🚲 edi.bike | issue 88 | 14th Apr ‘25
your weekly edinburgh cycling digest
📰 News this Week
🚶 Pedestrianisation and Cycling Project to Close Lawnmarket to Traffic
Via Harry Williams on Bluesky, news of a new City of Edinburgh Council project commencing in July will see an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) close Johnstone Terrace and Lawnmarket during daytime, with deliveries and loading taking place outside of those hours:
Restrictions will be between
10.30am and 7.30pm, Monday to Saturday
12.30pm and 7.30pm, Sunday

Lawnmarket’s black ‘anti-terror’ vehicle barriers have been removed during works, to be replaced at the end of the current work with mechanised retractable bollards. In addition to this filter, the following changes will be put in place:
Johnston Terrace
Restricted access for large vehicles when pedestrian and cycle zone is in operation
Removal of existing coach parking
Taxi and private hire pick-up and drop-off areas
Additional blue badge parking
Public and resident parking
Turning area for smaller vehicles including taxis and vans
Castle Terrace
Coach pick-up and drop-off on Castle Terrace
Relocated residential parking to make way for Coach spaces, at the cost of
Being an ETRO, over the eighteen trial months the council will be looking to monitor the impact and any changes needed before making the scheme a permanent change - including six months of public consultation. There’s also an extensive page of current arrangements, ahead of the ETRO commencing, including changes to through traffic on Castle Terrace.

These welcome (and long overdue) changes are seemingly part of a series of new projects under the heading ‘Improving Old Town Streets’ which starts with Johnstone Terrace and Lawnmarket, and also covers Victoria Street, High Street (west), Cockburn Street, High Street (east) and Hunter Square - all earmarked for changes under the various themes already established by the Transport Committee:
The strategies and plans guiding our proposals
The project reflects our ambition to be net zero by 2030 and the wider vision for the city as set out in our key strategies including:
City Mobility Plan 2021 – 2030: a 10-year strategy to transform the way people, goods and services travel around the city;
City Centre Transformation: an ambitious plan to provide a people-focused city centre, which is a desirable place to live, work and visit.
Our Future Streets (Circulation Plan): a long-term approach for planning transport and improvements to outdoor spaces across the city.
💚 Cargo Bike Movement, 2020 - 2025: New Impact Report Documenting the Last Five Years
“Cargo Bike Movement convince people in a gentle way. A small organisation nudging, listening, not pushing sales, and believing in what they’re doing – it’s persuasive.” — CBM Partner

Gorgeous report on everything Cargo Bike Movement over the last five years - this document is not only packed with all things CBM and their work over this half decade, but chock full of great insight into Edinburgh itself and the opportunities our compact urban centre offers for doing last mile delivery - and just day to day movement of goods and people - differently in the age of the cargo cycle. Really worth a read through.
Impact Report - Cargo Bike Movement 2020-25 » [PDF]
🏰 Local Bits
🏬 Via Robbie, “Is Edinburgh on the Road to Nowhere?” at The Edinburgh Reporter covers an event from last week:
The state of Edinburgh streetscape and heritage was the focus of an engaging public discussion On the Road to Nowhere? Edinburgh’s Streetscape and Heritage Places, organised by the Cockburn Association and held at Augustine United Church on Thursday.
The event was addressed by Terry Levinthal and Richard from the Cockburn Association, Fiona Rankin from Edinburgh World Heritage along with two University of Edinburgh students who have conducted an in-depth study of the city centre, Alex Robb from Spokes, and David Hunter from Living Streets Edinburgh, with an extended audience discussion at the end.
The article does a great job of rounding up the event and the evening’s discourse, as well as quoting some of the frustrations of active travel stakeholder groups like Spokes and Living Streets Edinburgh in the maintenance and development of our city centre.
🎙️ The ‘Edinburgh Outdoors’ podcast has a new episode, ‘Tandem Cycling with Vie Velo’:
VIE Velo is an Edinburgh cycling community that pairs sighted and sight impaired cyclists who head out on tandems together. This club is an example of how a passion for cycling transcends the usual volunteer/participant set-up, with all members of the club simply being there because they love cycling. You'll also hear how much they love stopping for cake and chat too.
I was blown away by the positivity and welcome I received from the members of VIE Velo and enjoyed talking to them about cycling, wearing bright pink, sight impairment and how this club is just an example of excellence.
Well worth a listen - thanks to edi.bike Supporter’s club member Mikey for sending in 💜
🍅 SHRUB is looking for food distribution volunteers and Cargo Bikes:
We need anyone available any evening from Monday to Friday with a cargo bike or other transport to help us at SHRUB, picking up food from various supermarkets, that needs sorting and delivering to SHRUB in Bread Street. We are a zero Waste Hub charity and work for community environmental stuff!
We need to keep collecting and giving out for free a lot of waste supermarket food! This project has existed for 3 years any many of our people are vulnerable, disabled and/or elderly and rely on our free safe fresh food that would otherwise go in a bin
Can you help? If you can lend us your bike any day a week or even do the collection? Please email kai.allen@shrubcoop.org
📷 Lovely turnout for Bridgend Farmhouse’s latest cycling adventure, led by A Wee Pedal, on Facebook - including details of their next ride to the Observatory;
🤘 A new 6 week term of the Edinburgh School of Rocks starts tomorrow, Tuesday 15th April:
💡 What is the School Of Rocks? A woman-led community offering a toolkit to empower everyone to find joy in off-road cycling. The School of Rocks builds skill, confidence and community by organising a curriculum of rides over 6-week terms. Rides are fun, regular and gently progress in difficulty. Riders learn and grow in a supportive environment.
⛰ The School of Rocks provides an alternative space to those who don't feel represented in the traditional gravel scene. We particularly welcome women, riders from the LGBTQIA+ community, and riders of all shapes and sizes, skin colour, ethnicity, age, background and ability. We can all discover the joy of exploring by bike.
Do check them out if you’re interested, on Instagram or their Linktree;
☀️ Nice shots on Instagram from The Bike Station’s ‘Kids Bike Life’ in the spring sunshine last week;
🚴 Also on Instagram, Soul Cycles recently teased a new cycle hire business:
Our Bike hire and tours website is under construction and will be launching in the next few weeks. We have many Marin Bikes gravel and city bikes with electric assist to rent. Road and MTB as well as children’s bikes, all premium quality, over 100 bikes in the fleet so whatever you need we will get you sorted. Until we go live just email us at the shop with any enquiries
🧘 Yoga by Bike, coming in May:
Join Detour [IG] for a social bike ride and yoga practice in East Lothian, on the 4th May!
We will meet by 📍 PATH (Portobello Active Travel Hub, on Porty Promenade) at 9am. We’ll ride around 15 miles to Longniddry, with plenty of stops to chat, hydrate and enjoy the scenery.
Around 11am we will arrive at Fern Bothy, where snacks and hot drinks will be provided. Jorja will then lead a 1 hour Vinyasa Yoga class, suitable for all levels.
Option to jump on a train home from Longniddry, or ride back to Edinburgh together!
🇬🇧 National
🏴 Save the date for She Pedals Scotland:
On 14th June 2025 we want to see how many women and girls in Scotland can ride their bikes in one day. Whether it's 1 mile or 100 miles, off road, on road, racing, cycling round the park, e-bike, BMX, handcycle, it doesn't matter. Let's create a buzz around women and girls riding their bikes outdoors!
🦓 Further to our coverage of Edinburgh’s Transport & Environment Committee discussing side road zebra crossings — cheaper and more easily implemented without lamps or beacons, as found on the continent — this recent episode of the Streets Ahead podcast delves into the topic and its history:
Chris Boardman, England's walking and cycling commissioner, talks to Adam and Laura about the idea, which he's backed for some time, first working in Manchester as active travel commissioner, and now, in the national role. While he says caution in transport policy helps stop stupid things happening, he believes it is now the time to move forward. For context, we've had six transport ministers in the time it's taken to mull this issue.
🛣 Route Closures and Issues
ℹ️ Encountered unexpected road issues? Find out how to report them with this guide from Spokes. The team at Edinburgh Travel News are also keen to hear about cycle path alerts and can be contacted on Threads or Facebook.
🦋 On Bluesky? Follow the #EdTravCyc feed - anyone can use the #EdTravCyc hashtag to share route issues they encounter;
📪 The week’s road closure info - many thanks to regular contributor Robbie for collating and preparing these:
🚧 East Fettes Ave: Closed until the end of April for resurfacing on Comely Bank Rd. Side streets Comely Bank Ave and Learmonth Terrace may also be closed. If you’re travelling between Stockbridge and Ferry Rd, Inverleith Park or Crewe Rd may be alternatives.

🎬 Filming in Old Town: Victoria St and Royal Mile outside City Chambers closed this afternoon (14th April) and Wednesday afternoon. It may be necessary to wait a few minutes during a ‘take’ and dismount to pass. Access to Cockburn St should be possible.
🤳 Royal Mile: Closed from today (14th April) until 5th of May between George IV Bridge and St Giles for building works. St Giles Street, behind the high court, may provide an alternate route.
🌊 Marchmont Road: Closed Southbound this week by Scottish Water. The toucan crossing on the cycle path from Bruntsfield Link may be affected. It may be possible to pass via Meadow Place and Marchmont Crescent. Their website provides lots of information, but seems to have forgotten to mention cycles.
🚧 Kirk Brae: Closed southbound this week (14th April) for Scottish Power works. There will be some works in the junction at Liberton Brae.
🎬 Rutland Square: Filming Wednesday (16th April) all day with closure to vehicles. It may be necessary to wait a few minutes during a ‘take’ and dismount to pass.
🚦 NCR1 Innocent Cycle Path: Scottish Water roadworks at the Toucan crossing of Duddingston Road West, which may obstruct access. Expected to finish 19th of April.
🏫 Canaan Lane: closed at Morningside Rd for Scottish Water repairs until the 21th of April. It will still be possible to use the Greenbank-Meadows Quiet Route. However, be aware of vehicles turning and exiting this space via Woodburn Grove, especially around school-run hours.
🌉 Viewforth: Closed until 18th of April due to Scottish Power works on Dundee St. If travelling over the Union Canal, the Leamington Lift Bridge may offer an alternative. Update – Viewforth is currently free of works and marked by permeable traffic cones, potentially allowing cycle access.
🦓 Moredun Park Road: Closed until 18th of April outside Craigour Park Primary School for construction of a new zebra crossing.
🚳 St John’s Road: Crossing Improvements at Featherhall Avenue until mid-June. During the initial works, the northbound cycle lane on Featherhall Avenue will be closed.
⛰️ Duddingston Low Road in Holyrood Park: Ongoing inspection works have identified a risk of rockfall, resulting in a closure until further notice. Dismounting to pass is not possible. The innocent cycle path is currently unaffected; however, this may change.
🌉 Harrison Road: two bridges closed due to structural concerns with micro-cracking in the original cast iron beams. Until works begin, a pleasant temporary low traffic area has been created; however, access to cycles is being restricted as works begin.
The west bridge over a small path is having its deck rebuilt until September 2025. The roadway is closed to cycles, though the footway remains open for now. A closure of the path underneath is also expected, which may include a signed diversion.
The east bridge over the Union Canal has been inspected and may also require repair works. Friend of the digest Oli posted a photo of the impressive inspection vehicle on Bluesky
🚂 Waverley Bridge - concrete barriers have been placed across the southbound lane with no gap. Council officers are planning to replace them with temporary barriers with a southbound cycle lane. Be aware a faulty sensor is causing airport buses to enter the ‘bike box’, further restricting access.
🧱 Ellen’s Glen Rd, a quiet link in Liberton, closed at the modal filter to repair flooding damage until late May ‘25. Closure includes pedestrians and a diversion is signed via Malbet Wynd;
🏡 Leith LTN: Closure of Duncan Place until late May ‘25 for footway resurfacing. During this period, traffic will instead primarily access the LTN via Links Gardens, with the bus gate suspended. The modal filter on Wellington Place may provide quieter cycle access.
💧 Union Canal: Towpath improvement works are ongoing from Leamington Lift Bridge to Edinburgh Quay until May ‘25. 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;
⚡ 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.
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🎉 Events and Happenings
📆 Upcoming / Ongoing
🚲 A number of great Adult Cycling Training sessions are coming up facilitated by The Wee Spoke Hub - including ‘Absolute beginners’ this Thursday, ‘Introduction to on-road cycling’ and ‘Advanced on-road cycling’ — check out the event details on their website »
⚙️ Spokes, the Lothians Cycle Campaign, latest ‘Action Update’](http://www.spokes.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2502-25-action-update.pdf) [PDF] includes details of their next public meeting, featuring Transport Convenor Cllr Stephen Jenkinson and Deborah Paton, the Council’s Head of Transport, Strategy and Partnerships:
This will be our first public meeting with Transport Convener Cllr Stephen Jenkinson, who took over when Cllr Scott Arthur was elected as an MP... He will speak on the place of cycling within Edinburgh’s overall transport policies, and what we can expect to see happening this year. Also speaking will be Deborah Paton, Head of Transport, Strategy and Partnership at the Council. As a senior officer, whose remit includes active travel, she is knowledgeable both on detailed active travel issues and on how individual projects fit into overall council transport plans. Deborah previously worked at Glasgow City, drawing up their new Local Transport Strategy, and before that preparing West Lothian Council’s Active Travel Action Plan, thus rising rapidly through the ranks!
Wednesday 30th April, 📍 Augustine United Church. 7.30pm - 9.30pm, with doors open from 6.45pm for coffee, stalls and chat, including a special stall to join Spokes or renew your membership
💙 Riding LEJOG in memory of Tim McKenna — and raising money for charities Mind, Sustrans and Flight Free UK in his honour. Passing through in August, folks can join for some or all of the route by reviewing the itinerary. Thanks to John Robson for the link.
💯 Reader Alastair shared with us an ongoing campaign by cycling club Edinburgh RC celebrating its hundredth year in 2025:
As part of the celebration of our Centenary year, we are launching our 100x100x100 women's challenge. This aims to get 100 women of all cycling abilities to ride 100k. If you are an experienced rider, why not encourage some of your family or friends to take part in the challenge? If you are nervous about rising to the challenge fear not, ERC is ready to help.
More info at Edinburgh RC »
🖼️ The Spokes, Infrasisters, Bike Buses and Edinburgh Critical Mass co-curated campaigning exhibition ‘Pedal Power’ is open at its new venue [IG] of Duncan Place in Leith - well worth a visit.
🔁 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 - more info on their Instagram;
☕️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, Family-friendly mass protest / group ride, 2pm, Middle Meadow Walk;
🫂 Help Needed
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, The Wee Spoke Hub or ‘Brake the Cycle’.
🌈 Infrastructure Progress & Consultations
✨ This section of the digest will receive a revamp in the coming months to move long-running, detailed consultation information onto web pages, and instead publish a list of links for open and recent consultations (along with summaries for anything actually new). In the meantime, anything new or changed is found near the top. ✨
In Previous Updates:
🌸 Greenbank to Meadows Quiet Route: ‘Option 3’ Detailed Plans (At Last)
Last Spring, the Labour Administration sided with Tory and Lib Dem colleagues on the Transport and Environment Committee and voted to remove traffic filtering from the Braid Estate, forming a key part of the Greenbank to Meadows Quiet Route - filters that had reduced through-traffic in the neighbourhood by as many as four thousand cars per day, a vote in direct opposition to several of the councils’ own policies. After a long design process, the plans for ‘Option 3’ (in a strange, consultation-as-referenda programme of stumbling around local objections and procedural glitches) have finally been made available, providing instead a series of protected cycleways through the streets forming the Braid Estate. Recently, Cllr Ben Parker asked for an update at Full Council and received a number of clarifications from Officers.
Neither pro-filter campaigners nor their pro-through-traffic counterparts are particularly thrilled by the plans, which will be implemented using temporary materials under a new Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO). However, thanks to Labour having tabled a last-minute caveat at the time, the ETRO will include the option to revert and reintroduce filters on the estate without requiring further legal process (e.g. another ETRO design and advertisement), so there is still hope if a case can be made that the goals of the project are deemed to have been compromised by reintroducing through-traffic to a liveable neighbourhood…
You can download the plans here [PDF].
📋 Consultation: Edinburgh BioQuarter Active Travel Gaps - Sheriffhall Park & Ride to BioQuarter Campus Route
Now closed (2nd March at 23:59): Consultation spotted by Spokes this week; seeking to connect up both some missing internal links in the active travel pathways around the Edinburgh BioQuarter site at Little France, and also deliver protected cycleways and quiet routes between the site and the Midlothian Council park and ride facility at Sheriffhall:
“Edinburgh BioQuarter partners (City of Edinburgh Council, NHS Lothian, Scottish Enterprise and The University of Edinburgh) are in the process of improving active travel routes and facilities in and around the campus…
The improvements being looked at within this project will see the development of a new active travel route to Edinburgh BioQuarter from Midlothian in the south to plug a 'gap' in the infrastructure. Eliminating the 'gap' will improve accessibility for walkers, wheelers, and cyclists during everyday journeys.”
Detailed Plans and Rationale on the project’s StoryMap »
🗺️ East Lothian Council are carrying out consultations on proposed improvements between Prestonpans and Levenhall; there is of course some local resistance, and it would be great to see folks who feel able to comment responding to the consultation.
Download the (muckle!) combined plan [PDF] or browse the list
🍃 Spokes recently highlighted a new consultation from Midlothian Council to create Active Travel provisions along the A7:
The aim of the project is to improve active travel connections within the study area making it easier for people to walk, wheel and cycle for their everyday journeys and to connect to public transport services more easily. Currently, there is no or limited provision for walking, wheeling and cycling along the majority of the A7 corridor.
The consultation has a deadline of 30th March for comments and input;
📋 Following the recent deadline for the ETRO (Experimental Traffic Regulation Order) consultation for the Northern ‘Travelling Safely’ areas, Spokes shared their final response [PDF] to the various areas and schemes covered - as always, thoughtful input on taking the schemes forward and potential improvements;
📃 From lurking in Community Council mailing lists, I spotted this rather handy document listing upcoming City of Edinburgh Council consultations and their approximate launch dates for the coming year;
🏞️ Via Spokes - in an update from Friends of Burdiehouse Burn Valley Park the start of a new project to improve the valley is ongoing:
Burdiehouse Burn Restoration - Concept Design
“For the Burdiehouse Burn to become a successful and notable blue-green regeneration project, restoring approximately 5 km of the burn and surrounding habitats”
Core project objectives:
Sustainable river restoration
Habitat restoration in the surrounding landscape ✨ 3. Active travel connections
Placemaking & access improvements
Education & engagement of people and organisations local to the burn
Net zero gains
Improve the resilience of the site to climate change.
More in their newsletter »
🏚️ New plans for 21 flats on the site of the derelict Longstone Inn - damaged due to local flooding - have been published, featuring a ramp and alley access to the Burnside path; in addition, the council have now progressed with identifying who owns which bits of land and wall where the Burnside path sinkhole is situated, so discussions with the landowner will be ongoing to come up with a plan for remedial works here to fix not only the sinkhole, but hopefully the underlying cause too.
⚒️ Merchiston Community Council are back on the campaign trail to improve Polwarth’s worst junction. News of the Council commencing a redesign, and more background on the project, can be found on their website;
📋 Dalry ‘Living Well Locally’: the council have published an Initial local resident feedback Report on the Dalry Town Centre proposals [PDF]. There is a summary on the main Consultation page.
🕳️ Photos shared by Longstone Community Council show recent works have provided “Some improvements to the diversion path surface and the gradient made on the Burnside path. Barriers also secured more robustly stopping access to the sinkhole.”;
⬆️ The statutory process for a handful of one-way street cycle exemptions have been published by the Council - available here as a list and more detailed plans: ‘TRO/24/27 - One-way street exemptions for cyclists - Various Roads - Ending on 31 January 2025’. Just one part of a city-wide project over the next 18 months or so to make more one way streets legal for contraflow cycling.
🚧 Works on the West Edinburgh Link project look to be starting at the end of May according to the listings on the Scottish Road Works Commissioner web portal spotted by Longstone Community Council;
🚢 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
View the:
Consultation Hub Page (now closed to responses);
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
Thanks for reading - ride safe 🚲
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