Author: Rachel M

Consultative Draft Local Transport Strategy

It would probably be fair to say that facilities for cycling could be better, indeed in a recent survey on cycle spending Aberdeen came 26th out of the 27 local authorities in Scotland. Whilst ACF continues to work away, opportunities where we can all make a difference do not come on every day.

Aberdeen City Council has recently issued a “Consultative Draft Local Transport Strategy”, for those who do not know what a consultative draft is (we only just learned!) basically it’s published – everyone can have a say, the results are used to write a draft strategy, everyone gets to consult on it and eventually a new strategy is developed, this typicaly has a life of approximately 5 years. The strategy is used to “guide” developments.

It is key that the voice of cyclists are heard when feedback to the consultative draft is considered. ACF will be making a formal submission but the more people that respond to the consultation the better. Fortunately you can respond online, ACF needs you below are links to the entire strategy (230pages!) and a much shorter summary (7 pages) and the online questionare. Please take a moment to complete the questionare (reading the 230 page version is optional!). The closing date is 2nd July 2007.

Click here for the Questionare

Supporting Material

• Short Summary (PDF 414Kb) – Read Online
• Main Community Planning Website (all the Documents)
• ACC Announcement on Consultative Draft

Opportunities like this come along only every few years so have your say – fill in the Questionare

Local Elections: 4 Parties 3 Questions

The local elections are almost here. To help inform all you cycling voters out there we thought we would ask the leaders of the
4 main parties how they would support cycling if they happened to get the top seats in the Town House after May 3rd.
You’ll have to make your own judgements about those that haven’t bothered to reply.

To help you you might also want
to seach the 4 main parties websites for “cycling” just use these links:

Conservatives–
Labour –
Lib Dems–
SNP
(some sites have search functions, some do not, in the spirity of impartiality links are for Google searches of the parties sites for the word “cycling”)

If you are reading this before polling day and are a leader from the Scottish Labour Party, it’s not too late just
return your answers to the webmaster and we will put them on here!

ACF	What role should cycling have as part of a local transport strategy for Aberdeen?
Conservative	Cycling will have an integral part to play in any feasible transport strategy for Aberdeen
Lib Dem	Cycling should be a key part of any local transport strategy. Encouraging and facilitating green transport has to be taken seriously for environmental reasons to improve air quality, reduce pollution,carbon emissions etc. Green transport is a more sustainable form of transport and is good for health. Shifting to walking, cycling and public transport would have an important role to play in tackling the problems of congestion and road safety that result from increased levels of vehicular traffic on the roads.
SNP	As there are twin aims of reducing car traffic in Aberdeen and encouraging a fitter population cycling must form a keypart of an integrated transport strategy for Aberdeen.
Labour	No response

ACF	What measures would your Party support to increase cycling levels in the city? (We would be interested to hear your views on ?hard? measures such as cycle lanes, on ?soft? measures such as cycle promotion, and on funding sources).
Conservative	If, as I have said, Cycling is to have an important part to play, cycle lanes, Cycle promotion ? In tandem with its importance in health terms ? have to be promoted with appropriate resource back up.
Lib Dem	More cycle lanes and routes are needed to develop a city-wide cycle path network. More cycle racks and storage should be establised where necessary and appropriate – including in new developments. Action should be taken to identify and solve problems at specific cycling pinchpoints. To keep cycling safe and enjoyable, a major push, possibly with funding assistance from the Scottish Executive, Nestrans etc, would be helpful to improve cycling proficiency and good cycling skills at all levels in schools. Aberdeen Cycle Forum has done a great amount of good work for cycling in the city. As in the past, any measures would be considered after consulting and taking seriously the recommendations of the Cycle Forum.
SNP	In discussion with the relevant groups such as yourselves we should encourage better use of existing cycle lanes and ascertain where morecycle lanes would be most apppropraite but also encourage businesses housing associations, house builders and retail outlets to install cycle racks. It may be possible through encouraging more cycle profiiency in primary schools to encourage “cycle buses” to schools as well as walking buses
Labour	No response

ACF	What would your aim be for cycling in Aberdeen by the end of the coming four year term of office in 2011?
Conservative	To be recognised as a force for good, both in respect of transport and health with usage having expanded accordingly.
Lib Dem	To make cycling more popular and safer and to have developed a city-wide cycling and walking path system around the city. Such a system would help make cycling a more desirable form of travelling in the city.
SNP	To see the SNP aims of having a safer healthier and more sustainable environment where cycling has been a major part implemented and well lodged in our communities
Labour	No response

Aberdeen Near Bottom of the Scottish Cycle Spending League

In a week where Scottish world champion cyclist Chris Hoy is at the top of his sport,
Aberdeen is sadly near the bottom. A recent survey on council spending revealed Aberdeen
26th out of 27 councils in Scotland

The Annual Spokes Survey shows that Aberdeen spent less than

Try Cycling is Back for 2008

After the success of “Try Cycling” in earlier years it’s back! Beginning on 1st April and running every Sunday rides start at 10am from Duthie Park by the pond (just off Riverside Drive).

Aimed at beginners, or those who haven?t been in the saddle for a while, trained cycle leaders from the
Cyclists? Touring Club and Aberdeen Cycle Forum will lead short rides (of upto 3 hours) at a slow pace.
If you need some practice or are seeking to regain road confidence this is the ideal way to keep fit, to gain a healthy heart and make cycling part of a healthy lifestyle

Just turn up on the day or for more information phone Gerard on 01224 734 799. or drop us an email trycycling@aberdeencycleforum.org.uk It is necessary to phone in advance if children under 18 will be coming on the ride

If you want to publicise Try Cycling in you workplace or school there we have some posters and you can download and print out (these are PDF files if it is not already installed on your computer you may need the free Acrobat Reader software to view them

Would you like to receive email alerts when news stories are posted? then visit our email update page

Try Cycling Group Cross Brig o Balgownie

Changes to National Cycle Route 1

National cycle Route 1 stretches from Unst in Shetland down to Dover, passing through Aberdeen en route.
Within the city the current route is predominantly on-road and runs from Cove Bay,
along Greyhope Road, Market Street, Broad Street, Old Aberdeen, Persley
Den, Mugiemoss Road, Stoneywood Road and onto the Formartine & Buchan
Way.

Aberdeen City Council is proposing a new route which will result in
over 25km of off-road pedestrian and cycle routes through Aberdeen, and
a new cycle/ pedestrian bridge across the River Don.

These proposals are now open for public consultation, maps, routes
background, and requests for feedback can be found on Aberdeen
City Council’s website

A exhibition of the plans open to all will be held at the Townhouse on 30th January 19:30-20:30hrs. The closing date for feedback is 16th February 2007

Continued Implementation of “Pinch Points”

Despite ACF’s reservations and discussions with Aberdeen City Council
more and more traffic islands are planned for Aberdeen streets
in the coming months, these are being implemented for a number of reasons including
“traffic calming”.

From a cyclists perspective these islands reduce the width of the road and
create a “pinch point” there is frequently not room for both a car and a cycle
to pass. At this point the motorist should wait for the cyclist to go
through the crossing before overtaking. Of course we all know some
motorists are not the best at judging the available space so the cyclist
may find themselves “pinched”.

You can read our concerns in the latest correspondence with the council over this, having
exhaused dialouge with the council we are left with no option but to lodge a formal objection
to the Environment and Infrastructure committee over the next batch.

If you would like to read and have your say on “Pinch Points” then visit our e-consultation pages.

New Cycle Stands at Aberdeen Railway Station

The first results of ACF’s project “Take a stand” are now visible.
After discussions with First-Scotrail, Aberdeen railway station now
has 8 Sheffield stands outside the station. Not quite as many as we
wanted, nor at our ideal prefered location but it is a step in the
right direction.

The stands are to the right of the steps that lead down to the station
forecourt from the Pelican crossing. Feel free to send feedback on them to:

takeastand@aberdeencycleforum.org.uk

We are continuing discussions with First-Scotrail over more, and hopeully geting a cover in place, these will of course be easier if the original batch are used!
In addition, we are in communication with a number of the locations identified
during the survey, this is a long process but we are
hopeful of encuraging the owners at some of the other “worst loctions in Aberdeen” to install stands.

Launched in June this year , “Take a Stand” is designed to identify
privately owned locations (e.g. shops, retail parks etc.) where
abscent or poor cycle parking facilities were detering people from
travelling by bike within the city. To learn more and to nominate
your own sites Visit our main Take a Stand page .

<img src="include/ht/023_1.jpg" width="338" height="242" border="0"

New Cycle Stands at Aberdeen Railway Station