Welcome & introductions
Gavin Clark (GC) (Chair), Fiona McDonald (FM), Francesco Sani (FS), Michelle Shortt (MS), John Alie Johnston (AJ) Daniel Verhamme (DV). Apologies: Rachel Martin, Alastair Cassels.
Note of previous meeting (February)
Accepted
Liaison with Aberdeen City Council
- Quarterly meetings – action list progress
Due to Councillor’s unavailability, there has been no liaison meeting this quarter and neither have we received any updates on the action list. However it does appear that some works are progressing – GC had noticed that most (maybe all) of the vehicle barriers and chicanes on entry/exit points on the Deeside Way have been replaced with bollards. Also at the Holburn bridge access ramp, ACC appear to be having a second attempt at providing a solution for the chicane (after the first attempt actually made it worse). Some of these improvements are things which we highlighted in our Make Aberdeen Accessible campaign in 2021. - ACTUP
GC had attended last meeting. Access for the Tall Ships event has been discussed at a couple of meetings but there had been no indication as to how cycling would be provided for, let alone actually encouraged. ACC expect very large numbers of visitors and are keen to avoid congestion. We had been told that the Events team would contact us directly, but they haven’t as yet. We have pointed out previously that some recent events such as the Pipe Band championships at Duthie Park had made zero provision for cyclists. FM suggested contacting them directly.
Our Action List is also sometimes covered in these meetings but no progress was reported even although things are evidently happening (as per above). The meeting Chair conceded that the works on the Deeside Way were being organised by the Ranger team and hadn’t been communicated to him. - Budget
Council Budget for 2025/26 has been approved. This includes £55m to build Berryden dual carriageway. This will include segregated cycle tracks alongside most of it. ACF did have the opportunity to input to the designs a couple of years ago. Two junctions at Berryden shopping centre are an issue with cyclists continuing straight-ahead (south-bound) having to cross at what appears to be a staggered 2 part pedestrian crossing. Some other roundabouts are being replaced with signal-controlled junctions, which is an improvement. We don’t know if there will be further opportunity to comment on the designs.
NZET meeting on 19 March also considered a paper on improvement to the process for allocating money from bus lanes and LEZ fines. Proposals to change the system – details on ACC website – see link below. Not clear if this will mean better cycle infrastructure or not. Net Zero Committee had considered has approved funding for sustainable travel to Tall Ships ie public transport.
There will be £350k for 3 more years of iBike Sustrans programme delivery in schools (funded by bus lane fines – no longer funded by NESTRANs). iBike Communities post will not continue – previous postholder has left and will not be replaced.
BLE-LEZ Programme Report.pdf
Cycling UK are recruiting a Cycling Officer for Aberdeen which will be a 12 month post. We hope that this will deliver a programme similar to the Aberdeenshire Bike Bothy which has been very successful.
Consultations
- Cycle Parking
GC feels its not the best designed consultation and raised this at the ACTUP meeting. That meeting was told that the purpose is to assess demand before progressing with more residential parking. MS had also tried to use the ‘drop a pin’ facility in the consultation but had given up as it was cumbersome. GC agreed and noted that only one pin could be added per visit and then was followed with a long succession of equality-type questions about the respondent. We would probably opt for providing a written response aside from the CommonPlace portal. It also wasn’t stated anywhere if the consultation had a closing date or was indefinite.
GC reported that in Bristol their latest cycle parking sold out within 90mins of it being available. GC has sent link to ACC.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp9ym3xnel2o - Ashgrove Connects
Concept designs for next stage – GC visited public drop-in consultation today. Will be out for online consultation soon. Segregated cycle lanes both sides of Ashgrove Road West, Dutch style roundabout at top, cycle friendly side streets. Looks like an excellent design.
Postscript: Designs can now be seen here: Have Your Say Today – Stage 3 Design – Ashgrove Connects
Events & activities:
- Revolution festival – September
GC volunteered last year – not sure about input this year as wasn’t much uptake on cycle rides last year. - End of summer – in person meeting – ideas
Film night but would need venue. FM suggested Aberdeen Uni could potentially be used. - Photo Competition / Calendar
GC suggested photo competition of cycling/cyclists in Aberdeen/Aberdeenshire, as a means of highlighting all the good things that are happing in and around Aberdeen (as per our Awards last year). Thought if partnered with other organisations (like Ride the North, CWAS) it could be viable as the reach would be greater.
AOCB
Councillor Kate Blake update
School Streets scheme – schools to be invited to participate but invitations have not gone out yet.
Countesswells School have started a Bike Bus with Kate and Jon Barron volunteering to help it get established.
Alford Cycle Sportive
Alie said he is planning to organise a new cycle sportif starting in Alford (25, 50 & 100 miles) to raise money for the Samaritans. Not yet confirmed that it will happen, but the date was 24 Aug. Longer route will take in The Lecht, Suie and Cabrach summits. GC offered to help publicise to ACF membership and facebook.
Hi-Viz Clothing with ACF logo
FS suggested buying some Hi-Viz. GC not too keen due to cheap items not being a good fit or having good fastening when last looked into this. Back-pack covers might be another option. GC also noted that when we’d had the snoods made it was because we had some funding aside from another project, which wasn’t currently the case
Peterculter Bike Hub
DV reported that the Peterculter bike hub will be organising a social bike ride on Sat 29th March. Cargo bikes can be hired (for free) to residents of Peterculter and others. Very happy with the improved access along the Deeside line. Please get in touch if interested. GC offered to promote via Facebook.
Aberdeen Bike Hire Scheme
No updates from ACC at present. GC will ask at next opportunity
Date of next meeting Tues 29th April, which will also be our AGM
Aberdeen Cycle Forum 