Intro to report
Delivery cyclists – Response to motions
2. Executive Summary
2.1 This report responds to recently approved motions relating to delivery cyclists. In summary, engagement with Sustrans and some industry delivery cyclists has occurred, with measures put in place to engage with the latter on projects in the future. However, there are no legislative or regulatory powers available to the Council on some elements raised. Police Scotland have some enforcement powers, and the Council’s continued delivery of active travel infrastructure in the city will support this sector.
3. Background
3.1 The following motions have recently been approved by the Council and Committee on delivery cyclists:
3.1.1 Safe Cycling at Work, adjusted motion by Councillor Day, 1 June 2023;
3.1.2 Council Question 2 from Councillor Caldwell, The City of Edinburgh Council, 29 August 2024;
3.1.3 Delivery Cyclists overlooked demographic, adjusted motion by Councillor Booth, 10 October 2024; and
3.1.4 Commercial E-Bike Deliveries, adjusted motion by Councillor Bennett, 20 March 2025.
4. Main report
4.1 For the purposes of this report, the actions have been grouped into three theme areas:
Theme 1: Engagement with delivery cyclists
4.2 The following engagement approaches have been progressed:
4.2.1 A leaflet has been produced advising delivery cyclists about safe and considerate cycling (Appendix 1). This has been produced in discussion with Police Scotland for sharing with delivery cyclists through Police Scotland’s
council leaflet
Workers’ Observatory Deputation
on “Delivery cyclists – Response
to motions”
Organisation Workers' Observatory
Document Type Written Deputation
Document Author Boyan Karabaliev (Policy Coordinator)
boyan@workersobservatory.org
Deputation to Transport and Environment Committee
Meeting date 26 Jun 2025
Agenda item Delivery cyclists – Response to motions
The Workers' Observatory would like to thank councillors and council officers for
engaging with us and for producing this report. We appreciate the inclusion of the
Workers' Observatory as a stakeholder and we will be happy to continue facilitating
engagement between the local authority and delivery workers.
We agree with the view that appropriate cycling infrastructure would improve working
conditions of delivery cyclists and reduce conflict with other road users. However, as we
stated in our deputation to Full Council on 20 March 2025, the key driver of occasional
unsafe behaviour from workers is the immense pressure put on them by delivery
platform companies.
We recognise the unfortunate lack of powers for local authorities in Scotland to ensure
fair working conditions for delivery riders, for whom public space (roads, streets, paths)
is the workplace. We request that the report is referred to the Housing, Homelessness,
and Fair Work committee, for a further discussion on how the Council can include
platform workers in the Fair Work agenda. We ask that the lack of needed powers is
raised with COSLA and the Scottish Government.
#EdinWebcast #DeliveryCyclists
Report-> democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/documents/s8...
Council has few relevant powers but..
.. improved 🚲 facilities should reduce problems
.. Workers' Observatory will be consulted on 🚲 schemes
.. Leaflet circulated
.. Poor feedback from delivery companies