📰 News this Week

📈 Analysis: ‘Most Edinburgh car commuters have an alternative available’

More brilliant work from Edward Tissiman, published this week:

The 2022 Scottish Census recorded how every household gets to work, and what journey they make — origin and destination down to the level of roughly 4,000-person geographic zones. From that, you can reconstruct every significant commuting flow to, from and within Edinburgh and calculate its straight-line distance. The analysis here covers around 205,000 commuters across nearly 28,000 origin-destination pairs.

How many of those car journeys are short enough to make by foot or bicycle, and how many could be made by public transport based on current provision?

Edward is transparent about the shortcomings of this kind of analysis, but it’s a fascinating read either way and real food for thought - particularly looking at the stark differences between commutes taking place within the bypass and those that cross it.

🏰 Local Bits

📷 Lovely photo on Facebook from a ride to Newhailes House this week - part of the new season of inclusive social bike rides with A Wee Pedal from Bridgend Farmhouse - _every Friday 2-4pm between April and Hallowe’en (and 1-3pm on the 1st Friday of each month November to March);

Image: James Pearson via East Lothian Courier

🧲 Looks like the Voi ebike hire scheme has finally had its first bam-ptism, with an Explorer 4 model recovered from Fisherrow harbour by a local magnet fishing enthusiast and a passer-by; Local hero uses magnets to retrieve bike from harbour at East Lothian Courier »

↕️ Thanks to the reader who messaged this week having seen contraflow cycling signage going up on Simpson Loan in Quartermile. This is one of a tranche of one-way streets being made permanently legal to cycle both ways down - including Cassel’s Lane, Circus Lane, Drummond Street, Richmond Lane, Thistle Street and Wishaw Terrace.

If you see any of those also gaining new cycle signage, let us know! hello@edi.bike;

⚒️ Work has commenced at the former Dalton’s Scrap Yard on Yeaman Place - which includes a ‘Section 75’ requirement for the developer to create a new walking, wheeling and cycling access to the Union canal from the site. A linear connection through the new purpose-built student accommodations slated for the land (surprise!) connect to Dundee St, while a ramped access looks to link to the Yeaman Pl side directly. Planning application documents here »

📚 Fresh off the press, a new book from Edinburgh Dawn Patrol founder, route designer and filmmaker Markus Stitz — due to arrive from the printer this Thursday, customs permitting! — and this time the subject matter is even closer to home…

Here’s a word from Markus directly for our readers:

“Gravel Rides Edinburgh, Fife and The Lothians is an invitation to explore off-road riding in and around Edinburgh. Researched in the 17 years I have been lucky enough to spend in Edinburgh so far, the book offers 16 routes, easy, straightforward and challenging. I hopefully managed to strike a good balance, providing a book which surprises you if you are in the know, and guides you if you have just arrived in Edinburgh.

People can order a signed copy directly from me, as usual delivery by bike in Edinburgh is free (: ”

📅 April cycling events at ScoreScotland:

• 🚲 Cycle training: Beginners Womens Group - Tuesdays 14th, 21st and 28th from 5.30pm to 7.30pm

• 🚴 Cycle training: Intermediate Womens Group - Fridays 17th and 24th from 10am to 12pm

• 🚵 Led Cycle Rides Saturdays 18th and 25th from 10am to 1pm

…all at (or leaving from) 📍 Gate 55, 55 Sighthill Rd, EH11 4PB

Registration is required - text Madhavi on 07496190752 or fill out this form;

🚲 The Bike Station - looking for volunteer support: 🚲

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 volunteers to support our mission!

🛒 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. We are also busy with the Wee Bike Library project which you can get involved with, connecting children with a free bike loan (smiles all round).

Current opportunities seeking support are 3-4 hour shifts on Saturday afternoon in Gorgie, as well as Thursday afternoon and Saturday morning in Tollcross.

🛠️ Fix Your Own Bike volunteers: We are exploring the option of expanding the reach of our FYOB sessions, where people pay £6/hour to utilise a stand and full toolkit to work on their own bike. We are looking for volunteers to help provide advice to those attending these sessions, seeing whether with more energy in the time if we can expand. Those best fit for the role would have a lot of experience with bike maintenance and also be good at calmly communicating advice to participants.

If any of these roles are of interest, please contact 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.

📅 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

🌍 World record attempt, amazing project and adventure of a lifetime. Here’s Dan Ainsworth, who for the last year has been working alongside prisoners of HMP Barlinnie to create this amazing cargo bike. Prisoners have learned and developed the skills to make this bike (with no internet!) and it’s so class. Dan is going to be the first person in history to cycle round the world on a cargo bike, starting TOMORROW morning from the prison before venturing east until there’s no more east left. — post by The Good Coffee Cartel on Instagram, and see the route maps from Daniel on his Instagram and a great send-off from Glasgow’s Coffee Outside on Instagram too.

🏳️‍🌈 In Glasgow, a queer bike shop is reshaping cycle culture — great feature on the extremely rad folks at Dynamo CIC over at Huck Magazine »

🇬🇧 UK

📺 Youtube: ‘Are Bike Lanes Actually Ruining Our Cities?’ - a fairly well-rounded look at the issue. Gives a little to much air and credence to the idea that on-road cycle infrastructure slows down traffic, and skips past a chance to explain ‘induced demand’ - but all in all quite a solid watch. /via SW20;

🔉 Journalist Laura Laker has recorded a series of interviews with rural path campaigners - including Walk Wheel Cycle Trust (née Sustrans) founder John Grimshaw - which she details in this post on Substack. You can listen directly to the interviews on her Soundcloud page;

🛣 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:

✅ Union Canal: Towpath NCR75 resurfacing now largely complete, with short sections of tree root affected path now patched. Short works for defects or missing patches may follow.

🛒 Cramond Road South: Section of NCR 1 by Tesco and roundabout by Davidsons Main Park obstructed by resurfacing and footway widening from today Monday 13th April 2026 for 6 weeks estimated. If you’re travelling to Davidson’s Mains Park, it may be better to stay on NCR1 to avoid a dismount.

🚧 Forrest Road: Advisory cycle lane between Meadows and George IV Bridge including NCR1 & NCR75 obstructed northbound at Greyfriars Kirkyard for emergency Scottish Water repairs from today Monday 13th April.

🚲 Lansdowne Crescent: Road closed eastbound at Palmerston Pl for emergency Scottish Water repairs, however at time of writing the CCWEL cycle lane remains open!

🎓 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.

🏫 Gilmerton Road: Section or Road and segregated cycle lanes by Liberton Primary School closed citybound this Wednesday 15th April for 2 days tree cutting.

Long Term Closures:

🚧 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 again and currently expected to begin 4th May.

🚲 Summerhall: Segregated Cycle Lanes by Melville Dr and Melville Ter expected to be obstructed by Summerhall improvement works until May 2026.

🌉 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 until mid-May 2026. A cycle diversion is in place on Glengyle Ter.

🌉 South Gyle Road: Bridge between modal filter and Quiet Route 9 closed for repairs. It is required to dismount and use a temporary bridge. Works are being followed by resurfacing and new raised tables, estimated completion June 2026.

🏗️ 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.

📣 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.

🎉 Events and Happenings

📆 Upcoming / Ongoing

🗳️ 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

🚨 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

📅 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

💬 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

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 »

🆕 In a recent 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;

🔐 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 🚲

💜 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 quarterly behind-the-scenes update sharing subscriber numbers / growth, promotional efforts, and other stuff about the running of edi.bike;

• A shiny 'Supporters Club' sticker;

• 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!