Robbie Ainsworth
@robbieainsworth.bsky.social
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A civil engineer in Edinburgh. Cycle path closures and a bit of history.
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![Tram Granton to Bioquarter – Spokes early draft response, as of 6 Oct
With the consultation now well underway, the Spokes draft response is developing well. You can find it here [1.9MB pdf]. We strongly stress that this is a work in progress and there are likely to be considerable further edits, particularly to the second part of the response, dealing with individual sections of the route.
Major updates and ideas in the draft, since our initial thoughts, include..
An introductory section on bikes and tramlines, which includes lessons from our tramline-crash reporting tool and from earlier phases of Edinburgh tram
Detailed commentary on all sections of the route [several sections still require considerable fleshing out]. Some major issues/opportunities arising include..
Great concern over cycling safety in the Bridges corridor. We urge single-line working for this section, or possibly the tramlines on one side of the road with bidirectional segregated cycling on the other side
We suggest dropping North Bridge tram stop and replacing it by two stops – at Waverley Steps to serve east Princes Street and the rail station, and at the North Bridge arcade, to serve the Old Town and again the rail station. There are multiple reasons for this suggestion, in addition to a major cycling safety aspect
There may be an opportunity to incorporate an active travel bridge over the mainline railway, linking the North Edinburgh Network to the new Fountainbridge link, without the long ramps down to road level and up again.
What you can do
Above are just some of the highlights of our draft response – there is a wealth of other detail, and we welcome any feedback
Forward our draft to anyone who may be interested
Repost our bluesky post
Like our facebook article
Most important of all – submit your own response to the consultation. Use the online QA and/or the email address given.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2ood4k4wojq5jku2zl3myqco/bafkreigib6e7nxkej6iv7ahnfjxo24ty6zmpwthvbnfrmvceottxqg43tm@jpeg)
Reposted by Robbie Ainsworth
![Crewe Toll to City Centre, via Roseburn corridor
Top issues
The Council is to be congratulated on modifying the project north of Roseburn bridge to single track, and with battery running, enabling a 3m+ active travel path (with one pinch point). This follows the instruction to the tram team by councillors at the 1.2.24 Transport Committee, for which we again thank all members and others who contacted councillors at that time.
However, south of Roseburn Bridge, to Russell Road, there is a lack of clarity, and indeed contradictions, in the consultation materials – see these clarifications from the tram team, the Roseburn bridge cross section, the path cross section, the artist impression and the map view. Further investigation is essential, with a firm intention to continue the 3m offroad path through this section.
The tram project should incorporate a 3m active travel bridge over the mainline railway, thus providing a level offroad path from Leith right through Roseburn to Dalry and Fountainbridge. This bridge is included in the Council’s Mobility Plan, Active Travel Delivery [page 43]. To forget it now, with major earthworks likely for the tram project, would make a mockery of these intentions. Whilst costly, the cost would be lost in the overall tram project.
Crewe Toll to City Centre, via Orchard Brae
Top issues
The onroad tramlines, combined with traffic pressures, including at several junctions and narrow sections, present a major hazard to cyclists, given the absence of segregated provision. Indeed, the current proposals actually remove existing segregation, presenting a situation similar to the first tramline. The Council needs to provide detailed plans of how these dangers will be averted if this route option is chosen.
CEC should give consideration to single-tracking on Dean Bridge rather than stating “cross-section prohibits segregated cycle provision”.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2ood4k4wojq5jku2zl3myqco/bafkreihbcs4ptbebs6ym43cciywcxcqgntmmidfqtdy36x52kufoxir5u4@jpeg)
Reposted by Robbie Ainsworth
Reposted by Robbie Ainsworth
![Spokes meeting article...
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.
Speakers
After the film there will be short presentations (5 mins or less each) from several local organisations using cargobikes, including…
The Bike Station – continuing the work of former CargoBikeMovement
Banzai [Bruntsfield Area Net Zero Action Initiative] – runs a cargobike library
Porty Community Energy – runs a cargobike library
Cycling Gardeners of Edinburgh – a small business using cargobikes as their main form of transport [photo below]
Then a QA with the speakers panel – due to the 90-minute film, the QA is likely only to be 30 minutes rather than our usual hour.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2ood4k4wojq5jku2zl3myqco/bafkreidkawn4la5jfqeupunjqdr7sphwu6mq52frxanmeyf65b6wmtqtjy@jpeg)
![Comp prizes...
PRIZES
Top prizewinner gets first choice of prizes, and so on till all prizes allocated. Runner-up entries which don’t win a prize will get to choose a free Spokes map or buff
Museum of Scottish Railways (Bo’Ness) Family annual pass to the extensive museum
Bo’Ness & Kinneil Steam Railway Family ticket for one return trip
Ember Bus [takes 2 bikes] £50 bus tickets credit
Edinburgh Bicycle £50 Edinburgh Bicycle voucher
Camera Obscura Family ticket
Cameo Picturehouse Tickets for 2
Laidback Bikes Recumbent tour or cargobike hire
Harts Cyclery One-week ebike hire
Edinburgh Festival of Cycling Urban Arrow Cargo-bike day hire
Lanterne Rouge bike cafe, Gifford £20 voucher
Lanterne Rouge bike cafe, Gifford Blue/white no-plastic Africap from Sierra Leone
Rosebean cafe or Dower House cafe £10 voucher
Spokes £1000 voucher* towards cargo-bike purchase
Spokes £200 voucher* towards e-bike purchase
Spokes Set of all 4 Spokes maps
RUNNERS-UP Spokes map or Edinburgh map-buff](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2ood4k4wojq5jku2zl3myqco/bafkreib42lr263fgqa7ma74cept2xy2pykdepbssksykodxupv5jill4mi@jpeg)
