The protesters formed up a simple eight-point manifesto, which is not unrealistic nor unreasonable.
- Proper funding for active travel – 10 % of both the national and local transport budget.
- Design cycling for all ages and abilities into Scotland’s roads.
- Safer speed limits where people live, work, and play.
- Cycling built into our local transport strategies.
- Better road traffic law and better enforcement.
- Safer HGVs around cyclists and pedestrians.
- A strategic and joined-up programme of training for all road users.
- The right research supporting good decision making and policy.
Cyclists will ride through the streets of 20 different cities across Scotland, all of them demanding the manifesto to be signed by politicians. In addition, each group will request action on particular issues in the local areas from their authorities.
“With the recent increase in the active travel budget (which we do still need increased further), this year we are looking to local councils to show them what they can do to improve conditions for people cycling in their areas,” organizer Iona Shepherd told i-News.
“Many barriers to cycling can be easily fixed and so we aim to point some of those out with our creative protests. Our councils really need to start walking the active travel talk we are hearing from them, and we’d like to see them translate that onto our roads to make cycling a safe way to get around for everyone, of all ages and abilities.”
You can find out more about the details of the protesters’ demands in their manifesto. Do you agree with their actions? Do you have any particular examples of what your local council is doing wrong or right? Let us know!
