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We support the need for continually improving cycle infrastructure BUT I am appalled at those @BristolCycling campaigners who couldn’t even wait until the break to leave and walked out on the important words from Alun Davies MBE on the work of Disability Equality Commission. 👎🏻 pic.twitter.com/zvpKOoc2fZ
— Cllr Nicola Beech (@nicolabeech) November 8, 2022
A councillor in Bristol has been accused of “petty point scoring” and of conducting a “smear campaign” against cycling campaigners in the city, who she criticised for leaving a council meeting – which discussed the potential for a new cycling plan for Bristol – once the debate had finished.
Last night, Bristol City Council debated a petition by the Bristol Cycling Campaign calling on the local authority to take action to make cycling safer in the city by publishing an updated Bristol Cycling Delivery Plan.
The plan, the petition says, “should include the creation of a comprehensive network of protected cycle lanes connecting all parts of the city” and should guarantee that “existing cycle lanes must not be removed” (something the council was roundly criticised for during the summer) but instead upgraded to national standards.
“Ask yourself, can an unaccompanied 10-year-old cycle to school safely, and will their mum or dad ride to work or the shops?” Bristol Cycling Campaign’s Nick Davies told the Bristol Cable this week. “If the answer is yes, then it’s good enough. If not, it needs improvement.”
The petition also demanded that the delivery plan “should include a strategic city-wide approach to secure cycle parking both in residential areas (cycle hangars) and at transportation hubs and destinations to contain the rampant bike theft that is occurring.
“Additionally, it should include schemes to increase cycling participation like cycle training, safe cycle routes to schools, a cycle loan programme.”
To conclude the thread, here’s the full text of our speech! We hope the mayor and cabinet member will take our petition seriously in their response. We’ll post it when we have it.
Thanks for following 🧡 pic.twitter.com/OkeYqWMRva— Bristol 🧡 Cycling (@BristolCycling) November 8, 2022
The petition has attracted almost 3,900 signatures, which led to it being debated in full by the council yesterday evening (though, oddly, there was confusion in the local press prior to the meeting concerning the extent of Bristol’s safe cycling infrastructure, with the local authority claiming the city contains 75 miles of protected bike lanes, while the Bristol Cycling Campaign says that the number actually falls somewhere between two and five miles. So, six of one…).
During the debate (which is summarised in this Twitter thread), most councillors seemed generally supportive of the campaign’s aims, though there was disagreement over the feasibility and urgency of any comprehensive scheme.
Cllr Alexander also told us he spends a “disproportionate” amount of his time on cycling. We’re not sure what has come of that.
— Bristol 🧡 Cycling (@BristolCycling) November 8, 2022
However, one councillor in particular took the opportunity to criticise the cycling campaigners – not for their proposals, but for leaving the meeting early.
Labour councillor Nicola Beech, the Cabinet Member for Planning, City Resilience and Flooding tweeted during the meeting: “We support the need for continually improving cycle infrastructure BUT I am appalled at those Bristol Cycling campaigners who couldn’t even wait until the break to leave and walked out on the important words from Alun Davies MBE on the work of Disability Equality Commission.”
Last night, Bristol Cycling Campaign apologised for the disruption, noting that its members were not aware that a break had been scheduled as part of the meeting:
Thank you – you don’t need to apologise to me. The disappointing reality is I think your members would have really benefited hearing the disability commissions report and the challenges disabled people are facing across Bristol. You could link up with @BDEFbites to get more info.
— Cllr Nicola Beech (@nicolabeech) November 8, 2022
Noted & sorry it came across that way.
(though also able to catch up later on the subsequent parts of the session)
For myself & others it was the first time attending in person – I certainly wasn’t aware there was a break coming.
Glad to have been there.
👍— Tom Bugs (@BugBrand) November 8, 2022
Of course people can leave no-one is held here against their will. I am and was just incredibly disappointed at how the public gallery cleared out
— Cllr Nicola Beech (@nicolabeech) November 8, 2022
Others, however, weren’t too pleased with the councillor’s criticism of the campaigners’ early exit, which one Twitter user described as “petty point scoring”:
Maybe it’s because the the single issue that’s SO important, that labour have completely failed on, that caused a public demonstration about lack of action on…. Had already been discussed? You show a shocking lack of respect for my life by removing cycle lines!
— Benjamin Nathan (@foxbenbath) November 8, 2022
“APPALLED” not the best use of language looks like petty point scoring – seems like a misunderstanding doesn’t it?
Your tweet is very “REES” like seems like whoever is running the meeting didn’t explain.
Take issue with them not people who gave up their time to make a statement
— Totterdown, Bristol (@Totterdown_) November 8, 2022
It did seem like an unnecessary attempt to demean a group of people who had just gone out of their way to simply ask to feel safe when cycling around the city…
— Pete Hughes (@barefeet_living) November 8, 2022
Watching online, I didn’t sense any real passion from Labour to do even the bare minimum. Other parties voiced far greater commitment. Is it fair to direct your ire towards @BristolCycling? I was appalled that Cllr Alexander failed to respect the chair and overran.
— Martin F, Anti-Tory Coalition, pro-Europe (@martin_frasehog) November 8, 2022
Also, Nicola you are an elected representative getting c. £40k a year to attend these meetings. Community campaigners are attending unpaid, in their own time , so shall we give them the freedom to decide when they choose to leave?
— Mike Oldreive (@MikeOldreive) November 8, 2022
Apt. A Smear Campaign for absolutely no reason.
Thank you, @BristolCycling ! I’m sorry the administration is so petty.
I am appalled at the cycling infrastructure. They act as if their children will never cycle on these streets. https://t.co/aWaTgKqOw9 pic.twitter.com/0k96qkARok
— Joanna Booth (@stillawake) November 8, 2022
While no vote took place on last night’s petition, the council is obligated to write a response to the Bristol Cycling Campaign concerning the its intended course of action within the next two weeks.
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