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.

New Shimano Cargo bike motor

ICE recumbent electric trike in build using their packing box as they suggest.

ICE Adventure e-trike with large rear rack

When Cargo & Comfort come together. Latest Shimano Cargo motor on new ICE trike. Sold and on way to customer next week.
Open today 10 to 4. @chdot.bsky.social @edi.bike
Edinburgh Critical Mass on today check @edcriticalmass.bsky.social

copy of post in above thread, re George Street

copy of post in above thread re causes of traffic growth on bypass - tory motion defeated 9-2

copy of post in above thread re delays to bus lane 7-7-7 trial

Copy of post in above thread, re delivery bikes

👆
#Transport Cttee 26.6.25 thread

#GeorgeStreet
#DeliveryCyclists
#TrafficGrowth
..

@edi.bike @edfoc.bsky.social @sw20.info @helenrambler.bsky.social @edcriticalmass.bsky.social @thecockburn.bsky.social @chdot.bsky.social @johnrobson87.bsky.social @secretedinburgh.bsky.social @elrecuk.bsky.social

ScotRail sign at Haymarket showing that tandems and cargobikes are accepted on class 380 385 and 153 trains. Max length 2.5m (2.55m on 153 units). Width 70cm (75cm on 153 units).

.... but can you take your cargobike on a train? @spokes.org.uk @edfoc.bsky.social @sw20.info ScotRail are aware of demand but think these are electric train units that are just in the Central Belt? @chdot.bsky.social @threadinburgh.scot

Tried to cross Ravelston Dykes, yesterday at the diversion and it was horrendous - streams upon streams of traffic coming from both directions without a gap. Several cyclists waiting a long time to cross, take a chance…

Let's help these Afghan refugees get to safety! @edi.bike @chdot.bsky.social @edinreporter.bsky.social @edfoc.bsky.social @sw20.info @highlandcyclists.bsky.social @infrasisters.bsky.social @portyenergy.bsky.social @glasgowcycles.bsky.social @bikes4refugees.bsky.social @womenonwheels608.bsky.social

Start of Spokes count article... Spokes Traffic Count May 2025: new post-covid bike % record! Our regular May traffic count, at Lothian Road and Forrest Road, found bikes forming the highest proportion of all vehicles so far post-covid. The 8-9am increase to 16.7%, from 16.3% in 2024, was marginal, with both car and bike numbers rising somewhat. However, at lunchtime (12.30-13.30) the bike percentage was up from 10.2% to 11.1%, with car numbers falling – indeed, for the first time ever there were fewer private cars than the bus/taxi/van total, our ‘commercial’ category. At Forrest Road northbound, bikes formed a remarkable 26.9% of all vehicles between 8 and 9a.m. – our highest post-covid figure so far at any count point. As we have seen in the last couple of years, the modest improvements in bike numbers at our count locations (where cycling infrastructure has not yet been installed or improved) contrast strongly with hugely impressive rises where segregated infrastructure has recently been built, notably the Cycling Scotland data for CCWEL and at Picardy Place. For full data from our May 13 count, see the ‘Resources’ section below A parallel count was conducted by Spokes Porty, with fairly similar results to the central area – see below

#SpokesCount

New records:
👍 🚲 % morning & lunch
👍 🚘 overtaken by 🚌🚕🛻 at lunch

-> www.spokes.org.uk

@edi.bike @edinreporter.bsky.social @edinburghminute.bsky.social @chdot.bsky.social @edfoc.bsky.social @edcriticalmass.bsky.social @edtiss.bsky.social @bjpaddy.bsky.social @thecockburn.bsky.social

Councillors agree ten-year prioritisation programme for the City Mobility Plan Councillors agree ten-year prioritisation programme for the City Mobility Plan

This wasn’t an easy task but it was a necessary one. Now we have clarity we can focus on delivery.

www.edinburgh.gov.uk/news/article...

Edinburgh to explore introducing congestion charge Edinburgh is to exploring bringing in a congestion charge for cars entering the capital, over 20 years after a similar proposal was defeated at the ballot box.

Rotten headline. What I am actually doing is starting a conversation with Glasgow and our surrounding local authorities to see what the appetite for road user charging is in Scotland’s central belt. We have no powers to implement any scheme at this time
www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/edinbur...

extract from above meeting thread - measures to reduce project delays

extract from above meeting thread - mobility plan prioritisation approved

extract from above thread - Tories try (& fail) to scrap most cycling & low traffic schemes

extract from above thread - bike hire scheme now very likely to go ahead summer 2025, but must meet various criteria

👆
#Transport Cttee 22.5.25 thread

#ProjectDelays
#CityMobilityPlan
#BikeHire
..

@edi.bike @chdot.bsky.social @edfoc.bsky.social @sw20.info @edcriticalmass.bsky.social @thecockburn.bsky.social @ssc-edinburgh.bsky.social @davidfkey.bsky.social @harryjwilliams.bsky.social @urbaneprofessor.bsky.social

#Edinwebcast

🚌 Motion seeks funding to support local bus services, by tweaking #parking charges, as in a.m. verbal deputation
--> bsky.app/profile/spok...

Amendts by #Labour #Green #SNP suggest further #parking cash tweaks/flexibility to raise more 💰

Motion agreed 9-2

@cptscotland.bsky.social

Motion by Councillor Booth - Delays to delivery of active travel investment programme “Committee: 1) Notes the council has declared a climate emergency and that transport emissions are the largest source of emissions in Scotland and the second largest in Edinburgh; 2) Notes the answer to question 32 at full council on 19 December 2024 that 27 of the 39 projects in the Active Travel Investment Programme have slipped beyond their original estimated completion date, with some delayed by more than a decade, and that the themes for delays included funding, processes and officer resources; 3) Notes that an informal group of officers, stakeholders and elected members met on Thursday 27 March to discuss what action could be taken to address these delays, where it was agreed to convene a further discussion in the summer; 4) Agrees that, while consideration of funding delays could be addressed by the imminent report on the City Mobility Plan Capital Investment Programme review, nonetheless considers that action to address processes (including TRO processes) and officer resources should not be delayed; 5) Therefore, agrees to refer the answer to the council question on to the next meeting of the Transport and Local Access Forum; 6) Further agrees to request a report from officers within two cycles setting out proposals for addressing delays in processes (including TRO processes) and officer resources.”

photo of the demonstration

Cllr Booth

#Edinwebcast

Cllr @chasbooth.bsky.social
refers to 'Delays cost lives' demo this a.m.

His motion seeks improved procedures, including on TROs within council and by Scot Govt

Conservatives move no action, saying it is a 'vanity' publicity project

👍 Motion agreed 9-2

@edcriticalmass.bsky.social

#Edinwebcast

#HolyroodPark access report, to continue wide discussion
--> democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/documents/s8...

Tories amendt on importance of east-west road routes

Cllr Macinnes emphasises value of #HolyroodPark green space

Report agreed 9-2 (Tories against)

@carfreeholyrood.bsky.social

Cllr Jenkinson summing up his position on the amendments by other parties

#Edinwebcast #CMP

Cllr @stephenjenkinson.bsky.social

👍rejects Tory amendt - would cause congestion
👍rejects LibDem - would cause delays

👍 👍 accepts most of Green ... i.e. confirming will liaise with other councils etc on #RoadUserCharging

Amended motion agreed

@edi.bike @thecockburn.bsky.social

#Edinwebcast #CMP

Green Amendt emphasises funding, need for #roadusercharging

Vital to start conversation on this, joint with @glasgowcc.bsky.social #Sestran & #ScotGov

@chasbooth.bsky.social references #ScotGov research
-> bsky.app/profile/did:...

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

cllr macinnes

Amendment by the SNP Group Transport & Environment Committee 22 May 2025 Item 7.5 - City Mobility - Plan Capital Investment Plan Prioritisation Outputs Amends 1.1.5 to read: Approve the list of projects and programmes that it is proposed to pause work on, set out in Appendix 5 with the exception of The Causey Project (West Crosscauseway), Portobello Town Centre (20- minute neighbourhood) and A71 Heriot Watt to Sighthill Active Travel Improvements, which should be changed from ‘pause’ to ‘proceed’. Agrees to defer any decision on pausing Cross Streets (North Castle Street (cross streets), Hanover Street North – Public Realm, Cycling & Ped Improvements and Frederick Street (North and South) until the next Transport and Environment Committee due to their crucial operational inter-relationship to the success of the George Street Project. Notes that all projects are within large funding envelopes and therefore agrees that projects which are “unpaused” will be funded through reprioritisation of existing funding packages, and reallocation of slippage in other projects. Agrees this for the following reasons: The Causey Agrees that despite the scoring of this particular project, The Causey represents over a decade of previous commitments from the council to the local community to progress the project and believes there is a serious reputational risk in any further delay to make progress on the ground (either in a phased approach or fully delivered). Understands that The Causey has at several times in its history as a project been allocated / earmarked funding through various streams including Place Based Investment Fund (PBIF) and allocations from the capital road renewals budget in addition to The Causey Development Trust securing funding and materials from other sources. Notes that the project has been hailed in our own reports as a model for community led placemaking and partnership working and is supported by Sustrans, Edinburgh University, Edinburgh World Heritage, Scot…

Page 2 of 3 Further requests that The Causey is additionally treated as a candidate for the Visitor Levy Funding, through any appropriate strands including as a candidate for the City Transformation strand, and Heritage Strand. Portobello Town Centre Notes that the justification for pausing the Portobello Town Centre project, currently within a cost band of £10m-£30m, is because it has a ‘significant public realm focus meaning external funding opportunity via ATIF Tier 2 likely limited’. Therefore agrees this project will refocus on original objectives of reducing through traffic on Portobello High Street and reallocating road space to walking. Notes pressures and conflicts particularly along the promenade between cyclists, dog walkers, older people and children and the risks this poses. Also notes that there are traffic and congestions problems on the High Street, particularly at peak times. Agrees the project should continue, focusing on these two aspects which should improve the opportunity for funding via ATIF Tier 2. A71 Heriot Watt to Sighthill Active Travel Improvements Notes: that a cycling connection along A71 from Bankhead Avenue across bypass to Heriot Watt links directly with the Curriehill Station to Heriot Watt active travel proposal; that this provides vital active travel connection to City centre, to places of employment and to Edinburgh College Sighthill Campus; that this connection provides a dedicated active travel route across the city bypass and connects to Ratho and rapidly expanding communities along A71 corridor including Calderwood. Therefore, due to its significant strategic cross-boundary connectivity, agrees that this project should continue. Notes: that paragraphs 4.7, 4.10 and 4.19 make reference to funding on a single year basis. Committee notes that in presenting the Programme for Government, the First Minister referred to ongoing discussions with the UK Government to achieve multi-year funding, identifying the benefit this would brin…

#Edinwebcast #CMP

SNP amendment to up the priority for..

#Portobello
#CityCentre cross-streets
#A71 #Sighthill to @heriotwattuni.bsky.social

@sw20.info

#Edinwebcast #CMP

--> bsky.app/profile/did:...

Introducing, Cllr @stephenjenkinson.bsky.social thanks officers for huge work on this. He has pushed it because delivery is his priority

Officer: Projects that are 'paused' are not 'stopped,' but report gives much-needed clarity on priorities

A group of people standing in front of the Edinburgh City Chambers. They are holding a big banner which says "Delays Cost Lives! Support active travel now!" and are holding lots of cardboard eyes.

A group of people standing in front of the Edinburgh City Chambers. They are holding a big banner which says "Delays Cost Lives! Support active travel now!" and are holding lots of cardboard eyes. Some of them are talking to a man in a suit (Cllr Jenkinson).

Two big wins for active travel today! Thank you to everyone who helped put all eyes on the Transport and Environment Committee, and special thanks to those that took our message to councillors and members of the public. Now, time for the council to put words into action and deliver on the projects.

We're very happy to see Cllr Booth's motion on speeding up active travel delivery overwhelmingly pass the committee. We're also glad that the plan for active travel project prioritisation was accepted, with further delays rejected!
🚶🧑‍🦽🚴

Despite the usual Tory conspiracising, Edinburgh Critical Mass remains non party political. We will support anyone who backs active travel and our wider values, and we want all parties on the council to go further and faster in delivering safer streets and quality infrastructure.

#Edinwebcast #CMP

Cllr @chasbooth.bsky.social concern re recent TRO Subcttee pausing the #EastEdinburgh ETRO, risking scrapping existing 🚲 routes

--> bsky.app/profile/spok...

A: Report today includes cash for improvements, which was the SubCttee concern, but legally the SubCttee will decide

Cllr Lang

#Edinwebcast #CMP

Cllr Lang

Q1: Why are some high-score projects paused & vice versa?
A: Other factors, e.g. external cash dedicated to specific projects

Q2: Has council adequate staff to implement whole prog?
A: It is revised yearly & can up the staff if cash from other sources e.g. visitor levy

page 1 of report - recommendations Transport and Environment Committee 10.00am, Thursday, 22 May 2025 City Mobility Plan – Capital Investment Programme Prioritisation Outputs Decision/Scrutiny Decision Wards All Recommendations 1.1 Transport and Environment Committee is asked to: 1.1.1 Note the work undertaken to review capital investment across the City Mobility Plan (CMP) Implementation Plan and the prioritisation of projects, summarised in Appendix 1; 1.1.2 Note the approach taken to prioritisation and programme development as set out in paragraphs 4.1 to 4.18. 1.1.3 Approve the proposed CMP Capital Investment Programme (CMP CIP) project list set out in Appendices 4a and 4b, noting the significant degree of dependency on external funding and on potential Visitor Levy (VL) revenue for making progress on the programme. 1.1.4 Approve regular annual reporting on programme funding, progress and proposed changes, with a report normally in August or September. This timing should coincide with knowledge of external funding awards. 1.1.5 Approve the list of projects and programmes that it is proposed to pause work on, set out in Appendix 5. 1.1.6 Agree to conclude the major junctions review project, note the specific comments relating the individual locations in Appendix 7 and agree that further updates to committee will be on a project-by-project basis.

Green amendment urges Road User Charging to fund more active travel, bus and 'place' schemes Addendum by the Green Group Transport and Environment Committee 22 May 2025 Item 7.5 – City Mobility Plan – Capital Investment Programme Prioritisation Outputs Add at the end of recommendations: 1.1.9 Notes that section 7 of the report includes a link to the City Mobility Plan’s integrated impact assessment, but that a separate IIA for the prioritisation exercise was not carried out, and has concerns that some of the impacts, for example pausing the Portobello 20 minute neighbourhood project which includes significant numbers of dropped kerbs, may have a negative impact on disabled people, but further notes there is an existing rolling programme of dropped kerbs which could compensate for this; 1.1.10 Notes that this prioritisation exercise has not attempted to assess whether similar mobility objectives could be delivered at lower cost for the schemes in the CMP; 1.1.11 Notes that the pressure on capital budgets which has necessitated this prioritisation exercise is a result of insufficient funding to deliver the CMP, notes the Convenor has previously written to the Scottish Government pointing out the problems that single-year funding creates; 1.1.12 Further notes that powers exist under the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001 for the council to introduce road user charging which could generate significant revenue to invest in CMP projects; notes the Scottish Government is about to announce a regulatory review to consider gaps in the secondary legislation to enable RUC but nonetheless agrees that the council should approach the following organisations with a view to entering preliminary discussions on whether there is common ground in our approach to road user charging, both at an officer and elected member level, with: a) Glasgow City Council b) Sestrans c) Edinburgh’s geographically adjacent councils. i.e. East Lothian, Midlothian, West Lothian, Scottish Borders and Fife; Page…

Small section of Tory amendment, to scrap most bike, walk, low-traffic schemes. Appears to want more car freedom. Impossible to give text here because it is in a massive table

Start of SNP amendment, to move 3 schemes up the ladder from 'paused' to 'proceed' (in the 10-year programme) - Causey, Portobello and city centre cross-streets Amendment by the SNP Group Transport & Environment Committee 22 May 2025 Item 7.5 - City Mobility - Plan Capital Investment Plan Prioritisation Outputs Amends 1.1.5 to read: Approve the list of projects and programmes that it is proposed to pause work on, set out in Appendix 5 with the exception of The Causey Project (West Crosscauseway), Portobello Town Centre (20- minute neighbourhood) and A71 Heriot Watt to Sighthill Active Travel Improvements, which should be changed from ‘pause’ to ‘proceed’. Agrees to defer any decision on pausing Cross Streets (North Castle Street (cross streets), Hanover Street North – Public Realm, Cycling & Ped Improvements and Frederick Street (North and South) until the next Transport and Environment Committee due to their crucial operational inter-relationship to the success of the George Street Project. Notes that all projects are within large funding envelopes and therefore agrees that projects which are “unpaused” will be funded through reprioritisation of existing funding packages, and reallocation of slippage in other projects. Agrees this for the following reasons: The Causey Agrees that despite the scoring of this particular project, The Causey represents over a decade of previous commitments from the council to the local community to progress the project and believes there is a serious reputational risk in any further delay to make progress on the ground (either in a phased approach or fully delivered). Understands that The Causey has at several times in its history as a project been allocated / earmarked funding through various streams including Place Based Investment Fund (PBIF) and allocations from the capital road renewals budget in addition to The Causey Development Trust securing funding and materials from other sources. Notes that the project has been hailed in o…

#Edinwebcast

#CMP #CityMobilityPlan

Report
1. Prioritises🚶🚲👩‍🦽🚌 schemes
2. Highlights funding needs
--> democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/documents/s8...

Green amendt: highlights #funding
Tory: scrap most 🚲 & #LTN schemes
LibDem: rethink scoring
SNP: upgrade 3 'paused' schemes

@thecockburn.bsky.social

Cllr Jenkinson speaking

#Edinwebcast

#BikeHire ctd

Cllr @stephenjenkinson.bsky.social (Lab, convener) says he pressurised officers to get started in 2025
- cities like #Edinburgh need this
- exciting!
- eventually wants #citywide & #affordable to all citizens
- supports Tory+Green (adjusted) amendts

👍 Agreed unanimous

Cllr Whyte speaking

Cllr Booth speaking

Cllr Gardiner

#Edinwebcast

#BikeHire ctd

Cllr Whyte (Tory) amendt supports scheme but wants #GeoFencing guarantees & fines to avoid random parking

Cllr @chasbooth.bsky.social (Green) supports Tory ideas (!) but wants stricter criteria for operators

Cllr Gardiner wants future scheme affordable to lower incomes

Transport and Environment Committee 10.00am, Thursday, 22 May 2025 Cycle Hire Scheme Update Decision/Scrutiny Decision Wards All, particularly 11 – City Centre 1. Recommendations 1.1 The Transport and Environment Committee is asked to note this update, which includes information about the successful workshops held in February 2025 1.2 Approve the proposed approach outlined in the report, including a two year pilot scheme at no cost to city of Edinburgh Council

Spokes Deputation - 7.1 Cycle Hire Scheme Update The City has been without a bike hire scheme for several years now since the previous one collapsed. When bike hire is commonplace in most cities, this is not something that locals or visitors would expect, it prevents many opportunities and it reflects badly on the city As such, it is welcome that the city has now come up with a scheme which promises to launch this summer. However, whilst we are very pleased to see a scheme go ahead, this particular scheme leaves a lot to be desired, and we hope the Council will consider our representations and keep working on improvements to this scheme, and on alternative models of operation. As per the report only two suppliers have demonstrated, and the Council is still to decide between them. The report is lacking in details of numbers, locations, etc which we would have thought would have contained the proposals of each operator so they could be considered. Given there was a previous cycle hire operator we would consider that to be the 'trial' and given around ±300,000 trips were completed during that two year period it seems the new scheme being purely run for profit will not reap the rewards a council controlled scheme would allow to be benefitted. While a no-cost, privately operated e-bike scheme may reduce immediate financial burdens on the council, experience suggest that such models can face significant challenges, including financial sustainability, equitable access, public space management, enforcement, and affordability. A hybrid approach, involving a publicprivate partnership with appropriate council oversight and investment, would better ensure the scheme's success and alignment with broader social and environmental objectives. Edinburgh has and continues to operate a bus and tram network not purely commercially but for the greater good of the city. Spokes considers that eBike hire should be part of this network. If the council feels there are insufficient funds to p…

Tory amendment, aiming to avoid random parking of hire bikes Addendum by the Conservative Group Transport and Environment Committee 22 May 2025 Item 7.1 – Cycle Hire Scheme Update Adds from end of 1.2: "subject to having a proposal in place similar to the City of London Corporation to take enforcement action to seize any hire bicycles parked outwith authorised geofenced locations and to charge the pilot or any future long-term operator to cover the costs of this enforcement on return of the bicycles. 1.3 Further agrees that it shall be a requirement of any pilot or future permanent scheme that the Data Collection referred to at 4.3.1 and 4.3.2 include data on breaches of the requirement for hire bicycles to be parked within specific geofenced locations whether that data be collected from the geofencing technology itself or from public reports and Council officer and operator monitoring on the streets." Moved by: Councillor Iain Whyte Seconded by: Councillor Neil Cuthbert

Green amendment concerned not enough detail in the report and seeking a clear specification which the winning bid (Dott or Lime) must agree to... Amendment by the Green Group Transport and Environment Committee 22 May 2025 Item 7.1 – Cycle Hire Scheme update Delete recommendations and insert: “Committee: 1) Notes the report; notes with concern; that the decision of committee on 12 December 2024 to “receive further information […] on how the requirements around accessibility, security and street clutter will be addressed” has not been addressed in detail; 2) Agrees that if any cycle hire scheme in Edinburgh is to be a success, then it must minimise street clutter, ensure our streets remain accessible, and address the problems of the previous scheme in respect of theft and vandalism; notes that these issues were addressed to some extent in the workshops held in February 2025 but that the report does not give any assurances on these points; 3) Further notes that a dockless e-bike scheme will not meet the objectives of a cycle hire scheme agreed in November 2021 and reaffirmed on 12 December 2024; 4) Therefore agrees that an assessment of potential providers for an e-bike scheme at no cost to the council must also include an assessment of the extent to which the operator would: a) minimise street clutter; b) ensure Edinburgh’s streets remain accessible to all; c) learn the lessons of the previous scheme and minimise vandalism and theft; d) have the capacity to develop into a scheme closer to the objectives previously agreed by committee in November 2021, either during or after the 2-year pilot; e) ensure the health and safety of riders and the general public; f) be affordable for those on low incomes across the city; 5) Agrees that within one cycle, committee will receive a report including a detailed specification which any operator must meet, which must address as a minimum the Page 4 Transport & Environment Committee Page 2 of 2 points in paragraph 4 above; and the…

#Edinwebcast

#BikeHire report
-> democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/documents/s8...

Proposes 2-year #ebike pilot with #Dott or #Lime, start summer 2025

Spokes deputn supports but prefer wider scheme + council involvement (as council does with bus/tram). If cash needed, set up #WPL parking levy

@edi.bike

Picture of protest "Delays Cost Lives"

Motion by Councillor Booth - Delays to delivery of active travel investment programme “Committee: 1) Notes the council has declared a climate emergency and that transport emissions are the largest source of emissions in Scotland and the second largest in Edinburgh; 2) Notes the answer to question 32 at full council on 19 December 2024 that 27 of the 39 projects in the Active Travel Investment Programme have slipped beyond their original estimated completion date, with some delayed by more than a decade, and that the themes for delays included funding, processes and officer resources; 3) Notes that an informal group of officers, stakeholders and elected members met on Thursday 27 March to discuss what action could be taken to address these delays, where it was agreed to convene a further discussion in the summer; 4) Agrees that, while consideration of funding delays could be addressed by the imminent report on the City Mobility Plan Capital Investment Programme review, nonetheless considers that action to address processes (including TRO processes) and officer resources should not be delayed; 5) Therefore, agrees to refer the answer to the council question on to the next meeting of the Transport and Local Access Forum; 6) Further agrees to request a report from officers within two cycles setting out proposals for addressing delays in processes (including TRO processes) and officer resources.”

#Edinwebcast

Meanwhile, outside the TEC (Transport Cttee) meeting..

@edcriticalmass.bsky.social protest at 🚲🚶👩‍🦽 project delays
in support of Cllr @chasbooth.bsky.social motion on this

@edi.bike @sw20.info @blackfordsaferoutes.co.uk @best-edinburgh.bsky.social @edfoc.bsky.social @chdot.bsky.social

South Edinburgh Amenities Group / HCL, speakers

Cllr Ross motion: Motion by Councillor Ross - Connecting Communities Motion by Councillor Ross - Connecting Communities “Committee: 1) Recognises the important role of the Council in directly funding certain bus services which are not commercially viable but are essential to connect communities and providing effectives alternatives to private car use. 2) Notes that bus services support wider Council policy outcomes including promoting equity and social inclusion and supporting healthier lifestyles. 3) Recognises that, due to Covid and changes in working patterns, certain bus services have been lost due to commerciality issues, including connections to shopping centres, doctors, dentists, other key services and maintaining social connections. 4) Recognises that where it is not economically viable for Lothian Buses or other commercial operators to re-establish some connections, there are other providers who may be able to do so, for example SEAG and HcL. 5) Notes the committee has currently been unable to fund all the supported buses which would ideally be provided to connect communities, including a direct service between Ratho and the city centre, and re-establishing the previous 42 service which connected Davidson’s Mains, Blackhall, Craigleith, Comely Bank and Stockbridge. 6) Agrees that, in order to raise additional funding to specifically address the financial shortfall to directly support additional localised bus services, a report should be provided in two cycles on the additional revenue which could be raised and allocated for supported localised buses from a) Removing discounted Pay & Display parking charges E & G in current nine-hour parking bays across the city and replacing them with standard charge D. b) Introducing standard charges on Boxing Day and Easter Monday. c) Introducing standard charges for all motorcycle parking.”

#Edinwebcast

Motion seeks more funding from parking charges, to support ultra-local bus services for older/ disabled etc which @lothianbuses.bsky.social can't fund

Deputn describes existing local connecting service needing more support & working with Lothian buses

@edinburghbug.bsky.social