#SpokesMtg #Holyrood2026

👍 Thanks: excellent chairing & meeting format widely praised
👍 Also great report below by #IanSwanson of #EveningNews (sadly not yet on @bsky.app)

@edi.bike @chasbooth.bsky.social @stephenjenkinson.bsky.social @furtherfrom.bsky.social @kate-c.bsky.social @edfoc.bsky.social

TODAY Monday 16 March

#Holyrood2026 #Cycling #Hustings #SpokesMtg

☝️ Monday
#SpokesMtg #Holyrood2026 #Cycling #Hustings

👍 Delighted to see that all our speakers are on @bsky.app

@cllrjomo.bsky.social @chasbooth.bsky.social @stephenjenkinson.bsky.social @furtherfrom.bsky.social @kate-c.bsky.social
+ our maestro @bjpaddy.bsky.social

@edi.bike @edfoc.bsky.social

Start of election hustings article... Spokes/CUK Election Hustings #Holyrood2026 Spokes and Cycling UK are holding a joint election hustings, on Monday 16 March, for the 2026 Scottish Parliament election, to hear from Holyrood candidates on cycling and related policies. Rather than the usual hustings approach, which can be rather boring, our meeting will comprise several sections, with speakers undertaking Initiation, Interrogation, Combination, Clarification and Education, as in the agenda below.

Submit a question If you have a question for all candidates (“Combination” section above) please email it in advance to spokes@ spokes.org.uk with the subject line hustings question. Note that questions to individual candidates (“Interrogation”) can only be asked in person at the meeting, after their Initiation speech.

🙋 SOON...

#Hustings #Holyrood2026 #SpokesMtg 🚲🚲

March 16 -> spokes.org.uk/2026/02/spokes-cuk-election-hustings-holyrood2026

🙋 SEND US YOUR QN FOR CANDIDATES
spokes@spokes.org.uk

@edi.bike @edfoc.bsky.social @furtherfrom.bsky.social @chasbooth.bsky.social @kate-c.bsky.social @cllrjomo.bsky.social

#Hustings #Holyrood2026
#SpokesMtg ✔️🚲🚲

#Conservative speaker now announced ..
#JoMowat @cllrjomo.bsky.social

Candidate for Edinburgh Central

Start of election hustings article... Spokes/CUK Election Hustings #Holyrood2026 Spokes and Cycling UK are holding a joint election hustings, on Monday 16 March, for the 2026 Scottish Parliament election, to hear from Holyrood candidates on cycling and related policies. Rather than the usual hustings approach, which can be rather boring, our meeting will comprise several sections, with speakers undertaking Initiation, Interrogation, Combination, Clarification and Education, as in the agenda below.

#Hustings #Holyrood2026
#SpokesMtg ✔️🚲🚲

March 16 --> www.spokes.org.uk/2026/02/spok...

@edi.bike @edfoc.bsky.social @kate-c.bsky.social @chasbooth.bsky.social @ianmurraymp.bsky.social @edcriticalmass.bsky.social @sw20.info @keithirving.bsky.social @edinreporter.bsky.social @jennycooper.bsky.social

#Cargobikes in #Edinburgh #SpokesMtg

Video of speakers/QA--> youtu.be/dGLVWBq3Uhk

@edi.bike @banzaiedinburgh.bsky.social @portyenergy.bsky.social @thebikestation.bsky.social @laidbackbikes.bsky.social @thecockburn.bsky.social @rru.bsky.social @fairless.xyz @sw20.info @edfoc.bsky.social #Motherload

Cargobikes in Edinburgh – #SpokesMtg report + photo of speakers Our public meeting on 2 September – which attracted at least 6 cargobikes, inside and out, in addition to the audience! – was an inspiring demonstration of the enthusiasm and effort which is bringing cargobike opportunities to the Edinburgh public. Several cargobike hubs/libraries are already operational, lending to local residents, and The Bike Station hopes to establish 2 new hubs in 2026/27 and create a shared maintenance service for all hubs.

Four groups shared details of their own work [further notes on this are linked under ‘More Info’ at the end of this article] … Banzai, Bruntsfield Area NetZero Action Initiative (Carol speaking), was created in response to the climate crisis. Their most successful initiative so far has been a 2 cargobike library, with some 75 different borrowers so far. Porty Community Energy (Jennifer and Poppy speaking), also created to reduce our pressure on the planet, has been running their bike/cargobike library for 3 years, and in addition to general-public loans has run projects including, this year, geared to carers. Cycling Gardeners of Edinburgh (Callum speaking) are a garden-maintenance company, now with 6 cargobikes, who find a ready market in the city centre where van-based gardening companies are reluctant to take on jobs. Incidentally, Spokes has assisted CGoE with bike purchase through our cargo-bike support scheme for community groups and micro-businesses. The Bike Station (Ian speaking from Sasha’s notes) is now the custodian of former Cargo Bike Movement, and now has 15 cargobikes out on monthly loans to families. As mentioned above, they hope to expand and support the growing cargobike-hub initiatives across the city.

picture - Cargobike handbuilt in Scotland by Ariel Bikes, being given the once-over before the meeting by Edinburgh cargobike expert David Gardiner of Laidback Bikes [photo: Tim Godwin of Ariel Bikes]icture

Barriers to expanding cargobike (CB) use in Edinburgh Part of the aim of the meeting was to identify barriers to wider CB adoption, so we can seek solutions. Barriers that were noted included… Insurance for CB-based groups and businesses. Insurance companies are not used to this, and thus reluctant to offer insurance [Cycling Gardeners & Porty Bike Hub had to spend much time arranging insurance] Home storage space (e.g. in tenements) limits CB ownership and highlights the value of CB libraries Motornormativity – unconscious cognitive bias which assumes made that motor car ownership and use is how life works .. so people wouldn’t normally see CB as an option. Ben of edi.bike suggests countering this by presenting CB as a cheap car replacement rather than as an expensive bike replacement Costs – for many people (including all those who can’t afford a car in the first place) CBs are expensive. Bike libraries can be a great solution, and a solution for some is that CBs are (always?) covered by employer bike-to-work schemes Abuse – some people (particulary women) have experienced abuse from passing car occupants who presumably don’t like challenges to the norm Bike infrastructure – bike lane design is often poor for cargobikes, both on dedicated and shared paths, given the width of many CBs Opportunity – Lack of opportunity to try out a CB, especially with support and instruction Motor vehicle road domination – failure by councils to restrict city centre cars & vans makes life more difficult – and dangerous – for cycling, wheeling and walking of all kinds – including deliveries by cargobike.

#Cargobikes in #Edinburgh

🙋 #SpokesMtg report..
www.spokes.org.uk/2025/09/carg...

@edi.bike @banzaiedinburgh.bsky.social @portyenergy.bsky.social @thebikestation.bsky.social @laidbackbikes.bsky.social @thecockburn.bsky.social @rru.bsky.social @fairless.xyz @sw20.info @edfoc.bsky.social #Motherload

🙋 TODAY Tue 2 Sep #SpokesMtg 🚲🚲

#Cargobikes in #Edinburgh
#Motherload film

@edi.bike @edfoc.bsky.social @laidbackbikes.bsky.social @johnrobson87.bsky.social @robbieainsworth.bsky.social @bjpaddy.bsky.social @thecockburn.bsky.social @blackfordsaferoutes.co.uk @drscottarthurmp.bsky.social @sw20.info

Motherload film screening highlights opportunity to boost cargo bike use A film screening organised by Spokes on Tuesday 2nd September signals the potential for increased use of cargo bikes in Edinburgh for deliveries and child transport. The free Edinburgh screening is at the Augustine United Church, George IV Bridge at 7.15 (doors open 6.30 for coffee, stalls and chat). The 2019 documentary film “Motherload” relates a mother’s experience of how cargo bikes can be an antidote to the increasing isolation, disconnection, and planetary impact of life in C21. Film maker Liz Canning tells how she felt trapped as a suburban new mother in car-dependant Fairfax, California. Liz then discovered how a cargo bike could turn shopping trips with twin babies into a sensory stimulating exploration of their local community. She sold the family car and embarked on an exploration of how bicycles have empowered women and the poor since the 1980s. Successful crowdfunding paid for the production of the Motherload film, which has been shown in more than 600 venues across the world. The meeting will then hear from local organisations in the forefront of the growth in cargobike use in Edinburgh. The Bike Station is continuing the work of former CargoBikeMovement. Banzai [Bruntsfield Area Net Zero Action Initiative] and Porty Community Energy run cargo bike libaries in Bruntsfield and Portobello. Cycling Gardeners of Edinburgh is a small business using cargo bikes as their main form of transport. Ian Maxwell from Spokes comments that: “This event will raise awareness of the benefits of cargo bike use and consider how it can be further developed in Edinburgh. There will also be information from the organisations speaking and some cargo bikes will be on display.” ENDS Spokes is the Lothian Cycle Campaign – a non party political voluntary organisation, founded in 1977, and now with a membership of over 1000. SPOKES has a long history of effective campaigning for better conditions for cyclists…

logo of the Motherload film

photo - Liz Canning and her children

still from Motherload film showing kids in cargobike

🙋 Tue 2 Sept #SpokesMtg #Cargobikes 🚲🚲

Press Release--> www.spokes.org.uk/wp-content/u...

@edi.bike @banzaiedinburgh.bsky.social @edfoc.bsky.social @laidbackbikes.bsky.social @portyenergy.bsky.social @thebikestation.bsky.social @edinreporter.bsky.social @stephenjenkinson.bsky.social @sw20.info

#Cargobikes !!

1. #SpokesMtg 2 Sept
-> bsky.app/profile/did:...

2. Win £1K towards a #cargobike
-> bsky.app/profile/spok...

@edi.bike @edfoc.bsky.social @laidbackbikes.bsky.social @banzaiedinburgh.bsky.social @sw20.info @cargobikefest.bsky.social @portyenergy.bsky.social @digital-mage.bsky.social

Poster for the meeting. Details as in website article http://www.spokes.org.uk/2025/07/cargobikes-in-edinburgh-spokesmtg/

#CargoBikes in #Edinburgh : public mtg

🙋 Tue 2 Sept #SpokesMtg 🚲🚲
-> www.spokes.org.uk/2025/07/carg...

@edfoc.bsky.social @laidbackbikes.bsky.social @rru.bsky.social @nature-is-heeling.bsky.social @bjpaddy.bsky.social @davmaj.bsky.social @jackthurston.bsky.social @fairless.xyz @tomhogg.bsky.social

Cargobikes in Edinburgh: #SpokesMtg « Spokes

Cargobikes in Edinburgh: #SpokesMtg www.spokes.org.uk/2025/07/carg... Cargobikes are seen more and more in Edinburgh, and the potential is massive, as in many European cities and elsewhere around the world. @spokes.org.uk public meeting on 2 Sept will feature the 90-minute docu film MOTHERLOAD

Intro to our public meeting article, with picture of cargobike carrying children Cargobikes in Edinburgh: #SpokesMtg Cargobikes are seen more and more in Edinburgh, and the potential is massive, as in many European cities and elsewhere around the world. Our public meeting on 2 September will feature the 90-minute documentary film MOTHERLOAD – a mother’s experience of how cargo bikes can be an antidote to the increasing isolation, disconnection, and planetary impact of life in C21. The meeting will then hear from local organisations in the forefront of cargobike development in Edinburgh “Filmmaker Liz Canning cycled everywhere until she had twins in 2008. Motherhood was challenging, but to Liz hauling babies via car felt stifling. She Googled “family bike” and uncovered a global movement of people replacing cars with cargo bikes: long-frame bicycles designed for carrying heavy loads. Liz set out to learn more, and MOTHERLOAD was born.” The film has now appeared in over 600 venues around the globe, making the case for cargobikes – and not just for families, but for a wide range of transport purposes worldwide.

#CargoBikes in #Edinburgh : public meeting

🙋 Tue 2 Sept #SpokesMtg 🚲🚲

HERE--> www.spokes.org.uk/2025/07/carg...

@edi.bike @edfoc.bsky.social @sw20.info @banzaiedinburgh.bsky.social @portyenergy.bsky.social @thebikestation.bsky.social @edinreporter.bsky.social @thecockburn.bsky.social

#Motherload

Spokes member email, item re Spokes public showing of MotherLoad film... 5.1 Motherload Film + Cargobike discussion A special Spokes public meeting, discussing further development of cargo bikes in Edinburgh – as always the meeting is open to all, but local groups who we know to be involved in cargobikes will be specially invited. The evening will include a screening of MOTHERLOAD, a 90-minute documentary film which captures a new mother’s quest to understand the increasing isolation and disconnection of modern life, its planetary impact, and how cargo bikes could be an antidote. The showing and discussion will be on Tuesday September 2nd from 7pm-9.30pm at Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge EH1 1EL. Further information: imaxwell @gn.apc.org [Ian]

#SpokesMtg with #Motherload film + #cargobike discussion
--> motherloadmovie.com/welcome

Tue Sept 2, #AugustineUnited, Geo IV Bridge
Details on our website soon

@edi.bike @edfoc.bsky.social @laidbackbikes.bsky.social @thebikestation.bsky.social @edinreporter.bsky.social @edcriticalmass.bsky.social

Video clip - meeting title

video clip - speakers

video clip - Spokes maps group explaining their activities and asking for volunteers

video clip - Graeme of Harts Cyclery making a point in the QA

👆 #SpokesMtg

🙋‍♀️ Video now linked in the report above
& here--> www.youtube.com/live/SGU4TvG...

@edi.bike @chdot.bsky.social @edfoc.bsky.social @sw20.info @blackfordsaferoutes.co.uk @edinreporter.bsky.social @drscottarthurmp.bsky.social @chasbooth.bsky.social @edcriticalmass.bsky.social

Slide showing high level work for the transport committee. Marked up with bureaucracy, actual work, or not-transport

Slide showing high level work for the transport committee. Marked up with bureaucracy, actual work, or not-transport

Today, we take a critical look at Edinburgh’s Transport and Environment Committee’s definition of “work”

❌ Bureaucracy
❌ Not transport
✅ Actual work

☠️ Delays cost lives

From the slides presented at #SpokesMtg

👆
#SpokesMtg full report

@jestermouse.bsky.social @labourwalkscycles.bsky.social ‬@mhbastian.bsky.social @urbaneprofessor.bsky.social @iaindocherty.bsky.social @jilliananable.bsky.social @threadinburgh.scot @blackfordsaferoutes.co.uk @lauralaker.bsky.social @edinburghtrams.bsky.social

👆
#SpokesMtg full report

@drcarolinebrown.bsky.social @bike-freedom.bsky.social @da-anderson.bsky.social @bikes4refugees.bsky.social @cyclingscotland.bsky.social @sustransscot.bsky.social @keithirving.bsky.social @transform.scot @gobikeglasgow.bsky.social @pollypur.bsky.social

👆
#SpokesMtg full report

@ehyslop.bsky.social @kayleighoneill.bsky.social @davidfkey.bsky.social @cllrbenparker.bsky.social @spurtle.bsky.social @peterwalker99.bsky.social @severincarrell.bsky.social @thecockburn.bsky.social @edtiss.bsky.social @edinpl.bsky.social @nigelbagshaw.bsky.social

👆
#SpokesMtg full report

@edi.bike @chdot.bsky.social @edinreporter.bsky.social @sarahboyack.bsky.social @chasbooth.bsky.social @rosssmckenzie.bsky.social @edcriticalmass.bsky.social @edfoc.bsky.social @laidbackbikes.bsky.social @elrecuk.bsky.social @alastairdalton.bsky.social @sw20.info

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 ...

Off-road routes would not be designated as Primary if there is opportunity for an adjacent on-road segregated route. This the case with the Goldenacre Path as the adjacent Inverleith Terrace is “not wide enough” for segregated cycleways. As said at Spokes Public Meeting.
#SpokesMtg @spokes.org.uk

#RoadUserCharging coming ?

🙋‍♀️ #SpokesMtg on p1 @scotsman.com

@alastairdalton.bsky.social @edi.bike @transform.scot @edinreporter.bsky.social @stephenjenkinson.bsky.social @chasbooth.bsky.social @jilliananable.bsky.social @nigelbagshaw.bsky.social

👍 It works in #London --> bsky.app/profile/spok...

SpokesLothian (@spokes.org.uk) #SpokesMtg 👍 Useful QA thread by Cllr @chasbooth.bsky.social on our 100-audience public mtg with Cllr @stephenjenkinson.bsky.social + #DeborahPaton HERE-->…

If you weren't able to make it to the #spokesmtg last night, you can find some of the Q&A here...

RT SpokesLothian (@spokes.org.uk)

#SpokesMtg

👍 Useful QA thread by Cllr @chasbooth.bsky.social on our 100-audience public mtg with Cllr @stephenjenkinson.bsky.social + #DeborahPaton

HERE--> bsky.app/profile/chas...

🙋‍♀️ Spokes website report in next few days

@edi.bike @edinreporter.bsky.social @edfoc.bsky.social @chdot.bsky.social

Interesting discussion last night with @stephenjenkinson.bsky.social Hopefully he went away clear about the frustration many of us have about the slow progress in building safe cycling infrastructure. I was also concerned about lack of resources for 2027 Grand Depart #spokesmtg

There was a lot of discussion on the Braid estate at tonight’s #spokesmtg 🧵

@stephenjenkinson.bsky.social
@cllrbenparker.bsky.social

Question: what safety measures for the cycle hire scheme?
#spokesmtg
Answer: SJ - I want the scheme to be no cost. I also want a fully e-bike scheme. Report will come to next month's committee. Keen for it to rolled out this Summer.

Question: You've spent £3.8m on George St. what have you spent the money on?
#spokesmtg
Answer: report will be coming back to committee on George St next month?