It’s now just two weeks until the local council elections (May 5th) here in Edinburgh and across Scotland and it’s no exaggeration to say that this election will be crucial for the future of active travel in the city
At the start of the campaign Spokes published its manifesto, a list of what we would like to see from a future administration and, now that the main parties have published their own election manifestos, Spokes has been able to produce a detailed analysis and comparison of these. It goes into a fantastic level of detail and is well worth a read. You may also wish to have a look at the Walk Wheel Cycle Vote requests for pledges on accessibility, infrastructure and investment.
The Spokes analysis is based on a city wide context and these are, after all, elections for local councillors so it’s important to follow up with your local candidates (the candidates for Portobello and Craigmillar are listed below) to ask them to answer questions from a local perspective. In Portobello, Spokes Porty has been asking about the following:
- How does your party’s manifesto apply to the local ward in terms of active travel? What improvements will you be working for so that everyone, including children, can walk, wheel and cycle safely and comfortably in the ward?
- What do you see as the local barriers/opportunities to increasing the numbers of people walking, wheeling and cycling, and reducing traffic levels and inconsiderate and illegal parking in the ward?
- What action do you think needs to be taken at the Portobello High Street Sir Harry Lauder Road King’s Road junction, following the deaths of two people on bikes in recent years?
Do feel free to use these questions when you are contacting candidates.
Lastly, and most importantly, neither Spokes Porty nor Spokes advise you who to vote for – you will doubtless have a range of issues to consider in addition to cycling, active travel and wider transport.
Candidates
- Kate Campbell – Scottish National Party (SNP)
- Tim Jones – Scottish Conservative and Unionist
- Andrew McDonald – Independent
- Jane Elizabeth Meagher – Labour and Co-operative Party
- Alys Mumford – Scottish Green Party
- Heather Pugh – Labour and Co-operative Party
- Jill Reilly – Scottish Liberal Democrats
- Simon Clark Shedden – Scottish National Party (SNP)
- Anne Todd – Alba Party for independence