Start of Spokes article... 2025–>2026 : What for Edinburgh Cycling Policy & Action? Will 2026 see Edinburgh City‘s new ‘Primary Cycle Network’ definition start to turn from policy into reality? And what of the City’s hugely ambitious 30% by 2030 traffic-reduction aims? What other decisions or actions may we see in the coming year?

Picture of a bollarded route due to be upgraded in 2026 as part of the main-road 'Primary Cycle Network'

Picture of Foot of Walk to Dock Street under construction - opening in 2026

Huge amounts of precious time having to be spent by officers in reassuring & re-reassuring worried councillors on issues where evidence is already pretty solid... In conclusion, a random thought Looking back on the stories above, one has to be struck by the huge amount of precious officer time that is devoted to handling the concerns of councillors worried by objections which in the end often prove either irrelevant or largely unfounded. Time which could be spent far more productively. Here are some examples… There is no better example than the saga of the Travelling Safely experimental Orders and the role of the TRO subcommittee (see ‘2025’ near the start of this article), resulting in additional meetings and literally hundreds of pages of reports [e.g. this 682-page download for their third meeting covering much of the same ground] The Braid Estate story (see above) is another – huge amounts of time in meetings, massive reports, preparation of traffic orders, finding contractors, abortive costs – all in aid of a messy compromise experiment, unwanted by many, and which may now not happen Most recently, the decision of TRO Sub to postpone a decision on whether to allow east-bound cycling in Rose Street, where westbound has been legal for decades. Officers now have to prepare a report on issues such as whether bikes may collide with cafe tables or get through any roadworks that might happen, even though the existing west-bound cycling works perfectly well. Is there a solution to this tragic time-wasting, delaying projects which are far more safety and environmentally significant? Certainly, objections must be heard, and councillors must interrogate officers. Some objections do have real substance. But when evidence is clear, and plainly laid out by officers when questioned at Committee (as, largely, in the above examples) surely there must be a mechanism for making councillors think twice. Is yet another investigation, more reports, more meetings, mor…

#Edinburgh #Cycling developments 2026 (?)

Our thoughts--> www.spokes.org.uk/2026/01/2025...

🤔 #MainRoad protected lanes
🤔 #Tram
🤔 #PrincesStreet
🤔 #BraidEstate
🤔 Plans: #CCWEL extension, #LothianRoad
🤔 #DemandManagement: #TrafficFilters #charging
🤔 #BusLanes
🤔 Use of officer time
... and much more

The speakers, Transport and Environment Convener Cllr Stephen Jenkinson, and the Council’s Head of Transport Strategy and Partnerships, Deborah Paton [formerly at Glasgow City Council], gave a joint presentation, with Cllr Jenkinson concentrating on policy and turning to Deborah to explain how this worked out in practice.

With around 100 people, this was one of our biggest meetings ever, showing the growing demand for improved cycling facilities and reduced car dominance. It was especially pleasing to see three other politicians take time from their busy lives to join the audience – Sarah Boyack MSP [Labour, Spokes member], Cllr Chas Booth [Green, Leith, Spokes member] and Cllr Ross McKenzie [Independent, Sighthill/Gorgie]. A full video of the meeting will be available soon.

Road user charging / Congestion charging Q: Cllr Jenkinson had confirmed in his presentation that Edinburgh was sticking to its target for car-km reduction, even though Scot Govt had said their own traffic-reduction commitment is ‘undeliverable.’ However, research commissioned (then sidelined) by Scot Govt had shown that substantial traffic reduction is achievable, but only by introducing one of several forms of road user charging. So, would Edinburgh implement charging? AECOM report – Executive Summary final para A: Cllr J said that demand management is essential; and that charging is in the Mobility Plan as an option and must be considered seriously. However, more was needed from the Scottish Government before the Council could take charging further. Answering a follow-up, Cllr J said he would be pressing the Government on this. Cllr J also believed that charging would be more effective if it covered an area wider than just Edinburgh.

Spokes note: In terms of safety, whilst fears about safety are often expressed in advance of bike hire schemes, the data, to the extent it exists, suggests that bike hire users are significantly safer than people using their own bikes. Possible reasons are: bike hire tends to be used on roads with low traffic speeds; bike-hire cyclists may travel more slowly than the average; motorists may assume hire bike users are less competent, so give them more space; bike share is often introduced at the same time as improved facilities, and may encourage Councils to do more. An overview of available evidence (now a little dated), by the International Transport Forum is here, and includes the graph below.

#SpokesMtg report with @stephenjenkinson.bsky.social

--> www.spokes.org.uk/2025/05/its-...

includes..
#CongestionCharging
#Tram / #RoseburnPath
#TrafficFilters / #BraidEstate
#BikeShare / #BikeHire
#WomensSafety
#TourDeFrance
#BusLane enforcement
#Delays
#GeorgeStreet
#ActiveTravel cash
& more ...