A large group of people, including children, on bikes of all sizes cycle through a green space. The text reads: Pedal on Parliament - Save the date: 30th May 2026, 11.30am - #PoP26 - Meadows to Holyrood on closed roads, for a cycle-friendly Scotland

We’re back - Save the Date! In 2026 we Pedal on Parliament for a cycle-friendly Scotland, on Sat 30th May at 11.30am - Middle Meadow Walk to Holyrood, Edinburgh on closed roads.

#ThisMachineFightsClimateChange #pop26

🛎️ Leith Feeder Ride to POP 2026 🛎️

Saturday 30th of May

Meeting outside the cricket club on Leith Links at 0930 for a 0945 start. Find out more and let us know if you're planning to come along on our Facebook event:

fb.me/e/44dRCf5tr

@pedalonparliament.org #POP26

A Q&A on Powderhall active travel path on 19th March, text too long for Alt text but can be read at edinburgh.gov.uk

A Q&A on Powderhall active travel path on 5th Feb, text too long for Alt text but can be read at edinburgh.gov.uk

Powderhall / Leith Walk / Easter Road / Meadowbank path negotiations continue between Edinburgh Council & Network Rail Scotland, & assessments have taken place on the bridges down the route.

However we're a whiles until any spade can hit the ground. The funding picture was answered back in Feb too.

Back page of bulletin

Front page of bulletin

🤩 *You* are in Spokes 2026 Bulletin 🚲🚲

--> @transform.scot @edcriticalmass.bsky.social @chdot.bsky.social @sw20.info @sccscot.bsky.social @edi.bike @livingstreetsedi.bsky.social @eccan.bsky.social @portyenergy.bsky.social @blackfordsaferoutes.co.uk

Page 12 here--> www.spokes.org.uk/2026/04/spok...

Lots going on down at Coalie Park today with our monthly clean-up in full swing. As well as our usual land and water litter pick, we welcomed a new crew member onto the boat, removed a large buddliea tree, swept paths, and scrubbed graffiti from the planter benches. Thanks folks!

🤩 Join Spokes by March 31 and you'll get a free copy of #FavouriteBikeRides
[in mid or late April - all members will get one]

Join--> www.spokes.org.uk/membership/

@edi.bike @edfoc.bsky.social @chdot.bsky.social @edinreporter.bsky.social @davidfkey.bsky.social @helenrambler.bsky.social @sw20.info

cover page of new Spokes Favourite Bike Rides booklet, with photos of some of the rides inside

A taster page from the booklet - favourite ride from Balerno to Fountainbridge, with photos of the entrant, the colinton tunnel, and a map 3 A Beeline to the City 11 km, 7 miles 40–60 minutes E This is a straightforward route, suitable for cyclists of all abilities. The surfaces are good, navigation is simple, there is no traffic to worry about and the going is almost completely level. It’s worth lingering in the Colinton Tunnel to view the impressive murals. Start: Balerno End: Fountainbridge From Bridge Road, take the signposted Water of Leith path (NCN 75), which starts near Balerno High School. Follow the path for about 7 km as it meanders alongside the river. You will pass Spylaw Park (on your right), then go under the City Bypass and through the Colinton Tunnel. The path eventually leaves the Water of Leith, crossing the Lanark Road by a footbridge before dropping down to the Union Canal towpath. With the canal on your right, take the towpath (still NCN 75) for a further 4 km to its terminus at Fountainbridge. (Care is needed when crossing the Slateford Aqueduct. Cyclists are very strongly advised to dismount on this narrow section of path; those with a poor head for heights may prefer to avoid it completely.) Gregor Steele Gregor came back to cycling after he retired. He enjoys leisurely rides in the country, which he says fit in with his other hobbies: photography and local history. He is also a writer and poet, and does a lot of his composing while riding. Why this is my favourite ride: This is a journey to be enjoyed at a leisurely pace. There is beauty to be found all along the route, but for me the highlight is the Colinton Tunnel, with its famous murals. I have passed through it many times, but always find something new.

How to get your copy... Getting your copy All Spokes members will be sent a free copy, as a thank-you for being a member. This will be sent out in mid or late April with our annual paper-based mailing. If you’re not a member, join Spokes by the end of March and you will be included! The Edinburgh Bike Coop and the Water of Leith Visitor Centre sell edition 2 and are being approached about edition 3. Order direct from Spokes, post free. Email office@spokes.org.uk. We will send you details to make a BACS payment. Prices.. Edition 2 (12 pages) – £2 Edition 3 (16 pages) – £3 Edition 2 and Edition 3 – £4 If you also order one Spokes map, ask for either booklet free If you also order two or more maps, ask for both booklets free Important – if you are a Spokes member, you will still receive a free copy of edition 3 in April even if you buy one now. With around 1000 members it would be too complex for us to do otherwise … your second copy could be a lovely present for a friend, relation or colleague!

🚲🚲 #FavouriteBikeRides #Edinburgh/ #Lothians - out now!

HERE-> www.spokes.org.uk/2026/03/favo...

@edi.bike @edfoc.bsky.social @edinreporter.bsky.social @edinburghminute.com @gavincorbett.bsky.social @laidbackbikes.bsky.social @gregorsteele.bsky.social @edcriticalmass.bsky.social @wolct.bsky.social

Two Edinburgh councillors censured after breaching code of conduct Two Edinburgh councillors have been censured by the Standards Commission for failing to declare an interest when they took part in meetings on controversial traffic measures near where they lived.

In light of this decision my Transport & Environment Committee will now have to revisit the vote taken on the Braids Estate LTN.

www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/two-edi...

This demonstrates that the vote to rip out the modal filters and other active travel measures in the Braid estate was not only unjustifiable, but also arrived at by a tainted process which must now surely be revisited.

It's essential that the decision to rip out the quiet route is now revisited. I have written to senior council officers to request this.

Full press release: drive.google.com/file/d/1mBL4...

A close-run matter in which two councillors — one of whom not even usually on the Committee! — voted in breach of the Code of Conduct surely cannot be considered a democratic agreement to remove filters that have made streets quieter and safer for residents and those travelling through the area.

The controversial and surprising vote to remove highly effective traffic calming measures from a residential area and re-introduce up to 6,000 vehicles daily — on a 'quite route' for walking, wheeling and cycling spanning two primary schools — must surely now be revisited at Transport Committee.

"The Panel agreed, therefore, that both councillors should have declared an interest, withdrawn from the meetings and taken no part in the discussion and decision-making on the matter. The Panel found that their failure to do so amounted to a breach of the Code."

⚠️ Today, Standards Commission hearing (Councillors Neil Ross & Marie-Clair Munro) found both had breached the Councillor code of conduct for failing to declare they lived by the Braid Estate when dealing w/ Greenbank to Meadows Quiet Route, including their votes to remove effective traffic filtering

*a “modal filter” is a strategic closure to through motor traffic, that allows people walking or cycling to pass

They are low-cost & highly effective - shown to cut vehicle movements and crashes by 50%, as well as reducing street crime, pollution & noise

They simply make neighbourhoods better!

Screen capture of the council committee webcast, showing the deputee

Map showing the rat run, highlighted in red

Fantastic deputation today at Edinburgh council’s Transport & Environment committee from Royal Park Terrace residents

They’re asking for a modal filter* in their street to prevent rat-running - a street that includes a school & care home & suffers from intrusive traffic trying to bypass London Rd

Pedal on Parliament is back Pedal on Parliament (PoP) is a movement to persuade politicians to make the roads safer in Scotland for cyclists. Their strapline is "We're pedalling to make Scotland a cycle-friendly country!" In this election year they are planning a protest ride on 30 May 2026 at 11.30am to bring their demands to the attention of the newly elected politicians at Holyrood. …

Pedal on Parliament is back

Pedal on Parliament (PoP) is a movement to persuade politicians to make the roads safer in Scotland for cyclists. Their strapline is "We're pedalling to make Scotland a cycle-friendly country!" In this election year they are planning a protest ride on 30 May 2026 at…

Cllr Graham

Edi.Bike posts table showing massive dangers of motor vehicles to pedestrians compared to minimal cyclist dangers Naturally, rather than taking the opportunity to champion the rights of those travelling actively and noise up the council for less vehicular intrusion on Rose St, Living Streets Edinburgh have penned an objection to the proposed introduction of two-way cycling on Rose St, ignoring the many examples from across Europe where pedestrians and cyclists manage to coexist in the same space. Such spaces include, but are not limited to, the very street they're claiming shouldn't have two-way cycling access, on which cycling is already permitted.

Final perceptive comment from edi.bike It's exhausting to see so much hand-waving from folks over something with so little impact.

#EdinWebCast

Cyclist one-ways exemption

Cllr Graham proposes postpone Rose St decision, seconded Cllr Osler

🙄 Vote 4-4 then casting vote postpones Rose St

Weird voting: 1 Libdem for, one against

Spokes view:
🙄 crazy lengthy debate re 🚲'dangers' despite existing cycling; no talk of the 🚘🚚dangers

The TRO subcommittee fret on details and believe they are working to improve the city - they are not. They merely serve to filibuster and delay progress on a more people oriented city. They also overstep their mark, as they’ve only supposed to approve the reports as a legal formality

Shame on them

The crazy thing is, that Rose St is a destination, not a through-route for bikes. So enabling 2-way cycling would have likely reduced interactions with pedestrians, as bikes could then take the shortest route. And the street already has 1-way cars on it!

In detail, there were 2 positions: one to support the orders as is, the other to exclude Rose St

There were 4 votes for each position, Cllr Graham had the casting vote as Convenor. Said she felt very strongly about Rose street and voted through the amendment to delete Rose Street from the orders

The inexperience and overreach of the TRO subcommittee shows its ugly head again

A frosty cycle patrol up the walkway from the visitor centre for Johnny, on the search for future projects for our volunteers.

A few leaf sweeping moments along the way to make some minor improvements.

Sodden protesters outside the City Chambers. There is a banner saying “delays cost lives. Support active travel now”. The protesters are holding up a street sign “Cowgate” and some clock faces

Sodden protesters outside the City Chambers speak to the Transport Convenor, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson

Sodden protesters outside the City Chambers. There is a banner saying “delays cost lives. Support active travel now”. The protesters are holding up a street sign “Cowgate” and some clock faces

One year after a horrific road death in the Cowgate, what have Edinburgh council done?

Excellent protest from Critical Mass, on a dreich day!

Great to see @stephenjenkinson.bsky.social & @chasbooth.bsky.social speak to protesters

@edcriticalmass.bsky.social

On average, there is a one-to-one
relationship, so a 10% increase in road capacity will be followed, within a few years, by a 10% increase in vehicles being driven.3 A major study commissioned by CPRE "The Impact
of Road Projects in England” 4 examined Highways England reports on road developments

Induced demand

The fundamental assumption of the proposal is that congestion can be relieved by increasing road capacity. This assumption is categorically incorrect. Instead, it has been well
known for a long time that increasing road capacity will induce demand

…to switch to using sustainable modes of transport.

The time, money and other resources being allocated to this project should instead be spent on projects which will actually help solve these problems, such as improving the public and active travel networks in Midlothian and south Edinburgh.

Whilst there are some notable improvements for cyclists included in the latest plans, the scheme as a whole will create a more dangerous environment for cycling in Midlothian and Edinburgh. It will also further entrench the dominance of car use, making it even more difficult for future generations

Summary
Spokes strongly objects to the principle of the A701 Relief Road and A702 Link Road proposals, and therefore to this planning application. If built, these roads will aggravate the
issues they are supposed to alleviate.