🚲 edi.bike | issue 43 | 3rd Jun '24
your weekly edinburgh cycling digest
📰 News this Week
This weekend’s cargo bike trips were sort-the-garden centric and included an outgoing kids’ sandpit and some incoming patches of turf to mend our lawn. I maintain that you can move pretty much anything by bike if you’re stubborn enough ☀️ Here’s the week’s bike-shaped Edinburgh stories, including this being a big week for Edinburgh Festival of Cycling 2024 events!
📈 Latest Sustrans data on Active Travel to schools, independent schools’ car dependency highlighted
Transport & Environment Committee Convenor Cllr Scott Arthur posted some statistics to X this week from the latest Sustrans “Hands Up Scotland Survey 2023” data.
SW20 had some interesting related statsx from earlier in the year:
Every school day approximately 7,650 pupils at Edinburgh’s Independent Schools are driven by car some of the way to school. Despite being only 20% of the total pupils educated in Edinburgh - they form 53% of the kids driven to school in #Edinburgh A huge part of city traffic.
There are great initiatives like Bike Buses happening with some of these schools on board - but it would be great to see more leadership from the institutions and more kid-friendly infrastructure put in by the council too, ideally before the kids have reached their mid thirties given our current slow roll.
📋 The National Museum of Scotland would like your input
The National Museum of Scotland are currently developing a new exhibition with a bicycle theme, and they’d like to hear from our readers.
Fill in the questionnaire here by mid-June to be in with the chance of winning £50 for your trouble.
🗺️ Mapping Active Travel projects through 2028
An interesting map project coming together posted by Harry Williams on X, depicting “Every bit of active travel infrastructure currently due to be complete by 2027/8” - likely based on the Council’s Active Travel Improvements Programme, consultations and other sources.
🚲 Spokes launch their General Election 2024 resource page
Spokes, the Lothian cycle campaign, have launched their General Election page; while none of the parties have published their manifestos yet, there’s already a swathe of useful links and information here. If you’ll be away on 4th July, don’t forget to register for a postal vote!
🌆 Local Bits
🗞️ As part of “inquiries to establish the full circumstances” in the tragic death of 11-year-old Thomas Wong in early March, Police Scotland announced this week they have made an arrestx;
🎭 Happening right now! The 2024 Edinburgh Festival of Cycling runs from the 31st of May – 9th of June. Check out the calendar of events, see our weekly event highlights below, or find where you can pick up a lovely printed programme.
💨 “Effect of 20 mph speed limits on traffic injuries in Edinburgh, UK: a natural experiment and modelling study” at the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health ;
From Last Week:
‘Backsliding into the Bushes’ by Councillor Ross McKenzie on Bella Caledonia;
14km (almost!) entirely traffic-free Edinburgh loop by Gordy Carmichael;
Edinburgh Bike Bus on Out of Doors’ episode ‘Flax, a Bike Bus, and Dandelions’ at 36m and 1h 18m into the show;
Our May Transport & Environment Committee round-up.
🛣 Route Closures and Issues
Keep an eye out for this Canal path sinkholex near the Longstone Inn;
The weekend road closure times for Holyrood Park have recently changedx;
Melville St at Walker St has some partial closures of the CCWEL segregated lanes for major works, assumedly as part of the public realm improvements that recently commenced and run until December this year;
With works at the Western General Hospital completed, the Council has confirmed that the segregated lane along Crewe Road South will shortly return.
➕ Nationally
✍🏽 Chris Boardman in The Standard: ‘This moral panic about killer cyclists is hateful and wrong — it's drivers who kill people’;
🚧 New street sign supports in the wild for temporary road signage, made with recycled plastic and with a smaller footprint than traditional A-frames - an interesting thread on some of the design thinking and product development;
🌍 Elsewhere
👻 As if there wasn’t already enough workplae jeapordy being a Deliveroo rider, now the ‘Riderless bikex’ is coming for your job...
📆 Events and Happenings
✨ New This Week
🎭 Edinburgh Festival of Cycling (EdFoC) 2024 Continues!
Now in its sixth year. A mix of talks, organised rides and workshops, it tries to focus on cycling as everyday transport, as well as sport, a leisure activity and a cultural entity.
— EdFoC director Kim Harding, in his recent Guardian piece.
EDFOC Highlights this Week:
🗓️ 🎭 EdFoC | Today, 3rd June 17:30 – 19:00 - Talk: Cycling Collisions and Civil Law:
Specialist cycling solicitors from Cycle Law Scotland will use case studies and videos to highlight potential problem areas for cycling in Edinburgh based on their knowledge as solicitors representing injured cyclists, but also as cyclists themselves.
🗓️ 🎭 EdFoC | Wednesday 5th June, 14:00 - As part of the ongoing 'Pedal Power' exhibition at the Museum of Edinburgh - Can cycling make transport sustainable? by Dr Brendan Hill;
⚙️ 🎭 EdFoC | Wednesday 5th June (from 18:45 for coffee, stalls and chat, 19:30 - 21:30 meeting) - Spokes, the Lothian Cycle Campaign, will be hosting a public meeting about the Trams to Granton project, 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.
With Speakers:
For Roseburn, not Road: Lesley Hinds - Former Councillor, Lord Provost, Council Leader and Convener of the Transport & Environment Committee
For Road, not Roseburn: Euan Baxter - representing 'Save the Roseburn Path'
On Cycling aspects: Alex from Spokes;
On Public Health aspects: Adrian Davis, European public health & transport planning specialist
Q&A chair: Johanna Boyd, Chief Executive of Planning Aid Scotland (PAS)
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.
🗓️ 🎭 EdFoC | Saturday 8 June, 10:00 – 13:00 - ‘Queens of Pain’ Picnic Ride
Join the local cycling community Queens of Pain on a free 25-kilometre led ride around Edinburgh ending with a social (Bring Your Own) Picnic. The route starts and finishes at the Meadows. We’ll take you down quiet paths connecting the Meadows, Granton, Leith and Holyrood Park. There will be several on-road sections to navigate too. All are welcome.
🗓️ 🎭 EdFoC | Saturday 8 June, 14:00 - Also part of the ongoing 'Pedal Power' exhibition at the Museum of Edinburgh - Pedal On: Cycle Campaigning in Edinburgh (two talks):
Hop on The Bike Bus - When a city lacks safe cycling infrastructure there is no better way to get your kids to school than by taking part in a bike bus. Bike bus champion, Jarlath Flynn talks about how you can go about setting up a bike bus for your school and how it can help nurture healthier, happier, more resilient kids and adults.
City Centre West East Link - Hear from Henry Whaley, Chair of the Roseburn Route Support Group who will explain how the campaign for the City Centre West East Link was run.
🗓️ 🎭 EdFoC | Sunday 9 June, 16:00 - 18:00 - Panel Discussion:Beer Bike Bust: outlaw bigger bikes, or embrace them?
A panel of locals and experts will debate what is objectionable or to be welcomed about larger and more powerful ‘bikes’, what is currently allowed, and what part if any they should play in the transport future of pro-cycling cities.
➕ There’s loads more going on - tours, maintenance sessions, led rides, film screenings and so forth. Head over to the Edinburgh Festival of Cycling Events page to see what’s on »
📆 Upcoming / Ongoing
💜 SCOREscotland’s “Wester Hailes, Walk, Pedal and Thrive project” are starting a new cycle training beginners group on Saturdays during May and June - more details on their Facebook post.
🎭 EdFoC | Fri 31st May - Sun 9th Jun (runs throughout the festival): Bikes for Refugees (Scotland) BIG Charity Auction
Bid on Bikes for Refugees’ BIG charity auction for the opportunity to win some great prizes, including a bamboo bike, signed books, fun experiences, unique cycle themed pieces of art, and lots, lots more!
✊🏼 🎭 EdFoC | Ongoing - '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 you’ll find highlighted above.
Edinburgh Council archives — who recently launched the ‘Edinburgh 900’ project to celebrate 900 years since Edinburgh became a royal burgh — have also asked ‘Pedal Power’ to be part of the programme and will tour the exhibition around communities in Edinburgh after it finishes at the Museum of Edinburgh in September.
🔁 Weekly Events
⚡️ Porty Community Energy are trialling a weekly Wednesday evening advice drop-infb;
🛠️ 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.
✴️ Regular events on at The Wee Spoke Hub - follow their schedule here including a Bike DIY Session this Thursday 6th, 4pm - 8pm, and So... you've bought a bike... what next? this Saturday 8th, 11am - 1pm;
🫂 Help Needed
🚲 Help Fund a New Specialised Active Chair for Porty Community Energy Activist Roseanne Sinclair
Rosie has previously volunteered with Porty Community Energy’s Bikefest and Accessible Porty events, and is raising funds for a new specialised active chair and physiotherapy. If you can help, head on over to her campaign page!;
Ongoing:
📦 Help distribute Edinburgh Festival of Cycling programmes to Cafés, Bike shops, Independent retailers, Libraries and beyond by joining their Volunteer programme distributors;
🌊 Porty Community Energy crowdfunding their Sea Rising Festival;
🚴🏼 Friends of the Skelf bike park and pump track just off Holyrood Park are [raising money currently;
Ongoing:
🚌 Volunteer to help marshal a local school Bike Bus - see the Bike Bus Hub Directory;
🙋 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
🏖️ Brunstane and Portobello
‘Edinburgh roads: 'Radical changes' on way for Portobello High Street and Brighton Place’ in The Evening News;
The ETRO scheme closing Brunstane Rd to motorised traffic has been made permanent;
🌳 Meadows to George Street
The associated orders (TRO/21/32 and RSO/21/08) are now closed for comments as of 17th May.
✍🏽 Detailed Design Documents: - 📄 Teviot Place, Forrest Road, Bristo Place [PDF] - 📄 Forrest Road, Candlemaker Row and George IV Bridge [PDF] - 📄 George IV Bridge, The Royal Mile and Bank Street [PDF] - 📄 North Bank Street and the Mound [PDF] - 📄 The Mound, Princes Street and Hanover Street [PDF] - 📄 Market Street [PDF]
⚓️ 'Signs of lifex' - 241 days of planned cycleway construction works starting some time between late Summer and Autumn this year - on the 'Foot of the Walk to Ocean Terminal' protected cycle route as part of Leith Connections, which promises to be a great continuation of the segregated routes slowly taking root in the city centre;
🚴🏼♀️ Nearby Midlothian Council have launched ‘On the Move Midlothian: Our Active Travel Strategy for Everyone’, 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.
📄 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'.
👁️🗨️ The Dalry Living Well Locally consultation runs until 26th June:
Thanks for reading - ride safe 🚲
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