Spokes - The Lothian Cycle Campaign

CONTACT DETAILS

St. Martin's Church, 232 Dalry Road, Dalry, Edinburgh, EH11 2JG
0131 313 2114
spokes@spokes.org.uk
LOCALITY
South West

information DESCRIPTION

Spokes campaigns for better cycling provision in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

Spokes is the Lothian Cycle Campaign – a non party political voluntary organisation, founded in 1977, and now with a membership of over 1000. SPOKES has a long history of effective campaigning for better conditions for cyclists, especially in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

Whilst we are still far from European conditions or numbers, Edinburgh has seen improving onroad and offroad cycling infrastructure, and accelerating growth in cycle use – at the same time that cycle use was flat or declining in most of the UK. When Spokes began, cycle commuting was 1% of all trips. In 2011 it was 7% (+ or – 2%) according to the Scottish Household Survey, and Spokes counts and other data suggest it continues to increase – and that city centre car use is falling.

In our first decades the needs of motorists were the overwhelming priority for government public expenditure on transport. Although public transport investment has improved substantially, investment to provide safe and welcoming conditions for cycling and walking still trails woefully behind. SPOKES believes that councils and government should have an overall transport strategy in which cyclists, pedestrians and public transport genuinely come first – and that includes both funding and roadspace.

In assessing costs and benefits of transport investment, environmental and health aspects should be fully considered. This means increased support for public transport, pedestrians and cyclists, with a range of effective fiscal, infrastructural and other mechanisms to reduce the number of motor vehicles, particularly in urban areas at peak periods.

Please support Spokes – and keep in touch with our campaigns and with useful materials such as maps and factsheets – by becoming a member. Having a large number of members helps us in many ways, even if you are not actively involved: it impresses politicians, it enables us to notify large numbers of interested individuals (e.g you!) when there are relevant developments or threats in their local area, and of course it provides us with the donations on which our organisation depends.

ORGANISATION ACTIVITIES

Advice/Information Campaigning/Lobbying Health Sport/Leisure/Recreation

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