📰 News this Week

🎉 Greenbank to Meadows Quiet Route voted towards permanence at Transport committee

A landmark decision at the Council’s Transport and Environment committee on Thursday saw the Greenbank to Meadows Quiet Route scheme referred on to the Traffic Regulation Orders Sub-committee to be made permanent.

Presented with multiple options to proceed, councillors from the Green group, SNP and Labour administration voted to put aside the March 2024 plans to swap out modal filters at Braid Ave, Cluny Ave and Braid Rd for speed reduction measures and protected cycleways, and to instead refer the current scheme as-is to the ‘TRO Sub’ who next meet on 2nd June. They can make the route permanent in whole or in part, and will consider officers’ recommendations and the objections raised in the original Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (some time ago) when doing so.

So - one more hurdle to cross for this key safe travel corridor for the south of the city; but positive progress and nearly time to put the drawn-out and troubled politicking around this route to bed and move forward.

More in our Transport committee round-up below.

🏰 Local Bits

📺 Another fun video from March’s Edinburgh Critical Mass - from a rider who joined with a 360° camera - a real sense of what it’s like to be on the ride if you’ve never attended before…

🆕 In a post to Facebook, the City of Edinburgh Council unveiled part of the West Edinburgh Link ready for use - Torwood path between Torwood Crescent and Meadow Place Rd;

📸 Some lovely sunny photos on Bluesky from John Robson, showing a section of the Union Canal towpath where tree root bumps in the path have been sorted out, and a new asphalt ramp for those joining or leaving the towpath at Ogilvie Ter by Harrison Park;

🗺️ Interesting to see more cycle mapping work coming from the Council - where typically Edinburgh’s cyclists are making use of the excellent Spokes Maps. This article details new work from Pindar Creative on ‘seamless’ cycle maps for the Council, along with scouting by Markus Stitz of Edinburgh Dawn Patrol;

🚨 Bike theft sucks! 🚨

That's why Ronde CC and Gamma are hosting Police Scotland for a bicycle security event that anyone and everyone can attend. The police will be carrying out bike marking, and offering guidance on what steps you can take to keep your bikes safe. Totally free, and no need to be a member of Ronde.

So why not head along and protect your trusty ride? All you'll need to bring is your bike, and a phone to create your Bike Register account if you don't have one already.

Where: Gamma Transport Division, 📍 15-24 Comely Bank Row, EH4 1EA
When: Saturday 25th April from 12pm

🪟 Always keen to back a bike-based business: commercial window cleaner Two Wheel Windows get their work done by cargo bike - give them a shout for your shop, café and vape shoppe windaes! Contact via their website, follow on Instagram »

📅 25th April, 2pm: described as a ‘fun, entry-level bike race’, Edinburgh RC are hosting a youth cross-country mountain bike race for ages 6 - 16yrs at 📍 Davidson’s Mains Park

📅 SAVE THE DATE: Pedal on Parliament is back for 2026, with a mass ride of cyclists of all ages and abilities from Middle Meadow Walk to the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood, 11:30am on May 30th.

📲 Follow Pedal on Parliament on Bluesky | Instagram | Facebook | Mastodon | PoP Mailing List

📮 Got a story or link for the next issue of edi.bike? DM or mention @edi.bike on Bluesky, or send it in using our Submissions Form »

⛈️ National

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotland

🎤 What Scotland’s early hustings tell us about the future of active travel ahead of the election over at Cycling UK, with coverage from hustings so far and dates for more…

🛣️ Ironside Farrar, on behalf of Stirling Council, proposes a new path and car park near Manor Powis roundabout, to link up with Alloa as part of the North East Stirling Active Travel Network.

Working in conjunction with Sustrans [sic], the team will realign an existing stretch of cycleway off Alloa Road and onto a dedicated lane alongside, enhancing connections to the city centre.

More at Urban Realm, and the associated planning application »

🇬🇧 UK

💰 England: “The government has confirmed more than £100 million in funding to deliver hands-on training, community programmes and school initiatives that give people across England the skills, confidence and freedom to walk, wheel and cycle” - with multi-year funding for Bikeability, Living Streets, Cycling UK and others — more at Gov.uk »

♥️ Excellent ‘long watch’ on Youtube about cycling in London - but really, as it wears on, about so much more. For something as practical as it seems on the surface, this video also manages to get to the heart of what so many folks end up taking away from riding bikes, trikes and more - a complete shift in perspective, mental wellbeing and relationship with the places they live in and ride through. Shout out to Jonty for the link.

🛣 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;

📪 Road closure info — many thanks to regular contributor Robbie for collating and preparing these:

✅ Harrison Road: Strengthening completed on south-east bridge over the Union Canal with the towpath no longer affected. Later this summer, the top of the bridge is expected to be obstructed by resurfacing.

✅ Saughton Crescent: Sections of resurfacing and junction improvements on QuietRoute 9 by Balgreen now largely complete. Short periods for defect correction may follow.

🏞️ Holyrood Park: Weekend closures of Queens Drive are now extended to 17:45 for Springtime.

🛒 Cramond Road South: Section of NCR 1 by Tesco and roundabout by Davidsons Main Park obstructed by resurfacing and footway widening from this week Tuesday 7th April 2026 for 4-5 weeks estimated.

🎓 Spylaw Road: Closed at Napier Uni Merchiston Campus from Tuesday 14th April for 4 days for Scottish Water works. It may be necessary to join Colinton Rd or dismount.

🚧 Telfer Subway: Dalry footway improvement works underway until July 2026. Closure of Orwell Terrace for 8 weeks, which may require a dismount to access Telfer Subway. Update: works delayed and currently expected to begin 20th April.

🌊 Union Canal: Towpath NCR75 closed for resurfacing from 8am-4pm weekdays until early April. Work is moving westwards in phases, with largest closures by Ratho.

Long Term Closures:

🚲 Summerhall: Segregated Cycle Lanes by Melville Dr and Melville Ter expected to be obstructed by Summerhall improvement works until April 2026. Update 6th April: works running over and now expected to conclude in May.

🌉 Harrison Road: Bridges closed due to structural concerns with micro-cracking in the original cast iron beams. The north-west bridge over a small path is closed for rebuilding until end August 2026, including the path below. The south-east bridge is closed to cars, but open to pedestrians and cyclists.

🚲 Valleyfield Street: Closed for Meadows to Union Canal Improvement works. A cycle diversion is in place on Glengyle Ter, which will be lengthened during the nearby Gilmore Pl resurfacing works. Update 6th April: works running over and now expected to conclude mid-May.

🌉 South Gyle Road: Bridge between modal filter and Quiet Route 9 closed for repairs. It is required to dismount and use a temporary bridge. Update 6th April: Works are to be followed by resurfacing and installation of new raised tables, with final completion expected in June.

🏗️ Dundee St: Segregated cycle lane westbound at bridge over West Approach Rd closed until mid-April for building demolition work.

🏗️ St Marks Path: Section of Quietroute 20 between McDonald Road and Warriston Path impacted by CEC Powderhall redevelopment works. The path is expected to remain open during the majority of the construction programme. Until a temporary path is provided, exercise caution at manned crossing gates when passing through the site.

🏖️ Silverknowes Road: Road to Silverknowes Beach closed for resurfacing works and reconfiguration of the cycle lane. Works have halted, with cycle access in the meantime currently unclear.

🚦 Bankhead Drive: Quietroute 8 along the tramline obstructed at junction with S Gyle Access until Summer 2026 for construction of West Edinburgh Link.

🏗️ Edinburgh Park Station: Quiet Route 8 cycle path between Hermiston Gait and the Gyle Centre closed for works in preparation of the Edinburgh Arena development. It’s only possible to go around by carrying your bike up roughly 20 steps or by following the shared use footway on Lochside Ave.

🏗️ Port Hamilton Cyclepath: Shared use path between Union Canal and West End closed until 2026/27 for building works. A diversion is advised via Gardeners Crescent and Semple Street.

🏗️ Craighall Road: Closed until May 2028 for the Refurbishment of Trinity Academy. Access to the Victoria Path is expected to be maintained. A diversion will be signed along Newhaven Road, however the removal of parking for improved traffic flow may lead to this being a wider and faster road, less suitable for cycles.

⚡ 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.

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🎉 Events and Happenings

📆 Upcoming / Ongoing

♿ Adaptive Riders Collective (ARC) are hosting a "Come and Try" session, in at Helix Park Falkirk, with handcycles and ICE trikes available to try for free - there’s a wee video on Instagram promoting the sessions:

📍 Saturday 11th April – The Kelpies, Helix Park (Falkirk)

ARC run regular weekly sessions from Callander, check out their website for a full list of their events;

🗳️ Online election hustings in April from Cycling UK in Scotland:

Want to know what political parties are really planning for cycling and active travel in Scotland?

We’re bringing together party representatives for our Scotland Election 2026 Active Travel Hustings, chaired by award winning climate activist Less Waste Laura.

We’re running the event online, alongside our friends at Walk Wheel Cycle Trust Scotland and Women on Wheels Hub, to talk about the future of walking, wheeling and cycling in Scotland; and what the next Scottish Government needs to deliver.

📅 Tuesday 14 April
⏰ 6 – 8pm
💻 Online
🎟 Free to attend

You’ll hear directly from party representatives and have the chance to put your questions to them.

If active travel matters to you, come along and be part of the conversation.
🎟 Register now: cyclinguk.org/scotland2026

💬 A free talk on 21st May, 7pm with Edinburgh Festival of Cycling from Jack Thurston:

When the first Lost Lanes appeared in 2013, cycling’s public image was dominated by speed — the Tour de France, Olympic velodrome glory, and the first stirrings of the sportive boom. Into that context, Jack Thurston offered a calmer and more immersive approach to cycling.

Most cycling guidebooks tell you where to go. Lost Lanes makes you want to go there. Each route is researched and written as an experience to be savoured, drawing on the geology, landscape and the human history of the landscape through which the rider will pass. The result sits in a tradition that stretches back through Edward Thomas and Roger Deakin — writers who understood that a place reveals itself most fully to those moving through it slowly and mindfully.

Lost Lanes routes are designed to keep riders on quiet lanes and forgotten byways, away from traffic and away from the metrics — the speeds and distances, the Strava segments, the relentless quantification that dominates so much of modern cycling culture.

Jack will talk about researching and riding the routes for the new Scotland book — and the particular pleasure of travelling slowly and how the books led to the “Slow Cycling” series of feature-length travel documentaries on GCN+ that Jack presented alongside Jenny Graham, Simon Richardson, Ned Boulting, Blake Samson and Alec Briggs.

🎟️ Tickets at Edinburgh Festival of Cycling »

🔁 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, 5-8pm: Fix My Own Bike session for Women and Minority Genders at The Wee Spoke Hub

• 🎙️ Tues, 5pm: [National] Active Travel Cafe talks and discussion on Zoom

• 🪨 Weds, 5.40am: Edinburgh Dawn Patrol [IG] Gravel edition - starting from 📍 Cairngorm Coffee;

• ☕ Weds, 8:15 - 9:45: Coffee Outside [IG]: Wednesday morning hangouts at 📍 Lochrin Basin - bring a mug, water, a way to boil water, and coffee ☕

• 🛠️ Fortnightly (second & fourth Weds each month), 3pm: Bike Kitchen at Edinburgh Tool Library

• 🔧 Weds, 5-8pm Fix Your Own Bike Sessions at The Bike Station, Tollcross

• 🌅 Thurs, ⏰ 5.40am: Edinburgh Dawn Patrol (same as Tues, details above);

• ✴️ Thurs, 5-8pm: Bike DIY Session at The Wee Spoke Hub

• 🪨 Thurs Evenings: Edinburgh Gravel Cycling Club social group rides;

• 🪛 Weekly Dr Bike cycle repairs from ELREC’s Edinburgh Cycling Club, 10am-3pm at the 📍 Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre - no booking required and all welcome;

• 🔧 Sat, 1-4pm Fix Your Own Bike Sessions at The Bike Station, Tollcross

• ⚙️ Sat, 2-4pm: ‘Bike Cleaning and Oiling’ drop-in session at The Wee Spoke Hub

• 🟰 Edinburgh & Lothians Regional Equality Council’s Edinburgh Cycling Club run weekly group rides and introductory classes;

🔁 Monthly Events

• 🚲 First Friday of the month: Inclusive social bike rides with A Wee Pedal from Bridgend Farmhouse - every Friday 2-4pm between April and Hallowe’en, 1-3pm on the 1st Friday of each month November to March.

• ✊ Last Saturday of the month: Critical Mass Edinburgh, Family-friendly mass protest / group ride, 2pm, Middle Meadow Walk; check out the poster below for upcoming ride dates - don’t forget to grab a t-shirt!

🫂 Help Needed

🅿️ From Gear Up Scotland - cycle racking for sale:

We are a small social enterprise based in Lanark and will shortly vacate our current premises. We have two two tier cycle racks with Sheffield lowers for sale. Open to any reasonable offers - can transport to Edinburgh. Installation would need to be managed by the recipient. Happy to sell the racks separately.

Get in touch: 07872 161913 / gearup@healthyvalleys.org.uk

🚲 The Bike Station Gorgie: shop volunteers needed! 🚲

With the days getting longer and brighter, thankfully more people are keen to get back on their bike, or on one for the first time. If you would like to support accessible cycling in Edinburgh, we are recruiting new shop volunteers in The Bike Station’s Gorgie branch!

🛒 Shop volunteers: Helping with customer service and support, with the role focused on offering advice up to your comfort level and building up to assist with sales. In busy times this is invaluable support to try and allow our refurbishment mechanics to continue getting bikes ready for sale; while in quieter times it allows for extra help across the general retail duties of the shop. Gorgie is also busy with the Wee Bike Library project which you can get involved with, connecting children with a free bike loan (smiles all round).

We are currently looking for volunteers who can offer a weekly commitment of 3-4 hours on a Saturday afternoon. If this could be of interest, please contact [jamie.henderson@thebikestation.org.uk](mailto: jamie.henderson@thebikestation.org.uk) to discuss the role in more detail.

As a volunteer you not only join a community of like-minded individuals passionate about cycling - you can also access bikes, parts and accessories at a discounted price as well as heavily discounted maintenance courses after 6 months of volunteering.

Ongoing: 👥 Help others cycle more with Cycle Buddies | 🚌 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

📋 Overviews: CEC’s Active travel improvements programme | Interactive Map from City Mobility Plan prioritisation exercise

✏️ In the Works:

✍️ Take Action:

• 🧭 Comments open for North Edinburgh Connections - protected cycling and walking improvements for West Granton Road, Pennywell Road, and Ferry Road — closes 9th June;

• 🛣️ Sign the petition to Stop the £55 Million A701 Relief Road »

🔐 Recently Closed:

• 📨 Closed 10th Feb: consultation period for the Silverknowes Rd ETRO providing protected cycleways (ETRO/21/30C).

• 🚲 Closed February 9th: Barnton Connections consultation on safe, protected cycle routes through the area;

• ⛲️Dundee Street Fountainbridge Active Travel Project consultation closed 12 January 2026 | 🗺️ Mapped illustrations (do zoom in!) — Image 1 and Image 2 | 📄 Technical drawings [PDF, 23.7mb]

• 📝 West Edinburgh Link, including Glasgow Rd, South Gyle, Bankhead, Sighthill, Wester Hailes and Clovenstone. “Around 5km of new segregated and improved cycleways, new crossings, path and pavement improvements”, the first phase underway with an initial focus primarily on links to Quiet Route 8 - Technical plans [PDF]

• 🤔 The ‘Curriehill Active Travel Link’ reported by Spokes to have been delayed beyond its 2025 due date by ‘biodiversity concerns’.

• 🤫 Greenbank to Meadows Quiet Route having detrimental changes made, delayed until at least a Standards Commission hearing in March ‘26: Detailed Designs [PDF] | ETRO Published as TRO/25/17

• ⚒️ Road Resurfacing & early ‘Dalry Living Well Locally’ Outcomes

• 🧱 Vital path upgrade through Muir Wood park in Currie

• 🌳 Meadows to Union Canal Link

• 🦦 Burdiehouse & Niddrie Burn Restoration - blue-green regeneration project including 3m wide ‘Pentlands to Portobello’ core path;

• 🔄 Proposals to address issues at Davidson's Mains Roundabout; City Cycling Edinburgh thread | Planned ‘options’ | Comments closed Friday, 16th January

🔬 Trials & Programmes Underway:

• ✨ Improving Old Town Streets | Includes current ETRO for Lawnmarket & Johnston Terrace

📋 Consulted On:

• 🐚 The consultation on Station Road as part of the Musselburgh Active Toun closed mid December;

• 🚋 Major North-South Tramline Consultation | Spokes’ brilliant, detailed response [PDF] | Officers A8 ‘Diversion’ Clarification

• ⭕️ Polwarth Gardens road layout consultation | “Safety Wins: Residents Choose New Polwarth Junction Design, Construction to Begin Within 18 Months” at Merchiston Districts Community Council »

• ⚒️ Queensferry Connections project;

• ⛏️ Marionville Rd and Smokey Brae improvements;

• 🚶🏽‍♂️ Walking, wheeling and cycling improvements in Currie

• 🧪 Edinburgh BioQuarter Active Travel Gaps - Sheriffhall Park & Ride to BioQuarter Campus Route;

• 🌞 Dalry Living Well Locally | Initial Feedback Report » [PDF]

• ⚓ Leith Connections Phase 3 - Hawthornvale to Seafield | Detailed Designs (PDF) »

• 🚴🏽‍♂️ Midlothian Council - A7 Sustainable Transport Corridor

• East Lothian Council - Prestonpans to Levenhall | Combined plans » [Large PDF]

🚧 Under Construction:

• ⛏️ As shared by SW20, work will begin on the paving of a key link between ​​Bloomiehall Park in Juniper Green and Muir Wood Road in Currie on the 9th of February. Owned by developer Taylor Wimpey, an informal path link along the edge of the field has been used for decades since the development of the nearby housing estates, but will only now be formalised into a path suitable for all weather conditions and night-time passage;

• 🧱 Changes to southside protected cycleways at Summerhall under construction until April 2026;

⛏️ Burnside Path Repairs & Longstone Sinkhole
Contractors setting up on site w/c 3/11 for repairs required to the retaining wall/sinkhole. Hope to complete the in-river works by xmas, & reinstatement of sinkhole by end of Feb. Option to extend contract if required. — Longstone Community Council on Bluesky » (including site plan images)

• ⛴️ Queensferry High Street Improvements | Technical drawings [PDF]

• ⚓️ Foot of the Walk to Dock Street | Works leaflet » [PDF] | Progress photos »

• 🚋 Trams to Newhaven Snagging / Defects List »

• 🤬 Silverknowes Rd North being returned to cars | Spokes’ area history

Thanks for reading - ride safe 🚲

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