🚲 edi.bike | issue 166 | 12th Oct ‘26
your weekly edinburgh cycling digest
📰 News this Week
🎉 Lothians Cargo Bike Network launch new impact report at Cargo Bike Carnival
Lothians Cargo Bike Network today launched their new 2026-27 impact report “Carrying change: Unlocking the potential of cargo bike use in Edinburgh and the Lothians” at their inaugural Cargo Bike Carnival event in the Meadows.
A great fun day with some beautiful, crisp autumnal weather - lots of cargo bike trials for interested families, live music, circus skills teaching, delicious ice-cream (from a cargo-bike ice cream ‘truck’, naturally!) and a led ride around the meadows.
Lothians Cargo Bike Network is a newly formed informal coalition of organisations that hire out cargo bikes. Data from this group was used to write the report that has been funded by the cycle campaign organisation Spokes. The coalition have worked together to organise this family day out in the Meadows on Sunday and are encouraging cargo bike owners to attend and enter the ‘best dressed cargo bike’ competition, whilst families new to cargo bikes can take part in the cargo bike try-outs sessions as well as talk to stall holders to get advice about the electric bikes.
Sasha Taylor, Bike Station CEO said:
”Cities across Europe demonstrate how cargo bikes can be part of the solution to sustainable travel in our cities. This report has been written to capture where Edinburgh is compared to other cities and sets out recommendations to realise the potential of cargo bikes in our city.
“As proud custodians of Cargo Bike Movement’s mission and vision, The Bike Station is one of many local groups providing cargo bikes within our city. This report was compiled by Calum Glen, Impact and Data Officer for The Bike Station.”
Carol from Banzai Bikes - a cargo bike library in Bruntsfield said:
“The Cargo Bike Carnival will be a fun event showcasing all the different ways cargo bikes are being used across Edinburgh right now, by families, small businesses and community organisations. The versatility of cargo bikes and the incredible variety of loads, equipment and of course passengers that can be transported will surprise people! As well as trying the bikes you can take part in lots of fun activities including bike games, performances, a circus bike and a big bike ride, and find out about bike lending schemes across the city.”
Jane from Porty Community Energy, that has a cargo bike library on Porty prom said:
“Our cargo bike library on the prom is very well used throughout the year, most commonly by families looking for a fun day out. Hiring out a cargo bike offers a fun alternative to an outing in the car with so many great cycle routes away from the roads now available in Edinburgh. It’s great exercise, and good for every family’s health and well being. We have had such good feedback from our library, that we think it’s a no-brainer that government funding should be used to support such schemes”
Find out more in the report - a really interesting read.
📄 Cargo Bike Impact Report🚍 ‘7-7-7’ Bus Lane trial begins today
There’s an idea in transport planning of what gets referred to as a ‘7-7-7 bus lane’.
From 7am to 7pm, 7 days a week, there’s no parking, no loading, no ‘just-a-minute’-ing in the bus lane.
(You could be forgiven for thinking that just describes a bus lane as it always should have been…)
Such a bus lane scheme gives priority to public transport, so that it can be a more reliable and compelling alternative to private car use, in turn both avoiding being the service being worsened by congestion, and actively reducing said congestion as people switch to bus journeys along the prioritised route.
But as this is Edinburgh, our ‘trial’ of such a bus lane — getting underway today, 12th October, from Milton Road East to London Road — has been diluted with parking and loading exemptions before it’s even running.
As SW20 so eloquently put it on Bluesky:
The variance between locations and times probably won’t help with consistency.
Compare that with the easy to understand and highly effective:
🚗 💨 20mph in all built up areas in Wales
🅿️ No pavement parking anywhere in Edinburgh
There’s already local businesses used to loading in the bus lane whenever they feel like it donning their tinfoil hats and pitchforks - did we really need to footgun the parameters of the trial before it even commenced?
And these measures are sorely needed, throughout the city — in this location, as Edinburgh Bus Users Group point out:
Your occasional reminder that Lothian Buses has advised that average bus journey times along the A1 corridor have increased by approximately 22% since 2019 — Link to Integrated Impact Assessment [PDF]
This is, of course, a positive move forwards - if ever so slowly, tentatively and couched in too much political worry about inconveniencing private motor traffic. It’s just a shame to see a bold measure compromised at all before it’s even out the door.
🧪 Full trial details🏰 Local Bits
👀 Quick follow-up on the Redetermination Order (‘RSO’) and other orders for the Council’s ‘Cameron Toll to Bioquarter’ scheme being advertised as per the recent Spokes action update [PDF] — please do **send in your notes of support **for this route by this Friday 16th October:
📮 After our call for more legible plans last week we’ve been provided with better plans to review, with thanks to the sender: take a look at the full plans document [PDF] and send your notes of support!
As per Spokes’ advice on responding:
The simplest way to respond is to go here, then click on ‘Respond’ at the bottom right. In the response box say you are writing in support of TRO/26/08 and RSO/26/07 [don’t muddle up the 07 and 08!!].
Then add any comments on the importance of the route, and add any detailed comments you may have.
Alternatively, you can just email your support and comments to [email protected] stating clearly that you are writing to support TRO/26/08 and RSO/26/07. The deadline is Friday 16th October.
👐 A call for cycling help from SHRUB Co-op:
✨The SHRUB Foodsharing team is looking for more bikers to volunteer with us! ✨
🤝 Who do we want?
Someone who is interested in helping our community reduce food waste and food poverty
Someone who can commit to a regular shift every week
Preferably someone who is a confident bike rider and has prior food handling experience - but not essential. Training is provided.
🔗 What roles are available?
Food collector (Night shift, shifts run from 8:15pm to 10pm)
🙌 What’s in it for you?
Being part of a genuinely inclusive organisation.
Learning about foodsharing and cooperative organisations.
Experience in food handling.
Free food!
Volunteering makes you a full member of the coop for free.
Save the planet!
🤔 How do I get involved?
Sign up to volunteer with us here
🎨 Colourful new mural celebrating local history brightens Edinburgh’s Roseburn to Union Canal path — they missed out the ‘almost’ from the route name, but otherwise an unusually positive piece in the Edinburgh Evening News. It’s a nice effort but the clear blue space in the sky will very likely prove too inviting for the fitba ultras and other menchie merchants - rare to call for more clouds but…
⚡ Spokes recently spied in the Historic & Environment Scotland’s “Holyrood Park stakeholder newsletter” that a funding application aimed at reducing carbon output at the Education Centre in the park includes ‘Providing new electric pool bikes and storage for [park] Rangers’, which would be great to see;
🍜 EDINBURGH is set to become the first area in Scotland to introduce “physical hubs” for gig workers and delivery riders in a push to improve working conditions.
It is hoped the hubs will provide a common space for workers to rest, take breaks, and share information about safety and securing vehicles between deliveries.
While the location of the first hub has not yet been confirmed, a commitment of £50,000 has been agreed to begin research on the design and location of the first hub, with formal funding expected to be progressed in the upcoming budget. — More at The Edinburgh Reporter »
Great to see work from The Workers’ Observatory and others come to fruition.
Meanwhile, from atop their regulatorily unapproachable tech monolith, Deliveroo have launched a cynical smoke-screen safety-washing somewhat interesting campaign around the safety of e-bike conversion kits:
Deliveroo is calling on the Government to crack down on dangerous e-bikes by banning the sale of unsafe conversion kits to the general public, as part of its new Ride Safe campaign to make roads safer. — read the full
shitehawk doublespeakPress Release »
As if Deliveroo doesn’t have every byte of telemetry data on their heavily-tracked and underpaid riders needed to know whether or not someone’s using an illegal e-moto to get that food delivery to you piping hot and unusually quickly up Embra’s hills. How much demand for illegal kits will be driven by food delivery services - 90%? It’s not a market responding to cycle commuters optimising their run hame, is it? 🙄
🍎 Goodies rider Fabian Gavin hauled this fantastic load recently and ended up featured on Donkey Trailers’ Instagram as a result - incredible what a trailer, a cargo bike and a single rider can move!
💼 Couple of job openings with the lovely folks at Porty Community Energy:
Vacancy: Community Project Worker for Equal Footing Porty (EFP)
Salary: £25,480 pro rata (0.2 FTE)
Closing date: 23 October 2026 23:59We are seeking a community project worker with lived experience of disability to coordinate the Equal Footing Porty (EFP) project. EFP is led by local people with lived experience of disability or caring responsibilities. EFP aims to improve access to public spaces and facilities for walkers, wheelers and those with small children and buggies. The project, now in its third year, builds on the multifaceted approach we established to address barriers and challenges faced by wheel users and people with disabilities in the community.
Vacancy: Administrative Officer
Salary: £25,480 pro rata (0.51 FTE)
Closing date: 31 October 2026, 23:59We are seeking an Administrative officer to help us ensure the seamless daily running of our organisation. You’ll assist with operational management, supporting the board and wider team to ensure everything runs efficiently and consistently across our projects from our office base in central Portobello. This role is perfect for someone who is highly organised, thrives on variety, enjoys working both outdoors and in an office setting, and can balance practical problem-solving with strong organisational skills.
More information on how to apply on our website »
🌧️ National
💻 New fly-through rendering of a new Maryhill Road corridor project by Glasgow City Council on Youtube via Alistair Davidson on Bluesky, connecting more of the city by protected cycleway;
📺 Also in Glasgow - a new video on the Duke Street cycleway from Glasgow Cyclist on Youtube:
📈 Some great new stats on the progress of Bikeability in Schools:
A record 70% of primary schools in Scotland now deliver Bikeability Scotland cycle training.
More than 56,000 young people participated across Scotland.
Nearly two thirds (64%) of primary schools delivering on-road training, a key road safety education programme.
The Highlands sees the greatest growth, with two-thirds of schools now delivering cycle training.
⛏️ Works commence at the end of November on a new section of Crieff to Comrie pathway on former railway line, in this update on the project [PDF] shared by Comrie Croft;
🤦 Tewkesbury Neighbourhood Policing, part of Gloucestershire Constabulary, posted on Facebook that privately owned e-bikes require road tax, vehicle insurance, and a valid MOT. They do not. The post has since been deleted, but it was live long enough for Cycling UK to see it and respond.
Duncan Dollimore of Cycling UK was blunt. The police needed to "stop this confusing narrative and understand the difference" between e-bikes and e-motorbikes. "These misconceptions continue to cause issues to people who are genuine legal e-bike riders." — The Cycling Week, Facebook
🛣 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 Robbie who prepares this list for us each week!
🏫 Canaan Lane: Eastbound contraflow cycle lane from Morningside Rd closed at Woodburn Ter by Canaan Lane Primary School. The road will first be closed for Scottish Water Repairs from today, Monday 12th October for 2 days, then further west by Scottish Power until end Nov 2026. A dismount will likely be required to pass.
🎬 Lady Lawson Street: Closed for filming all day tomorrow Tuesday 13th October. Access to Johnston Ter will be via Castle Ter. It may be necessary to dismount and wait a few minutes between takes.
🎬 Inverleith Park: Closed for filming all day Wednesday 14th October between 4-way junction of paths at centre of park and Arboretum Pl. The path by the playground may offer an alternate route.
🎬 Leith Links: Wellington Pl, Johns Pl and Duncan Pl and closed for filming all day Monday 19th October. Links Gardens closed from 4pm daily Monday 19th October and Tuesday 20th October. It’s been queries whether the paths will remain open.
🚧 Albion Road: Obstruction of Quietroute 20 for Scottish Power ongoing. The Crawford Bridge may offer an alternate route. Update: Road expected to reopen tomorrow, Tuesday 13th October.
🚛 Forrest Road: Cycle Lane obstructed by Scottish Power from next week Monday 19th October for 2 weeks. Beware vehicles loading in other parts of the road, as they usually load in this cycle lane.
Long Term Closures:
🚧 Minto Street: Segregated cycle lanes down to Craigmillar Park expected to be obstructed in various locations until the end of the year, in preparation for resurfacing. Works are initially focused on crossings, drainage and signals with road surface works commencing in the new year.
🏖️ Silverknowes Road: Road to Silverknowes Beach closed for resurfacing works and reconfiguration of the cycle lane. Update: Now expected to reopen in October 2026.
🌊 Waterloo Place: Closed westbound until end Nov 2026 for Scottish Water repairs. Eastbound access will be reduced to 1 lane. Be aware of vehicles overtaking within the narrow and uphill remaining lane. A dismount will be necessary westbound, and it will not be possible to rejoin the road until after North Bridge, as traffic lights will be altered.
🚧 Dundee Street: Segregated cycle lanes between Viewforth and Gilmore Park obstructed by temporary traffic lights for Scottish Power substation works until November 2026. Access to the Union Canal may require a dismount.
🏞️ Holyrood Park High Road: Closed due to recent rockfall. A short dismount is necessary to avoid a fenced off area.
🌉 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, including the path below. The south-east bridge over the Union Canal is currently closed pedestrians and cyclists whilst kerbs are altered.
🏗️ 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 2027 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
🛍️ Via this Instagram post - Sunday 18th October in Glasgow - Cycle jumble sale!
We are doing it again. Sunday 18th October 9am - 1pm at the Sir Chris hoy velodrome for a bike jumble and open day with free come and try track taster sessions. Jumble tables are £10 for a single table, £20 for a double and all of that goes to charity. All cycling and cycling related stuff is welcome, not just track kit. Free entry for browsers and buyers. Hit us up at [email protected] to book a stall or with any questions.
❄️ A wee bit of winter wind-down news from ELREC’s Edinburgh Cycling Club, from their Instagram:
We’ll be pausing our cycling classes at the end of October, so make sure to come along to the classes while you can!
Here're the dates when you can still join:
Saturday 17.10.2026We will continue with every other activity, so don't fret, the Cycling Club will be still be here to take you to pedalling - come rain or shine : )
And rest assured, we will be back with the Cycling Classes in Spring 2027.
⏩ As ever all their events are listed on Meetup for more information and booking where required.
🔧 Basic Bike Maintenance sessions at Bridgend Farmhouse, next on Friday 23rd October (last one for a wee while!):
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]
💬 Towpath Talks returns on 30th October:
“Coming in hawt!
Towpath talks, but this time a spooky version 👻 (not really).
Come and hear from Ian, who unofficially was the only person to ride the last edition of London Edinburgh London, and Sarah Small, who rode to all her gigs on her UK tour.” — Instagram
🎟️ 18:30 for a 19:00 start at Gamma; tickets £12 online here;
📅 Andrew Abbess, Chair of Cycling UK’s Scottish Advisory Committee, shared details of the Cycling UK in Scotland Annual Gathering 2026 which takes place on Saturday 31st October from 10:30 until 16:00 at Augustine United Church, George IV Bridge. Talks and speakers include:
Gaelic speaking Mountain biker Kerry McPhee, will be amazing us with tales of riding in the Atlas Mountains, the Silk Road and setting up community cycle groups in the Trossachs
Endurance cyclist Christina Mackenzie the holder of the LEJOG world record and the fastest women at the 2026 1000 mile Trans Alba race, will be sharing her journey of recovery to endurance riding at the highest level following serious injury and experiencing a stroke.
A panel discussion on cycle campaigning chaired by Inverness Cycling Provost Emily Williams including Sally Hinchcliffe, Robert Wheetman Neil Russell and Aaron McCarthy
Cycling UK updates by Chair of Trustees Ashley Wheaton
Update on the new Cycling UK Gallovidian Gravel route by Ross Adams
Updates on Cycling UK’s life-changing community based projects, and campaigns and policy work, with Suzanne Forup, Jim Densham and Scott Runciman.
Tea and coffee will be available from 10.30am, with the event starting at 11am.
A light lunch will be provided.
🎟️ Tickets (free / pay what you can) and more information at Cycling UK »
💚 From Bike for Good (Glasgow) on Instagram:
After 14 years of bikes, repairs, rides, learning, volunteering and plenty of cups of tea, it’s time to say farewell to Bike for Good West Hub!
On Friday 6 November, we’ll be opening the doors for one last celebration of the West Hub and everyone who has been part of its story since 2012.
The shop will be open as usual from 9am–5pm, with our farewell celebrations kicking off from 1pm.
Come along to:
🚲 Celebrate the history of the West Hub
🛠️ Pick up pre-refurbished bikes, frames and parts
🪑 Give some of our furniture and equipment a new home
💚 Share your memories and say goodbye to the space with usAll are welcome, whether you've been with us from the start, or as someone just getting to know us!
📅 Friday 6 November 2026
📍 Bike for Good West Hub
⏰ Shop: 9am–5pm | Farewell celebrations from 1pm
🔁 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.
✊ This week! 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
💸 Fundraising via Bridge 8 Hub on behalf of Beyond Boundaries East Lothian:
🚴♀️🇩🇰🇸🇪 BEYOND BOUNDARIES EAST LOTHIAN – DENMARK & SWEDEN BROMPTON ADVENTURE! 🇸🇪🇩🇰🚴♂️
Beyond Boundaries East Lothian are taking on an incredible Denmark & Sweden Brompton Bike Packing Adventure to raise vital funds for a Van Ramm Velo Plus — with an amazing £7,500 fundraising target!
Their ‘Big Bertha’ Van Ramm Velo Plus does fantastic work supporting adults with disabilities across Edinburgh & Lothian, helping people access cycling opportunities, build confidence, get active and, most importantly, enjoy the freedom and connection that cycling can bring. 💙🚲
Bridge 8 Hub are asking as many people as possible to get behind the challenge and help them reach their target over the coming days.
Every donation, no matter the size, will make a difference and help support this incredible organisation and the people who benefit from its work.
💷 Please donate if you can. 🔗 Hit the link and help us get to £7,500!
☀️ Porty Community Energy have 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
🚲 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.
📦 Online Sales Support volunteer 📦
Do you have a good eye for detail with some experience with online sales? Do you like tinkering with unique bike parts and connecting these with keen customers?
We are looking for a new online sales support volunteer, who will lead on our eBay sales; from photographing, writing descriptions, communicating with buyers, to carefully packing and sending packages out. This is a fantastic way to ensure we maximise revenue from the brilliant salvaged parts and donations we receive - allowing this to be funneled straight back into supporting our overall mission and communities programmes.
Ideally the incoming volunteer would be able to get involved from start-mid October, to allow for crossover with the outgoing team member. The minimum commitment is 3-4 hours per week, with in store time spent at our Gorgie shop ideally on a Thursday or Friday.
🛠️ 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 either of these roles are 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.
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:
💬 From Merchiston Districts Community Council:
Polwarth and Merchiston Road Safety schemes are developing well and need your input - we’re pleased to share a mega-update on several key road safety initiatives within our Community Council area, focused on the Merchiston Ave / Polwarth Crescent / Yeaman Place corridor.
The junction at Merchiston Avenue / Rochester Terrace will be also redesigned this year, following a successful submission by our Community Council to CEC’s Local Traffic Improvement Programme… The CEC road safety team has now proposed significantly widened pavements at all four corners of the junction, which will create a much shorter crossing radius for pedestrians, and improve sightlines for drivers and pedestrians and cyclists alike. The narrowed junction would also force speed reduction and discourage larger vehicles (especially HGVs) from using this road as a rat run. There will be ground-level planters here as well, and which will be placed to deter illegal parking which also blocks sightlines. CEC wants to hear your views! If you have any views on these proposed improvements, please fill out this short survey.
The same survey also covers proposals for further up the road, at the junction with Colinton Road:
We are delighted to share that CEC is also examining how to make improvements for this heavily used junction (near Starbucks and Tesco), which also happens to be an entry point for the Merchiston Ave / Polwarth Crescent / Yeaman Place rat run. We are in touch with the Road Safety Officer managing the scheme, and will share updates once the project is further along. Tell us what you think! If you have any views on this junction (problems and ideas for improvements), please fill out the survey.
⛏️ “West Lothian Council has been granted planning permission (application 0034/FUL/26) to construct a cyclepath, including bridge crossing over the A706, from Stoneyburn to connect to core path WL24 Fauldhouse Rail Path.” — more details and plans in this Facebook post »
📋 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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