🚲 edi.bike | issue 29 | 26th Feb ‘24
your weekly edinburgh cycling digest
Welcome to your weekly roundup of cycle travel news, events and infrastructure progress in Edinburgh. This week: a meeting with Spokes, Omni centre cycle lane data and some fresh paint…
📰 News this Week
🌆 Locally
🎙️ This Thursday — 29th February — there will be a public meeting held by Spokes; this will feature transport convenor Cllr Scott Arthur on the Future Streets policy; cycling, transport and environmental journalist Laura Laker to critique these new proposals; and a panel Q&A session chaired by Ewen Macleanx, organiser of Blackford Safe Routes. Timings, venue and more on this Spokes page - they mention hoping to stream the event to Youtube also;
✊ Critical Mass rode out together on Saturday 24th, and someone captured some great drone footagex
💈 From that footage you might have clocked this next item - this conversation on X regarding the missing ‘orca’ bollards providing segregation on Crewe Rd South gathered a council response that Lothian Buses have asked for them to be kept off until construction works at the Western General have been completed;
📈 Some great Cycling Scotland usage data of the cycle lanes as they pass the Omni Centre posted to X by Ed Tissx, who added:
The biggest month was August, 2023 with 45,279 cyclists. That compares with 20,973 in August, 2021 - an increase of 116% — @edtissx
🎭 The ninth Edinburgh Festival of Cycling will run from Friday 31st May to Sunday 9th June 2024 and they’ve recently put out a call for events - consider getting involved!
🔍 Hadn’t come across ListNRide before until hiring a Van Moof S3 in Edinburgh was advertised to me on Instagram this week…
From last issue: Leith Loop x; One year on and Leith Walk Lanes still officially unopened.
➕ Nationally
👪 Glasgow Family Cycle ride this Sunday, 3rd March:
Parents for Future Scotland and Kidical Mass have the next big ride on Sunday 3rd March. Come along and ride with the group from Glasgow Green to George Square and back again. We will ride with families from Women on Wheels Hub, Sunny Cycles, @shawlandsbikebus @merryleebikebus and many more cycling groups!
From last issue: New petition regarding UK e-bike assist speeds; five-year longitudinal travel survey in Outer London; a fantastic video of Glasgow’s cycle infrastructure progress; Cargo bike maker Babboe halts sales; and a Study on Cargo bike ownership.
🫂 Help Needed
Ongoing:
🙋 Sustrans seek volunteers for their ‘I Bike’ school programme: teaching kids, maintaining a bike fleet or marshalling rides with pupils;
♿ Wheels for Wellbeing are running a survey (password: cycling) for disabled persons who cycle or would like to cycle;
📣 Leith-based Edinburgh Bike Tours are looking for a manager, and bike tour guides - kathy@edinburghbiketours.co.uk / 07754442434
🗨️ Spokes are in need of new members for their Planning and Resources groups;
🤝 SW20 are now a Co-op Local Community Fund Cause - support them via this page;
🆘 Support Bikes for Refugees with an SMS donation 🐦or on EasyDonate;
🎭 Edinburgh Festival of Cycling are looking for new volunteers and additional directors
🛠Edinburgh Tool Library still seeking donations of unused bike tools – get in touch.
🌈 Infrastructure Progress & Consultations
💡 The Council’s Culture and Communities committee will meet this Thursday 29th and hear a motion (#9.5) from Councillor Thornley prompted by recent mentions of the safety of Edinburgh’s off-road path networks, asking for a report in two committee cycles on:
Which parts of the off-street path network are currently lit, and to what standard, and which parts are not lit.
What options are available beyond lighting to improve the safety of the off-street path network, such as CCTV or cutting back overgrown foliage to improve sightlines.
How any additional monies allocated for the 2024/25 budget for the purpose of improving the safety of the off-street path network can be best spent.
🖌️ Ed Hawkins shared this weekx that having reported it over three years ago, the faint scraps of paint segregating the pedestrian and cycle lanes of South Meadow Walk have finally been redone!
🕳️ With the reinstatement of the dropped kerb at the Russel Rd Roseburn path access, comes a brand new pavement-mounting challengex – a crap job by the contractor providing what is essentially a ready-made pothole right in front of it;
⚒️ Ongoing improvement worksx to the crossing of Grange Rd, Tantallon Rd and Cumin Pl:
🚲 Spokes recently shared this piece outlining various considerations around the north-south tramline extension being proposed - and potentially slated for a section of the Roseburn path - which is worth a read. More will likely be said on this during their public meeting on the 29th (details below);
🗨️ Elsewhere, the Council has opened its consultation for Roseburn to South Gyle walking, wheeling and cycling improvements (Quiet Route 9) here, running until 27th March - including some interesting (and decent looking) before and after visuals…
📆 Events and Happenings
Regular events on at The Wee Spoke Hub - follow their schedule here:
✴️ Thursday 29th February, 4pm - 8pm: The weekly Bike DIY Session, “£6 per hour for use of a stable bike stand, in a warm, dry, well-lit space. Wee Spoke Hub tools are available for your use. Also spare parts, and mechanical assistance by competent volunteers, backed up by a workshop mechanic.”
🚲 Edinburgh Leisure have upcoming Cycle Skills courses as part of their over-50s ‘Ageing Well’ programme, encouraging folks to rediscover cycling. See the flyer here [PDF];
👶 More Balance Bike classes for wee tots ongoing at Bridgend Farmhouse (just started Saturday 17th Feb);
🎙️ This Thursday — 29th February — there will be a public meeting held by Spokes; this will feature transport convenor Cllr Scott Arthur on the Future Streets policy; cycling, transport and environmental journalist Laura Laker to critique these new proposals; and a panel Q&A session chaired by Ewen Macleanx, organiser of Blackford Safe Routes. Timings, venue and more on this Spokes page - they mention hoping to stream the event to Youtube also;
🗨️ 29th February: The Transport Studies Unit of Oxford University will host “Urban Futures - the proximity revolution. An introduction to the 15 minute city concept by its founder” and a number of other really interesting talks throughout this month that are worth a look;
🚶 1st March, 12pm: Living Streets Edinburgh have an online meeting regarding the future city centre plans, with presentation and Q&A featuring council transport team members - sign up here;
👭 InfraSisters ride again on International Women’s day:
“The sixth InfraSisters ride is going to be on Friday 8th March, leaving Middle Meadow Walk at 7.30pm and we'd love for you to be there! The Edinburgh city centre route is still in the planning stages - check this page for updates or contact or follow us on various social media”.
The ride culminates at The Causey for their display of Our Streets projected linocut artworks.
⏩ There’s a feeder ride being organised from WHALE Arts in Wester Hailes at 6pm on the 8th - more details on Facebook.
🚲 The Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel is in its 15th year and still open for registrations, running 11th-22nd March.
🚺 SCOREScotland are running cycle training for women from 12th March - find more details and sign up here;
➕ SCOREScotland are also providing a Dr. Bike repair session at Westside Plaza in Wester Hailes on March 15th.
🛣 Road Closures and Route Issues
🔺Cllr Susan Rae recently shared this dangerously placed scaffoldingx overlapping the downhill cycle path at Shrubhill on Leith Walk; let us know when it goes!
⚠️ Also continuing – safety issues with the cycleway green light at the foot of Leith WalkX - mind how you go, and consider reporting to the Council too;
🌊 Closure of part of the Cameron Toll roundabout thanks a collapsed section of 200 year old culvert, until around mid May;
🛜 From today until Friday 1st, Frederick St has lane closures and contraflow between George St and Queen St – with Thistle St closed – for CityFibre cable and ducting installation;
⚽ Wednesday 28th, Gorgie: Hearts v Hibs, kick-off 7.45pm with McLeod St, Wheatfield St and Wheatfield Pl closed before and after the match;
Ongoing…
🚦 10 weeks remain for Grange Rd temporary lights at Cumin Rd / Tantallon Pl (and closure of those roads); Council footway, carriageway and drainage improvements including improved crossings;
🌹 Roseburn Dr is closed until 3rd May for a sewer diversion;
💩 Lady Lawson St is closed southbound between West Port and Castle Ter for repairs to a collapsed sewer lasting around 5 further weeks;
🚽 Brunstane Rd between Abercorn Ter and Dalkeith St closed until 3rd March for sewer repairs;
🚦Traffic management measures in place on Greenbank Ter / Comiston Rd at BraidBurn Ter visualised on the transport Convenor’s postX making way for new crossing installations and other junction works relating to Braidburn Ter at the main road. These include overnight closures from today, Monday 26th Feb 7pm - 6am with buses diverted;
🧑🌾 Gardner’s Cres is closed with temporary lights on Morrison St at Dewar Pl for Council works associated with the implementation of the Low Emissions Zone. Hopefully this is still passable by cycle, as the work is slated to go on until March/April;
💡 Scottish Power works have resumed closing Murrayfield Rd Between Kinellan Road and Stair Park;
🚰 Colinton Rd between Craiglockhart Rd and Craiglockhart Pk has a lane closure / contraflow commencing for Scottish Water works lasting around another week;
🦩 Water of Leith: in Leith, 13 remaining weeks of closure at a section of the shared walkway - Spokes have worked with the Water of Leith Conservation Trust on suggested diversions [PDF] during the Coalie Park closure.
⛏️ CCWEL-adjacent works on Charlotte Sq and North / South Charlotte St running until March 2024:
Currently - lane closures on North and South Charlotte St, George St closed, no right turn from Charlotte Sq south side into South Charlotte St.
💡 Footway works and street lighting renewal on Polwarth Gdns, involving lane closures and parking restrictions. Polwarth Pl, Polwarth Pk, Harden Pl and Mertoun Pl will be closed as work progresses, running until March ‘24;
💧A significant programme of Scottish Water drainage improvement work on Longstone Rd until mid summer ‘24;
🧰 Braidburn Ter closed (cycle-able, dismount at the Comiston Rd end to pass via pavement) at the end of the Greenbank-Meadows Quiet Route while the new pedestrian and cycle realm enhancement worksX are underway. There’a a comprehensive update from Council Officers on the works in this post from Cllr Scott Arthur.
Ongoing updates on the Council’s Road reports page as the week unfolds and via @edintravelX
Thanks for reading - ride safe 🚲
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