Attendees: Gavin Clark (GC) Chair, Rachel Martin (RM), Fiona McDonald (FM), Martin Sharman (MS), Clemens Von Scheffer, Jon Barron, Laurie Rominger
Meeting started with a quick discussion about the 20th anniversary meeting last month and overall vibes were very positive. Ian Yuill and Miranda Radley have offered to meet with us again, should we wish. Fiona suggested we should definitely aim to do another ‘special meeting’ of this kind sometime next year as the vibe had been really positive. Then we discussed the last meeting from August where we had a guest speaker – Katrina Schofield. She’s now left her post with the NHS and will be missed.
Liaison with Aberdeen City Council
The next meeting with councillors has been moved slightly to 30th November. We have a rolling list of actions that we’ve raised with them. Martin has a list of barriers he’s been putting together for the council – it’s a Google form that anyone can submit a location that shows an issue with a barrier somewhere in the city or shire. Gavin says it sounds like a continuation of our Make Aberdeen Accessible campaign. Martin says we should get other cycling organisations sharing and promoting it including Aberdeen Cycle Forum. Martin reached out to the councillor as he used the council website but it’s difficult to track what’s in there. Rachel says you’re welcome to use the same software that we used last time if that helps? Is the plan to share access with the rest of us? Martin says yes.
Gavin says we made a Participation Request late last year on Union Street when it looked like they weren’t going to do anything for cyclists. Gavin has requested a meeting as although plans have now changed we still haven’t seen any designs for east and west Union Street.
Consultations
i) A944, Lang Stracht & Queens Rd
We initially met with the consultants a couple of years ago and they’ve come back wanting to discuss more. They originally thought a segregated cycle track down Queen’s Road wasn’t going to work and they showed us an alternative cycle route using back streets. This seems to be what is still being pursued. Gavin mentioned it to Cllr Kate Blake who got a response about the reasoning for it which was related to how funding was granted. We’re currently awaiting confirmation of a date to discuss with them again.
ii) Murcar to Blackdog
https://consultation.aberdeencity.gov.uk/commissioning/a92-murcar-north-active-travel-route/
We’ve shared the three options being consulted on for this on our Facebook page. Martin is planning to go to the exhibition which will show display panels of the design. At Kings Church on Thursday this week. He says the big issue is the crossing going over to B&Q. Currently it’s just a kerb in between a dual carriageway. It makes sense to put in some more formal traffic lights. They don’t want to restrain traffic or create congestion. It’s now a 40mph road rather than 60mph which previously prevented the provision of traffic lights.
iii) Local Transport Strategy
Most of us won’t have seen this yet but it was put in front of councillors a few weeks ago and they’re now working towards putting it out to formal consultation. It could happen as early as next week. This will be an important one for us to contribute to. There will be a lot in it. Gavin asks Jon whether he’s studied it much? Jon says he’s looked at it and says the key takeaway is we have an RTS which hasn’t been delivered. We also have an Active Travel plan of questionable quality but Aberdeen really seems to be struggling with delivery. Gavin says a council officer he spoke to recently highlighted the importance of the LTS because it helped them access funding to deliver schemes – however we have probably heard that before in relation to previous plans & strategies.
iv) Aberdeen Harbour Link Road
We have input to consultations about this previously and questioned why they were putting an active travel corridor here given it’s a significant hill. On a map it looks like a good straight line but in reality it’s not very useful. We asked for clarification on who they think will use it. There’s another of these meetings/exhibitions but it’s happening tomorrow in a Torry United Free church hall in Torry 12pm – 7pm. Gavin will attend. Laurie says she can attend at 12pm.
Gavin says there’s a new cycle/shared-use path from the golf club at the top of Victoria Road that goes down to the new harbour. It’s not finished yet. When you get down to the new harbour there’s signage that suggests the road round from the south harbour past the lighthouse will open again for cyclists.
v) Regional active travel network workshop
We have been invited to meet with consultants to input to this. Jon says it’s about linking the city with towns in the shire and also creating long-distance routes between towns along quiet routes that will involve changing speed limits. Jon says one worry is the Anderson Drive work and Marywell to Portlethen have been shelved at committee because of this work. It’s much-needed. Gavin says he’s yet to reply with suggested dates for the meeting but will do so before going away on holiday with the view to having a meeting when he returns. Jon says the other thing it connects with is funding as there’s specific funds available for connections like these.
Events, campaigns, activities
We’ve done lots of campaigns so now is a good time to think of something new for next year. Fiona says it occurred to her that we could help address issues with vegetation that needs to be cut back. Martin says he was up at Buchan Way the other day and there was quite a bit that needed trimming – could be a good group activity like the litter picking. We could invite some other cycle organisations to come along and build networks. Go for a picnic, do a bit of work, have a chit-chat, then take some photos of what was done. Rachel asks whether you need to get permission from the council? Martin thinks on the national cycle network you can just go and do it. The other thing is the painting of the signs. Jon says as a word of caution, vegetation cut-back is a whole science in itself so needs some planning.
Another option is tree–planting. Rachel says she gets a budget from her work for Giving Tuesday in November and could purchase a pack of trees from Woodland Trust. Fiona says we should follow Martin’s idea and plan for a meeting in-person next year. Gavin says we used to do all our meetings in-person. Martin says meetings in person would be great and tying them in with a workshop would be great. For instance, having someone who can talk about writing letters to councillors and getting activists to come and talk about how to be more effective or for someone to talk about bike security etc. Martin mentions Tim Bowden as someone we could piggy-back off. Gavin says we have some restrictions with our insurance so need to keep in mind about the type of event we can organise, but agrees that there is a good opportunity to link with the Sustrans I-bike work.
Martin mentions the Celebrate Aberdeen parade / event. Rachel will register so we get notice when it comes up next year.
Any other business
Gavin says he would like us to do an audit of South College Street. Fiona says she doesn’t want us to be too negative about infrastructure that’s going in as it’s good to have finally. Martin says he’d like to be involved and we could be constructive with feedback knowing that nothing is perfect.
The other audit Gavin wanted to do is of Deeside Way which is a great piece of traffic-free infrastructure but it has its faults. He’s written something up and would like to get input from other people.
Gavin also highlighted that the Craigshaw Drive segregated cycle lane is now under construction. It is probably of good design, but in the wrong place. If it eventually links to some improved active travel provision on Wellington Road that would be good, but may still be some years away. Abbotswell Rd would have been a better option.
Martin likes the idea of doing audits/reviews and could make them like pamphlets that are downloadable from our website. Would like Aberdeen Cycle Forum to have a strategy for the city – grand ideas like a new pedestrian bridge for example.
Critical Mass update – it got cancelled this month as there was a weather warning. Kiddical Mass – a date is set for this Sunday to do a ride but need to spread the word and involve families a bit more but it’s bonfire night and there’s a lack of interest so it may get cancelled. It’s a bit more structured than critical mass as you need marshals protecting the kids involved. On a positive note Martin is getting an affiliation with Kiddical Mass UK which provides insurance.
Clemens mentions an event at the University that people may be interested in https://www.abdn.ac.uk/events/19409
Jon says we’ve hopefully turned a corner at the council however today a councillor (Kate Blake) tried to get school streets piloted in the city but it got knocked back. It has gone to report now but with no deadline.
On the back of Freedom of Information requests Jon has data for the last 4 years for every authority in the county from Sustrans places for everyone funding. Aberdeen City Council has been awarded only 0.8% of the pot. Aberdeenshire is even lower at 0.08%. Rachel says our understanding of the reasons for this are two-fold: the council doesn’t submit bids and/or the bids they submit have been poor quality and not awarded.
Date of next meeting
28th November 2023
Aberdeen Cycle Forum 