🚲 edi.bike | issue 156 | 3rd Aug ‘26
your weekly edinburgh cycling digest
📰 News this Week
🐕🦺 A creative reallocation of jeopardy on George IV bridge
A cracker delivered by ‘Summertime streets’ this last week, as the City of Edinburgh Council installed a much-needed increase to footway space on the busy George IV bridge - by sticking a section of asphalt pavement on the cycling desire line, with no warnings or mitigations of the newly created pinch point.
We’re yet to establish whether this is in fact part of a fringe show on the futility of campaigning for safer streets — in which case, bravo! — or instead a serious attempt to solve a public safety issue in the overcrowding around Greyfriars Bobby’s radiantly eroding muzzle, managing along the way to introduce a significant safety knock-on for those cycling through the Forrest Rd to Mound corridor.
👀 Spokes posted this photo during construction and this subsequent diagram of everything wrong with the buildout - pointing out that their recent peak time has cycle journeys as high as 31% of traffic through here!
💧 John Robson shared this photo of the drainage issues created by blocking off a drain under the kerb extension, creating a further hazard at the pinch point created by the works;
📸 Olly Headey posted a shot from the other end of the paving extension once completed
📹 Dave McCraw shared a video that makes it really clear just how thoughtless this intervention is from a cycle safety perspective.
There is no Advanced Stop Zone (‘bike box’) at the pedestrian crossing ahead of this at Forrest Rd’s northern end; nor are there merge signs or markings, nor a cyclist early release signal here, all of which could go some way towards mitigating the merging danger created here. Giving cycle traffic advanced notice to adopt primary position to pass the new buildout that’s now right in the path of the cycle line should have been a primary consideration in designing this intervention, given how busy the route is (and we will once again invoke the ‘sustainable transport hierarchy’ here, though we think the Council may have stuck it on their office walls upside down).
The fact that the buildout will be removed again at the end of the festival period doesn’t change the fact that every cyclist who passes through here in the meantime will be faced with a sudden and unsigned pinch point to merge through.
The fact that the build-out has gone in without so much as scorching off existing cycleway markings and painting primary position bicycle icons says an awful lot about how much joined-up thinking is going into works like this - seemingly, none. If you create danger by redesigning a layout and introducing new issues, the perceived risk has not been solved for - only reallocated.
👑 North Bridge reopens… with ‘car is king’ layout
North Bridge at last fully reopened to both traffic and pedestrians on Friday of last week, for the first time in eight years — albeit with “final completion of the project expected later this year” according to the City of Edinburgh Council’s press release.
On the one hand, it was clear that with initial plans to establish the crossing as a public transport and cycling corridor — as part of the proposed North-South tram network — already shelved, that North Bridge would reopen fully to cars rather than take the opportunity of drastically altered traffic patterns during refurbishment to close it completely to private motor traffic.
What wasn’t as stark until the grand unveiling was the message that a complete lack of cycle infrastructure, or even painted lanes, would send — hand in hand with the announcement there would be no reinstatement of bus stops on the bridge.
We hear time again from the Council about the need to prioritise both cycling and public transport in the city to make them more attractive modes of transport than driving short urban trips, amid worsening congestion and climate crisis impacts. And yet, here lies North Bridge waiting for its tram lines, determined to cast aside any affordances for other modes in the meantime.
Don’t miss SW20’s thread on the matter.
🏰 Local Bits
Nice update from Portobello High School on their travels:
Our Girls Road Cycling Programme headed to the Isle of Cumbrae today, where the girls completed a tour of the island. It was fantastic to see their confidence growing as they continue to develop their road cycling skills and support one another.
A huge thank you to all the staff and volunteers who made today possible, and to everyone who has donated to support the programme.
If you’d like to help us create more opportunities for our girls, please consider donating to our GoFundMe.
🗼 Lovely wee article and video (below or on Youtube) by Walk Wheel Cycle Trust on a new public art piece called “Beacon” for National Cycle Network Route 1 at Bingham, created by artists Littlewhitehead and Art Buds Collective with input from hundreds of local people;
🚲🌱 Big news from The Cycling Gardeners!
We're excited to announce that we've become the first business in Scotland to operate a Carla Cargo eCARLA Maxi electric cargo trailer!
This fantastic addition means we can now carry up to 200kg of tools, plants and landscaping materials entirely by bike, allowing us to expand into larger landscaping projects while staying true to our commitment to sustainable, zero-emission transport.
It's another step towards proving that greener ways of working aren't just possible — they're practical.
A huge thank you to Carla Cargo for helping us take our business to the next level.
⚙️ Spokes have issued their most recent Action Update [PDF], detailing their annual competition, upcoming public meetings, issues on the cycle network and much more;
☀️ Porty Community Energy’s summer picnic rides are back again for another year!
⏰ 11am - 3pm on the following dates - click through to book your place:
📅 Saturday 22nd August bike ride from Bingham Community Centre to Craigmillar Castle and castle park
📅 Sunday 30th August bike ride to Bridgend Farmhouse from Porty Bike Library
📅 Saturday 5th September bike ride to Edinburgh Royal Botanic Gardens from Porty Bike Library
📅 Saturday 12 September to Morrisons Haven and Prestongrange Museum
Also from Porty Community Energy; Cargo bikes for sale:
We are selling our Mycle (only 2 years old) and our old Tern in order to make room for some new cargo bike models at our library.
Are you interested in buying? Please email us at [email protected] to start the conversation.
Tern GSD: £1700 o.n.o
Mycle: £900 o.n.oAll money raised will go back into the bike library to keep our project going.
Originally posted to their Instagram
💼 JOBS & OPPORTUNITIES
☁️ Air Pollution Project Manager (self-employed), Edinburgh-based with Parents For Future Scotland – see the listing on Goodmoves, closing date this Wednesday 5th;
Ongoing:
🌿 Banzai are looking for a Cargo Bike Librarian [PDF] »
🚸 Become a Play Together on Pedals Instructor at Cycling UK »
💛 Tour de France 2027 Grand Départ volunteering at Le Tour online »
📮 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
⚡ “Why Is Everyone Suddenly Terrified of E-Bikes?” by Evan Edinger on Youtube, via Spokes
🛣 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:
🏞️ Duddingston Low Road: Pavement closed for Scottish Power repair works until 7th August. It is not possible to walk through, and diversion is necessary via the Innocent Railway Path.
🚧 Newbattle Terrace: Section of road on Greenbank to Meadows Quiet Route closed for Scottish Power repairs. At time of writing, it is possible to pass the works.
🚧 Chesser Avenue: Cycle lanes closed at New Mart Rd outside O2 Academy for Vodaphone works from this Thursday 6th August for 1 week.
🚧 Dundee Street: Segregated cycle lanes between Viewforth and Gilmore Park obstructed by temporary traffic lights for Scottish Power substation works for 8 weeks. Update 3rd August: works delayed until next week, Monday 10th August.
Festival Closures:
🎪 Hill Square: close Hill Place westbound from 14th July until end Aug but cycle access will be maintained. Be aware of temporary road signage in the contraflow cycle lane westbound and an increase in pedestrians. Nearby Roxburgh Place will also be closed, which may create a pleasant low traffic area.
🎪 Summertime Streets: Expanded closures for the August festivals this year. High St closed from 10:30am daily. Lawnmarket closed and Cowgate closed daily from 3pm, however access will be maintained for loading. Cycle access on Cockburn Street Between North Bridge and Waverley Bridge expected to be retained. Exercise caution and consider dismounting if you can on High Street.
❌ George Street: Annual closure for Fringe Festival cancelled due to bus diversion following Princes St fire closure.
Long Term Closures:
🏞️ Holyrood Park High Road: Closed due to recent rockfall. A short dismount is necessary to avoid a fenced off area.
🏖️ Silverknowes Road: Road to Silverknowes Beach closed for resurfacing works and reconfiguration of the cycle lane. Works stalled again and expected to re-open after the summer.
🚒 Princes Street: Section between Frederick St and S Charlotte St closed into August following a building fire. At time of writing, it is necessary to dismount walk through the gardens to pass. George St may offer an alternate route.
🌉 St Marks Path: Bridge over Water of Leith closed due to structural issues. The road bridge at Warriston Rd or pedestrian bridge at Beaverhall Rd may offer alternate routes.
🌉 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 over the Union Canal is currently closed pedestrians and cyclists whilst kerbs are altered.
🌉 Water of Leith Path: Kinauld Tan Works Footbridge by Currie closed due to a hole in the bridge deck. A diversion is suggested via Lanark Rd, which may be unsuitable.
🎾 Gyle Park: Path between Glenmuir Rd and Glasgow Rd closed until the end of October 2026 for construction work. If you’re heading to Tesco, the path by David Lloyd gym may offer an alternate route.
🚦 Bankhead Drive: Quietroute 8 along the tramline obstructed at junction with S Gyle Access until late 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.
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🎉 Events and Happenings
📆 Upcoming / Ongoing
🔧 Basic Bike Maintenance sessions at Bridgend Farmhouse, next on Friday 28th August:
Inclusive, small and friendly groups with Dara
Last Friday of the month from May to Oct
Suggested £5 donation to Bridgend Farmhouse
Places go quickly - please book a place by emailing [email protected]
🧘 Join Detour this August for a weekend of movement, community and adventure.
We will meet in Perth and cycle through stunning Perthshire landscapes, stopping off to enjoy the views along the way, before arriving at Morningside Farm. Here, you will be guided through three movement sessions in the spectacular Wild Hive Dome or outdoors.
Enjoy good food and good company, moving and relaxing in the cosy indoor spaces, before camping under the stars. There will be plenty of time to rest, socialise and explore.
Ride & Retreat, and Retreat Only tickets are available 🌿
The first 3 of each ticket type will receive an early bird discount 🦜
Ride & Retreat - £260/295
Retreat Only - £215/255📍 Morningside Farm, Logiealmond, Perthshire
Follow this link for full event details and tickets, and feel free to drop us a message with any questions!
⚙️ The 2026 Spokes AGM will be held in the Studio at the Augustine United Church (below the Sanctuary where we have our public meetings) on Weds 9th September, evening.
As well as standard AGM reports on activity and finances, members will consider whether Spokes should become a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) and therefore change from being a constituted organisation to a charity.
There will also be a short performance about cycling and a discussion about Spokes priorities. More information about the AGM and the SCIO proposal will be sent out to members in advance of the AGM.
Contact – Ian Maxwell, email [email protected]
🔁 Weekly Events
🚴 Weekly
🍃 Mon, 12-2.30pm: Free, fun group ride on paths from Bridgend Farmhouse;
💪 Adult (16+) Confidence Builder bike rides with The Bike Station, 5-6pm from outside Pav cafe, Meadows;
🌅 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 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
👑 Weds 7pm - Queens of Pain evening group ride for women & non-binary folk - ride details & locations
🌅 Thurs, ⏰ 5.40am: Edinburgh Dawn Patrol (same as Tues, details above);
🚺 Thurs, 5-8pm: Fix My Own Bike session for Women and Minority Genders at The Wee Spoke Hub
🪨 Thurs Evenings: Edinburgh Gravel Cycling Club social group rides;
👑 Fri 6am - Queens of Pain morning group ride for women & non-binary folk - ride details & locations
🪛 Fri, 10am-3pm Dr Bike cycle repairs from ELREC’s Edinburgh Cycling Club at 📍 Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre - no booking required and all welcome;
✴️ Fri, 5-8pm: Bike DIY Session at The Wee Spoke Hub
🔧 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: Edinburgh Critical Mass is a family-friendly mass protest / group ride, leaving at 2pm from Middle Meadow Walk - don’t forget to grab a t-shirt!
🫂 Help Needed
🚲 The Bike Station - can you volunteer with us? 🚲
Help us make cycling more accessible and connect people with the joy of a bicycle. We have a fantastic team of volunteers who support us in many ways, so please do reach out if you'd like to be part of the team.
🛠️ Fix Your Own Bike volunteers:
Our main requirement for volunteers at the moment are volunteers to help support on our Fix Your Own Bike (FYOB) sessions; notably those able to support the Saturday sessions which run from weekly 1-4pm.
The ideal candidate would be someone with extensive bike maintenance experience and someone who would feel comfortable articulating ideas and advice to members of the public. These sessions are a valuable resource for shared learning, lower cost self repairs and are a great community addition to the Edinburgh cycling landscape. Being volunteer-led, we cannot keep up with demand without the brilliant team that helps to operate the sessions.
If this role is of interest, please contact [email protected] to discuss the role in more detail; it would be wonderful to hear from you.
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.
📦 Edinburgh charity Goodies are offering free Cargo Bike training for those looking to volunteer with them in their food redistribution work:
Our head rider Fabian will be doing cargo bike training every Wednesday starting 17:30 at the Meadows, next to the East Meadows play park.
This is for anyone who would like to volunteer as a food rider in the evenings during the week.
We will also be signing T&C's that will be required before you can ride.
Looking forward to seeing you there ✨
Remember your helmets also! 🚲
❤️ Charlotte’s Tandems are looking for help in Edinburgh:
We lend, throughout the UK, at no cost (i.e. for free), tandems and tag-alongs (trailer bikes) to (and only to) people with disabilities or additional needs, who are unable to ride a bike safely on their own, so that they can enjoy the wonders of cycling.
In other words we provide all-ability, adapted, inclusive cycling for adults and children who are disabled, have special needs, SEN, SEND or impairments, such as Autism, Down's Syndrome, visual impairments, learning or physical difficulties.
They’ve published a Facebook post in which they are seeking a new ‘helper’ in Edinburgh - you can read about this role here, and a commenter shared:
As a former helper in Edinburgh, there are a couple of things you need to know if you are interested in taking this on.
You need to be able store several tandems when they are not being used.
The riding skills of who want to borrow a tandem are highly variable, so you may need to try to teach them how to ride a tandem, which is not like riding a solo bike.
If you can help, do get in touch with them.
👏 Cycling Without Age Musselburgh [FB] are raising funds to modernise their trishaw fleet - they have a JustGiving page, but more effective direct giving is also possible using the bank details on their Facebook post;
Ongoing: 👥 Get help with routes & road confidence through Cycle Buddies or become a buddy | 🚌 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:
📋 The Council’s consultation report for Barnton Connections has now been published, and is available to read on the project website;
🎭 With works on the refurbishment of the King’s Theatre concluded, but commencement on the build of this ‘missing link’ cycle route not due until next year, there were concerns that potentially Tarvit Street — part of the new route and closed to motor traffic for around four years during works on the theatre — might be reopened to through-traffic and add to an already busy junction and close again shortly afterwards. Instead, a modal filter will be installed at the junction of Tarvit St and Drumdryan St — which will be made one-way — so motor traffic will only be permitted one-way round a loop of Tarvit westbound, Drumdryan north and then east, returning to Brougham St - with two-way cycling allowed on both arms of the loop. — More details [PDF] »
🚊 A couple of linksfrom the June Workshop on the future of Princes St and George St, posted by Spokes this week; the collated renders and sketches of the project by Edinburgh architect Richard Murphy, and a brief concept video on Youtube;
🏞️ “The prize is a linear pathway from the Pentlands through Fairmilehead, Burdiehouse, Moredun, Gilmerton, Niddrie and Craigmillar and all the way to Joppa where it could meet the Portobello coastal cycleway and link up to the city’s entire waterfront. You could in theory create a triangular route that would include the Water of Leith Walkway. That route would be around 25-30 miles and would include some of the finest urban green space and views in Scotland.” — Pentlands to Porty path could be huge asset for city communities, Evening News / Press Reader »
📝 The good folks at Spokes have spotted a planning application 24/05843/FUL for a “Cycle path link connection and associated works from Gogar Station Road south to land east of 1 Gogar Station Road” - though they also note in their Bluesky post the width of the path being around a meter less than design guidance would instruct…
🅿️ Seven new on-street ‘cycle hangar’ storage units are planned for the locations marked with a green dot on this newly published Traffic Regulation Order - thanks to Spokes for sharing;
🆕West Edinburgh Link - Torwood path section between Torwood Crescent and Meadow Place Rd ready for use [FB];
🔐 Recently Closed:
📋 Comments recently closed (8th July) for Craigmillar Niddrie Connections — see the technical plans;
🧭 Comments on North Edinburgh Connections - protected cycling and walking improvements for West Granton Road, Pennywell Road, and Ferry Road — closed 9th June;
📨 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 »
🧱 Changes to southside protected cycleways at Summerhall under construction until July 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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