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CYCLETALK
The Newsletter of CTC ScotlandNumber 15: April 2001Editor: Peter Hawkins |
A grass-roots initiative to get more kids on bikes has won a £9000 grant from Shimano Europe. The money will be used to develop a Cycle Activity Leader qualification which will train parents, teachers and others to run structured cycle activities for children.
The scheme will be piloted in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Perth/Kinross this summer and then rolled out across Scotland. For more info or to get involved, phone Dev't Officer Cathy Scott (0131 667 6740) or e-mail cathyscott@scottishcycling.co.uk
KM 161 (it's the number of years since 'KM' invented his bicycle at Keir Mill) was to be held from 24 to 29 May at the usual venue, Drumlanrig, with a mix of daily rides and social events. The Buccleuch Estates have had to cancel all events to be held on their lands. Full refund for any who have already booked and paid. Details, Peter Hawkins 0131 453 3366.
CTC(S) is organising an Open Day in Dumfries on 24 March. The format is a morning ride to see the latest (and spectacular) cycle facilities in and around the town, then a presentation with speakers from the Council and CTC after lunch. Open Days are a chance for local cyclists to meet, and find out about CTC. This will still go ahead - but will definitely stay within the town to avoid contamination problems.
Over 40 have booked for the Stirling event so far. Because of high entry fee which we can't alter, morning coffee and evening meal will be subsidised. Nearly half the entrants so far are from down South so c'mon, Scotland! Booking form in Feb. CT&C, or from Peter 0131 453 3366.
The 4th Forfar Rally will be held at the Lochside site in August, with a format similar to that of previous years. Details from Pat Harrow, 0845 458 9298.
Dates for the rides in Scotland are : (from south) 15th June Kelso, 16th Melrose, 17th Dalkeith, 18th Edinburgh, 19th Kinross, 20th St Andrews, 21st Arbroath, 22nd Stonehaven, 23rd Aberdeen - grand finale!
From north : 15th Thurso, 16th Tongue, 17th Lairg, 18th Tain, 19th Inverness, 20th Forres, 21st Buckie, 22nd Maud, 23rd Aberdeen.
This is a great chance for local cyclists to join in the ride, and as you'll see, the daily distances are not great. To join an organised group from the north, details Brian Curtis 0131 669 5918.
This exhibition was held at the SECC in Glasgow from 7-11 Feb., and CTC(S) shared a stand with the SCU and the Development Project. The weekend was the busiest time and we gave out lots of info and sold some maps and books, despite the tiny size of our stall.
The Group meets on the first Wed of the month during the Parliament's sessions, at 5.30pm in the Scottish Parliament Committee Rooms, Geo.IV Bridge, Edinburgh, and a speaker and topic are arranged for each meeting. Visitors welcome. Details Brian, 0131 669 5918.
CTC(S) has responded to this Home Office consultation document with a 3-page submission. On the whole its proposals are quite fair, almost radical. The problem is that the courts are overwhelmed, and will accept pleas of guilty to lesser charges, which means motorists are getting away with murder - literally! There have been some horrendous cases in Scotland recently, resulting in deaths of cyclists which have been 'punished' with paltry fines. We have called for wider use of disqualification and compulsory retesting, with better monitoring of disqualified drivers either by 'naming and shaming' and a public hotline, or by camera technology. Cycling is totally benign (i.e. we don't go round killing and injuring) so the least we can expect, as victims, is justice. Costs, and court time, should be no object. We believe the costs should be borne either by the offenders, or from road taxation. For a copy of our submission phone Peter on 0131 453 3366.
The Transport Act has little specifically on cycling but there are two clauses of interest to us. One, Section 74, empowers Local Authorities (LA's) to set up Home Zones, residential areas where speeds are kept as low as 10mph and cyclists/ ped's have priority. Pilot schemes are being run in Scotland and the UK but the Regulations will take about 18 months, due to the need for consultation.
The other, Section 75, allows LA's to make Experimental Re-determination Orders (e.g. to make a footway shared-use) for a max period of 18 months, after which it would lapse or be made permanent. This is useful to us because all those unused rural pavements could become shared-use, enabling less confident cyclists to reach quiet lanes without having to ride on busy roads.
If you know of a pavement you'd like to see converted, contact your LA Cycling Officer.
The Bill, together with a separate section on the Outdoor Code, has at long last been published (end of Feb) and CTC(S) is compiling a response. Given the need for reform, the Bill on first impression seems very fair to all sides. Cycling is one of the activities being promoted, and the Bill offers the right to be lawfully on land or water without being removed unless one is causing some sort of offence.
Certain areas will be excluded, e.g. where the public is now forbidden (railways, quarries etc), and the curtilege or private fringe of land around a building.
Land managers will have the right to close paths temporarily for management reasons, but must publicise it and provide diversions. Cycles may be discouraged from 'sensitive' areas, and our view is that cyclists should be directed, by signage, to the most suitable paths. The status of group use of paths doesn't seem to present any problems for our CTC rides schedules.
For a copy of the Bill, phone 0345 741741. Send in your own comments and please copy them to John Taylor (01556 670395) who is co-ordinating our response.
You'll recall from CycleTalk 13 that CTC (S) lodged objections to the Environmental Statement and the Side Road Orders of the A1 dualling, Haddington to Dunbar, where there will be no public crossing of the road for 7km in an area popular with walkers and cyclists.
The Roads Dept have now replied, offering us nothing but asking us to withdraw the objections. We have refused, and made it very clear to them why. They had the arrogance to send the same letter for the two objections, even though the issues involved are quite different.
CTC(S) has had a meeting with Angus Roads Dept to discuss details of the cycle track which will be built along this 12-mile dual carriageway. The track will cost £1m and as most of it is taxpayers' money, we feel we have a right to an input, and at that price it's important to get the details right! We want one 200yd detour removed, and a hedge planted in the 2.5m-wide verge to offer some protection (from vehicles, and wind) and a reduction of traffic noise, fumes, glare and nuisance. The answer so far is a flat 'no' so we are appealing to local MSP Irene McGugan (member of the Parl'y Group), and we shall have a presence at the Public Inquiry.
There is still some non-awareness of who CTC(S) are and what we do. We are a committee which meets 4 times a year and consists of reps from each of the 7 DA's in Scotland (2 from Glasgow, and 3 from Lothians, as they are bigger), 5 reps from the Cycle Campaign groups and other affiliated clubs, the Councillor, and 3 co-opted members.
This newsletter should give some flavour of what we do. We basically look after CTC interests in Scotland, the only difference from HQ being that we are all voluntary and unpaid! For more info (a 1-page flyer on who we are and what we do) send SAE to the editor at 10 Woodhall Terrace, Edinburgh EH14 5BR.