Category: Comment

To update actions by Aberdeen City council as regards my article on Esplanade Cycling on this blog September 2021, I can report that all the bollards, road markings and restriction have been removed between Bridge of Don at King Street, and the left turn at the first traffic lights at Beach Boulevard.   The restrictions at this stage seem to be in place along that stretch of The Esplanade at the carnivals and cafes, restaurants, and   beyond there to Footdee.  

On the one hand some credit has to be afforded to the Council Committee who ordered the removal of these restrictions, in the face of strong lobbying by their own Officials and outside interests.  That action by the Council in restoring that section of the Esplanade is obviously liked, as can be seen in the number of people populating the beach area.   One can almost feel a collective sigh of relief as folk, walk, cycle, and enjoy their  socially -distanced exercise. 

That having been said:  This scheme which cost about £1.6 million and came from the Scottish Government ,  “ Spaces for People” fund under the grants to provide social -distancing in Public Spaces,   probably did not come with a money -back guarantee should it all go wrong.

The resistance and outcry against this scheme should have been anticipated, and gauged long before the changes suddenly appeared like a pet project to encourage or force a cycling habit on those who would use that route into Aberdeen.   In short, lack of consultation with the wider public and a deeper consideration of the route, benefits and cost will have to be employed in the future.  

 As those good folk in Aberdeenshire might say as regards the similar cost to remove the restrictions “ it’s tatties ower the side noo”.    Something that could have been avoided, but which is now lost.

It is clear that pedal bikes, E -bikes, and all kinds of rechargeable personal transport will have to become part of the ongoing strategy for the whole country as it is the ambition of  both Governments to outlaw petrol and diesel vehicle by 2030/35 with regard to climate warming.  

 The challenge will be to put into production, far and away more than there is now, suitable personal electric transport for the disabled with suitable accessible charging points available just about everywhere.  Local public transport that meets needs for many situations, but meshes with accessibility to places that able -bodied take as granted.  Transport for the future is a huge consideration for any Government, but Disability Rights Groups have to get their act together now, and start informing, agitating and campaigning so that we are not left behind.   We shall see what the UK Government say at COP Glasgow in November. Or whether this conference will blow even more hot air into the atmosphere and as usual, say a lot and achieve nothing.    

There is still a lot of research to be undertaken by the Scottish Government, so that disabled people are not simply left behind,  as any future Government whether in Holyrood, or Westminster,  pursue changes in the banned retailing of petrol and diesel vehicles.

There is a great opportunity to get an integrated system of transport for the future, but I suspect that like the circular road,  all talk will be stifled and put aside by parochial interests.

Further reading :

Beach Esplanade reopens after temporary bike lane removal (pressandjournal.co.uk)

2.3 million disabled motorists at risk of being left behind in the electric vehicle transition (ssen.co.uk)

Electric vehicles and disability – what are your options? (ucan2magazine.co.uk)

An article at the BBC concerned with “ Long -Covid”  post – viral condition,  makes sense to hundreds if not thousands of sufferers of M.E or CFS and lesser known Fatigue Syndromes, Fibromyalgia &c.

However, one has to ask why unsympathetic clinicians & consultant virologists in the 1980’s & 90’s were prepared to label sufferers of such conditions as “neurotic” or not actually having anything wrong with them.

It is the personal experience of our benefits advisors in the Office who have very long experience when filling out those lengthy DWP forms with our clients, who have been reporting these symptoms for years, that there just seemed to be many and frequent reports of these debilitating symptoms.  

Most of these clients had long, needless battles with Primary and Secondary medical staff who were not disposed to believe in the client’s experiences.  It seemed clear to us, as a reporting charity we were hearing more about this frequent and debilitating condition.  We are not medically trained, but when clients continually tell us of a condition that debilitates them and that is repeated by many other clients in similar circumstances over the years, then we know that something real is happening.  Not everybody is neurotic or in need of psychological help. Though being continually disbelieved and treated with disdain by doctors and work colleagues will probably result in a client requiring such help.

It appears now, that because of the way that the Covid -19 virus is affecting all ages and levels of fitness, many people are being, or will be debilitated by this post -viral condition.   Maybe Doctors are faced with evidence that they cannot simply brush off. 

People have been reporting these symptoms following viral infection, for decades, but in many cases, my own included, we were ignored or labelled by clinicians who felt the symptoms had nothing to do with organic illness.  

The UK Government’ nasty drive toward labelling debilitated and disabled people as workshy and fraudulent when they applied for help might change now.   The right -wing cavalier and brash attitude toward the disabled might also change, at least for a while – considering that the Tory -in -Charge has also had the virus and it is suspected that he might be suffering “ Long -Covid”.   

However, in the world of Politics long -term debilitating illness is seen as weakness. Welcome to the world of the disabled Mr Johnson.     

I wonder if the publicity and frequency of this condition has created conditions that attract research money to investigate the causes of this Post -Viral Syndrome.   

This BBC article – which will also feature on BBC Reporting Scotland on  Wednesday 11^TH and Thursday 12^Th – has a quote that is interesting:

“Health professionals from the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN), the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) have now defined the term Post-Covid Syndrome.

They described it as “signs and symptoms that develop during or following an infection consistent with Covid-19 which continue for more than 12 weeks and are not explained by an alternative diagnosis”.

The condition has been likened to post-viral fatigue or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS/ME) – but the reality for individuals is very varied”

That is all very welcome, but please do NOT suggest to sufferers of this condition and related conditions that this is all newly discovered. Research money was never readily available in the past for what was once disparagingly termed by the right -wing press “ Yuppie Flu”,  and sufferers were seen as weak &, workshy. 

We can tell you otherwise, and along with other charities have been doing so for decades.

Aberdeen Beach Esplanade has been transformed.

Whether that is for the good or worse is very debatable. 

However, the City Council started this “Space for People”project to use the space on the Esplanade to install two cycle lanes, and separate that from the road by large bollards and painting single thick white lines to signify “do not cross”.

This report in the local Evening Express  probably says it all as regards this project.

I went down there on Monday 7 September 2020, and was not all impressed with the arrangements.

Parking my car out where the middle of the road, used to be was unnerving, but probably more concerning was the realisation that in order to access the beach or the lower Esplanade/promenade, it would be necessary to unload or open passenger doors into the cycle lane. 

This means that wheelchairs, disabled people, children and pushchairs have to unload – not onto the pavement as before – but onto a live cycle lane. This “cycleway”is allegedly for two -way north and south for cyclists.

My experience that day was that cyclists were riding two abreast in either direction, completely ignoring the signs, and no doubt grateful for such a sizeable chunk of road. Kerbs are difficult enough overcome for many disabled people, whether in wheelchairs or trying to walk. To be forced into crossing a dual cycle lane, with cyclists whizzing along two by two was yet another hazard to overcome whilst attempting to overcome a kerb.

Admittedly there did seem to be a dearth of cyclists, and in fact when I went for my walk, the cyclists all seemed to be using the lower esplanade anyway.  Years ago, there used to be signs at the area around the Beach ballroom that forbade cycles on the lower prom. These signs were always ignored, and will probably continue to be ignored. Who or what is going to make cyclists use the new cycle lanes created just for them?  Most of the encounters I have had with cyclists on the lower promenade have  all been “near hits”as they approach from behind at speed in silent stealth mode seemingly unable to warn of their approach. Just too bad if one happens to stop, change direction or wander sideways to allow others to pass.

“Space for People is an allegedly temporary project set –up in various parts of the City to give room to people for social –distancing.  On reading it I see a back –door to introduce schemes that would not be approved in any other time without safety concerns being approved. Cycle lanes and pedestrian areas are good things. However, “Shared Space”does need guidance from disability groups.

( see the article in this blog about so –called “Shared Space”)

 As usual, disabled folk are last in the thought processes of planning by Council Officials who have already changed the City centre which affects sight –impaired people  and these sight –impaired folk no longer feel confident in walking there.

 Of course, if planning officials are listening to the cycle, green, health and exercise, or the scientific lobby during this pandemic then it appears that nobody is giving any thought or listening to the Disabled Lobby – or more likely – simply forgot to ask them.  Inviting consultation in such a quiet way smacks of wanting to rush through a decision already made.

As regards the Esplanade,  planners seem to have simply forgotten that deaf, sight –impaired, aged, and infirm people will now have to enter into a possible danger zone to access the pavement.   As will all those who want access to the Beach itself, like parents with children, water sports enthusiasts, and folk who just needing to walk on the sand like e tourists and visitors to the beach.

If cyclists had bells on the bikes, wore high visibility and used flashing or high intensity lights during daylight hours as well, then this hasty and ill –thought out scheme might be tolerated..  

Responsible commuting cyclists probably do all these things for their own safety. However, cycles have not been required to have a bell fitted by law since 1999 at least. 

Not the best thought –out plan ever foisted on Aberdeen Citizens and visitors.  I have a feeling though that once all these schemes become “normal”then they will no longer be temporary.

I am not a football fan, but I foresee real problems there as Pittodrie gradually re-opens and travelling fans from outside the City try to park vehicles where they traditionally parked them.   I think the term used will be gridlock. At least until football moves out of town to near Westhill.

Then again maybe gridlock, and “encouragement”to abandon petrol and diesel vehicles  is what the planners want.  

 Being hit and injured by a bike, or electric vehicle is just as bad as being hit by one powered by fossil fuel.

Cyclists could maybe make themselves acquaint with what Cycling UK say on responsible cycling as regards Highway code and legal use of the bike.