🚲 edi.bike | issue 133 | 23rd Feb ‘26
your weekly edinburgh cycling digest
📰 News this Week
🗺️ City Scope launches new ‘Cycle Scope’ roadworks and route plans map of Edinburgh
Harry Williams at City Scope has been slurping up all of Edinburgh’s data again, this time festooning a map with all of the ‘active travel’ related roadworks, route plans (new, consulted on and newly permanent) and created Cycle Scope, an online map-based exploration tool. Worth a look especially on a nice big screen - have a read of our dive into it below, teasing out what some of the different layers and filters can be useful for (there’s a lot to see!).
🏴 Cycling Scotland: “How safe infrastructure is helping more people to cycle”
Rising modal share for cycling journeys in the stats from recent traffic surveys on new cycle routes in Glasgow, as well as some data from Edinburgh’s CCWEL, Leith Walk, and newly installed Great Junction Street cycleway.
🏰 Local Bits
✊ It’s the last week of February, and that means Edinburgh Critical Mass riding out this Saturday 28th at 2pm, from 📍 Middle Meadow Walk with the route published to their social media channels a couple of days before;
🪧 A lack of advanced signage for the Water of Leith path repairs at Woodhall / Spylaw Park caught a number of folks out this week - unfortunate too that all diversion routes for these works involve so much hill climb! As we understand it, this was one of the first sections of flexipave laid when the surface was first installed, and the layers appear to have delaminated resulting in sections that have come apart and become ‘cut up’, leading to these path repair works.
⚙️ Spokes have issued their February action update [PDF] featuring campaigning news, lots of information about their upcoming parliamentary hustings, and a lovely feature about seasoned Spokes campaigner and path builder Peter Hawkins.
Also covered in the update, the Leith Connections project has delivered the Council’s finished Foot of Walk to Dock St route — which in future should connect with an additional phase from Seafield to Hawthornvale, and a leg off to Ocean Terminal. There’s an official opening from 10am on Wednesday 18th March, at the bridge on Sandport Place.
There will be a ribbon cutting, a Spokes stall, repairs from Dr Bike and Porty Community Energy will have Cargo Bikes to try out.
📷 Some lovely photos on Instagram from Porty Community Energy’s winter fun ride to the Botanics;
👐 From Bikes for Refugees: WE ARE HIRING 👋
PROJECT WORKER/MECHANICCome work for us & help to make a difference in the daily lives of New Scots refugees & asylum seekers. Can you help us to gift our 4000th bicycle this summer - providing essential mobility & freedom of movement?
📋 Job Listing »
⛏️ Queensferry progress: reader Simon Christie has posted some more progress photos of the new shared paths and protected cycleway over on Bluesky;
🍕 Vital new report coming soon from The Workers’ Observatory:
The Workers’ Observatory has collaborated with the Scottish Occupational Road Safety Alliance (ScORSA) to produce a new report, titled Well-Being, Health, and Road Safety in On-Demand Delivery Work.
Authored by Dr Karen Gregory and Boyan Karabaliev, the report reviews evidence from academic research, governments, and non-government organisations. It shows that workplace safety regulations, considered standard in most industries, are inadequate or fully lacking when it comes to app-based ridehailing and delivery services. Payments per task completed, rather than by the hour, often force workers to prioritise speed over safety on the road. Combined with low pay rates, limited training and support, and poor cycling infrastructure in many places, this creates an environment where workers have to deal with multiple sources of stress, anxiety, and fatigue, further increasing the risk of traffic accidents.
They are hosting a webinar tomorrow, Tuesday 24th at 11am - more details here »
🍻 As seen on Instagram, the Edinburgh Dawn Patrol folks who are fundraising for the My Name’5 Doddie foundation are hosting a pub quiz on the evening of 6th March in Stockbridge, £15 per ticket »
Speaking of the Dawn Patrol crew, Markus has a new video out this week:
In his latest short film, Still A Race, supported by Schwalbe UK, Markus Stitz documents the experience of racing an unsupported bikepacking ultra through Norway’s breathtaking landscapes. The 10-minute documentary, filmed at the 2024 edition of Mother North, is now available to watch for free on YouTube.
💰 This Thursday 26th will see a ‘full Council’ Budget meeting at the City Chambers, with the great, the good and the devoid of good sense all putting forward their pitches for how finances are prioritised for 2026-27 and capital budgets for 2026-36 (all links to PDFs): the Labour Administration proposal, the SNP group budget, the Lib Dem position, and the Green group budget.
Rather than submit a budget proposal, the Conservative group decided to instead submit a heady piece of satirical self-deprecation — including blaming cycleways for congestion, in the same document featuring the heading “Data-driven, evidence led budget decision making” — that wouldn’t be out of place on stage as a fringe show. 🎭
🚆 If you’ve ever wondered exactly what bikes, trikes and other transport you can and can’t carry on Scotrail trains, check out their handy poster [PDF]
/via Spokes
📅 SAVE THE DATE: Pedal on Parliament is back for 2026, with a mass ride of cyclists of all ages and abilities from Middle Meadow Walk to the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood, 11:30am on May 30th.
📲 Follow Pedal on Parliament on Bluesky | Instagram | Facebook | Mastodon | PoP Mailing List
♥️ A new campaign drive underway [IG] from The Bike Station:
If everyone in our community gave just £5, we’d hit our fundraising goal for the year.
From 9–20 February, we’re raising £10,000 to keep bikes moving, communities connected, and bikes in circulation. 🚲
Can you spare a fiver?
📮 Got a story or link for the next issue of edi.bike? DM or mention @edi.bike on Bluesky, or send it in using our Submissions Form »
⛈️ National
👏 Anti ‘Low Traffic Neighbourhood’ group with ‘thousands’ of members stages protest attended by… fifty people
Action, apathy, and salty salty tears. 🍿
🚴 Cycling UK at Stormont Assembly
Fascinating clip on Instagram of folks from Cycling UK talking to the Northern Irish Assembly’s Infrastructure Committee about issues delivering on cycleway investment. More at Cycling UK »
🧑🏫 Bikeability for All
Wheels for All and The Bikeability Trust have today announced a new pilot project designed to improve access to Bikeability for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) — more at Bikeability »
🛣 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;
📪 Road closure info — many thanks to regular contributor Robbie for collating and preparing these:
🏞️ Spylaw Park: NCR75 on Water of Leith Path closed for resurfacing until March 2026. It is not possible to dismount and walk through. Update 22nd February: A signed diversion was to be provided uphill on Gillespie Road, however no signs are in place.
🚧 Forrest Road: Road between Meadows and George IV Bridge including NCR1 & NCR75 closed northbound for emergency repairs. Update 22nd February: Works ongoing with further weekday closures 9am-3pm.
🚶 Drum Brae North: Segregated Cycle Lane closed northbound at Barntongate Avenue from for footway improvement works. Update 22nd February: Works overrunning and expected to finish 27th February.
🌉 East Market Street: Closed at Jeffery St for North Bridge scaffolding removal from this Friday 27th February for 2 weeks.
🚦 Gilmore Park: Road between Fountainbridge at Printmakers and Union Canal at Leamington Lift Bridge from 2nd March for 8 weeks. Gibson Terrace may offer an alternative.
🏉 Murrayfield: Six Nations game Saturday 7th March. Various Road closures in the surrounding area. Exercise caution and consider dismounting if possible on CCWEL to Water of Leith Path around 3pm and after 5pm. Roseburn Path to Union Canal open throughout.
Long Term Closures:
🚶 Rodney Street: Segregated Cycle Lanes by Cornwallis Pl obstructed by footway improvement works until March 2026.
🚲 Valleyfield Street: Closed for Meadows to Union Canal Improvement works until April 2026. A cycle diversion is in place on Glengyle Ter, which will be lengthened during the nearby Gilmore Pl resurfacing works.
🚲 Summerhall: Segregated Cycle Lanes by Melville Dr and Melville Ter expected to be obstructed by Summerhall improvement works until April 2026.
🏗️ St Marks Path: Section of Quietroute 20 between McDonald Road and Warriston Path impacted by CEC Powderhall redevelopment works. The path is expected to remain open during the majority of the construction programme. Until a temporary path is provided, exercise caution at manned crossing gates when passing through the site.
🚧 Caledonia Place: Dalry footway improvement works underway until April 2026. Closures of Caledonian Rd and Caledonian Pl underway. Later phases will impact the Telfer Subway entrance.
🚧 Saughton Crescent: Sections of QuietRoute 9 closed for resurfacing and Active Travel improvements by Balgreen until March 2026. A signed cycle diversion is to be provided in phases 4-8.
🏖️ Silverknowes Road: Road to Silverknowes Beach closed for resurfacing works and reconfiguration of the cycle lane. Works have halted, with cycle access in the meantime currently unclear.
🚦 Bankhead Drive: Quietroute 8 along the tramline obstructed at junction with S Gyle Access until Summer 2026 for construction of West Edinburgh Link.
🏞️ Water of Leith Path: Closure of Pansy Walk by Balgreen until March 2026 for Scottish Water upgrades. Pedestrian diversion to be signed via Westfield Ave. However, for cyclists, the Water of Leith Conservation Trust advise an alternate diversion via Baird Drive.
🏗️ Edinburgh Park Station: Quiet Route 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.
🌉 Harrison Road: two bridges closed due to structural concerns with micro-cracking in the original cast iron beams:
The north-west bridge over a small path is closed to be rebuilt until end August 2026, including path below.
The south-east bridge over the Union Canal is currently closed to cars but not cycles. Strengthening to the bridge from April 2026 will require a closure of the Union Canal Towpath under. Exact date to be confirmed.
🌉 South Gyle Road: Bridge between modal filter and Quiet Route 9 closed for repairs until April 2026. It is required to dismount and use a temporary bridge.
🏗️ 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
🧘 Detour are back with their Yoga by bike session on Sunday 8th March, riding from Portobello out to Longniddry - see more info and book a ticket here and follow them on Instagram »
🔧 The Bike Station’s Annual General Meeting will take place on:
🗓 9 March 2026
⏰ 2pm – 4pm
📍 141 Lauriston Place, Edinburgh, EH11 3AD Or join virtuallyMembers of the community, supporters, partners, and stakeholders are warmly invited to attend.
👉 Register to attend by completing our online form (required for both in-person and virtual attendance)
🎤 Spokes and Cycling UK are holding a joint election hustings, on Monday 16th March, for the 2026 Scottish Parliamentary election, to hear from Holyrood candidates on cycling and related policies. The hustings starts at 7.30pm, ending 9.30pm with doors open from 6.45pm for coffee, stalls and chat.
If you have a question for all candidates (“Combination” section above) please email it in advance to spokes@spokes.org.uk with the subject line hustings question. Note that questions to individual candidates can only be asked in person at the meeting, after their initial speech.
🤝 March Cycle Co-op get together: “An online meeting [March 20th] to connect with other worker co-ops in the cycling sector and explore how we might support each other. The session is open to non-members of workers.coop too. Any bicycle-related projects, collectives, fix spaces or courier co-ops welcome along.”
Thanks to reader Nick for sharing; there's also an Edinburgh Co-ops meet-up / chat group that (bike) people who are interested in cooperatives can join here.
🔁 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, 5-8pm: Fix My Own Bike session for Women and Minority Genders at The Wee Spoke Hub
🎙️ Tues, 5pm: [National] Active Travel Cafe talks and discussion on Zoom
🪨 Weds, 5.40am: Edinburgh Dawn Patrol [IG] Gravel edition - starting from 📍 Cairngorm Coffee;
☕ Weds, 8:15 - 9:45: Coffee Outside [IG]: Wednesday morning hangouts at 📍 Lochrin Basin - bring a mug, water, a way to boil water, and coffee ☕
🛠️ Weds, 3pm: Bike Kitchen at Edinburgh Tool Library
🔧 Weds, 5-8pm Fix Your Own Bike Sessions at The Bike Station, Tollcross
🌅 Thurs, ⏰ 5.40am: Edinburgh Dawn Patrol (same as Tues, details above);
✴️ Thurs, 5-8pm: Bike DIY Session at The Wee Spoke Hub
🪨 Thurs Evenings: Edinburgh Gravel Cycling Club social group rides;
🪛 Weekly Dr Bike cycle repairs from ELREC’s Edinburgh Cycling Club, 10am-3pm at the 📍 Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre - no booking required and all welcome;
🔧 Sat, 1-4pm Fix Your Own Bike Sessions at The Bike Station, Tollcross
⚙️ 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; check out the poster below for upcoming ride dates - don’t forget to grab a t-shirt!
🫂 Help Needed
🍃 The Cycling Gardeners are hiring — see their website for more details »
🚵 Maria Ramirez is taking on Maratona dLes Dolomites - one of the hardest cycling races in Europe - in aid of Bikes for Refugees Scotland and is now over halfway to their fundraising goal;
👑 Some of the Edinburgh Dawn Patrol [IG] regulars will be riding Doddie's Triple Crown 2026 — an epic annual cycling challenge to raise funds for My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, a Motor Neurone Disease charity. As featured in this piece by Alastair Dalton, The challenge takes place from the 10th - 13th March 2026 with the team riding 800 miles. Mark Baker posted a video promoting the endeavour to Instagram and you can follow them on their Instagram, sponsor them via their team Just Giving page here or Mark’s page here »
💙 Closes Saturday 28th: PARIS. [5] December 2025 – Association EBN today is launching 2nd annual €5,000 Architecture and Arts grant for young adults in the memory of Emma Burke Newman.
The grant supports the realization of a community-shaping artistic, educational, or cross-cultural project by a young adult (17-35) residing in the EEA, the U.K., or U.S. in the fields of art, architecture, or place-making—including ones that address cycling or road safety—and reflecting the values of Emma Burke Newman.
“The grant is dedicated to the memory of Emma, to honor her compassion, community, and creativity as well as her zest for life and learning,” said association President Rose Marie Burke and the young woman’s mother. Tragically, Emma was killed by a truck driver while she was cycling to university on Jan. 27, 2023, in Glasgow.
⏩ More information on the grant here - thanks to Jim Winston for sending over.
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
📋 Overviews: CEC’s Active travel improvements programme | Interactive Map from City Mobility Plan prioritisation exercise
✏️ In the Works:
👏 Merchiston Districts Community Council ongoing campaign regarding the junction at Merchiston Ave;
✍️ Take Action:
🛣️ Sign the petition to Stop the £55 Million A701 Relief Road »
🔐 Recently Closed:
📨 Closed 10th Feb: consultation period for the Silverknowes Rd ETRO providing protected cycleways (ETRO/21/30C).
🚲 Closed February 9th: Barnton Connections consultation on safe, protected cycle routes through the area;
⛲️Dundee Street Fountainbridge Active Travel Project consultation closed 12 January 2026 | 🗺️ Mapped illustrations (do zoom in!) — Image 1 and Image 2 | 📄 Technical drawings [PDF, 23.7mb]
📝 West Edinburgh Link, including Glasgow Rd, South Gyle, Bankhead, Sighthill, Wester Hailes and Clovenstone. “Around 5km of new segregated and improved cycleways, new crossings, path and pavement improvements”, the first phase underway with an initial focus primarily on links to Quiet Route 8 - Technical plans [PDF]
🤔 The ‘Curriehill Active Travel Link’ reported by Spokes to have been delayed beyond its 2025 due date by ‘biodiversity concerns’.
🤫 Greenbank to Meadows Quiet Route having detrimental changes made, delayed until at least a Standards Commission hearing in March ‘26: 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;
🔄 Proposals to address issues at Davidson's Mains Roundabout; City Cycling Edinburgh thread | Planned ‘options’ | Comments closed Friday, 16th January
🔬 Trials & Programmes Underway:
✨ Improving Old Town Streets | Includes current ETRO for Lawnmarket & Johnston Terrace
📋 Consulted On:
🐚 The consultation on Station Road as part of the Musselburgh Active Toun closed mid December;
🚋 Major North-South Tramline Consultation | Spokes’ brilliant, detailed response [PDF] | Officers A8 ‘Diversion’ Clarification
⭕️ Polwarth Gardens road layout consultation | “Safety Wins: Residents Choose New Polwarth Junction Design, Construction to Begin Within 18 Months” at Merchiston Districts Community Council »
⛏️ 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 - Prestonpans to Levenhall | Combined plans » [Large PDF]
🚧 Under Construction:
⛏️ As shared by SW20, work will begin on the paving of a key link between Bloomiehall Park in Juniper Green and Muir Wood Road in Currie on the 9th of February. Owned by developer Taylor Wimpey, an informal path link along the edge of the field has been used for decades since the development of the nearby housing estates, but will only now be formalised into a path suitable for all weather conditions and night-time passage;
🧱 Changes to southside protected cycleways at Summerhall under construction until April 2026;
⛏️ Burnside Path Repairs & Longstone Sinkhole
Contractors setting up on site w/c 3/11 for repairs required to the retaining wall/sinkhole. Hope to complete the in-river works by xmas, & reinstatement of sinkhole by end of Feb. Option to extend contract if required. — Longstone Community Council on Bluesky » (including site plan images)⛴️ Queensferry High Street Improvements | Technical drawings [PDF]
⚓️ 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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