Last updated: July 28 2000 Executive Summary: Velo-city is the world's premier international cycling planning conference. Its next edition will be in Edinburgh and Glasgow in 2001. Velo Mondial was held in Amsterdam in June this year . Velo-city attracts at least 500 planners, activists and politicians concerned with promoting cycling as a means of transport. Among the major themes of the Edinburgh-Glasgow conference will be the involvement of thousands of cyclists in Pedal for Scotland Bike Ride - a new mass participation leisure ride between the two cities - plus innovative outreach work involving school children and people with a disability. Contents: |
Velo-city 2001 Media Team Tim Dawson 0131 225 2082/07050 165653 tim@timdawsn. demon.co.uk Mike Wilson 0131 446 9265/07050 169016 mwilsport@aol. com Website
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VELO-CITY is the major international conference on all aspects of cycle transport. It will be hosted in Scotland for the first time in 2001, though it has twice taken place in England (London 1984, Nottingham 1993). With Scotland's new Parliament already grappling with major transport issues this is an exciting time for Scotland's two main cities to collaborate on bringing the conference to Scotland. It is also a way of recognising the giant strides being made throughout Scotland in making cycling a viable and pleasant alternative to travelling by car. Department of Transport figures show that half of all car journeys are less than two miles. Another study by the Royal Automobile Club (the RAC) found eight per cent of all car journeys were less than a mile. The Velo-city conference is an opportunity for countries to learn from each other in the shared pursuit of having journeys switched from four wheels to two. THE POPULAR view of Edinburgh and Glasgow is that they are constantly at loggerheads with each other. While there is a healthy rivalry, the cities are as one in their desire to make Velo-city 2001 an outstanding success. Since the first recognised bicycle was invented in Scotland - by Kirkpatrick Macmillan in 1839 - the conference also represents a 'coming home' for cycling. The two cities learned they had won the right to host Velo-city 2001 in June 1999 following a meeting in Estonia held by the adjudicating body, the European Cyclists' Federation (ECF). A thousand delegates are expected to attend the millennial conference this year, taking place in Amsterdam, in the Netherlands ( Velo Mondial ). As in previous years, the core audience at the 2001 conference will include local, national and international politicians, transport engineers, university researchers, cycle campaigners, road safety experts and urban planners. At the 1999 conference, for example, Glenda Jackson CBE MP, then UK parliamentary under-secretary of state and transport minister for London, was one of the speakers. The conference will help both cities in their commitment to raising the profile of cycling. Both Edinburgh and Glasgow have adopted radical cycling agendas, including the creation of dedicated cycle lanes on the road network as well as measures to improve public transport, reduce car use and calm transport. With bike ownership on the rise, both cities are enjoying significant increases in cycling, with, Edinburgh, for example, experiencing a doubling of cycle journeys to work since 1991. Among the most compelling reasons for the conference taking place in Glasgow and Edinburgh is the desire to celebrate and promote the role of the bicycle within a modern, Scottish, transport policy. ENTHUSIASM for cycling has strong roots in both Edinburgh and Glasgow, with each city boasting volunteer-run campaigning groups which are considered pioneers in their field: the Edinburgh-based group Spokes (The Lothian Cycle Campaign) and the Glasgow-based Go Bike! (Strathclyde Cycle Campaign). Both cities are committed to increasing their cycle network. In Glasgow, work is already underway to create 100 km of cycling route by 2001 and 375 km by 2008. In Edinburgh, there is already 65 km of off-road and 60 km of on-road (of which 40 km is incorporated in bus lanes) cycling route. Edinburgh's target is a cycle network of 400 km. Edinburgh intends to increase the percentage of journeys undertaken by bike to four per cent in the year 2000 and 10 per cent in 2010. In Glasgow, where cycle use has been among the lowest of UK cities, the target is to increase the percentage of journeys undertaken by bike to three per cent by the end of 2001. Scotland is to be soon part of two major cycling initiatives: (1) the National Cycle Network, being developed by cycle development charity, Sustrans, which will give the UK 5,000 miles of cycle network by June 2000, passing through and linking both Glasgow and Edinburgh; and (2) the North Sea Cycle Route, a tourist cycle route around the circumference of the North Sea, which will join Scotland with Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and England - just one aspect of an EC-funded network of cycle routes across Europe, called Eurovelo, which is part-funded by the City of Glasgow Council. Thanks to the efforts of energetic individuals and superbly-organised groups, cycling is now at the forefront of every transport debate. THERE IS the good, the bad and the indifferent in Europe, with the good normally to be found in north European countries such as the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark, with the United Kingdom fast-catching up. For example, country by country: In Denmark, taxes on car use are, on average 60 per cent higher than in the UK. Also in Denmark, it is mandatory for taxis to be able to carry two bicycles. In the Netherlands, there are tax concessions for companies that encourage greater cycle use. Also in the Netherlands, 45 per cent of rail users arrive at the station by bike. A German study found that a station's catchment area is increased 15 times by the introduction of good cycle facilities including secure parking. For example, city by city: In Basel, Switzerland, cycle use compares favourably to car use: 17 per cent of all journeys against 27 per cent. In Graz, Austria, a 20 mph speed limit imposed on three-quarters of the roads has resulted in a large drop in road traffic injuries (including on bikes) but no significant reduction in journey times. (Graz co-hosted the 1999 Velo-city Conference) In Gronigen, in the Netherlands, 57 per cent of all journeys are by bike. In Oulu, Finland (just south of the Arctic circle!), cycle use makes up 35 per cent of all trips. In Paris, France, a commission set up by the mayor to promote cycling as a solution to traffic gridlock (at its worst following strike action by public transport workers in 1995) has become a vote-winner. Between June 1996 and September 1997, cycle use had risen from one per cent of all journeys to five per cent. In Trondheim, Norway, £10 million in road tolls has been re-directed into improving cycling facilities. In Vienna, Austria, an increase in cycling from one per cent of all trips in 1983 to six per cent in 1991, coincided with a steady drop in road traffic accidents. City of Edinburgh Council Cycling Officer - Matthew Simpson - 0131-469 3606, e-mail: m.simpson@edin-city-dev.demon.co.uk There is a cycling policy for Edinburgh, titled 'Cycling in Lothian' which is due to be superceded by 'Edinburgh Transport Strategy' (currently in draft form). City of Glasgow Council - Erl Wilkie - Team Leader (Walking and Cycling) 0141-287 9039, e-mail: erl.wilkie@land.glasgow.gov.uk There is a Glasgow Cycle Network plan (launched on June 8 1998). There is also a transportation policy document, 'Keep Glasgow Moving'. Edinburgh-Glasgow Velo-city 2001 Conference Director: Erl Wilkie (see above); assisted by Richard Williams (see above) and Ian Maxwell, tel 0131-556 3899 (day), 131-669 6542 (evening), e-mail: imaxwell@gn.apc.org European Cyclists' Federation (ECF). - Co-ordinators of the Velo-city conference series. The eleventh event in the series took from April 13-16 1999 in Graz (Austria) and Maribor (Slovenia). This year's Velo-city conference, Velo Mondial, takes place between June 18 and 22 in Amsterdam. For registration and information, tel 00 31 20 625 7706, e-mail info@velomondial2000.nl Website: www.velomondial2000.nl The ECF also produces a quarterly newsletter, available from its Brussels office. Secretary-General Marie Caroline Coppieters, tel 00-322-512 9827, e-mail: office@ecf.com Velo-city Conference Director, Oliver Hatch, tel 0208-674 5916, e-mail oh@velo-city.org The key elected members concerned with cycling are: Glasgow - Cllr Alistair Watson, convenor of roads and transportation. Tel: 0141-287 7047, Also, Cllr Walter MacLellan, vice-chair of the Strathclyde Passenger Authority. Tel: 0141-287 5579; Edinburgh - Cllr Mark Lazarowicz, convener of the transportation committee at the City of Edinburgh Council. Tel: 0131-529 3238. Go Bike! - Strathclyde Cycle Campaign. Tel. 07932 460093. Peter Hayman. Feisty lobbying group formerly known as Glasgow Cycle Campaign. Has over 250 members and has had a considerable hand in shaping Glasgow transport policy, including the provision of cycle lanes in buses-only routes. Has also vigorously lobbied ScotRail to improve cycle provision. Website: www.gobike.org Scottish Cycling Development Project. Tel. Gareth George, 0131-445 7485; or David Marsh, 0141-287 9374 (both are development officers). Promoting cycling in Scotland, sophisticated databases, dates for diary, cycle route information. E-mail info@scottishcycling.co.uk Website www.scottishcycling.co.uk Spokes - The Lothian Cycle Campaign. Tel 0131-313 2114. Set up in 1977 and with over 1,000 members, Spokes is one of the largest and longest-established cycle campaign groups in the UK. As well as campaigning (for example, see Lothian Safe Routes, below), Spokes members regularly roll up their sleeves and actually build cycle tracks. The group has also produced a series of highly-successful cycle route maps - sales of the Edinburgh map have topped 30,000. Website www.spokes.org.uk Bicycle Association 01203 553838. E-mail info@bicycleassociation.org.uk Booklets include 'A Blueprint for Bicycle Use - Cycling's Potential and How to Achieve it' and 'Funding Cycle Schemes - A Guide to Resources for Developing Cycling Infrastructure'. Bicycling Books 01432 340666 E-mail sales@bikebook.demon.co.uk Website www.bikebook.demon.co.uk Biggest stock of English language cycling books in Europe. Contact: David Stuart-Clark. British Cycling Federation 0161-230 2301 E-mail info@bcf.uk.com Website www.bcf.uk.com Competitive cycling's governing body - based at the National Cycling Centre, Stuart Street, Manchester M11 4DQ (see Scottish Cyclists' Union). Cycle Campaign Network E-mail cyclecampaignnetwork@bigfoot.com Website www.bigfoot.com/~cyclecampaignnetwork Postal address: 54-57 Allison Street, Digbeth, Birmingham B5 5TH (there is no telephone number for CCN). Umbrella organisation for national and local cycle campaign groups throughout the UK. Contact: John Franklin. CTC (Cyclists' Touring Club) 01483 417217 E-mail cycling@ctc.org.uk Website www.ctc.org.uk Cath Harris, media officer; Stuart Reid, campaigns manager. (See CTC (Scotland)). Britain's largest and oldest cycling organisation, with 67,000 members and affiliates and 200 local groups providing some 12,000 rides and social events every year. Co-ordinators of National Bike Week. CTC (Scotland) 0131-453 3366. Peter Hawkins, secretary. Campaigns for all kinds of cycling in Scotland. Organises national and local events and produces an annual calendar of main events, available from Edinburgh Bicycle, 0131-228 1368, compiled by George Di Ponio 0131-669 6785, e-mail george.diponio@btinternet.com (For England and Wales:) Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions 0207-890 3000. Source of traffic advisory leaflets. Website www.detr.gov.uk Forestry Commission - switchboard 0131-334 0303; press and information, Willie Kearns, on 0131-314 6443. E-mail w.kearns@forestry.gov.uk Website www.forestry.gov.uk The Commission's commercial arm, Forest Enterprise, publishes leaflets showing forest and woodland cycle routes throughout Great Britain. Kingdom of Fife Millennium Cycle Ways project 01592 413043 E-mail sharon.rice-jones@scotent.co.uk. Three hundred-mile cycle network in Fife. Contact: Sharon Rice-Jones. Lothian Safe Routes 0131-229 0072. Chris Hill. E-mail ch.edinburgh@virgin.net One of many Safe Routes' projects throughout the UK. For UK-wide perspective: 0117 915 0100. Website www.spokes.org.uk/sr2snet Mark Allen Publishing 01722 716996 e-mail leisure@markallengroup.com. Publishers of the definitive bike source book (hardware) and a trade monthly magazine. Contact Ben Evans for 'Cycling Industry Source Book' and 'Cycle Industry' magazine. Paths for All 01259 218888. Stuart Mackenzie. E-mail alloa-paths_for_all@btinternet.com Partnership of 18 organisations - including recreational users, Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Natural Heritage and landowners - to encourage and facilitate the creation of well-managed and designed paths for all ages and abilities, and for walking, cycling and horse riding. Scottish Road Safety Campaign 0131-472 9200. Fiona Murray Website www.road-safety.org.uk Scottish Cyclists' Union 0131-652 0187. Competitive cycling's governing body in Scotland - based at The Velodrome, Meadowbank Stadium, London Road, Edinburgh EH7 6AD. Website http://www.btinternet.com/~scottish.cycling/ Scottish Executive, Transport Division 0131-244 0839. Elizabeth McNeill. E-mail elizabeth.mcneill@scotland.gov.uk This is the department at the Scottish Executive which is responsible for the administration of the government's cycling policy in Scotland. Among other initiatives, it promoted the 'Scottish Cycle Challenge' - some £650,000 of public money being used to support 37 cycling projects during 1998-99. Sport for Television 01372 464666. Alan Rushton. E-mail rita@theeventsgroup.net Specialises in the promotion of televised cycle sport. Website http://www.theeventsgroup.net/ Sustrans (Scottish office) 0131-623 7600. Tony Grant. E-mail tony@sustrans-scot.freeserve.co.uk Website www.sustrans.org.uk. A charity that, come June 2000, will have set up a 5,000-mile UK-wide network of cycle-friendly routes, including an unbroken route from Inverness to Dover. A week-long official opening of the National Cycle Network, called 'Ride the Net', will be also looking ahead to a further 5,000 miles of the network being developed within a further five years. The first phase was a £175 million project, part-funded by £43.5 million of Millennium Lottery cash. Edinburgh and Glasgow have been designated among seven 'Ride the Net' centres, with Edinburgh part of a 'Four Capitals' parallel event. In the UK, in 1998, there were 23 million bicycles in the UK, representing a 210 per cent increase in ownership levels since 1980. 93 per cent of adults can ride a bike. But cycle use has fallen: in 1975, 3.25 per cent of all trips were by bike, now the figure is 1.7 per cent. Over the same period, the average number of miles travelled by bike has fallen from 361 in a year to 123. The fall reflects concerns about safety and air pollution, in an increasingly car-dominated nation. Said novelist HG Wells: "When I see a person on a bicycle, I have hopes for the future of the human race." A 'Survey of Cycling in Scotland', recently published, reveals - among its many findings - that four per cent of all journeys in Scotland are by bike and two per cent of total distance travelled is by bike. Conducted by System Three, jointly commissioned by Scottish Natural Heritage, the Scottish Office and the Scottish Sports Council. Further details: Bridget Dales, Scottish Natural Heritage, on 0131-447 4784 or 01738 444177. E-mail: bridget.dales@snh.gov.uk Website www.snh.org.uk STORY IDEAS FOR THE MEDIA (in addition to the Velo-city 2001 itself) Education: Making cycling safer for kids going to school. Both Edinburgh and Glasgow operate Safer Routes to School schemes. In Glasgow seven Safer Routes to School already set up and six more to follow - contact Erl Wilkie, Team Leader Walking and Cycling, City of Glasgow Council. Also Velo-city 2001 Conference Director, on 0141-287 9039. E-mail erl.wilkie@land.glasgow.gov.uk In Edinburgh, 19 schools are taking part in the Council's Safer Routes Project - contact David Hunter, concessionary and accessible transport manager, on 0131-469 3650 for more details. Local Interest/Engineering/Environment: The building of local routes - Edinburgh to Fife, Edinburgh to Berwick and Edinburgh to Glasgow tracks - contact Matthew Simpson, City of Edinburgh Council Cycling Officer, on 0131-469 3606 or e-mail m.simpson@edin-city-dev.demon.co.uk Or: Glasgow to Inverness via Loch Lomond, Glasgow Colleges Pathway and Glasgow to Carlisle - contact Erl Wilkie on 0141-287 9039. Also, Sustrans, on 0131-623 7600. Health: Cycling as part of Glasgow's Fit for Life health project - contact Erl Wilkie, City of Glasgow Council Cycling Officer, on 0141-287 9039. Travel/Tourism: The North Sea Cycle Route - Circumnavigating the North Sea by bike - over 6,000 km, with an launch cycle taking place between Hamburg and Aberdeen between May 5 and June 23 2001 - for cycle tourists - circuit joins Scotland with Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and England - cities to visit include Bergen, Stavanger, Gothenburg, Hamburg, Den Haag and Lincoln. Contact Stuart Knowles on 01592 413465 for more details. E-mail acbryan@compuserve.com
Local interest/Engineering: Road design - including cycle lanes on the road network, the reduction in accidents following the creation of set-back stops at traffic lights, the design of speed bumps and roundabouts, toucan crossings. Design manual produced by City of Edinburgh Council - contact Matthew Simpson, City of Edinburgh Cycling Officer, on 0131-469 3606 e-mail: m.simpson@edin-city-dev.demon.co.uk WHERE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT IS AT National Cycling Strategy - Bob Richards - 0207-944 3000 ext 2130 - E-mail bobrichards@dotditm3.demon.co.uk Launched in July 1996 by the Department of Transport - aims to develop cycling throughout the UK. Targets include doubling number of cycle trips (using 1996 figures) by end of 2002 and quadruple them by the end of 2012. Scotland-wide: The Scottish Transport White Paper, Travel Choices for Scotland - Scottish Integrated Transport - introduced in July 1998. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library/documents-w6/lts-01.htm A New Deal for Transport published by the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions at the same time. Also draft Transport Bill (10.2.00) Full report http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library2/doc11/itb-00.asp (also available as PDF) Available from the Stationery Office. Details: Brian O'Donnell, transport division, Scottish Executive. Tel: 0131-244 7272. E-mail transportdivision1@scotland.gov.uk UK-Wide: A New Deal for Transport: Better for Everyone - The Government's White Paper on the future of transport, looking at developing an integrated transport policy. Lots of radical ideas, but the Government has shied away from introducing a similarly radical transport bill in the current session. Available from the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions on 0207-890 3000.Website www.detr.gov.uk Road Traffic Reduction Act - passed in 1997 - aims to reduce traffic on local roads, meaning local authorities are now required to publish targets to reduce traffic levels or traffic growth. Unless, present trends are halted, traffic growth is expected to rise by between 55 and 87 per cent by the year 2025. Details: Mike Jackson, 0207 944 2242. In England and Wales, the recently-created Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions should assist in harmonising transport, land-use and environmental policies. May 27-29 National Cycle Try-out Show. Where? York. Organised by Open Road, publishers of EnCYCLEopedia and Bike Culture, where you can try out folding bikes, shopping trailers, child-carrying attachments, etc. Details: 01904 654654 and www.tryoutshow.co.uk or www.bikeculture.com May 28 - June 10th Jubilee 2000 Cycle Ride. A two-week cycle ride, beginning in Orkney, ending in Glasgow, as part of a campaign to convince the world's economic superpowers to cancel unpayable third world debt. Cyclists welcome to join a core of a dozen for individual stretches. Details: Liz Hendry, 0131-225 4321 or symondsmark@hotmail.com June 11 Glasgow Bike to the Future annual FOE Scotland sponsored ride. Also looking for ideas for improved routes. Tim Burrows 0131 554 9977. June 16-18 Land of Creativity Festival. Cycling based at three Borders centres - Duns, Hawick and Peebles. Details: Sarah Cater on 01750 23100 June 17-25 Millennium Festival of Cycling, (http://www.cyclingfestival.org.uk) the national festival of cycling which is expected to involve a million people and includes Bike to Work Day on the 20th, Ride for Health on the 23rd and various other events. Contact: CTC (Cyclists' Touring Club) on 01483 417217. June 19-25 Sustrans Ride the Net 2000 Sustrans Millennium network openings all over UK. Scottish contact: Andy Dunn 01505 614302. June 18-22 Velo Mondial. Registration and information: 00 31 20 625 7706. E-mail info@velomondial2000.nl. Website: www.velomondial2000.nl June 21 Relay Around the Kingdom. To coincide with 'Ride the Net' (see above), the longest route in the 300 mile-long Kingdom of Fife Millennium Cycle Ways project is being officially opened. For more details: Sharon Rice-Jones on 01592 413043. June 25 'Bikefest 2000 at the Meadows'. In Edinburgh. Part of the Millennium Festival of Cycling and Ride the Net (see above). Details: Mark James 0131-334 2653 (evenings only). Sunday June 25 Following the success of the inaugural Cyclefest in 1999, the Glasgow Cyclefest is happening again in 2000! The Cyclefest will take place during the Millennium Festival of Cycling, and as part of the West End Festival, in Kelvingrove Park, Glasgow. The Cyclefest also forms part of the Ride the Net celebrations launching Sustrans' National Cycle Network. June 25 Aberdeen Cycle Fest. Duthie Park. Details: Jessica Bailey 01224 523316. September 17 2000 Pedal for Scotland Ride from Glasgow to Edinburgh. The second year of running it. It is 50 miles from George Square in Glasgow to the Edinburgh finish. Registration phone details, web site and finish are being finalised. The address is Pedal for Scotland, PO Box 13873 Portobello, Edinburgh EH15 3YE. Twelve charities are set to benefit this year.
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Velo-city 2001 Media Team Tim Dawson 0131 225 2082/07050 165653 tim@timdawsn. demon.co.uk Mike Wilson 0131 446 9265/07050 169016 mwilsport@aol. com Website Chris Hill
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