spend too much on them we won't be able to fill up all the lovely new motorways we've
wasted money oninvested in. That's why electric cars are where it's at. That's what Keith likes. Vroom vroom!Posted 12 years ago # -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-22840212
"report is published as Transport Minister Keith Brown heads to the Netherlands to see first-hand the cycling infrastructure"
!
Posted 12 years ago # -
oops. sorry. Just posted herald version of the same story to a new thread. I like their headline better!
"Tourism value of cycling nearly 10 times that of whisky, say experts" http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/transport/tourism-value-of-cycling-nearly-10-times-that-of-whisky-say-experts.21309005
Posted 12 years ago #
Reply
You must log in to post.
posts
