Personality of the month - Erl Wilkie, Cycling Scotland
What is your job or other main activity that involves cycling?
I am the Chief Executive of Cycling Scotland (CS). I am also the Managing Director of Transport Planning and Engineering Ltd which is a Civil Engineering and Transportation consultant which is also a subsidiary of Cycling Scotland.
How long have you done that?
CS was established in September 2003 at which time I became Chief Executive.
Where do you live?
I live in Glasgow.
What most encourages you about cycling where you live?
Looking on a daily basis I do see a significant increase in Cycling in Glasgow. Many more people are cycling and what is most encouraging is that socio/economic, gender split and age split of those people cycling are very much broader than before. CS has just completed an updated National Assessment of Cycling in all Scottish Local Authorities and Glasgow is one of 28 out of 32 Scottish Local Authorities which have shown an improvement from the last National Assessment in 2005.
What most discourages you about cycling where you live?
What discourages me most is despite the danger we are in of environmental disaster and all the dangers of current inactivity of people and the problems this is causing most politicians do not see the importance of cycling in being a significant part of the solution to these problems. However many times we tell them.
How would you describe yourself as a cyclist?
I am a competent but intermittent cyclist. Believe it or not, my job often precludes me from cycling as much as I would like.
What is you earliest cycling memory?
Like most people I remember vividly learning to ride a bike. This was at the age of nine in the back courts of Glasgow tenements. Once I had learned to cycle it took me two more years of nagging my parents before they bought me my first bike. This was second hand of course which my father then painted bright red.
Where is the best place you have ever cycled?
Clearly the best way to enjoy the incredible scenery of Scotland is on a bike. So enthused by this I have, thus far, written five books describing 125 routes throughout the country. In terms of city commuting cycling the best place would have to be Copenhagen.
What is your greatest achievement, in terms of encouraging more people to cycle?
The Velo-city conference in both Edinburgh and Glasgow in 2001 was certainly a significant achievement within its self as it was highly successful with over 450 people attending from 47 countries around the world. However, I highlight Velo-city because though the interest it engendered within the Scottish Executive it was the catalyst for many other things to happen after the event. The most significant was the setting up of Cycling Scotland.
What single thing do you think would do most to encourage more cycling in the UK?
In transport terms I think we have to use a carrot and stick approach to get people to un-weld themselves from their car seats. I also think that we need a very positive national campaign to promote cycling to the population at large. We should be emphasising how good it is for children to cycle so as we produce a positive next generation of adults. To do all this we will have to persuade our politicians that cycling is important.
What has been your favourite cycling experience?
CS organises Scotland’s largest cycle event called Pedal for Scotland which is a ride between Glasgow and Edinburgh when the sun shines there is nothing better that the fun and camaraderie of participating in this 50 mile ride.
What was your worst cycling experience?
As much as Pedal for Scotland can be wonderful, 3 years ago participating in it was my worst cycling experience. For we decided to do it the opposite way round from Edinburgh to Glasgow and the consequences were dire. Firstly, it poured with rain which made the ride uncomfortable but on top of that we had a gale force westerly wind (the prevailing wind) in our faces. There was actually one point along a straight and exposed moor land area where we had to pedal to keep going down hill. It took a long time to cover the distance between the two cities that day. However, the next year we did it, once again, between Glasgow and Edinburgh and the experience of the year before didn’t seem to deter the participants because we increased our entry numbers.
What is it about using your bike that you like the most?
I love the freedom and the sense of exhilaration.
The answers given are the opinion of the individual and do not necessarily reflect those of any organisation they may represent.
