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johnrobson87.bsky.social
@johnrobson87.bsky.social
340 followers 300 following 190 posts
Person on a 🚲 in Edinburgh & beyond!
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Reposted
spokes.org.uk
#Sheriffhall Roundabout

Study by @heriotwattuni.bsky.social

🙋 User views wanted!!
--> forms.office.com/pages/respon...

@edi.bike @sw20.info @davejfrench.bsky.social @johnrobson87.bsky.social @mrjasonrose.bsky.social
@shona-mcintosh.bsky.social @nigelbagshaw.bsky.social @sifrancis.bsky.social
start of survey form... Sheriffhall Roundabout & A720 Bypass: Community Travel and Congestion Questionnaire This questionnaire forms part of a Heriot-Watt University's civil engineering transport planning project examining congestion, safety and connectivity around the Sheriffhall Roundabout and surrounding sections of the A720 Edinburgh City Bypass. The aim of this survey is to gather local residents’ and road users’ lived experiences, including how the roundabout currently operates, how congestion affects daily travel and what improvements could best support safer, more efficient and more sustainable movement for vehicles, public transport, pedestrians and cyclists
February 15, 2026 at 8:56 PM
Reposted
harryjwilliams.bsky.social
New active travel project delay tracker live. - not sure how maintainable this will be but I will try!

www.city-scope.co.uk/active-travel

@spokes.org.uk @edi.bike
February 6, 2026 at 12:31 AM
Reposted
thebonnieloon.bsky.social
New bike lane between Queensferry High Street and the Hawes Car Park is finally taking shape. When the rest of the project is completed the Hight Street is going to be a shared space which is obviously the exact design needed to combat the current carmageddon 🤯
A pavement on the left with a wall and trees and shrubs. Next to this is a new cycle lane that's separated to the road with traffic cones Queensferry High Street with lots of cars parked, double parked and on the road
February 1, 2026 at 8:27 PM
johnrobson87.bsky.social
Just reported #ScottishPower contractor for not allowing space for cycles to pass on Whitehouse Loan at the junction with Newbattle Terrace. No diversion signage on Quiet Route & pavement being used by cycles when space could allow for passing on road! 🙄
@spokes.org.uk #EdTravCyc @edi.bike
February 2, 2026 at 9:30 PM
Reposted
robbieainsworth.bsky.social
Burnt out car and molten oil/plastic slurry across Silverknowles Road North down to the beach. Road is closed to motor traffic, so clean-up may be slow. #EdTravCyc
February 2, 2026 at 9:22 PM
Reposted
jarlathflynn.bsky.social
New #bikebus day. Parents at St Peter's Primary in Edinburgh have set up a second bike bus route to the school. This route runs from the Braids down hill all the way. @coachbalto.bsky.social @spokes.org.uk @cyclinguk.bsky.social @edi.bike @edinreporter.bsky.social @stephenjenkinson.bsky.social
January 29, 2026 at 9:06 AM
Reposted
geocycle.bsky.social
Leith, and Ocean Drive has also been very slippy most mornings hovering at or below 0 - one friend coming to grief on ice a couple weeks back.

If people need help with grit bins for some local do gooding with bins, a reminder that this page can help:

www.edinburgh.gov.uk/roads-paveme...
Gritting, snow and ice
grit, gritting, snow, ice, winter weather
www.edinburgh.gov.uk
January 19, 2026 at 9:09 AM
Reposted
edi.bike
We found this the case with Whitehouse Loan yesterday also, which resulted in a hard fall turning right into Blackford Rd. Five minutes later we witnessed another kid fall at the turning off of Newbattle Terrace onto Whitehouse Loan.

Quiet routes need gritted, @edinburghcouncil.bsky.social
❄️ 😡
January 19, 2026 at 8:52 AM
johnrobson87.bsky.social
#EdTravCyc @spokes.org.uk @edi.bike @edinburghcouncil.bsky.social Braid Avenue and Braid Estate side roads an ice rink again this morning with gritting seemingly. Walking like a penguin so pray for anyone cycling without studded tyres!
Ice on Braid Avenue Feather frost on cat bonnet on Braid Avenue
January 19, 2026 at 8:20 AM
Reposted
spokes.org.uk
#ScotBudget 26/27

🙂 Good news #ActiveTravel - 🤔 probably

🙄 Bus again combined with 🚶👩‍🦼🚲 and not disaggregated

25/26 £189m (of which £20m+ went to 🚌)
26/27 £226m (includes "increased" 🚌 cash)

🤔 Also note 24/25 & 25/26 *expenditure* was significantly less than *budget*. So will 26/27 all be used?
picture of cover of budget document Scottish Budget: 2026-27
January 13, 2026 at 3:46 PM
johnrobson87.bsky.social
#EdTravCyc
@spokes.org.uk @edi.bike @livingstreetsedi.bsky.social it’s pretty sketchy on untreated surfaces this morning. Made it into town along bus routes but paths like meadows seemed untreated or washed away due to late rain.
January 8, 2026 at 6:03 AM
Reposted
blackfordsaferoutes.co.uk
Thanks!

Here’s the link to our response

blackfordsaferoutes.co.uk/jgps-travel-...
Dundee Street and Fountainbridge active travel consultation - response - Blackford Safe Routes
Consultation response to the Dundee St and Fountainbridge active travel project - protected cycle lanes and pedestrian improvements
blackfordsaferoutes.co.uk
January 7, 2026 at 5:18 PM
Reposted
spokes.org.uk
#DundeeStreet #Fountainbridge 🚶👩‍🦼🚲 consultn

👍 Excellent submission from @blackfordsaferoutes.co.uk

🙋 Please do respond yourself - it matters!
[no need for detail if short of time]

Online QA--> consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/dundee-s...

@johnrobson87.bsky.social @robbieainsworth.bsky.social
Intro to their response... Dundee Street and Fountainbridge active travel consultation – response Overview The council are proposing to improve walking, wheeling and cycling along Dundee Street and Fountainbridge, as well as surrounding streets connecting to the Union Canal. The changes will be transformative and create safer, more attractive streets for everyone. The aim is to create: walking and street improvements a high-quality, direct, cycling route to provide an alternative to the busy and shared Union Canal path a connection between the Telfer Subway and the Union Canal via Gibson Terrace, improving connections to the surrounding network from Roseburn, the Canal, the Meadows and beyond The Dundee St and Fountainbridge consultation is open until the 12 Jan 2026.
January 7, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Reposted
spokes.org.uk
#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
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…
January 3, 2026 at 6:03 PM
johnrobson87.bsky.social
🇫🇷 🧅
Wonderful @bbcarchivebot.bsky.social feature on French Onion sellers in the 1950s plying their wares across Edinburgh by bike. Starts at around 17mins.
@edi.bike @spokes.org.uk
@frenchinstituteuk.bsky.social
youtu.be/0xQYzbJqjcg?...
1950s onion seller on bicycle on Princes Street Edinburgh 1950s onion seller on bicycle on Princes Street Edinburgh 1950s onion seller on bicycle on Sandport Bridge Leith 1950s onion seller on bicycle on Sandport Bridge Leith with many swans
December 22, 2025 at 7:20 PM
johnrobson87.bsky.social
Wondering if anyone knows why there’s a concrete service chamber? / bath? seemingly dumped at the corner of Bruntsfield Links at Whitehouse Loan / Bruntsfield Crescent? A bit of an odd spot for a planter.
December 21, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Reposted
jestermouse.bsky.social
Disappointing that the proposed and consulted-on cycling improvements on Ballgreen Rd/Saughton Crescent haven’t been put in while the entire length of Ballgreen Rd has been resurfaced.

Another opportunity missed @stephenjenkinson.bsky.social
December 21, 2025 at 4:24 PM
johnrobson87.bsky.social
FYI Dalmeny Estate tarmac roads between the shore and NCN1 are closed on Saturdays until 1st Feb 2026 according to signage at the closures. Roads highlighted in yellow.
Unsure what is happening every Saturday for 3 months? 🤔 @spokes.org.uk @edi.bike #EdTravCyc
Photo of closure Photo of sign about closure Map of closure
November 29, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Reposted
spokes.org.uk
👍 #FerryRoad path: closure rethink

Our letter to council & cllrs attached..

#EdTravCyc @edi.bike @robbieainsworth.bsky.social @iammelissa.bsky.social @sarcainian.bsky.social @thedreadedlurgy.bsky.social @andrewburnie.bsky.social @crgn.bsky.social @stefsagrott.bsky.social @tracygriffen.bsky.social
post from Prof Peter Matthews saying pathto be reopened for a rethink on the closure by Leonardo UK Spokes letter, part 1 I'm writing regarding the closure of the Ferry Road Path between Leonardo and Morrisons in TTRO TEMP/25/148 from today 21st November until 16th January 2026. As I'm sure you know, this path forms an important Active Travel connection in the north of Edinburgh, being Quietroute11 and a protected Core Path. It is estimated to have 300-500 daily cycle trips (NPT Scotland), along with many more pedestrian journeys. Usage typically peaks 8-9am and 3-5pm. Being an offroad path, it is relied on by many users who are not comfortable or experienced cycling on a main road, including families and children. Risk The safety measures for these works appear surmountable and should not require a full closure. The fence erection works are similar to works conducted by the council in the past, such as tree felling works. I've attached an example on the Coltbridge Viaduct from 2020. The diversion across the Crewe Toll Roundabout is extremely busy with motor vehicles and surely presents a greater dangerous to cyclists otherwise using an offroad path. Will this diversion be signed and made suitably safe? I note the requirements in the NRSWA Red Book to ensure diversions are risk assessed for all users. Spokes letter, part 2 Amenity We are also concerned by the duration of this closure and the lack of notice. It is dissapointing that the closure was only signed on Wednesday, less than 48 hours before coming into effect, for what are clearly long planned works. TTROs are advised by the council to be submitted 30 working days in advance for adaquate process, and we would expect atleast a weeks notice. Advance signage should be placed to warn users of the closure, such as the attached example from Holyrood Park. The closure can be included within the weekly Edi.bike cycling newsletter on Monday. The 8 week duration of the closure appears very onerous. Works extends over the Christmas period when no work will likely be taking place. Additionally, we would expect works on such a busy route to be limited to outside of peaks hours. For example, recent path closures on the Union Canal were limited to 9:30am-3:30pm, with a member of staff present to assist disabled access. Will it be possible to reopen the path during peaks hours and the Christmas period? Statute I note the Department of Transport TSM Chapter 8, repeated in the councils own factsheet, state: D3.32.17 Wherever possible, access should be maintained for cyclists in both directions throughout the period of road works, avoiding more hazardous diversions. Where possible, a segregated cycle lane or route away from the carriageway should be provided particularly on dual carriageways or multi-lane roads. D3.32.18 When cycle routes, and other facilities for the exclusive use of cyclists and pedestrians, are affected by the road works the changes should be clearly signed well in advance of the road works. D3.32.19 Where there is cycle provision, such as cycle lanes or tracks, efforts should be made to keep these open or to provide an acceptable alternative during the road works.
November 21, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Reposted
robbieainsworth.bsky.social
Ferry Road Path CLOSED to pedestrians and cyclists from today to 16 January for installation of a security fence at Leonardo. TTRO closure order was signed on Wednesday with the below diversion: www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/fi... #EdTravCyc @spokes.org.uk @edi.bike
November 21, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Reposted
spokes.org.uk
#Tram consultation - Spokes submission

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

🙋 You have till midnight Monday for your own response!
HERE--> consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/tram-nor...

@edi.bike @edinreporter.bsky.social @edinburghminute.bsky.social @thecockburn.bsky.social @edfoc.bsky.social
Intro... Tram, Granton to Bioquarter consultation Spokes Planning Group response, November 2025 1. Introduction Spokes has the objective of promoting cycling as part of an overall sustainable transport and access strategy. As such, we support a growing tram system for Edinburgh, provided cycling is well catered for in the project design and operation. The aim of the tram is to reduce car traffic, and to head off potential traffic growth in development areas such as Granton and the Bioquarter. If successful, this is a huge benefit to walking and cycling, as well as its benefits in terms of congestion, public health and climate. However, the project should be accompanied by complementary measures to further encourage use of public transport and active travel, for example bus gates, traffic filters, and, notably, congestion charging. It is well established that traffic reduction is best achieved by a carrot/stick combination. The tram project must support and promote active travel as a whole, and cycling in particular, and must not introduce additional dangers without effective mitigation. The Council has ambitious targets to increase cycle use, much of which must come from novice and inexperienced cyclists, as well as visitors and locals using an expanding bike hire scheme. As such it is essential that there is a safe, comprehensive and connected bike network of segregated bike lanes and low-traffic areas, easy and safe to use by anybody, and with any kind of cycles - including cargobikes, adapted bikes, hire bikes, etc. Introducing the tram should be seen and planned from the outset as an integrated sustainable transport place making project, not a tram-only project into which cycling and walking have to be slotted in once all the tramline decisions are taken as happened with tramline 1 and to a considerable (though lesser) extent in the Newhaven extension. The Bridges corridor is hugely problematic.. 8. City Centre to Bioquarter Top issues ● The section through North and South Bridges is of extreme concern to Spokes, with no cycle provision, new tramlines and continued through traffic on a road where width is at a premium. This is making cycling provision far worse than in the current bus lanes. The project should include a bus gate / modal filter (as was planned, though never implemented, as part of the Spaces for People proposals ) potentially single track sections (like at Roseburn) and fully segregated cycle provision, or consideration to tram tracks on one side of the road and a bidirectional bike path on the other. For the reasons in the following two bullet points, many cyclists will continue to use this corridor - our above section on Bikes and Tramlines notes that Princes Street as a good example of this, with many choosing not to use the quieter George Street when it is less direct or lacks desired destinations. Thus cycling conditions must be safe. ● Whilst alternative north-south routes for cycles are proposed in the consultation, these would not suit all journeys, with many cyclists using the Bridges to travel between South Edinburgh and Leith given the more suitable gradient and directness than the Mound. And whilst there is a brief reference to the proposed Meadows to George Street route on the west side of the Bridges, there is no reference to the east side, where the Mobility Plan suggests a new active travel bridge connecting from the Old Town to Leith Walk. Such projects must be an integral part of the tram project provision including during the construction phase, also providing a permanent legacy of improved provision once finished. ● The Bridges corridor is a major residential, shopping and destinations location, and many cyclists use it for that reason; indeed many live along or just off the corridor. Routes via the Mound or Pleasance are irrelevant as alternatives for these categories of user.… linking the North Ed Network to the new canal path without descending and re-ascending - a transformative opportunity - diagram. ● Connecting Roseburn to the new Canal link path - The sketch below shows a possible layout for this crucial linkage. The yellow dotted line shows a ramp down to Russell Road, but this is possibly optional if it would cause engineering difficulties, given that most people will stay at high level, whilst those needing to descend or ascend could do so at Roseburn or at the nearby ramp to the new canal path. Finally, we understand that earlier discussions with Network Rail did not meet objections to a bridge provided that all necessary clearances are achieved. Picture of single-track shopping-street tram in Amsterdam
November 16, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Reposted
spokes.org.uk
🙄 #StMarks closure: info+notice unacceptable

Emailed council

@edi.bike @spurtle.bsky.social @andyheald.bsky.social @euanbaxter.bsky.social @johnrobson87.bsky.social @jackrmcaldwell.bsky.social @marklazarowicz.bsky.social @ellatasm.bsky.social @tracygriffen.bsky.social @stephenjenkinson.bsky.social
Clip of post re short notice for St Marks Path closure... #edibike @spokes.org.uk quite short notice for a well-used route, next to a school Spokes email to the council... I am emailing on behalf of Spokes planning group. We note with concern the proposed closure of St Marks Path. https://www.c-c-g.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Site-Info-Sheet-Powderhall-1.pdf The main issues we would highlight: 1) there is currently no visible signage notifying path users of this closure 2) The path is to be closed for 8 weeks, a significant proportion of which is during the contractors proposed Christmas shut down period 3) we are not aware of alternatives having been explored vs shutting the path 4) there is a suggested pedestrian diversion but it it not clear what alternative provision there will be for those cycling 5) there is a suggestion that this closure could be extended beyond 8 weeks map of the closure online concerns... ‪johnrobson87.bsky.social‬ ‪@johnrobson87.bsky.social‬ · 13h This is not appropriate with such short notice and no diversion. Surely access could have been via a diversion through the old waste reclaim site? Yet again active travel been considered last. ‪Ella‬ ‪@ellatasm.bsky.social‬ · 15h Great news in the long run, but a challenging route change for those of us who use it nearly daily. @spurtle.bsky.social ‪Andrew Heald‬ ‪@andyheald.bsky.social‬ · 13h Sorry but a major path closure with only 72 hours notice and with no agreed diversion is completely unacceptable. This work has been planned for months and yet there’s been no recent meaningful community engagement, and no information about the closure.
November 15, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Reposted
edtiss.bsky.social
Hello @edinburghcouncil.bsky.social , any reason pedestrians/cyclists have to wait through 6 traffic phases (c5 minutes) before we get a chance to cross London Road?
November 11, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Reposted
threadinburgh.scot
Does anyone @spokes.org.uk @edi.bike know if there's some better point of escalation for bad (read, dangerously) placed Voi bike locations than the very generic [email protected] email address?
November 6, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Reposted
spokes.org.uk
🙄 #CarParking out of control...

@edi.bike @lothianbuses.bsky.social @stephenjenkinson.bsky.social @edinburghbug.bsky.social @transform.scot @cpt-uk.bsky.social @alastairdalton.bsky.social @edfoc.bsky.social @sw20.info @drscottarthurmp.bsky.social @johnrobson87.bsky.social
edinburghlive.co.uk Edinburgh Live @edinburghlive.co.uk · Oct 27
The incident took place around 11.30am on Sunday, October 26 on Bavelaw Road in Balerno.
Moment Edinburgh bus gets 'stuck between parked cars' as traffic diverted
www.edinburghlive.co.uk
October 31, 2025 at 1:16 PM