March 11, 2024

🚲 edi.bike | issue 31 | 11th Mar ‘24

your weekly edinburgh cycling digest

📰 News this Week

Those bloody politicians have been at it again. Strap in!

🌆 Locally

🌻 Friday saw a great turnout for Blooming Mad in Bloomers – InfraSisters rode out on International Women’s day, leaving from Middle Meadow Walk for a short, safe group protest ride around the city centre before finishing up at The Causey for their fantastic projection display of Our Streets linocut artworks and Dan Abraham’s Our Streets music video.

In a week where decisions being made at Council level have left active travel proponents and activists in Edinburgh feeling sad, angry and embittered – more on that later – it was pretty incredible to gather en masse, to ride in protest, and to be reminded that it’s together at the grass roots that we envision the future, and put the pressure on to make it happen. 

🌸 My eldest daughter toured with me for the Infrasisters ride, and the very next day – perhaps inspired by the trip – managed to take to riding her own bike unsupported for the very first time, in the most magical of moments. Big smiles all round. 

😁 Marina from Bruntsfield neighbourhood campaign BANZAI got in touch to share this great video summary from their Community Event ‘Forwards with Cargo Bikes’ held a while ago with Cargo Bike Movement - to go with their post about the event;

🚲 Sustrans recently released the updated Edinburgh Walking and Cycling Index - “Formerly known as Bike Life, this is the UK's biggest ever study of walking, wheeling and cycling”;

⛳ Do you play Turf? It’s happening all around you as we speak! Reader Gary sent over a link to the game’s website, and this amazing article from a few years ago about one of the game’s more prolific players, Leonne Hutchinson, who’s based in Edinburgh.

❣️ Love to Ride Edinburgh have launched their 'Ride into Spring' campaign. During February and March, they are giving away two prizes each week to keep you motivated to ride. To enter, any trip counts, but you'll enter an additional prize draw by logging a trip for transport! Love to Ride are working with the City of Edinburgh Council to make better planning and infrastructure decisions based on real data.

🤝 At the Council’s Transport and Environment Committee last week, the minority Labour administration sided with Conservative and Lib Dem councillors to vote – against officer recommendations for retention in line with its own policies – to remove filters from the Braid Estate section of the Greenbank to Meadows Quiet Route. edi.bike’s Andy White has our TEC roundup including this and other items, below;

📈 Further to the Omni Centre cycle lane data Edward Tissiman^x was publishing on X last issue, his recent update^x shows a massive increase in usage in 2024 so far: 

📺 The recent Living Streets Edinburgh event talking about the Council’s ‘Future Streets’ city centre transformation plans has been published on Youtube;

🛠️ Edinburgh Tool Library recently launched their weekly Bike Kitchen:

A Cycle Kitchen is a community-driven space where people can share their knowledge about bicycle maintenance, repair, and building. We provide tools, spare parts, and expertise to help members fix and maintain their bikes… The Cycle Kitchen is more than a workshop; it’s a place where you can learn, grow, and connect with others.

Open every Wednesday from 3pm.

🚵 Enjoyed this long read from reader Mark about cycling together, cycling alone, picking up commuter cycling in the twilight of his career and recovery following a bad crash - with some recognisable discussion of Edinburgh’s roads and pathways;

Last Issue: The Bike Station recently launched Free Wheel Gorgie; 

➕ Nationally

⚕️ A heavily cited opinion piece at the British Medical Journal - “Scarlett McNally: Enabling active travel can improve the UK’s health” 

🌍 Elsewhere

🗺️ Map of Paris’ intended cycle network^x by 2026 - which they’re making significant progress toward as the years wear on; 

🫂 Help Needed

💸 20 days to go - support the Transport Action Network legal action to challenge funding cuts to walking and cycling - around 25% of their £40k fundraising goal remains;

🔧 Bikes for Refugees are hiring a Project Worker / Bike Mechanic, deadline 21st March;

🎭 The ninth Edinburgh Festival of Cycling will run from Friday 31st May to Sunday 9th 2024 and they’ve recently put out a call for events - consider getting involved!

Ongoing:

• 🙋 Sustrans seek volunteers for their ‘I Bike’ school programme: teaching kids, maintaining a bike fleet or marshalling rides with pupils;

• 🗨️ Spokes are in need of new members for their Planning and Resources groups; 

• 🤝 SW20 are a Co-op Local Community Fund Cause - support them via this page;

• 🆘 Support Bikes for Refugees with an SMS donation 🐦or on EasyDonate; 

🌈 Infrastructure Progress & Consultations

🕳️ Spotted on the Save the Roseburn Path Facebook group - the new dropped kerb at the Roseburn path zig-zag entry (on Russell Rd) has been confirmed by the Council as still waiting for a top coat on the asphalt, which will address the built-in pothole it’s currently been installed with;

🌈 There’s an open consultation on the future of the Lindsay Rd ‘Pride Bridge’ in Leith, running to the 4th April;

🚲 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;

🗨️ Another Council consultation currently running 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;

🤝 Transport and Environment Committee Meeting, 7th March

📰 Our Report, by Andy White

⚠️ Content Warning: Death of a Child

It was a heavy start at this month's Transport and Environment Committee (TEC), with an emergency motion from Lib Dem Cllr Lang on the death of 11-year-old Thomas Wong. Everyone on the committee spoke with great care, respect, and sadness at the robbing of a young boy's future. Graham Hart, owner of Hart's Cyclery and representing Spokes in his deputation, summarised our thoughts: "An 11-year-old boy cycling to school should not have lost his life". Paul Lawrence, Executive Director of Place, said council officers would look at what immediate measures CEC could take before the investigation concludes.

Also at TEC this week was the report on Travelling Safely Greenbank to Meadows Quiet Connection - Public Engagement and Next Steps. Based on consultation results, this report detailed a series of options available to the council to adjust the Travelling Safely scheme in this area. 

At the less contentious end of the route, the committee agreed to ‘Option 2’ at the northern (Whitehouse Loan) area, adding another modal filter on Clinton Rd to discourage further through-traffic that has been observed while the experimental measures have been in effect. 

The Braid Estate options generated the most debate:

• Adjust some modal filters and introduce additional ones.

• Remove some modal filters and introduce a segregated cycle lane.

• Remove all modal filters and introduce a segregated cycle lane. 

Cllr Jule Bandel reminds us that "only last month, this committee agreed the first update of the city mobility plan, reaffirming our commitment to improving conditions to walking, wheeling and cycling and achieving a 30% reduction in car kilometres."

During the session, councillors repeatedly asked officers which option would best align with Council policies and targets. Officers repeatedly answered option 1. The report even highlights that the current modal filter has caused traffic evaporation and improved safety in the area. It also states that the benefits of options 2 and 3 favour motorists, while those walking will mostly feel the negatives.

At last month's Spokes meeting, Cllr Scott Arthur had a slide in his presentation that lampooned the Scottish Government for flipping the transport hierarchy on its head. So it's a bit ironic what happened next.

Unusually for TEC, which will typically see active travel measures pass with SNP, Labour and Greens in agreement – Cllr Scott Arthur's minority Labour administration, the Lib Dems, and Conservatives voted to recommend option 3, which will remove the modal filters in the Braid Estate and install a segregated cycle lane. The costs for this option are unknown, but estimates are between £200,000 and £400,000; once the council install it, we'll have another consultation in six months. 

Congratulations, councillors. In a time when multiple children have been killed or knocked down by motorists, you have just approved the reduction in safe routes to schools.

🗨️ Response from Active Travel Campaigners, Commentary by Ben Seven

“I can’t watch TEC today but best of luck to all of those volunteers across Edinburgh who have worked so hard on deputations aimed at improving the safety and comfort of adults and children walking, wheeling and cycling in the city. Cllrs will be judged on deeds - not words.”

…

“As I said - deeds not words. We see you, councillors, we see you 👀 👀” — Kirsty Lewin^x

“Reactionary parties appealing to an ageing population that believes that car convenience outweighs safety and encouragement for young families to cycle.” — LaidBackBikes^x

"In Edinburgh on Thursday they had the transport committee, where they spoke about Thomas Wong, the child who was killed in Edinburgh… And then a couple of hours later, they spoke about removing traffic filters in a part of the city that was creating protection not just for cyclists, but for pedestrians.”

— “Shawlands Bike bus rides for Thomas Wong and Elizabeth Bell”, The Herald

📰 The day after the committee met and voted: “Health gains of low-traffic schemes up to 100 times greater than costs, study finds” — The Guardian

Just to summarise:

- No increase in boundary road traffic

- 40% traffic reduction on residential streets

- Officers agree in line with council targets

- Cost £0

Slow hand clap for @CllrScottArthur who ignored all that and voted to rip it all out - instead debating "semantics". — Ewan Maclean

🤔 By and large, we try in this digest not to take a party-political position on issues, even if watching the Tories at TEC vociferously protect the SUV-wielding rights of Bankers in Bruntsfield gies us the boak. This isn’t one of those weeks, and I hope you’ll bear with me while I process this, and vent - everything is political, and unfortunately so is politics.

🧵 This thread by the campaigners for this very route, Blackford Safe Routes, perfectly summarises the cynical, counterproductive nature of the vote at TEC.

This decision absolutely reeks of politicking at the expense of the most vulnerable users of our roads; the Labour convenor and councillor siding with reactionary, NIMBY-lobbying, pearl-clutching Conservative councillors — and Edinburgh’s Lib Dems, who have a track record in the city of flip-flopping around, voting to rip out active travel facilitation in Silverknowes and now the Braid Estate but simultaneously frothing about protecting it at all costs on the Roseburn path (while disguising a Lib Dem mailing list sign up form as a ‘petition’). On transport issues, both parties are typically found drifting along in whatever direction the delicious popular vote smell seems to be coming from.

Cllr Cowdy was spotted pleading on X about the Conservatives at least being ‘consistent’, as though there’s an award somewhere out there for being consistently dreadful.

One participant observed the position of the administration in this situation: “Cllr Arthur was visibly uncomfortable during proceedings - one councillor commenting that he’d ‘never seen Scott take so long to sum up a motion’. Labour knew they were doing something wrong and ‘un-Labour like'”.

Cllr Arthur is gearing up to stand as a candidate for Edinburgh South West in the general election. Does it not look a lot like the positioning of this decision has everything to do with GE voter intentions and the ‘culture war’ issue of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods being ‘foisted’ on communities, given that we’ve just seen the administration back an option that flies in the very face of several of its own policies?

As unfair as it might seem to make this about one party - and just two councillors on this committee - the fact is, in a five-party council with a minority leading, the Labour contingent represented a swing vote on this specific issue, and subsequently chose to make one of the most hard-headed and pandering decisions seen in recent years, seemingly for the sake of their own political capital alone. It certainly wasn’t for the sake of the pedestrians and cyclists supposedly at the priority pinnacle, who previously hadn’t realised there’s a metaphorical flyover built above the government’s sustainable transport pyramid.

Spend any meaningful time in the online spaces shared by cycling community activists in Edinburgh and you’ll find Cllr Arthur a divisive figure - following this vote, accused of ‘gaslighting’ by several commentators. For a while there I couldn’t see the issues, being as new as I am to making noise and demanding change; a good game is talked, the big picture is considered, his interactions with the public measured, balanced and with a good dose of dry Scottish wit that is disarming, and at times even charming.

The difference for me, is that I saw in the Councillor a fellow cyclist who ended up in politics; I realise now that he’s just another politician who rides a bike when it’s useful to him. “Best seat on the fence”, and all that.

📆 Events and Happenings

Regular events on at The Wee Spoke Hub - follow their schedule here:

✴️ Thursday 14th March, 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 just started Cycle Skills courses as part of their over-50s ‘Ageing Well’ programme, encouraging folks to rediscover cycling. See the flyer here [PDF]; 

🚲 The Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel is in its 15th year and starts today, running to 22nd March. 

🚺 SCOREScotland are running cycle training for women tomorrow, Tuesday 12th March - find more details and sign up here; 

➕ SCOREScotland are also providing a Dr. Bike repair session 10am - 3.30pm (booking required) at Westside Plaza in Wester Hailes this Friday, March 15th, and on the same day another at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre from 9.30am to 12.30pm will be hosted by the Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council; 

🎓 Folks at Edinburgh Napier University kindly got in touch to share details of free Adult Cycle Training happening a week today (18th and 19th March at Sighthill and Merchiston campuses respectively). You don’t need to be a student or staff member at Napier to get involved:

A great way to start your journey into cycling or build your confidence in terms of cycling. You don’t need a bicycle to join the training. Bicycles and helmets will be provided free of charge to all participants. All funding for the courses has been provided by Cycling Scotland and the training is provided by Ali Grieve from Lothian Cycle Training.

Monday 18th March: Sighthill

• Absolute beginners - booking and details. 09:30 to 12:30.

• Introduction to on road cycling - booking and details. 12:30 to 15:00.

Tuesday 19th March: Merchiston

• Absolute beginners - booking and details. 09:30 to 12:30.

• Introduction to on road cycling  - booking and details. 12:30 to 15:00.

✂️ On March 20th there is an opening ceremony / event marking the ‘completion’ (just don’t mention George Street) of the City Centre West to East Link or ‘CCWEL’ — 11:30 to 14:30 outside the ‘Four Points by Sheraton’ hotel.

🛣 Road Closures and Route Issues

⚠️ Continuing safety issues with the cycleway green light at the foot of Leith Walk^X - mind how you go, and consider reporting to the Council too;

⚽ Easter Rd - this Saturday 16th, Hibs v Livingston, kick-off 3pm with roads closed before and after the match: Hawkhill Ave - Close / St Clair St / Albion Pl - Rd - Ter - Gdns / Harrismith Pl;

Ongoing…

• ❌ Blackford Rd recorded as closed until Mid April for gas main renewal, but in our recent experience still thoroughly passable by cycle at present;

• ⚡ Ongoing until 24th March: Oxgangs Brae closed to through traffic between Oxgangs Medway and Caiystane Gdns for Scottish Power to install new ducting; 

• 🌊 Closure of part of the Cameron Toll roundabout thanks a collapsed section of 200 year old culvert, until around mid May;

• 🚦 8 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 3 further weeks;

• 🚦Traffic management measures in place on Greenbank Ter / Comiston Rd at BraidBurn Ter visualised on the transport Convenor’s post^X making way for new crossing installations and other junction works relating to Braidburn Ter at the main road;

• 🧑‍🌾 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 an ongoing closure at Murrayfield Rd Between Kinellan Road and Stair Park; 

• 🦩 Water of Leith: in Leith, 11 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 finishing soon: 

  • Charlotte Sq has reopened as of Friday 8th, with pending Lane closures for installation of cycle lane defenders and line marking.

• 💡 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, concluding this month; 

• 💧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 works^X 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 @edintravel^X

Thanks for reading - ride safe and remember: we make the changes 🚲

Subscribe now

📣 Share with a pal / Send us your news ✍🏼

If you find this useful, could you recommend it to someone? Why not forward to a friend, or just point them to edi.bike online - the more folks we have on board, the more we can amplify the progress being made and the organisations to support along the way. If you run into anything that might be a good fit for next time, feel free to send it over.