The expectation is that cyclists will join in with one of the many events of the MILLENNIUM FESTIVAL OF CYCLING. While it was all very well having fireworks last Hogmanay, for outdoor sports mid-summer is a much better time to celebrate, and for those who believe that the new millennium does not start until 1 Jan 2001, at least we are half-way there! So any excuse will do for a celebration. What are the options?
Our Wednesday ride that day is to The Pineapple at Dunmore near Airth. Sustrans’ Route 76, a ‘round the Forth’ route which is due to be completed as part of their second 5,000 mile network over the next 5 years, will run from Edinburgh via S Queensferry, along the south side of the Forth to Stirling and Callander, and return along the north side via the Alloa to Dunfermline rail path, already established as the West Fife Way. Work on the canal towpath has been completed between Linlithgow and Lathallan but not beyond that, so instead we will probably go via Grangemouth, but may return through Fife. So while we will not get to Callander and back (Jimmy Kerray can do this if he wants to!) we will cover quite a lot of the proposed route – CTC in trailblazing mode. Because this is a special occasion, and because of the Bike Breakfast at the City Chambers that day (from 0800 to 0930) we will meet there and be waved off, together with other rides on other routes, by some important person (it was hoped that it would be the First Minister, but his illness will preclude that). If you can join us on that day, please do.
If you can’t get any time off, and your week-ends are full already, then on Tuesday 20th our Evening Ride (Commonwealth Pool at 1900) is being advertised to the public. We can cope with a wide range of abilities and experience that evening. Please join us.
I hope so, because this is a new runs meeting place. The cameraman is standing in front of “The Tickled Trout” in Lanark Road, between Craiglockhart Avenue and Inglis Green Road. You can see the three bridges crossing the Water of Leith – road, canal and rail. It is labelled as Slateford Viaduct in the runs lists.
The first run to leave from here is June 11th to Carnwath, so allow time to get here by 0930.
It should make getting out of the city toards the south-west pleasanter than previously. We have dropped Pinkhill as a meeting place – having found that getting through the Sighthill Industrial Estate is not very pleasant! Also dropped is Gilmerton cross roads (sorry Jackie!).
This year it’s in Fife, using a lot of the Fife Millennium Routes - which are well-marked quiet roads. It is open to those over 50, and there is a choice of 100 miles or 100 km. It starts and finishes at the Fife Aminal Farm Park at Collessie, near Auchtermuchty at 0800 (100 miles) or 0900 (100 km) on Sunday 11 June. Entry Forms and routes fom George Berwick, Midcraigs, Balmerino, Newport-on-Tay, DD6 8RN
A recent study shows a big increase in cycling in Edinburgh. The City with a radical reputation in transport was told by critics that it was too wet, windy and hilly to increase the number of cycling trips. They have been proved wrong. By reallocation of road space to cyclists, cycling’s modal split has increased from 1.8% in the 1991 Census to 5% last year. The same study highlighted that ‘advanced stop lines’ are seen as a particularly successful mechanism in cultivating a cycling culture. Quote from CTC’s “Cycle Digest” No. 24
Some DAs have a range of runs to suit different riding styles (I won’t say ‘abilities’) – easy, medium, hard. In recent years the Lothians DA has had a ‘one size fits all’ attitude, partly because the numbers have not justified separate routes. In practice, people often make their own choices and join or leave a run or go off on their own, but there is a problem that while this is fine for the regular rider, it is discouraging for newcomers who might feel embarrassed at this system or the uncertainty as to what they are letting themselves in for. This year, once a month, there will be a “Two-Hour Ride”. The start will be at 12 o’clock from one of the usual meeting places, and the pace of the ride will be easy.
If you are one of the 770 members who doesn’t come out on the regular rides, then how about joining one of these? The first one starts at Roseburn (on the bridge over Glasgow Road) on June 4th at 12 noon, and is going towards South Queensferry.
To ‘balance’ these easy rides, Jimmy Kerray has offered to lead some harder rides, suitable for those who take Audaxing seriously. Phone him to talk about these. They will not be fixed in advance or published in the calendar, but arranged to suit needs.
The dualling of the A1 between Haddington and Dunbar, which got the go-ahead in the Government’s Roads Review, will cut for ever a vital link in the East Lothian network of cycle routes. Biel Mill road, which crosses the A1 right opposite the A198, about 2 miles east of East Linton, was closed to vehicles years ago but a footbridge over the railway enables cyclists and ramblers to use the route, which is quite popular because the road otherwise has virtually no traffic, and passes through scenic woodland.
The route connects a network of small villages and quiet roads to the south, with Tyninghame, Tantallon Castle, North Berwick and the John Muir Country Park to the north. It is shown on East Lothian’s cycling leaflet as a quiet lane, i.e. recommended for cycling.
There are no problems in crossing the existing A1, but the new road will ban pedestrians and cyclists and the Scottish Executive do not want to provide a footbridge. At the Public Inquiry into the A1 dualling, the CTC and the Ramblers Association made a strong case for retaining this link. The survey of use which the Scottish Office had carried out was totally inadequate because it only consulted a few local people, and no effort was made to see if the route was used by cyclists or ramblers from further afield. Despite our evidence of frequent use, the Reporter found in favour of the Scottish Office.
That was in 1997. With the moratorium on road building it looked very unlikely that this road would ever be built, and our route would be secure. But against all the odds the road is to be built after all. We must protest at the loss of our route, and the time to do it is now.
The Trunk Roads Cycling Initiative, introduced in 1996 and endorsed by subsequent administrations, says that “in developing the motorway and trunk road network, [we] will give special consideration to cyclists in all new trunk road schemes and within improvements of existing trunk roads...to ensure that the opportunities for cyclists are recognised and exploited [and] to ensure that the opportunities for cyclists on the surrounding networks...are recognised and exploited “ (Cycling into the Future, p.15). Far from exploiting new opportunities, in this case we stand to lose a valued part of our existing network!
The present administration’s Transport Bill says “The Executive is committed to delivering a sustainable, effective and integrated transport system, one that will address the needs of all in society [including] pedestrians and cyclists” (Summary, p.5).
In their advice to Local Government, the Executive say :”where a road scheme is appropriate, it should be properly integrated with measures to promote...walking and cycling” (Guidance on Local Transport Strategies, p.41). (So why aren’t they following their own advice ?)
At the local level, East Lothian’s cycling leaflet actually includes the route as a recommended quiet road.
The new scheme for the A1 proposes to delete two major junctions (at Monk’s Muir and Phantassie) from the earlier scheme, at a saving of around £5 million. The cost of a footbridge for us would amount to no more than 1% of the total cost of the scheme.
CTC Lothians DA is writing to the Government and to E Lothian Council officially, but it is vital that MSP’s get letters from concerned individual cyclists. Please write to your MSP. Ask him or her to take up the matter with Sarah Boyack, Minister for Transport and the Environment. Use some or all of the arguments above to press the Executive to include a footbridge at the Biel Mill Road crossing.
You could also write to the local East Lothian MSP, John Home Robertson, who has campaigned for this road for years. You could congratulate him on the success of his long campaign, but point out the loss to cyclists and ramblers of one of our favourite routes - and could he help?
Also, if you write, please let us know - phone your Rights Officer Peter Hawkins on 453 3366, and/or send him a copy of your letter (10 Woodhall Terrace EH14 5BR). Thanks!
