"Bob Downie" <BobMail@downie-geo#n0spam#.co.uk> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:Dear All,
I have some serious safety concerns regarding the newly implemented
cycle lanes on Kilmarnock Road in Glasgow, which is on a route I
frequently use.
[snip]
I would advise, as well as sending your letter, getting in touch with
your local "cycling activism" group. I assume Glasgow has one.
If it does have one, the bureaucrats will probably have decided that
it is the official voice of every Glasgow cyclist, including you, and
therefore, if you disagree with the "experts on cycling" you should
be ignored.
By the nature of things those most active in the group will probably
those wanting change. They will want change because they are those
who have most difficulty in riding on the roads as they are.
Those who have trouble riding on the roads likely have trouble
because they are doing things wrongly. When they demand facilities
they will want facilities in accord with their riding style - for
example riding very close to the kerb, or on the pavement, or very
close to a car door. In effect using the facilities will make their
bad riding style compulsory.
Officialdom my well lean to one side or the other. Since officialdom
is mostly made up of non cyclists, they may favour a group of
cyclists that advocates getting cyclists out of the way of motorists.
There will be people who are not really interested in cycling at all.
There will be those who want to encourage cycling with the slogan,
"Cycling is difficult and dangerous, but it is your duty to do it
anyway, to save the planet"
Go along to a few meetings, and find out who's who. If you don't go,
you will be letting the other side win by default. If you speak,
always attack policies, never people.
In addition to dealing with people, you will need to know what
Scotland's Design Standards say. They are on the web somewhere, I
think.. If the facility does not meet design standards, you have
ammunition to help you. If the facility does meet design standards,
but is still bad, you have a bigger problem. You probably will need
to get the standards changed. Get advice from CTC Scotland.
Don't expect victories to be quick. Don't expect victories to be
complete. But if you do nothing, you have already lost
Jeremy Parker
Barnet Borough Coordinator
London Cycling Campaign.