🚲 edi.bike | issue 69 | 2nd Dec ‘24
your weekly edinburgh cycling digest
📰 News this Week
🌳 ‘Roseburn to Union Canal’ gets an Opening Event Date…
A post to the Save the Roseburn Path group on Facebook offers a sneak peak at cycling along the new Roseburn to Union Canal link, along with details of an upcoming opening event on December 9th; we’ll be there to document and will be sure to share a ride-through video after the fact;
🚺 Photos and Media from Infrasisters’ #NoExcuse Ride
InfraSisters rode out on Friday evening following UN Women UK’s #NoExcuse campaign - “no excuse for unsafe cycle infrastructure, no excuse for inaction, no excuse for standing by.”
If you’re interested in the cause, Infrasisters’ Julie gave a brilliant talk on the origins and purpose at the recent Spokes meeting, which you can 📺 watch back here »
The protest was well attended, riding a 4.5 mile loop from the Meadows through the south side and down past the Scottish Parliament, before riding through the Cowgate to Lothian Rd and back up through Forrest Rd before finishing up in Bristo Sq, all excellently documented by photographer and cyclist Andy Catlin whose portfolio album of the event really captures the magic of these rides;
🚘 Vehicles on the Ferry Rd Path
Over a month on from the October incident in which a parent and her kids were nearly hit by a car on the Ferry Rd path — and their dog injured by the vehicle — a photo posted to Bluesky this week show another vehicle has clearly made it through in spite of promises from the Council to look into protecting the off-road walking and cycling space with entry bollards. In this case, the car at least looks in no condition to be putting anyone in jeopardy…
🛠️ The Bike Station Launches £10k Fundraiser ‘Big Give 2024’
Rising Rents Threaten 20 Years of Community Impact – Help The Bike Station Keep Pedalling
For over 20 years, The Bike Station has been working in the heart of local communities, changing lives through cycling. We launch this crowdfunding campaign to support our search for a new home after being forced out by staggering rent increases at our Causewayside location. The Bike Station, known for our work in tackling inequality and empowering grassroots communities through programmes like the Wee Bike Library and Hero Bikes, urgently needs public support to continue its mission.
These folks do important work in the community, keeping not only a circular economy of bikes of all shapes and sizes fixed up and in circulation, but providing mechanic and volunteer training, the Wee Bike Library community bike hire scheme for kids’ bikes, and many other outreach initiatives.
”Our Bikes + Your Support = generational change, healthier communities, stronger and more sustainable Scotland.
We believe that when we come together, small actions add up to create BIG change. Whether you’ve been a long standing supporter or just want to contribute to a journey that matters, your support makes all the difference.”
➕ Donate Now »
🏰 Local Bits
📋 Open until December 8th, Sustrans are surveying path user opinions on the Flexpave surface used for the Water of Leith walkway path resurfacing, and the investment in artwork for the Colinton Tunnel - survey here »
🔆 Leith Walk Improvements: Martin posted a photo demonstrating the reflective treatment the Council / Trams to Newhaven contractors are applying to street furniture located too close to the cycleway (within handlebar clipping distance, essentially); good to see these kinds of mitigations even though ideally they’d be designed out in the first place by stricter adherence to available guidance;
🌺 ✊ On Saturday, the last Edinburgh Critical Mass of 2024 were joined by The Scottish Rewilding Alliance, who will be handing their Rewilding Nation Charter to the Scottish Government tomorrow, December 3rd. Some amazing themed bike decoration and costumes were seen, judging by the photos shared;
🚲 David at Laid Back Bikes posted a lovely Flickr Album with the many and various shapes and sizes of cargo bike, trike and recumbent they’ve sold in the last year or so - a wonderfully diverse collection of cycles in all manner of form factors;
💪 Some nice photos on Instagram of a low-carbon move for the excellent ‘Pedal Power’ Edinburgh Cycle Campaigning exhibition from its original location at the Museum of Edinburgh on the Royal Mile, off to Duncan Place in Leith where it will reopen this month;
💼 Brompton have installed one of their new folding cycle hire lockers at Sheriffhall Park & Ride south-east of Edinburgh, with cheap hire deals for the first 200 users detailed in Midlothian Council’s news article; you can also get a period of free or reduced price hire if you’re a member of Enterprise Car Club. Would be great to see a more central location for Brompton hire crop up at some stage too - not to mention the return of a full cycle hire fleet to Scotland’s capital;
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➕ National News
📘 A new handbook for UK Police forces by Laura Laker follows her study of the language used in press releases and public statements, for example placing subjective blame on a ‘car colliding with someone’ rather than a driver doing so - contributing further to our societal normalisation of road violence as something detached from human behaviour. Laker posted an illuminating thread to Bluesky with some background, and also linked to the website for the report and new guidance;
🏴 From Transform Scotland:
NEW: How to generate funds for Scotland's transport.
Our #IdeasForInvestment report highlights a suite of innovative financial instruments and tax reforms which would raise revenue and stimulate investment in sustainable transport._ — Read the Report »
💚 Sustrans recently completed a phase of volunteer-driven auditing around 480 miles of the National Cycle Network, involving 72 volunteers (32 of whom were new to the process) - David Hoy shared on Bluesky about the experience and there’s an opportunity from Sustrans to join their Action Team for similar future projects;
🌍 Elsewhere
🇺🇲 USA: “Cycling can make seniors healthier and more independent − here’s how to design bikes and networks that meet their needs” - article at The Conversation /via Blackford Safe Routes on Bluesky;
🛣 Route Closures and Issues
💧 Union Canal: Towpath improvement works will start from Leamington Lift Bridge to Edinburgh Quay today, Dec 2nd, and finish by May 2025. The towpath will be closed with diversion across the lift bridge and along the southern side of the canal - more info at Scottish Canals;
📥 From reader Robbie: _“CCWEL Cycle Path Closed at Haymarket between Rosebery Crescent and Coates Place in both directions for emergency sewer repair works;
⚡ 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;
🏹 Lawnmarket and Upper Bow: Road improvements are ongoing until July ‘25; be sure to read the Council’s page about the closures, which managed to completely omit arrangements for a certain human-powered transport mode so mind how you go;
🚶 Melville St at Walker St has some partial closures of the CCWEL segregated lanes for major works as part of the public realm improvements that runs until December this year;
🎉 Events and Happenings
🔁 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 - contact Markus [x];
☕️Tues, 5pm: [National] Active Travel Cafe on Zoom
🛠️ Weds, 3pm: Bike Kitchen at Edinburgh Tool Library
🌅 Thurs, ⏰ 5.40am: Edinburgh Dawn Patrol (same as Tues, details above);
✴️ Thurs, 5-8pm: Bike DIY Session at The Wee Spoke Hub
⚙️ Sat, 2-4pm: ‘Bike Cleaning and Oiling’ drop-in session at The Wee Spoke Hub
🔁 Monthly Events
🚲 First Friday of the month: Inclusive social bike rides with A Wee Pedal, 1-3pm, from Bridgend Farmhouse;
✊ Last Saturday of the month: Critical Mass Edinburgh, Protest Group Ride, 2pm, Middle Meadow Walk (with no ride in December);
🫂 Help Needed
🚸 From Parents for Future Scotland:
”We are looking for enthusiastic parents to join our 2024 Schools Air Pollution Programme as parent speakers. Our programme empowers children and their parents to take meaningful action against air pollution in Edinburgh. Parent speakers help deliver an engaging and informative talk to other parents in the city, raising awareness about air pollution and the steps we can all take to help tackle it. No previous experience in speaking to groups or expertise in air pollution needed - we provide free training and a buddy system to help build your confidence as you grow into this important role. This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to positive change in your community, meet other like-minded parents, and develop new skills.”
✏️ Jobs and Voluntary Roles
⭕ The Bike Station — Board Members and Shop Floor volunteers for their Causewayside branch [x] »
💚 Cargo Bike Movement — Freelance Communication and Marketing Lead »
✴️ The Wee Spoke Hub — Administration Volunteer:
ℹ️ Also: Office / studio space to sublet;
🛠️ With over 500 responses, halfway there! Scottish Cargo Bike maker Ariel Bikes are looking to get 1,000 responses to their e-cargo bike market survey, and if they do they’ll give away a bike:
“Win an Ariel e-cargo bike worth £5600, with ZF 112Nm motor system, plus Magura, Shimano, Halo, Schwalbe, Suntour and Spinner parts and components. All on a hand built 4130 chromoly steel frame fabricated in our Scottish workshop. Finished in glorious orange metallic fleck powder coat.
We want to understand the UK e-cargo bike market better. So we’ve created a short survey. Fill in the survey and if we can get to over 1000 responses, we will give away the bike.”
Ongoing: 🚌 Marshal for School Bike Buses | 🙋 Help with school programme ‘I Bike’ | 🗨️Join Spokes’ Planning or Resources group | 🤝 Support SW20 via Co-op shopping | 🆘 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 or ‘Brake the Cycle’.
🌈 Infrastructure Progress & Consultations
🚢 Leith Connections: Foot of the Walk to Dock St Construction Underway, Schedule Shared
🦶Foot of the Walk to ‘Ocean Terminal’ (actually Commercial St)
📸 Some shots from Martin on Bluesky of the works on Foot of the Walk to Dock Street commencement this week…
⚓️ 'Foot of the Walk to Ocean Terminal' - construction is now underway on the Great Junction St cycleway, with work on Henderson St commencing at the start of December, for around ten months - a 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.
This Leith Connections works leaflet [PDF] outlines the rough timeline for construction of the route.
Confusingly, the project doesn’t go to Ocean Terminal (shades of Roseburn to Union Canal here) and instead gives up at Commercial St, with the Commercial St to Ocean Terminal leg covered by the third phase of Leith Connections (below);
⚓ Leith Connections Phase 3 - Hawthornvale to Seafield
This consultation has recently closed (17th November).
View the:
Consultation Hub Page (link at the bottom to fill out the survey before the deadline);
Detailed Design drawings (PDF) »
🌳 Greenbank to Meadows Quiet Route
Some recent movement on the Greenbank to Meadows Quiet Route, in an update from Blackford Safe Routes and this update from Cllr Ben Parker;
📋 Travelling Safely Schemes (Various)
ETROs for these schemes have various end dates (barring ‘South’, which is not yet published) and can be found for comment at the Council’s Travelling Safely Commonplace microsite; also by emailing TRO.Consultations@edinburgh.gov.uk quoting the relevant scheme.
🌊 Musselburgh Active Toun Consultation
Updated plans over on Musselburgh Active Toun with further consultation ongoing: these may be of particular interest to Edinburgh residents as they cover the East Lothian section of Edinburgh Road that would eventually facilitate the long-held ambition of a tie-in to Joppa and Portobello prom, as well as the rest of the North Edinburgh network.
Comments on the consultation can be emailed to musselburgh.uki@aecom.com
⚒️ Work ongoing, August to November - Lasswade Rd Cycleways
Spokes shared [x] the project page for a partial resurfacing of Lasswade Rd that includes a stretch of segregated cycle lane at each side, close to Gracemount High School. Spokes’ response makes mention of various interesting aspects and suggests changes.
Thanks for reading - ride safe 🚲
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