*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.

A701 Relief Road and A702 Link Road 2025

Motion by Councillor Cuthbert - Support for Midlothian Council's
A701 Relief Road & A702 Link Road Project

Spokes deputation - 13 November 2025

Alt text in the replies

Alt text in the replies

Alt text in the replies

A really excellent deputation from Spokes on the A701/2 “relief” roads

Particularly the section on “induced demand” 👏👏👏

@spokes.org.uk

Yes, there are other things to be worrying about in the world but, as a historian, I find this editing of history to be deeply flawed. John Grimshaw was not one of the founders of Walk Wheel Cycle Trust, he was one of the founders of Sustrans!

Is it normal for a re-named org to edit history in this way?

Screenshot of Sustrans website with headline and standfirst: "Success for Sustrans at the 2025 Scottish Transport Awards Last Thursday’s Scottish Transport Awards saw Sustrans projects scoop four awards, as organisations from across the sector gathered in Glasgow to celebrate the past year."

Walk Wheel Cycle Trust website: "Success for Walk Wheel Cycle Trust at the 2025 Scottish Transport Awards Last Thursday’s Scottish Transport Awards saw Walk Wheel Cycle Trust projects scoop four awards, as organisations from across the sector gathered in Glasgow to celebrate the past year."

On the left is a now removed 23rd June news story about Sustrans winning an award.

On the right is the current version, also dated 23rd June, showing that the award went to @walkwheelcyclet.bsky.social

Sustrans logo visible in both pix.

Odd editing of history.
www.forbes.com/sites/carlto...

@stephenjenkinson.bsky.social
@chasbooth.bsky.social
@cllrconorsavage.bsky.social
@ehyslop.bsky.social

@joangriffiths236.bsky.social
@leftwing66.bsky.social
@fionahyslop.bsky.social

@lezleymarion.bsky.social
@cllrbenparker.bsky.social
@markruskell.bsky.social

… for better junctions, nature gardens, placemaking, play facilities, etc

What a way to tie up busy parents for years and years. All for it to be potentially taken out

Absolute shame on Edinburgh council

With the experimental traffic order to run from January for 18 months, that’ll be SIX & A HALF YEARS before the scheme is made permanent

6.5 years during which we’ve been battling to keep the scheme in place, for the benefit of the community

6.5 years we could have spent campaigning for…

Braid estate and Whitehouse Loan - Blackford Safe Routes Update 22 September 2025 The changes to revert the Braid Estate back to rat-running are now not due to be implemented on the ground until January 2026 – a full FIVE years after they were first impleme...

Braid Estate update:

The changes to revert back to rat-running are now not due to be implemented on the ground until Jan 2026 – a full 5 years after they were first implemented. 5 years of quiet streets, that keep children safe, & much loved by residents

blackfordsaferoutes.co.uk/braid-estate...

A Parisian school street closed with a elegant steel gate. There are mid-rise buildings either side and a red restaurant canopy. The street is paved in cream stone and there are families walking

An Edinburgh school street made with temporary red and white motorway style barriers. A green sign is falling off. The street remains as tarmac. There is a black car parked, partially blocking the entrance. There’s a high stone wall to the left and trees in the background. A family cross the street

Close up of a red and white motorway style barrier. The no motor vehicles sign is falling off. A lonely red traffic cone sits. There are 7 white dumpsters being stored on the street

Parisian school street:

👏 Permanent
💃 Elegant
🕰️ Installed within 2 years
🌳 Greenery

Edinburgh school street:

⏰ Temporary for 5 years
🧟‍♂️ Ugly
💔 Dilapidated
🗑️ Used for trade waste

C’mon Edinburgh, do better! 😳

Angry on a Monday morning is no way to start the week! Out on my morning walk this morning and someone has snapped all but one of the new trees in Pentland Park 😡 why would you do that? I’ll report this damage to our fantastic parks team today and see if I can get them replaced.

This week I was delighted to launch a new EV charging initiative for the South of Scotland. Edinburgh is the lead authority in the rollout of 1770 additional public charging points across the region in a £6.3m program supported by the Scottish Government.

www.transport.gov.scot/news/support...

Cycling holidays are a brilliant low-carbon option. Whether you are into solo travel or want something for families, Sustrans has got you covered 🚲👇

Europe was promised a new golden age of the night train. Why are we still waiting? | Jon Worth Romance, excitement and sustainability – continent-crossing sleeper trains should be a hit. It’s time for the EU to catch on, says writer and campaigner Jon Worth

"The long-distance European train journey might be slower than a short-haul flight, but it is surely better in terms of the environment and the traveller experience..."

We need night trains to help shift more journeys from air to rail. More investment and support is needed to get them on the rails.