π² edi.bike | issue 39 | 6th May '24
your weekly edinburgh cycling digest
π° News this Week
ποΈ Airport Buses to return to Waverley Bridge during Jenners redevelopment
A Temporary Traffic Redetermination Order (TTRO) has been assembled to make changes to traffic priorities near the old Jenners building on Princes Street to allow for its redevelopment. This includes the relocation of Airport bus link bus stops onto Waverley Bridge for the multi-year duration of the project, where they will be allowed to exit the North end of the bridge and turn left onto Princes Street so they can keep running while South St. David St is closed northbound - while restricting other traffic using a bus gate.
Transport Convenor Cllr Scott Arthur received a briefing on the changes and published this to his blog (which rather suggests that the council rather lacks a sensible transport issue web-publishing destination of its own).
π€ BBC Journalist gets a backy on the George Watsons Bike Bus
Mark Steven from BBC radio programme 'Out of Doors' rode along with the George Watsons Bike Bus last week while recording a feature, pictured in this X post getting a lift on the back of a Tern replete with boom mic!
π Local Bits
π Reader Thom got in touch to point out the Council's web portal for reporting shan parking now has a photo upload option - no mention on the form of whether images alone are enough to issue a ticket, but this looks like a positive step regardless;
πΈ It's been interesting this past week seeing Edinburgh through the lens of Jason Thorne, a visiting Urbanist and City Planner from Canada who has been touring Glasgow and Edinburgh and checking out some of our successful segregated cycleway projectsx... and also Leith Walk π (which he was actually complimentary aboutx). We also didn't know about Saughton Park's mini-hydro sytemsx before his post;
βοΈ Spare a thought this week for Chris' Bike Repairs who posted about the dreadful conditions he's facing while delivering cycle training for school kids out in the Hebrides - hard times!
From Last Week:
Two-part article on both Critical Mass and The Wee Spoke Hub by Douglas Rogers.
β Nationally
π©Ί Napier's Transport Research Institute have published the latest in their series of Essential Evidence 4 Scotland, No. 84 entitled "Health through stealth;
π Journalist Laura Laker β who presented at the most recent public meeting of Spokes about Future Streets and cycling in Edinburgh β has a new book coming out on May 9th, 'Potholes and Pavements: A Bumpy Ride On Britainβs National Cycle Network'. The author posted a lovely thread about the book which you can read 'unrolled' over here.
π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ Cycling Scotland have a compelling new safety campaign called 'Give Cycle Space', with a compelling advert calling on drivers to 'leave space for a life' - worth a watch;
π§― "Landlords move en masse to halt e-bikes kept in rentals, citing misunderstood fire risks" - full article at Cycling Electric.
π« Help Needed
π¦ With the Edinburgh Festival of Cycling coming up, thereβs an opportunity to directly help with the success of the festival by helping to distribute their lovely printed programmes to CafΓ©s, Bike shops, Independent retailers, Libraries and beyond. You can see a map of the locations that volunteers have bike-delivered to so far, (and also, to see where you can find a printed programme of your very own!). If you'd like to get out on your bike and help to get the programmes distributed far and wide, check out the call for Volunteer programme distributors;
πΉ Communications officers at the City of Edinburgh Council are looking for participants for a promotional video about the City Centre West-East Link ('CCWEL') - email eileen.hewitt@edinburgh.gov.uk if you'd like to take part.
π΄πΌ There's a Crowdfunder on the go to support the Skelf bike park, just off Holyrood Park;
π Also crowdfunding at the moment, Porty Community Energy are raising money for their new Sea Rising Festival;
π©π»ββοΈ THE BIG 'Bikes for Refugees Scotland' FUNDRAISING AUCTION 2024
Bikes for Refugees are looking for the donation of experiences, cycling-themed items, artworks, event tickets, signed memorabilia, gift baskets, and other ideas to auction off in their fundraiser: get in touch with bfrscotland@gmail.com. The auction will go live at the start of this year's Edinburgh Festival of Cycling on 31st May.
As always:
New Scots refugees and asylum seekers need your bikes now. Providing essential mobility and freedom of movement. Please complete the bike donation form on our website, thank you https://www.bikesforrefugees.scot
π² Also from Bikes for Refugees:
TRUSTEES WANTED (Glasgow). Join our board of directors. Help govern & shape the ongoing development of our successful charity... Contact admin@bikesforrefugees.scot
Ongoing:
π Volunteer to help marshal a local school Bike Bus - see the Bike Bus Hub Directory;
π Sustrans seek volunteers for their βI Bikeβ school programme: teaching kids, maintaining a bike fleet or marshalling rides with pupils;
π¨οΈ Spokes are in need of new members for their Planning and Resources groups;
π€ SW20 are a Co-op Local Community Fund Cause - support them via this page;
π Support Bikes for Refugees with an SMS donation π¦or on EasyDonate;
π Infrastructure Progress & Consultations
βοΈ 'Leith Feeder Ride' on X posted this week that there were 'signs of lifex' - namely 241 days of planned cycleway construction works starting some time between late Summer and Autumn this year - for the 'Foot of the Walk to Ocean Terminal' protected cycle route as part of Leith Connections, which is great to see. This route not yet being in place was one of the reasons for issues with the cycle signals and abrupt 'ending' of the current Leith Walk northbound cycle lane.
π΄πΌββοΈ Edinburgh-adjacent semi-rural governance stalwarts / purveyors of nicely heated family swimming facilities Midlothian Council have launched βOn the Move Midlothian: Our Active Travel Strategy for Everyoneβ, consisting of two parallel consultations on Active Travel and also wider transport concerns across their council area:
The active travel draft strategy, which includes measurable and achievable targets, focuses on making Midlothian a place where getting around in a way that makes you physically active, such as walking and wheeling, will be an easy, convenient, cheap and realistic option for all.
π You can view the draft strategy online [PDF].
Deadlines for responses:
10th June for 'Midlothian Local Transport Strategy';
22nd July for the 'Active Travel Survey'.
π³ Meadows to George Street
Deadline for comments 17th of May: The Meadows to George Street team recently announced the Publication of the detailed design proposals and advertisement of the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) and Redetermination Order (RSO) for this vital gap-joining project, tackling one of the city centre's nastier cycling gauntlets:
π€ CEC Press Release
π Project Website
βπ½ Detailed Design Documents:
π Teviot Place, Forrest Road, Bristo Place [PDF]
π Forrest Road, Candlemaker Row and George IV Bridge [PDF]
π North Bank Street and the Mound [PDF]
π The Mound, Princes Street and Hanover Street [PDF]
π Market Street [PDF]
π¬ Public Drop-in session at Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EL on 9th May, 2pm - 9pm.
π§ If you want to provide support for the scheme, you should email TRO.Consultations@edinburgh.gov.uk mentioning TRO/21/32 and RSO/21/08 with your positive noises, comments and constructive feedback before the 17th of May.
ποΈβπ¨οΈ The Dalry Living Well Locally consultation runs until 26th June:
π€ CEC Press Release
βπ½ Detailed Drawings - Overview of 'Sections' and road layouts [PDF]
π Events and Happenings
β¨ New This Week
β€οΈ For folks in Gorgie, The Bike Station still have some spaces on various upcoming Skills coursesx;
20th May, Summerhall - From Markus Stitz:
If you're in Edinburgh on 20 May at 7.30pm, please come around to the world-premiere of 'Great British Gravel Rides' on a big screen, followed by a Q&A with Stuart Kenny, supported by Schwalbe UK. Tickets are available for Β£15/12 here;
βοΈ Spokes β the Lothian Cycle Campaign β are hosting a public meeting on Weds 5th June, tabled as part of the Edinburgh Festival of Cycling:
Controversy rages over whether the proposed north-south tramline should use the Roseburn path or an onroad route via Orchard Brae and Dean Bridge. The speakers at our June 5th public meeting will present the two cases, then the pros and cons of each option for cycling and walking, and for wider public health. Followed by our always-stimulating one-hour QA and panel discussion.
This promises to be somewhat lively on account of the strength of feeling involved from those who regularly use the path, but also has a great lineup of speakers and a careful balance of folks to cover all sides of the debate. Well worth attending if you're able to.
π Weekly Events
π οΈ Edinburgh Tool Library host a weekly Bike Kitchen providing 'tools, spare parts, and expertise' to 'learn, grow, and connect with others'; Open every Wednesday from 3pm.
β΄οΈ Regular events on at The Wee Spoke Hub - follow their schedule here including a Bike DIY Session this Thursday 9th, 4pm - 8pm;
π Upcoming / Ongoing
The ninth Edinburgh Festival of Cycling is back with a full 10-day programme from Friday 31st May to Sunday 9th 2024, theyβve recently released their full programme of events.
βπΌ Now Open - 'Pedal Power', a free exhibition co-curated by Critical Mass Edinburgh, Infrasisters, Spokes and folks running Bike Buses across the city at the Museum of Edinburgh running until the 22nd September - including some upcoming talks and events in the summer that we'll highlight nearer the time.
π£ Route Closures and Issues
βοΈ 3 weeks remain for the closure of Dublin St between Dublin Street Lane North and Albany Street. This is on National Cycle Route ('NCR') 75, just off York Place, and as reader Martin got in touch to point out is particularly steep which - so potential issues getting rolling again when travelling southbound after walking around the closure, on such a steep hill. The council policy to have a space left for cycle passage around works has not been followed here, and that's being looked into.
Ongoingβ¦
- 𦩠Water of Leith: in Leith, 3 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.
Thanks for reading - ride safe π²
π£ Help edi.bike βπΌ
We want to grow our readership as far as possible - 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 find this useful, you could:
π£οΈ Recommend it to someone - why not forward to a friend, or just point them to edi.bike online
π Share a story / issue - If you run into anything that might be a good fit for next time, feel free to send it over.
π Join the Supporters Club for Β£1/month to help us cover costs and promote to a wider audience. More info below.
π Join our 'Supporters Club'
The weekly edi.bike digest will always be free (gratis) to read for anyone who subscribes, as well as remaining ad-free.
For Β£1/month, you can join our Supporters Club, and help with existing costs for our domain name, hosting, and promotional materials like posters and stickers.
Huge thanks to those of you who have already signed up to support us - we really appreciate it π
π Club Perks
As well as supporting us, we're also planning the following perks for Supporters Club patrons:
A bi-monthly (~6 times a year) behind-the-scenes update sharing subscriber numbers / growth, promotional efforts, and other stuff about the running of edi.bike;
A shiny 'Supporters Club' sticker, once we get them printed up (subject to collection in person!).
Over time, we might also consult Club patrons on strategic decisions and other matters.
If you can't support us in this way, that's grand too - thanks for reading!