As you may have noticed this year, we’re not actually bringing a petition to parliament (although you have signed this one for the other parliament, right?). We know that what really gets politicians’ attention is people – or more importantly voters – who are prepared to stand up and be counted, so getting as many people as possible out on the day has been our priority this year. However, we don’t want to show up empty handed. The other thing we know makes a difference to politicians is letters and emails from their constituents. Many of you have already emailed your MSPs, and we urge you to keep that up – but for POP itself we’re suggesting a slightly more old fashioned approach: bring them an actual letter!
So sometime between now and May 19, whether you’re coming to POP or not, please sit down and pen a message to your MSPs – you can find out who they are here. Better yet, get your kids to write one, or someone who doesn’t already cycle but would like to. In fact, get everyone you know to do it too. Then bring them along on the day (or pop it in the post [address] if you can’t make it) and we’ll make sure it gets there.
We’ve always avoided using model letters for people to copy and paste because MSPs tend to discount those. They do, however, listen if you tell them what you want in your own words. But if you want a start, our manifesto gives the detail and just in case you’ve forgotten the summary is here:
- Proper funding for cycling.
- Design cycling into Scotland’s roads.
- Slower speeds where people live, work and play
- Integrate cycling into local transport strategies
- Improved road traffic law and enforcement
- Reduce the risk of HGVs to cyclists and pedestrians
- A strategic and joined-up programme of road user training
- Improved statistics supporting decision-making and policy
That should give you some inspiration to put pen to paper…