🎄 edi.bike | issue 72 | 23rd Dec ‘24
your festive edinburgh cycling digest
📰 News this Week
⏳ Active Travel Project Delays Revealed at Full Council Meeting
At the ‘Full Council’ meeting held on 19th December, an insightful question was raised by Green party Councillor Chas Booth:
“Please will the convener list all projects in the Active Travel Investment Programme 2022 - 2027, and for each project also list:
a) the original Planned Construction Start Date
b) the current Planned Construction Start Date
c) the number of months the construction date has been
Delayed
This request was caveated by Officers in response to include proposed completion dates rather than start dates, as for many projects that have been struggling along for a while their originally intended start date is probably hard to track down; they did, however, return a full list as requested and it makes for a pretty tough read - delays, upon delays, upon delays.
📄 The full table is on Page 54 and 55 of the Q&A Pack [PDF]
A second question, asked and answered from Page 56 onwards, is also illuminating:
“Please will the Convener also outline the primary themes that are leading to active travel project delays, and what action is being taken to address these.”
It’s not too late to get a quick missive off to the North Pole asking Santa if we can have more funding (not to mention Political leadership) for Christmas. Quickly now!
⚠️ Sharp Objects Warning for Stockbridge Area
Following last week’s news of tyre-bursting ‘caltrops’ dangerously spread across Leith Walk’s Cycle Lanes, the following day someone was seen in Stockbridge sprinkling drawing pins into the carriageway. If you’re passing through either area in the coming months, both incidents are worth bearing in mind.
🥐 Pastries Down the Hatch — La Barantine Now Serving On-Street
In important Winter Sustenance news, Oli spotted that La Barantine on Fountainbridge now has a serving hatch, perfect for rocking up on the bike for a quick treat:
Further down the thread a lovely list of places to roll up to was then added by Sasha and Oli - a worthy compendium of convenient eats!
🏰 Local Bits
📰 Edinburgh Evening News: “Edinburgh Holyrood Park: Calls for car ban sees MSPs clash in Scottish Parliament”;
🛍️ The Bike Station have a great wee eBay shop on the go for a previously-loved “treasure trove of bikes, accessories, and cycling gear”;
If you missed it last week, have a read of their 2024 impact report too [PDF, 4.9mb], and then consider helping them out:
➕ Due to Rent Hikes, TBS are having to relocate — Donate Now to Help The Bike Station Move Premises »
At time of writing, they’re at 77% of their £10k target with 8 days left 💪🏽
🪧 Installation of lovely new wayfinding signage along the Union Canal shared by Longstone Community Council, including some photos;
🦋 Whether or not you’ve already gotten round to an account on Bluesky, worth a browse through Blackford Safe Routes’ new starter pack of Edinburgh and Lothians Active Travel Advocates;
➕ International News
👪 Only really a passing mention, but great quote from Irish Soprano Claudia Boyle on the perks of Cargo Bike parenting:
“I recently purchased a cargo bike to cycle my two children to school. Initially it was to avoid the congestion in our area and make the school bell on time. But the chats, giggles and memories on the bike is something you can’t buy.” — Claudia Boyle, Irish Independent
🎄 However you're marking this time of year, hope you have a pleasant break - who knows if there will be anything new to report this time next week, but we'll write to you anyway!
— Ben
📣 Help edi.bike ✍🏼
🗣️ Recommend us to someone - why not forward to a friend, or just point them to edi.bike online
📝 Share a story / issue - If you run into anything that might be a good fit for next time, feel free to send it over.
💜 Join the Supporters Club for £1/month to help us cover costs and promote to a wider audience. More info below.
🛣 Route Closures and Issues
📪 Many thanks to Robbie for recent closure updates:
🐎 King's Stables Rd - closed until Jan 17th, improved signage has been promised;
🪨 Holyrood Pk - Closure of the 'High Road' for rockfall work looks to have concluded, however it’s worth checking holiday period opening times here before heading over;
🧭 CCWEL at Melville St - while the public realm improvement works here have largely concluded, the Council’s roads report suggests there may still be interference with the cycleway here;
🧭 CCWEL at Roseberry Cres - works were expected to finish on the 20th, but no update as yet as to whether this has been deferred again;
💧 Union Canal: Towpath improvement works are ongoing from Leamington Lift Bridge to Edinburgh Quay until May 2025. A section of towpath is closed with diversion across the lift bridge and along the southern side of the canal - more info at Scottish Canals;
🛤️ Thanks to Martin for passing on an update from Midlothian Council on the partial closure of NCN 196, on the Auchendinny-Rosewell railway path for resurfacing with ‘flexipave’: “The nature of the new material requires specific settings for it to be laid and it is unable to set under the poor weather that we have recently experienced, being very wet and extremely cold conditions. The expected completion time is now by the middle of February 2025, weather dependent. As a result, the council has made the decision to open the section for the pathway, allowing users the opportunity to utilise the section over this period. The pathway from Auchendinny to Rosewell will now reopen from Saturday 21st December, and will remain open until the contractors are able to return to resurface …on February 3rd 2025, at which point the last of the resurfacing works will begin. It is estimated the remaining works will require approximately 2 weeks to complete resurfacing.”
⚡ 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;
🎉 Events and Happenings
📆 Upcoming / Ongoing
🖼️ The Spokes, Infrasisters, Bike Buses and Edinburgh Critical Mass co-curated campaigning exhibition ‘Pedal Power’ has opened at its new venue [IG] of Duncan Place in Leith - well worth a visit;
🔁 Weekly Events
🎅🏼 Festivus Warning; some of these are likely to be skipping a week or two over the break, so make your own enquiries before setting off!
🍃 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 (Except December! 🧑🎄): Critical Mass Edinburgh, Protest Group Ride, 2pm, Middle Meadow Walk (no ride this month 🎄);
🫂 Help Needed
🚲 Investigating cycling as a mode of active transport in ethnic minority groups in Edinburgh - take part in an ongoing cycling study by Edinburgh University student Keping Li
🚸 From Parents for Future Scotland:
”We are recruiting enthusiastic speakers to join our 2024 Schools Air Pollution Programme as workshop facilitators. Our programme empowers children and their parents to take meaningful action against air pollution in Edinburgh. Workshop facilitators help deliver an engaging and informative talk to parents in the city, raising awareness about air pollution and the steps we can all take to help tackle it. This is a paid role and no previous experience in speaking to groups or expertise in air pollution is 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.”
More info at Vacancies — Parents for Future Scotland »
✏️ Jobs and Voluntary Roles
✴️ 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 | 🆘 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)
⚓️ 'Foot of the Walk to Ocean Terminal' - construction is underway on the Great Junction St cycleway, with work on Henderson St recently started too, 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
⚒️ Lasswade Rd Cycleways
Update: Looking like this project has now been completed.
Spokes previously 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 🚲
💜 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 £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 💜
🎁 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!