Present on zoom: Gavin Clark (Chair), Rachel Martin, Alan Irving, Alastair Cassels
Apologies: Michelle Short, Francesco Sani
1. Welcome & introductions. Noted this was our second Thursday meeting and Rachel (hosting) said the change had been really helpful.
2. Notes from previous meeting – these are on the website.
3. Liaison with City Council / Nestrans. GC reported back from the most recent ACTUP meeting. There had been minimal reports on progress with the Beach, Castlegate and Union St central. Nothing of particular significance for us. GC had asked the Stagecoach rep about usage of the bike racks on the 201/202 (Deeside) and 35 (Old Meldrum, Banff) services, based on his own experience of using them occasionally but it being difficult to plan as not all buses on both routes had the bike racks. It was explained in reply the reasons for this and the difficulty of the company being able to allocate vehicles with racks 100% of the time. This was unlikely to change.
GC, AI and RM had all attended the recent liaison meeting with Council leaders and senior officers. In the time available the issues we’d raised were:
· Success or otherwise of funding under ATIF 2 – as yet unknown.
· Report back from Cycling Scotland conference and again noting our disappointment that no one from ACC had attended.
· Cycle parking – noting that we had responded to a recent request to suggest locations, and in particular Duthie Park as suggestion even although we’d been told that parks were ‘already adequately provided’ which we’d disagree with.
· Berryden project – we have requested to see final designs of where the cycle path crosses the side roads into the retail park. Last time we had seen designs, the layout was poor. ( AI commented that after the meeting he had managed to find the designs on-line and they seem unchanged) [see: Board 3 – Retail Park.pdf ]
· Winter treatment – noting that the proposed programme had gone to NZET committee but lack of priority for cycle routes remains an issue. Once again there had been no consultation.
· Asking whether ACC have an inspection regime for cycle paths – noting the increasing disruption of tarmac on the Deeside Way. Noting the difficulty of resolving such damage caused by tree roots, we have also suggested that at least the hazards could be made more visible with warning paint or similar
· Temporary infrastructure – not all the previously suggested locations had been captured in the action list so we wish to add to it.
· Pavement parking ban exemption – intimating our objection and asking why the current case had not been put on the Council’s consultation hub.
· Requesting an update on both the School Streets and the secure on-street parking hangars as both projects have been delayed.
4. Consultations. There is an open consultation on projects to improve core paths across the city. Again, not on the Council’s consultation hub. One of the projects included is remedial work to fix tree roots disrupting the surface on the Deeside Way (beside Boxcar and Skyline). Deadline 5 October. Secondly, just arrived today a consultation to changes to the traffic prohibitions relating to Back Wynd. GC will circulate.
5. Events. GC and AI both gave their impressions from the Cycling Scotland conference in Perth last week. For our own stand in the exhibition space, Katy had done a brilliant job of devising a ‘Snakes & Ladders’ display which highlighted some of the ups and downs of cycle campaigning. Unfortunately our position and the layout of the room meant we didn’t get as many visitors and hoped. Nevertheless we’d had some good interactions.
A CUK showcase event took place in Aberdeen last Monday. GC had attended and had enjoyed hearing about many of the positive developments.
6. Campaigns. A) As discussed last time we intend to re-open our Make Aberdeen Accessible campaign. Coming soon. B) A replacement ‘No Idling’ banner has been obtained and we will do some promotion soon and make it available for loan. C) Local Government elections 2027. GC had attended an on-line meeting facilitated by Cycling Scotland at which almost 20 like-minded organisations were represented. Other meetings will follow with the aim of agreeing campaign messages or requests, and how to go about presenting them to best effect.
7. Any other business. AC gave an update on his FoI request concerning obstructive parking on side roads off Tillydrone Avenue. It seemed that no parking tickets had been issued here, and that worn-out markings are part of the problem, alongside poor design and layout and probably lack of enforcement. This is something we’ve raised at quarterly liaison meetings in the past and need to chase.
8. Date of next meeting – sticking with Thursdays for now, hence Thurs 29 October.
