🚲 edi.bike | issue 141 | 20th Apr ‘26
your weekly edinburgh cycling digest
📰 News this Week
📋 City of Edinburgh Council launches ‘Craigmillar Niddrie Connections’ Consultation
More compelling streetscape reconfiguration and protected cycleways proposed by the City of Edinburgh Council, this time in Niddrie, Craigmillar and Greendykes; see the consultation in full, or jump straight into the technical plans and see what’s being put forward in the east of the city.
🗳️ Election Corner
🚴 As the 7th May Scottish Parliament election approaches, Cycling UK’s Scotland Advocacy Lead, Scott Runciman, explores what the parties are promising for walking, wheeling and cycling, drawing on key insights from our lively cross‑party active travel hustings — recap and hustings video available over at Cycling UK »
📉 In 2021 all parties promised to increase AT investment from its then 3.5% of total transport. Indeed, Conservatives, Greens and Labour all promised to reach 10%.
In 2026 the Greens retain a 10% promise, but no other parties promise even to maintain current levels (3.9%) and the Conservatives explicitly promise a cut, calling active travel an ideological project. Meanwhile, apart from the Greens, there is unanimity on pouring more cash into increasing trunk road capacity.
Spokes get into the cycle content — or telling lack thereof — of the various party manifestos ahead of 7th May in their recent article »
🎙️ New from The Workers Observatory:
In this new podcast, titled “Gig Workers’ Guide to the Scottish Election”, we explore how the policies might be widely applied, focusing on the perspectives of migrant workers, who constitute the majority of this growing workforce. We bring together delivery riders, people from academia and grassroots organisers to discuss the best way to implement these demands, whilst offering a reality check from those who work on the frontline. — read more here »
📅 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. Join us in calling en-masse for a cycle-safe Scotland ✊
📲 Follow Pedal on Parliament on Bluesky | Instagram | Facebook | Mastodon | PoP Mailing List
🏰 Local Bits
⚙️ 10,000 printed copies of Spokes’ 2026 bulletin is now being delivered by volunteers to 1,000 Spokes members, bike shops, libraries, community centres, councillors, MPs, MSPs, and used for bike leafleting. Track down a copy in print or read online here [PDF];
↕️ Another of Edinburgh’s new contraflow cycle streets pictured on Bluesky by Robbie this week - Circus Lane, perhaps the most picturesque of the current tranche of one-way streets gaining two-way cycling (consisting of Cassel’s Lane, Drummond Street, Richmond Lane, Simpson Loan, Thistle Street and Wishaw Terrace);
📅 For those following along on the Greenbank to Meadows Quiet Route epic; the TRO Sub-committee meeting that will decide on making the route permanent has been brought forward from 2nd June to 12th May;
💬 A lot to nod along with around the Council’s aspirations and current consultation for active travel in North Edinburgh in this piece by the Cockburn Association; while concerns about road capacity introducing delays are mentioned — rather than also shaping the amount of traffic throughput an area sees in the first place — it’s heartening to see an organisation that holds sway with the council during consultations calling for more human-centric treatments of streetscapes and places;
👏 From The Bike Station:
Last week, our team was proud to support the launch of the City of Edinburgh Council’s Colleague Travel Plan 🚲✨
We delivered a range of cycle-focused activities on the day, including a Dr Bike session and an information stall, helping staff feel more confident choosing cycling as a form of active, healthy and sustainable travel.
More photos in their Instagram post »
🎭 From Edinburgh Festival of Cycling:
In response to the current increasing costs of fuel, we have decided to cut the cost of our cargo bike hire by up to 15%
Find out if you could replace increasingly expensive car journeys with a cargo bike, by hiring ours for a week 😉
See more on hiring the cargo bike here »
🇩🇰 Great photo album and account over on Facebook of Brompton Youth Bikepacking Training – preparing a group of young folks for a trip to Copenhagen, Denmark, by the team at Bridge 8 Hub and Paddle Cafe.
🚂 Progress on the conversion of the Powderhall railway into an active travel path continues to chug along, albeit slowly - with a recent update from Cllr Jack Caldwell confirming bridge assessments along the route are now completed (the maintenance of which the council would need to adopt if taking on the route from Network Rail);
📚 Reminder: the brand new book from Edinburgh Dawn Patrol founder, route designer and filmmaker Markus Stitz is now available — Gravel Rides Edinburgh, Fife & The Lothians —with preorders direct from Markus being delivered by bike in Edinburgh for free, and arriving before the general release of the book! See him talk more about the book in this Instagram reel and some glorious photos from his 245km weekender delivering books around Edinburgh over the last couple of days on Facebook »
🧭 Lothians
📷 More great ‘infrastructure safari’ photos from John Robson on Bluesky; this time on the upgraded path between Newton and Winchburgh in West Lothian.
🟢 “A PATH connecting two housing developments in Gullane has been given the green light.
Cala Management Ltd’s proposals for a route between Muirfield Grove and the Saltcoats development were approved by East Lothian Council’s planning department.” — East Lothian Courier
📮 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
🦋 Brilliant data analysis thread on Bluesky following the GCN ‘Are bike lanes actually ruining cities’ video linked previously; looking at the links between wealth and car ownership from the perspective of transport equity;
🧠 “Compared with non-active travelers, the cyclists had a 19% lower risk of all-cause dementia, a 22% lower risk of Alzheimer's, a 40% lower risk of young-onset dementia (before the age of 65), and a 17% lower risk of late-onset dementia.” — Cycling Linked to Lower Risk of Dementia, Study of Half a Million Finds
👏 After last week’s interview recordings from Laura Laker, the journalist and campaigner has followed up the launch of new toolkit Rural path campaigns: Where magic meets tarmac — with an article promoting it - “300 Miles of Community Paths Held Up As New Toolkit Launches” on her Substack. Tremendous work, also covered over at road.cc »
👀 Rural path campaigns are ongoing nearly everywhere - including this one in Worthington covered over at the BBC this week »
🌍 Elsewhere
👭 The Bike Lane Gender Gap: New Research Shows Women Ride More Where Protected Infrastructure Exists: New York City research over at Momentum Mag »
🛣 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:
🚦 Henderson Gardens: Potential closure of Leith Connections segregated cycle path just south of the Sandport Bridge for Scottish Water works from today Monday 20th April for 3 days. Temporary traffic lights for excavations may obstruct the cycle path and require dismounting or rejoining the carriageway.
🏞️ Holyrood Park: Holyrood Half Marathon morning of this Sunday 26th April may obstruct Queens Drive and high road.
🚧 Forrest Road: Advisory cycle lane between Meadows and George IV Bridge including NCR1 & NCR75 potentially obstructed northbound at Greyfriars Kirkyard.
Long Term Closures:
🛒 Cramond Road South: Section of NCR 1 by Tesco and roundabout by Davidsons Main Park obstructed by resurfacing and footway widening until end May 2026. If you’re travelling to Davidson’s Mains Park, it may be better to stay on NCR1 to avoid a 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 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.
🏗️ 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
📅 April cycling events at ScoreScotland:
🚲 Cycle training: Beginners Womens Group - Tuesdays 21st and 28th from 5.30pm to 7.30pm
🚴 Cycle training: Intermediate Womens Group - Friday 24th from 10am to 12pm
🚵 Led Cycle Rides Saturday 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;
Image: @gammatd on Instagram
🚨 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: this Saturday 25th April from 12pm
📅 This Saturday - 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
🚲 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.
🅿️ 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
🦦 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
🚧 Under Construction:
⚒️ 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 »
⛏️ 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
📋 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 »
⛏️ Marionville Rd and Smokey Brae improvements;
🧪 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]
Thanks for reading - ride safe 🚲
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