🚲 edi.bike | 9th Oct ‘23
not been washed away quite yet
☂ Hello pal! Welcome to the ninth edition of edi.bike weekly, a digest of various cycling-related news from a rainy wee town called Edinburgh.
💫 News this Week
🏰 Locally:
🚴🏼♀️ Some great photos on social media this week when “councillors were treated to a test ride by Cargo Bike Movement as part of an event to find out more about the organisation and how cargo bikes can provide a sustainable way of travelling around the city” - and further images courtesy of Farr Out;
🚸 Another great bike bus turnout this week with photos en route to Juniper Green Primary school;
📊 Blackford Safer Routes summarises “64% of a representative Edinburgh cross-section of people support reducing through-traffic in the city” centre following the publication by Cllr Scott Arthur of some research about support for measures to improve travel in the city. (Also gave rise to some interesting conversations about how responses to consultations affecting active travel also tend to consist disproportionately of particular demographics’ views — who tend to also be less in favour of active travel than the population as a whole.)
🏴 Nationally:
♀️ Sustrans have launched their #AndSheCycles campaign aiming to “widen access to equipment and share knowledge so more teenage girls in Scotland choose to cycle”;
🤙 We came across a weekly video-call ‘Active Travel Cafe’ that runs 5pm Tuesdays - “a friendly, weekly, online forum for people to share and connect about all things active and sustainable transport.”
📋 Help Needed:
🎊 Long-running Community Org Edinburgh Festival of Cycling have put out a call for new volunteers and additional directors to maintain a quorum and continue their programme;
🗺 Cycling UK in Scotland - “Our Scottish Advisory Committee is looking for new members. In return for your passion, commitment & skills, you are offered the chance to make a significant difference to cycling in Scotland & across the UK”.
Previously…
🧰 Activism hub Bridgend Farmhouse are hiring for a bike mechanic, applications close Weds 11th Oct;
😡 Please look out for a recently stolen Mycle longtail electric cargo bike and additionally The Wee Spoke Hub’s cargo bike that was stolen a short while before.
🛠Edinburgh Tool Library continue to seek donations of unused bike tools – get in touch.
🛣 Road Closures and Route Issues
🏃🏼 Buccleuch Street at Gifford Park is gaining a crossing upgrade which will involve some lane closures and temporary crossing facilities, ongoing for another week and a half or so;
💧 A 9-month programme of Scottish Water drainage improvement work begins today on Longstone Rd, starting between Redhall Dr and Longstone Pk;
⏩ Also starting today until 12th Oct is work on anti-skid surfaces on Holyrood Rd: off-peak temporary traffic lights, various locations between Viewcraig Gdns and Holyrood Gait;
⚒ Today for around three weeks Roseburn Pl at Roseburn St has scheduled repairs relating to the CCWEL route on the ‘raised table’. No? Me neither :)
Still ongoing…
⛏ Large-scale city centre resurfacing work on Regent Rd, Waterloo Pl and Princes St lasts another 3 weeks or so;
❌ Braidburn Terrace closed (dismount to pass via pavement) at the end of the Greenbank-Meadows Quiet Route while the new pedestrian and cycle realm enhancement works are underway, with overnight closures of Comiston Rd coming later in the project including bus diversions;
Ongoing updates on the Council’s Road reports page as the week unfolds and via @edintravel on “X” - Whataboutery as a Service™
🌈 Infrastructure Progress & Consultations
🤫 The Greenbank to Meadows Quiet Route open consultation continues and said consultation has been very well summarised and justly criticised by Green Party Councillor Ben Parker here; please do respond to the consultation if you ever cycle in / through the area;
🌳 There is also this recently opened consultation on the future of Holyrood Pk – informed in part by what appears to be key aims favouring active travel over vehicular access for vehicular traffic – available for your contributions until 19th December.
📆 Events and Happenings
☕️ Sunday 15th Oct sees a Critical Mass Edinburgh outside meetup with like-minded cyclists from 10.30 - 11.30am at Middle Meadow Walk - bring your coffee or tea and meet some good folk!
👶🏼 Balance Bike classes for under-6s at Bridgend Farmhouse on Saturday mornings - two classes (10am and 11am) available and run for 6 week blocks from 4th Nov ‘23 and Feb 17th ‘24;
🔧 Also at Bridgend Farmhouse — Basic Bike Maintenance Sessions 10am til 12pm every Friday, £5 donation. “The last of the season will be held on Friday 27th October. Borrow a bike or bring your own”;
🍂 If you’re thinking about starting cycling this autumn, the team at Porty Community Energy are offering free cycle training with classes for absolute beginners, on-road riding and family cycling;
🏴 26th Oct sees the Cycling Scotland Conference 2023 at Pollock Halls.
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