🚲 edi.bike | issue 110 | 15th Sep ‘25
your weekly edinburgh cycling digest
📰 News this Week
🤝 Transport Committee Roundup, Thursday 11th September
A busy day at the Council’s Transport & Environment Committee last Thursday; a number of cycle infrastructure and policy points discussed and passed, including good news for the funding of the design phase for the ‘A8 Sustainable Transport Corridor’ this financial year. Read our full roundup on our website, below.
🚋 Tram Granton to Bioquarter – initial Spokes thoughts
Spokes, the Lothian cycle campaign, have published their first positions on the Council’s North-South tram route consultation. As ever, a considered and thorough approach to potential issues facing cycle users regardless of the route option that wins out, and as ever opinion remains divided not only across the city on the proposed use of a section of the Roseburn path, but within the cycling community itself there are folks with strong arguments on both sides. Recently, the Save the Roseburn Path campaign published their response to the consultation.
Spokes are well versed in the many rounds of design and feedback that go into forming plans of this scale in Edinburgh- let’s hope feedback from them and others along the way ensures safe and proper accommodations for cycle journeys around this tram route, regardless. The consultation is open until the 17th of November.
🏰 Local Bits
⚒️ Reader Jano kindly updated us on a path improvement in the North of the city:
Tarmac was added to the path that links Davidson Main's Tesco carpark with Blackhall Path on 8th September and the path is open. This is a big improvement to the loose gravel path it was before.
Eyewitnesses describe the resurfacing as having been carried out by a team from Tesco itself - though assumedly not a local department! See a photo of the new surface on Facebook: just in time to avoid it getting all boggy over winter.
⚡️ From Porty Community Energy:
🚲 Never got round to learning to cycle, but would love to try? Cycled when you were younger, but feeling too nervous to ride on the roads? We had just the thing! Free lessons for adults running every Friday morning at our bike library. Lessons for complete beginners, to competent riders who want to ride safely on the roads.
Every Friday until the end of October. Book your place here »
⚙️ Following their excellent ‘Cargo Bikes in Edinburgh’ meeting earlier this month, Spokes have written up a report from the event, including a link to the Q&A session on Youtube: due to the nature of screening a film as part of the event, the excellent ‘Motherload’ is not included here but can be watched on Amazon Prime, Apple TV+ and a number of other places listed on the film’s website.
🏆 Phil Noble — recently retired Strategy and Development Manager for Active Travel for City of Edinburgh Council — and Shawlands Bike Bus co-organiser Katherine Cory have been named as “Winners of Scotland’s Cycling Champions of the Year award for 2025” in an annual partnership between Cycling Scotland, Sustrans, Cycling UK in Scotland and Scottish Cycling. Read More »
⏩ Come and Try Tandem Cycling at Musselburgh Communities Day: Seeking New Team Pilots and Stokers — Saturday 4th October from 11:00 - 15:00:
We’re an inclusive tandem cycling club based at Queen Margaret University, welcoming adults (18+) who need support to enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits of cycling in a safe and social setting.
Are you an experienced cyclist, looking for a new challenge, ready to share your skills and support others on group rides? Could you be part of our team as a 'pilot?'
Are you an individual living with a disability, keen to enjoy the benefits of cycling on a tandem and willing to provide some pedal power? Could you be part of our team as a 'stoker?'
Join us for a taster session at the Musselburgh Communities Day where you can experience tandem cycling as:
- ✨ A pilot – riding at the front, perfect for confident solo cyclists (no tandem experience needed)
- ✨ A stoker – riding on the back, ideal for people living with a disability who find solo cycling difficultThis is a great chance to meet the team, find out more about what we do, and give tandem cycling a go with support from experienced club members. Training will be provided for anyone interested in continuing with cycling with the club on group rides. — More details on Facebook »
✍🏽 East Lothian MSP Paul McLennan has written publicly to the leader of East Lothian Council backing the decades-long campaign to establish a walking, wheeling and cycling link between Drem and Gullane - adding to mounting pressure to engage the one landowner still preventing it from moving forward;
🌳 From Edinburgh Road Club:
Edinburgh Road Club is running its (by now) traditional season starter cyclo-cross races for juniors & women at Inch Park on Saturday 27th of Sept.
For those not familiar, these are fun, non-technical, races that you can do on a mountain bike or a gravel bike (or even a cyclo-cross one if you have it). They are fairly short, in traffic free environments, and a fun option to try a race or simply use it as a fitness workout. If you look-up cyclo-cross videos you'll tend to see intimidating footage of experts ploughing through mud - this is not what you'll get at Inch Park; it’s much more like a cycling equivalent of Park Run.
🚺 Women’s race: more details here »
🚸 U16 races: more details here »
📅 Lots of events in September from Wee Spoke Hub - see below for this week’s, and book here »
⏳ In Brief
📈 Incredible volumes of folk cycling due to Tube strikes in London: videos on Instagram and Youtube »
💛 Edinburgh’s hosting of the Tour de France’s ‘Grand Depart’ agreed this week »
📊 Road traffic stats for Edinburgh cited in last week’s news about targets »
🥇 Spokes’ ‘My Favourite Bike Ride’ competition deadline has been extended to the 21st September.
💷 National
📺 Another great Glasgow infrastructure video from Charles McGibbon on Youtube, with the usual abundance of excellent drone footage, in ‘Cycling Network Blueprint’ »
🎙️ In the newest edition of the ‘Streets Ahead’ Podcast, journalist Laura Laker “...talks to four women, and one man inspired and backed by women, about the role of women in the world of cycling. Spanning three continents our interviewees tell us their stories. From improving adventure cycling access in Scandinavia to the need for better gender equity in the bicycle industry, via the role of women in advocacy in the USA, to women empowering women across Europe and Nepal, this is a globe-trotting pod.” — read more and listen at Pocket Casts or search ‘Streets Ahead’ in your Podcast player »
🌍 Elsewhere
IKEA and NÜWIEL have announced the extension of a popular “Do-It-Yourself-Delivery” pilot scheme in Utrecht. The trial, which began in April, has been so popular among customers that it was renewed in July and will now run until early October.
The pilot allows IKEA customers to rent one of two NÜWIEL eTrailers, which can be coupled to almost any bike. Booking is done via an app, the IKEA website, or at the in-store customer service desk. The trailers are configured with an open loading area, making them perfect for transporting flat-pack furniture and other large or fragile items such as plants. With a maximum load capacity of 150kg, they offer a practical alternative to using a car. — more at Cargo Bike Festival »
🛣 Route Closures and Issues
ℹ️ Encountered unexpected road issues? Find out how to report them with this guide from Spokes. The team at Edinburgh Travel News are also keen to hear about cycle path alerts and can be contacted on Threads or Facebook.
🦋 On Bluesky? Follow the #EdTravCyc feed - anyone can use the #EdTravCyc hashtag to share route issues they encounter;
📪 The week’s road closure info - many thanks to regular contributor Robbie for collating and preparing these:
🚧 York Place: CCWEL segregated cycle path potentially obstructed by Cityfibre works this week, opposite the Premier Inn.
🚛 King’s Stables Rd: Carriageway closed from Lothian Rd to EPSG entrance until this Wednesday 17th September for event setup works. Update: A cycle lane is understood to be maintained during the closure.
🏃♂️🏃♀️ Mens and Womens 10k: Old Town and Holyrood Park roads closed morning of Sunday 21st September. Note Johnston Terrace and Candlemaker Row will temporarily be reopened to motor traffic.
🚧 Gilmore Place: Closed in sections for resurfacing from 22nd September into 2026. If you’re travelling between Union Canal and The Meadows, Lochrin Place may be an alternative.
🚧 London Road: Segregated cycle lanes at Leopold Place obstructed by resurfacing works from 22nd September for 2 weeks. Note road closed westbound from 7pm with diversion on Regent Rd.
🏡 Whitehouse Loan: Footway resurfacing on Greenbank-Meadows QuietRoute until end Sep may result in obstructions and large vehicles. Update 1st Sep: Construction works by James Gillespie may present further obstructions.
🚧 Albion Road: Obstruction of Quietroute 20 due to burst sewer. At time of writing, cycle access is possible. However, the Crawford Bridge may offer an alternate route. Update 1st Sep: Investigations revealed further issues and road likely to be closed long-term.
🔥 Holyrood Park: Closure of High Road until further notice amid concern that the recent gorse fire has damaged the rockface. Full closure of footway and road past Dunsapie Loch.
Longer Term Closures:
🏗️ London Road: Eastbound cycle lane closed at Jocks Lodge until end 2027 for building works.
🏗️ Edinburgh Park Station: Quietroute 8 cycle path between Hermiston Gait and the Gyle Centre closed for works in preparation of the Edinburgh Arena development. It’s only possible to go around by carrying your bike up roughly 20 steps. It’s been queried whether the cycle path will reopen or remain closed long term.
🌉 Harrison Road: two bridges closed due to structural concerns with micro-cracking in the original cast iron beams. Access to cycles is being restricted:
The north-west bridge over a small path is having its deck rebuilt and will be closed to pedestrians and cycles for rebuilding until November. Update 2nd August: Work delayed and paths remain open for now.
The south-east bridge over the Union Canal has been closed for investigations, with fencing placed across the bridge and a gap for cycles. Update 18th August: Beware of trial pits dug on bridge to ascertain weight-limit ahead of reopening.
🌉 South Gyle Road: Bridge between modal filter and Quiet Route 9 expected to close for repairs until April 2026. When asked about cycle access, a spokesperson for Network Rail Scotland said: "Plans for South Gyle station bridge are still at an early stage, with work expected to begin late summer. We understand the importance of this route for cyclists and are developing proposals for a temporary bridge to maintain access throughout the work. Further details will be shared with the community as planning progresses". It is expected to be required to dismount and use a temporary bridge during the works.
🏗️ Port Hamilton Cyclepath: Shared use path between Union Canal and West End closed until 2026/27 for building works. A diversion is advised via Gardeners Crescent and Semple Street.
🏗️ Craighall Road: Closed until May 2028 for the Refurbishment of Trinity Academy. Access to the Victoria Path is expected to be maintained. A diversion will be signed along Newhaven Road, however the removal of parking for improved traffic flow may lead to this being a wider and faster road, less suitable for cycles.
⚡ Ongoing: The questionable Network Rail ban on ebike parking at Waverley Station - best to make alternative parking plans if travelling from this station at present;
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🎉 Events and Happenings
📆 Upcoming / Ongoing
🎥 Coming to Summerhall Cinema on the 24th & 26th September (7pm), and again on October 5th (5pm): ‘BIG BIKE FILM NIGHT: SCOTLAND’ sees a curated evening of cycling short films (teased on their website) to inspire and move. Tickets and more information on their website »
💬 From @towpathtalks on Instagram:
🚨 We're back! The first Towpath Talk of our new series is happening on September 26th, 18:30! 🚨
Come on down to our new venue, 📍 Gamma Transport Division, to hear from some incredible guests: Steven Shand from Willow, Rachael Hadjitofi of @swimmingwithscars [IG] from the Firth of Forth, and the amazing Iza Murtagh [IG].
🧘 More upcoming rides and movement / yoga sessions from Detour [IG]:
20th September - Yoga by Bike, Porty to Longniddry - 🎟️ Details and Tickets »
28th September - Yoga by Bike, East Linton - 🎟️ Details and Tickets »
⛰️ Bikepacking event Dirt Dash’s 2025 return wraps up in September - check out the gorgeous video they put out previously [IG] too:
Dirt Dash’s summer programme concludes with the Lezyne Dunoon Dirt Dash on 27 & 28 September. Organised by round the world cyclist Markus Stitz, these self-supported rides are designed for cyclists who love off-road riding and are seeking new experiences on their bikes, whether for seasoned gravel riders or anyone new to bikepacking.
🚶🏻♀️ Wester Hailes Walk, Pedal and Thrive Project June to October Events at ScoreScotland - mainly based at 📍 Gate 55, 55 Sighthill Rd, and booking required - call / text Madhavi on 07496 190 752 or email madhavi@scorescotland.org.uk.
🚸 Play Together on Pedals (3 to 6 year olds): Fridays from 2pm to 4pm;
🧭 Led Cycle Rides: Saturdays from 9:45am to 1pm;
🚲 Adult Beginners / Family Cycle Training: text for an appointment.
🚌 Every Sunday until 26th October: “Inner Forth Bike Bus - the route, between Alloa and the Forth Bridges, encourages cyclists to travel more sustainably within the Inner Forth. See this video on Instagram for more. The concept of the Inner Forth Bike Bus was developed to enable local people, and visitors, to help them cycle (or walk) part of the 'Round the Inner Forth' route, hop off at fascinating heritage sites, and return home or to a bus stop / train station for their onward travels.” Read more from Markus Stitz at The Times - or see Info and Timetable »
🎟️ ‘True tales of the Tour De France’ talk by Carlton Kirby at Ghillie Dhu, 12th November;
🖼️ The ‘Pedal Power’ exhibition about cycle campaigning in Edinburgh has finished its run at Norton Park. It’ll be taking a short break before opening again later in the year at North Edinburgh Arts;
💯 Edinburgh RC celebrating its hundredth year in 2025 and have an ongoing challenge encouraging 100 women of all cycling abilities to ride 100km - offering help to anyone who needs it along the way;
🔁 Weekly Events
🍃 Mon, 12-2.30pm: Free, fun group ride on paths from Bridgend Farmhouse;
🌅 Tues, ⏰ 5.40am: Edinburgh Dawn Patrol - Meet St. Andrew Square, same route each time - more info on their Instagram;
☕️Tues, 5pm: [National] Active Travel Cafe on Zoom
🛠️ Weds, 3pm: Bike Kitchen at Edinburgh Tool Library
🌅 Thurs, ⏰ 5.40am: Edinburgh Dawn Patrol (same as Tues, details above);
🪨 Thurs Evenings: Edinburgh Gravel Cycling Club social group rides;
✴️ Thurs, 5-8pm: Bike DIY Session at The Wee Spoke Hub
⚙️ Sat, 2-4pm: ‘Bike Cleaning and Oiling’ drop-in session at The Wee Spoke Hub
🟰 Edinburgh & Lothians Regional Equality Council’s Edinburgh Cycling Club run weekly group rides and introductory classes;
🔁 Monthly Events
🚲 First Friday of the month: Inclusive social bike rides with A Wee Pedal from Bridgend Farmhouse - every Friday 2-4pm between April and Hallowe’en, 1-3pm on the 1st Friday of each month November to March.
✊ Last Saturday of the month: Critical Mass Edinburgh, Family-friendly mass protest / group ride, 2pm, Middle Meadow Walk;
🫂 Help Needed
💰 The Movement for Good Awards is an annual programme of giving by The Benefact Group donating over £1 million to charities and good causes, and you can nominate The Bike Station to receive £1,000 here »
🏡 Social Bite’s 100 Mile Challenge: Walk, run, or cycle 100 Miles from September 1st to World Homeless Day on October 10th to help end homelessness. Your fundraising has a tangible impact on helping break the cycle of homelessness across the UK by helping Social Bite provide meals, jobs, homes and support to people who are experiencing homelessness — More Information »
🚲 The Bike Station is recruiting new volunteers! 🚲
After the successful move into our new Tollcross shop, we are seeking the support of new volunteers to help us do the brilliant work of getting more people on bikes. The priority roles that we are seeking help with include:
🛒 Shop volunteers:
Helping with customer service and the smooth running of our Tollcross store.
📦 Cargo Bike Riders:
Independent and confident riders to help courier goods between our Edinburgh stores.
🛠️ Fix Your Own Bike:
Those experienced in bike maintenance to offer advice to those keen to fix their own bike.
✅ Benefits of volunteering:
Join a wide team of volunteers and staff passionate about cycling, discounts on parts, services and maintenance courses. Internal recruitment opportunities made available to volunteers as well as access to events and social rides to celebrate our work.
If you are interested in any of the above roles, or would like to know how else you may be able to get involved, please email jamie.henderson@thebikestation.org.uk
Ongoing: 🚌 Marshal for School Bike Buses | 🙋 Help with school programme ‘I Bike’ | 🗨️Join Spokes’ Planning or Resources group | 🆘 Donate money or bikes to Bikes for Refugees | 📦⚡️ Hire Community Cargobikes, E-bikes or Trailers from SW20, Porty Community Energy or Banzai | ♻️ Donate old bikes to The Bike Station, The Wee Spoke Hub or ‘Brake the Cycle’.
🌈 Infrastructure Progress & Consultations
✨Now a shorter, sectioned list - website updates for hosting consultation details and plans coming… in 2026? 😅 ✨
✏️ In the Works:
⭕️ Polwarth Gardens road layout consultation closes this Sunday, 21st September;
⚒️ Queensferry Connections project now open for comments until 10th October;
🚋 Major North-South Tramline Consultation | Spokes’ Summary | Officers A8 ‘Diversion’ Clarification
🤫 Greenbank to Meadows Quiet Route having detrimental changes made in September: Detailed Designs [PDF] | ETRO Published as TRO/25/17
⚒️ Road Resurfacing & early ‘Dalry Living Well Locally’ Outcomes
🧱 Vital path upgrade through Muir Wood park in Currie
🦦 Burdiehouse & Niddrie Burn Restoration - blue-green regeneration project including 3m wide ‘Pentlands to Portobello’ core path;
🔬 Trials & Programmes Underway:
✨ Improving Old Town Streets | Includes current ETRO for Lawnmarket & Johnston Terrace
🎭 Until Sept 7th: Summertime Streets 2025
📋 Consulted On:
⛏️ Marionville Rd and Smokey Brae improvements;
🧪 Edinburgh BioQuarter Active Travel Gaps - Sheriffhall Park & Ride to BioQuarter Campus Route;
🌞 Dalry Living Well Locally | Initial Feedback Report » [PDF]
⚓ Leith Connections Phase 3 - Hawthornvale to Seafield | Detailed Designs (PDF) »
🚴🏽♂️ Midlothian Council - A7 Sustainable Transport Corridor
East Lothian Council - Prestonpas to Levenhall | Combined plans » [Large PDF]
🚧 Under Construction:
⚓️ Foot of the Walk to Dock Street | Works leaflet » [PDF] | Progress photos »
🚋 Trams to Newhaven Snagging / Defects List »
🤬 Silverknowes Rd North being returned to cars | Spokes’ area history
Thanks for reading - ride safe 🚲
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