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On this one, some years ago I asked Sustrans Regional Director along to talk to our local cycling forum. His response was “we only talk to local authorities…..” I’ve met with a number of Sustrans staff over the last ten or twelve years, as a local and regional representative for CTC, and it was clear that most, if not all, were not particularly interested in engaging with local communities, cycling or otherwise, and when they did there was clearly an agenda at work which they were not prepared to discuss openly.
In our area this has led to several major and expensive cock-ups, some involving safety, none of which either Sustrans or the local authority concerned have been prepared to discuss, let alone resolve.
Furthermore, at no time during my five years as a councillor (equiv: company director) of the CTC did anyone from Sustrans ever approach the board to discuss areas of common interest or concern (not that we did either, it must be said).
In a previous life I have worked in and/or dealt with public and private organizations on three continents, on a number of occasions having cause to bring (very large) organizations together (successfully and without rancour) that had been unwilling to talk to each other over many many years (in one case since the war!). I have to say that, relative to that experience in many other countries and “industries”, I find the culture within the community of organizations supposedly working to further cycling in the UK one of the hardest to work with I have ever experienced……..
As I pointed out in my previous mail, I think this is symptomatic of a wider problem which relates to the culture and behaviour of government (local and national), quasi-governmental organizations and NGO’s in this country….so don’t take it as a direct pop at Sustrans per se, even though the examples I quote are.
Cheers
John Meudell
From: Cycling and Society Research Group discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Joe Williams
Sent: 18 October 2012 17:22
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Sustrans
Ian,
It's Joe here from Sustrans. We're obviously concerned by your comments and would appreciate if we could find out a bit more about the issues you're describing. Could you perhaps email my colleague Ryland Jones, our Deputy Director - Cymru, on [log in to unmask], outlining your experiences?
Many thanks,
Joe
Joe Williams
Policy and Media Advisor
[log in to unmask]
077 9971 7454
020 7780 7208
@earsopen
Sustrans, 70 Cowcross Street, London, EC1M 6EJ
From: Cycling and Society Research Group discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ian Perry
Sent: 18 October 2012 16:04
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Sustrans
I'm sat, looking at data... evidence of what makes a safe junction and what does not. I've found out that major works are about to occur on a junction near to where I live, a junction that although very unpleasant to negotiate, has a better safety record than many junctions.
My local politicians have no say in the junction changes that are about to occur because the funding comes from the Welsh Government - which is the Welsh civil service, not the elected Assembly. I'm looking at a design of a junction that will kill people, maybe me, maybe my Mum... I've questioned the highways department and received the following reply:
There has been no consultation with individual cycling clubs in respect of the proposed highway safety improvements however Sustrans has been consulted during the development of the scheme.
Recently I also challanged the council as to why there is no footpath along a busy stretch of road linking a large village and the major town a short distance away. I've been told that after consultation with Sustrans, cycle lanes on the road between the major town and Cardiff Airport are the priority! This despite a number of serious accidents on the stretch of road where there is no footpath, including fatalities - on one occasion a child's a pony and on a second occasion a young mother who was walking in the gutter...
I do not want any more fatalities, but with Sustrans active in Wales, I'm looking at an increase in death on local roads. I am seeking (almost to the point of harassing) information from the council using Freedom of Information Act and continue to uncover evidence that roads being made more dangerous.
However, all my efforts are being undermined by Sustrans!!!!!!!!!!!
How do we as individuals, a community, and academics use our better thinking and knowledge to counter Sustrans - or to change Sustrans?
Ian
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