Action Briefing June 2004 - July 2004
	The Newsletter of Birmingham Friends of the Earth

Way to Go campaign update

Following on from our successful session in New Street getting passers-by to sign and send off 'Way to Go' campaign action cards to their MPs (see April-May 2004 Action Briefing), we decided to target commuters waiting at prominent City Centre bus stops to support the campaign.

Most people were only too glad to have something constructive to do whilst waiting for their bus, many of which were no doubt held up in a jam of single-occupancy cars or delayed by a car parked in a bus lane.

So far, the Way to Go campaign has attracted cross-party support from MPs, although only three Birmingham MPs (Selly Oak's Lynne Jones, Ladywood's Clare Short, and Sparkbrook and Small Heath's Roger Godsiff) have so far signed, so it seems we still have some convincing to do in this neck of the woods.

Counter-campaign
In the past month, the roads and motoring lobby has launched a £250,000 counter-campaign calling for more road building and motorway widening. The usual suspects are involved, including the AA and RAC, many of whose members may be surprised that their subscriptions are being spent in this way.

A YouGov survey in April for Friends of the Earth of 2062 people revealed that, of the 42% of who were AA or RAC members, most (69% for the AA and 72% for the RAC) believe that widening motorways should not take priority over public transport; nor did they think new bypasses should take priority (71% AA and 70% RAC members against); three quarters (75%) of AA members and over two thirds (69%) of RAC members thought that the Government should increase spending on public transport.

It seems the motoring organisationsare are a bit out of touch with their members' views. If you 're a member of one of these organisations, maybe now's a good time to review your membership?

Martin Stride

What's the Way to Go campaign?
A broad coalition of environmental and social justice organisations calling for the following measures: a cycle-friendly road network and cycle training for all; streets, lanes and paths in good condition and pleasant for walking; more local services and facilities; more funding for local public transport, particularly in rural areas; networks of bus lanes; quality standards for bus and rail services; safe routes to schools; 20mph default speed limits in residential areas; a discount nationwide railcard for all; grants for rail freight projects; greater incentives to buy smaller, cleaner vehicles; pay-as-you-go road user charging. Check out www.waytogo.org.uk

Take action
Write to your MP at the House of Commons, Westminster, London, SW1A 0AA asking him/her to sign Early Day Motion 527 in support of the Way to Go campaign and, if they haven't, why not. To find out whether or not they have signed visit http://edm.ais.co.uk/ or call Martin on 0121 632 6909. Please forward copies of any replies you receive to us at Birmingham FoE, 54-57 Allison Street, Digbeth, B5 5TH.