🚲 edi.bike | issue 134 | 2nd Mar ‘26
your weekly edinburgh cycling digest
📰 News this Week
🍜 Wellbeing, Health, and Road Safety in On-Demand Delivery Work
Vital new work from the research team at The Workers Observatory, commissioned by ScORSA:
The rapid expansion of on-demand, platform-based transport and courier services has significantly increased the number of people working on public roads. Yet gig workers remain largely unrecognised as “workers” within road safety and occupational health and safety (OHS) frameworks. As a result, road risk continues to be treated primarily as an issue of individual behaviour rather than occupational exposure. This oversight undermines national road safety ambitions, including Transport Scotland’s commitment to eliminate deaths while driving or riding for work, which cannot be achieved without explicitly recognising and protecting gig workers as workers on the road.
As someone who cares about fair and safe outcomes for delivery riders, often maligned for ‘interesting’ (and sometimes illegal) cycle riding — at the behest of under-regulated tech giants and your pal Tam’s desperate need for a KFC in fifteen minutes or less without leaving his futon — it’s truly great to see folk putting in the research efforts that can and should lead to regulation and policy shift.
✍️ Princes Street & George Street: Spokes Write to Transport Convener
What to do with Princes Street and George Street, now that redevelopment of the latter’s seemingly been sent back to the drawing board? Spokes have written to the convener of the Council’s Transport and Environment committee, detailing some of the history of cycling through the street as well as what they consider reasonable interim treatments for the space — vital to complete the City Centre West to East Link — as well as getting into the future of Princes Street.
News of the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street in London by summer of this year (see ‘National’, below) will (hopefully) be sitting heavy with those looking at the future of our own high streets.
🏰 Local Bits
🔗 Editor’s Note: We’ve recently disabled ‘click tracking’ in our emails, which should mean that the links in the digest will go directly to their destination and work even behind workplace web firewalls. If this has improved things for you, drop us a line!
📸 Some great photos from Saturday’s Edinburgh Critical Mass daunder down to Morningside from Dashed Lines along with a video from Dr Mark Hartl on Bluesky;
🍻 The Edinburgh Dawn Patrol folks who are fundraising for the My Name’5 Doddie foundation are hosting a pub quiz this Friday 6th March in Stockbridge, £15 per ticket »
🗨️ "I'm very supportive of improvements for cycling. Convenience, practical reasons… it's my best form of transport."
Edinburgh resident Michael has cycled all his life. Now aged 89, his bike remains a vital way of getting around day to day.
Ace Facebook post from Cycling Scotland with more from Michael.
☀️ Some lovely sunny photos on Bluesky from Water of Leith Conservation Trust after the relaying of a section of WoL pathway near Spylaw park concluded this week (expected to reopen fully Friday 6th - see ‘Closures’ below);
🖌️ New yellow lines on one-way Eyre Place have gone in:
A nice victory for edi.bike reader Iain and users of the contraflow cycle lane on this street. Iain first raised this with the council two and a half bloody years ago(!) and has chased action from team to team until at last the changes have been made. As per Iain’s excellent documenting of the issue below, riding in this cycle lane was often dangerous as passing traffic swept across it to pass any parked vehicles. No more - thanks Iain!
🚌 From Edinburgh Bus Users Group:
With all the road works taking place across Edinburgh, it is apparent that there are many bus stops that have been removed/closed (permanently or temporarily) for more than a month.
Please help us to collect data on this phenomenon by reporting a closed bus stop in this short survey form.
📅 Consultation drop-ins this week
🌴 Arboretum Place - Climate Ready Edinburgh consultation drop-in on parking and rain gardens in the streetscape this Saturday 7th March from 10:30am - 2pm, at the John Hope Gateway Visitor Centre in the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh (Arboretum Place entrance, EH3 5NZ)
Meanwhile in Midlothian:
💬 Jacobs is supporting Midlothian Council to develop the Dalkeith Connections project, which aims to improve walking, wheeling, and cycling connections in and around Dalkeith. The project is currently at the concept design stage.
View the draft proposals and provide feedback at the following public drop-in events:
Woodburn Community Hub - Today Monday 2nd March, 12:00 - 16:00
One Dalkeith - Thursday 5th March, 13:00 - 18:00
Dalkeith Library - Saturday 7th March, 10:15 - 13:00
📋 Jobs & Opportunities
💛 ScoreScotland are recruiting for their board [FB]
Parents for Future Scotland are looking for immediate cover for an organiser working on air pollution in Edinburgh - starting ASAP until June 2026, possibly extending after this, funding dependent.
3.5 days a week £200/day on a freelance contract term-time (£9,200 in total)
The role involves working with schools, parents, and local councils to improve air pollution in different neighbourhoods, through setting up schemes like bike buses/walking buses. Experience of working on active travel/behaviour change initiatives is preferred. Please contact fatima.parents4futurescotland@gmail.com🔧 Via Critical Mass - Edinburgh Tool Library are looking for volunteers to help people learn to repair their bicycles during regular Cycle Kitchen workshops — form here »
👐 Deadline extended (Friday 6th March) — 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 »
📅 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
📮 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
🏴 Transform Scotland have published their response to the Scottish Government’s Draft Climate Change Plan:
The draft CCP talks a good game on public transport and active travel, but again fails to provide the funding or policy clarity needed to deliver behaviour change at scale. There is a stark absence of multi-year, ringfenced funding aimed explicitly at shifting how people travel, despite behaviour change being central to any credible climate strategy. Instead, responsibility for reducing traffic is pushed down to local authorities, without the fiscal powers, political cover or national direction required. This is not just timid but knowingly ineffective: while a handful of more ambitious councils may act, many may not.
🌐 Read their full response online here [PDF] »
💂 London: Plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street - “Sadiq Khan has confirmed that the plans to pedestrianise the busiest street in London could come into effect as early as summer 2026” — more at SecretLDN »
News at the pace of change has left officials in Edinburgh scratching their heads as to how pedestrianising a popular, central shopping street by closing it off could be accomplished on such a short timeline, without millions of pounds in design work, and a couple of years of operational planning, delays and hand-wringing… 😉
⚡ A DIY bike charging video that prompts a good question - why with the rise in Electric Vehicle charging points don’t we have more ebike infrastructure? A great watch on Youtube either way.
(Note; messing with electrics and DIY’ing most aspects of ebikes very much not recommended for most people. Pay attention to the video’s disclaimer).
🚓 Cycling offences drop by two-thirds in London despite huge rise in bike users — at The Standard »
🌍 Elsewhere
🎻 From performance stage to cargo bike in mere minutes - check out Velo Concerts Vienna’s Instagram video of their rideable stage »
🛣 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:
🚧 Forrest Road: Road between Meadows and George IV Bridge including NCR1 & NCR75 closed northbound for emergency Scottish Water repairs. Update 2nd March: Further works now required, resulting in full time closure and temporary traffic lights southbound. Dismount likely to be required to pass works northbound.
🚦 Gilmore Park: Road between Fountainbridge at Printmakers and Union Canal at Leamington Lift Bridge from today Monday 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.
🏖️ West Shore Road: Section of Quietroute 12 closed past the Pitt Market for drainage works by Advance Construction from 10th March until April 2026. Closure may involve removal of the modal filter, resulting in motor vehicles by Gypsy Brae path entrances. Silverknowes Esplanade may offer an alternate route.
Long Term Closures:
🏞️ Spylaw Park: NCR75 on Water of Leith Path closed for resurfacing. A signed diversion was to be provided uphill on Gillespie Road, however no signs are in place. Update 2nd March: Pedestrian access now restored and path scheduled to reopen this Friday 6th March.
🚧 Saughton Crescent: Sections of QuietRoute 9 closed for resurfacing and Active Travel improvements by Balgreen until May 2026. A signed cycle diversion is to be provided in phases 4-8. Update 2nd March: Phase 5 due to begin this week with closure of Balgreen Road and Saughton Crescent.
🚲 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.
🏖️ 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.
⚓ The Leith Connections Foot of Walk to Dock St route has been completed — 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.
/via Spokes’ February action update [PDF]
🤝 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
🚌 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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