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@LaidBackBikes

@laidbackbikes.bsky.social

190 followers 74 following 270 posts

Specialist Retail Partnership with e-cargo and e-trike/bike shop in Edinburgh. Also in Strathardle, Scotland. On Insta, FB and the other place people are flitting from! www.laid-back-bikes.scot (updated / refresh) Brands: Urban Arrow, ICE, Nihola +

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@LaidBackBikes @laidbackbikes.bsky.social · Feb 22

Cargobikes + other bikes/trikes delivered to where you are, for free. (Or to nearest ferry port if you're in Orkney or Shetland or Outer Hebrides). Demo models in stock. New models arriving. @chdot.bsky.social @edi.bike

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@LaidBackBikes @laidbackbikes.bsky.social · 3d

Riverside path from the hotel is a nice walk. Red squirrel spotted but not in shot. The actual Bridge of Cally can just be seen through the trees. Finally repaired after Erwin storm damage and a recent HiLux strike 🌩 . Post Office and shop now closed. 😞 @srd.bsky.social @edfoc.bsky.social

@LaidBackBikes @laidbackbikes.bsky.social · 3d

Riccarton Inn is one certainly with decent beers. The Spylaw is a nice end to a Colinton visit from town. The RLS themed tunnel is an amazing artwork.

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@LaidBackBikes @laidbackbikes.bsky.social · 3d

Taking a bike & luggage by bus to Bridge of Cally is now quite easy and fast (for us). E1 Ember 12.24 from Haymarket meets E11 at Dundee. Short wait for St 71 bus or cycle 7 miles to village! Only takes a few clicks. Good to see others using E11 Glenshee & Deeside service. @transform.scot @edi.bike

New Ember E11 e-bus service at Bridge of Cally Hotel. Interchange with Stagecoach 71 for Enochdhu.

Ember booking is easier than average. Book 10 min before journey and QR Sent by email.

Ember booking sends tracking link with QR ticket and will send a text if bus is late. Bus stops at Coupar Angus and Blairgowrie before Bridge of Cally.

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Reposted by @LaidBackBikes

SpokesLothian @spokes.org.uk · 4d

🙋 Survey: reopening #SouthSub railway 🚆

Info & QA --> docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

@edi.bike @mhbastian.bsky.social @kmarxette.bsky.social @markboggis.bsky.social @nigelbagshaw.bsky.social @macinteresting.bsky.social @thecockburn.bsky.social @drscottarthurmp.bsky.social @da-anderson.bsky.social

map of tram/train proposals for South Sub rail line, by Heriot Watt masters students

Reopening the South Sub: Have your say!
Background

The Edinburgh South Suburban Railway (South Sub) opened in 1884 as part of the Suburban Circle, serving Edinburgh’s southern suburbs. It had 7 stations, and passed through Gorgie, Craiglockhart, Morningside, Blackford Hill, Newington, Duddingston, and Portobello, with connections to Waverley, Haymarket, Abbeyhill, and Piershill. Passenger services were withdrawn in 1962, but the line continues to carry rail freight.

Project Description

Edinburgh and the Lothians are Scotland’s fastest-growing region, and traffic congestion in the city is among the worst in the UK, which is only going to worsen with a fast growing population. To help people move around more efficiently, reduce car use, and support sustainable growth, Edinburgh needs to explore mass transit options.

In 2025, Heriot-Watt masters students proposed the "South Sub Tram-Train," connecting directly to the Edinburgh tram network near Murrayfield Stadium and linking west to east Edinburgh through the city’s south, from Gorgie to Portobello. This would improve access to jobs, education, and healthcare, reduce car use, and support urban regeneration, similar to the benefits seen in Leith after previous tram extensions.

Reopening the South Sub is a cost-effective solution because much of the railway infrastructure already exists. This means lower construction costs and less disruption compared with building on-street tram lines.

The South Sub Tram-Train would offer a fast, reliable service largely unaffected by road congestion. There is also potential to connect at Cameron Toll to the North–South tram extension, providing direct travel from the South Sub to the BioQuarter and Royal Infirmary.

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@LaidBackBikes @laidbackbikes.bsky.social · 4d

Roseburn to (almost) Union Canal National Awards Win 😆
@Edi.bike telling it like it is! Your weekly sum-up everything going on (or not) on cycling infra.

🚲 edi.bike

Edi.bike

Reposted by @LaidBackBikes

🚲 edi.bike | weekly news digest @edi.bike · 4d

🚲 edi.bike | issue 113 | 6th Sep '25

Roseburn Link wins award, date for @infrasisters.bsky.social Glow Ride, and a bicycle beset by barnacles from @wolct.bsky.social; plus events, route closures & more:

https://buttondown.com/edi.bike/archive/edibike-issue-113-6th-oct-25/

#bikeSky

A bicycle is posed on a wet set of concrete steps; it is almost entirely encrusted with barnacles. Another, non-dredged-up bicycle leans against a step in the background.

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@LaidBackBikes @laidbackbikes.bsky.social · 5d

More first time riders today despite blustery conditions. Earlier we had somone up from Newcastle too - trains running OK south.

@LaidBackBikes @laidbackbikes.bsky.social · 6d

Open 10-4 for demos & sales after a short break. Covering all formats of cargobike & trike. Service support for LB customers & others from 'Joe's Bike Garage' - busy working to order Mon-Fri (not on Bsky yet - contact info on our web). Storm Amy still blowing a bit! Take care out there. @edi.bike

Laid Back shop interior with Nihola Cargo trike and Veloe Multi Lungo

Laid Back shop exterior with Urban Arrow FamilyNext

Scotland's net zero electric mix on Saturday 4th October. North of Perth it's 100% wind power.

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Reposted by @LaidBackBikes

Simon Christie @thebonnieloon.bsky.social · 7d

Cycling trips surge by 43% as Glasgow's active travel network grows glasgow.gov.uk/13887

Cycling trips surge by 43% as Glasgow's active travel network grows - Glasgow City Council

Glasgow is seeing a boom in active travel, with 4.65 million cycling trips recorded between January and August this year - a 43% increase compared to the same period in 2024.

glasgow.gov.uk

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Reposted by @LaidBackBikes

Blackford Safe Routes @blackfordsaferoutes.co.uk · 7d

Kids out in force for today’s bike-bus!

Reclaiming the streets for the best start! 😍

Thanks also to local PC Lawrence accompanying the crew by bike👮🏻‍♂️🚲

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@LaidBackBikes @laidbackbikes.bsky.social · 8d

Electric quads are happening around Strathardle of course (3 & not farmers) People had never seen a bakfiets with Bosch before. We've been selling UAs since 2013 - only handful in Highlands. HiLux is more the norm & socially acceptable! 😆 @spokes.org.uk @transform.scot @highlandcyclists.bsky.social

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@LaidBackBikes @laidbackbikes.bsky.social · 8d

Last Saturday village had event with gazebo & stalls for community garden. Pleased our rental Family UA could easily carry & oversized items involved back to storage. Power use minimal & often 100% renewable in North Scotland. Have several used UAs - check web @highlandcyclists.bsky.social @edi.bike

Urban Arrow with gazebo including weighted bases. Probably 100kg!

Kirkmichael Community Garden Fun Day event.

If you live in North Scotland your power is often 100% renewable. Our Urban Arrow used only 100Wh to move items.

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@LaidBackBikes @laidbackbikes.bsky.social · 15d

Moorings at Fort Augustus all taken tonight as only half the backlog from yesterday got through. Will get back into Loch Ness tomorrow. Big yacht 'Steady' from Netherlands opposite us. 'Ros Crana' from Inverness moored ahead. Trawler 'Endurance' went by earlier in day.

@LaidBackBikes @laidbackbikes.bsky.social · 15d

Looking at self propelled tourers going through the 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Great Glen. Many on e-bikes as hilly beside Loch Lochy. (Some couples are half and half). One ICE trike at Laggan. Path quality good on Caledonian Canal. Loads of kayakers 🇨🇦 @srd.bsky.social and paddle boarders.

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@LaidBackBikes @laidbackbikes.bsky.social · 15d

Slow travel by boat for a week. Slower now as A82 bridge jammed yesterday at Fort Augustus blocking canal! 😞
Anyway have shop folder to get around and supplies at Spar if we need! Kytra moorings full as boats queue up.

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Reposted by @LaidBackBikes

Blackford Safe Routes @blackfordsaferoutes.co.uk · 22d

Bike bus is back again on Friday 19th! 🚲 🚌 😻

We ride in a group, making sure everyone is included and kept safe.

Details and dates of all the rides for this school year:

blackfordsaferoutes.co.uk/jgps-travel-...

Cycling Bus - Blackford Safe Routes

Bike bus calendar for the 2025/2026 school year – always on Fridays! – 19th September– 3rd and 31st October– 14th and 28th November– 12th December– 9th and 23rd January– 6th February– 6th and 20th Mar...

blackfordsaferoutes.co.uk

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Reposted by @LaidBackBikes

The City of Edinburgh Council @edinburghcouncil.bsky.social · 25d

We're hosting multiple drop-in sessions across the city over the next few weeks, for residents to engage with our consultation on expanding the tram network.

The next one is today (15 September) at Granton Station from 4pm to 7pm.

A stock image of an Edinburgh tram with the text 'Trams from Granton to Edinburgh BioQuarter and Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and Beyond' in red. A stock image of an Edinburgh tram with the text 'Trams from Granton to Edinburgh BioQuarter and Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and Beyond' in red.

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Reposted by @LaidBackBikes

🚲 edi.bike | weekly news digest @edi.bike · 25d

🚲 edi.bike | issue 110 | 15th Sep '25
in your weekly edinburgh cycling digest:

September Transport Committee Roundup, Spokes Initial Thoughts on North-South Tramline, events, community updates, route closures & more:

https://buttondown.com/edi.bike/archive/edibike-issue-110-15th-sep-25/

#bikeSky

A row of three metal cycle racks is ensconced by a smattering of Coral-coloured Voi hire ebikes; two are parked parallel to the racks like a normal cycle, one is parked upright on its stand nearby, and two are abandoned at a jaunty angle. The patchy asphalt is wet from a recent rainshower; in the background, a colourful mural depicting sportspeople adorns the wall of a single storey building.

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@LaidBackBikes @laidbackbikes.bsky.social · 26d

Trike action today. For some riders three wheels are the answer. Family living close to path networks enjoy better surfaces which make trikes nicer to use.

@LaidBackBikes @laidbackbikes.bsky.social · 27d

Raincovers delivered and being tested on our current black FamilyNext demo! 🌧 (More green FN models arriving soon). Yesterday afternoon trace of doing errands round town. A typical Friday!
Our last official Saturday till October 4th as closed on 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿holiday Sept 20+27th. 🌞 🌧 🌦

Urban Arrow FamilyNext with raincover side up showing interior with two seats with belts for children.

Strava map of 10 miles of pick ups, drop offs and errands on shop Urban Arrow.

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@LaidBackBikes @laidbackbikes.bsky.social · 27d

Local community projects do benefit but the initial enthusiasm to exploit onshore wind generation is now waning. (Shetland & Orkney should be highlit bright green on this carbon intensity map!)

Energy flows south in UK on 12th Sept 2025. Scotland grid running on 70%+ wind power with rest exported. Nuclear at Torness provides baseload - this EDF owned plant to be retired 2030 something.

@LaidBackBikes @laidbackbikes.bsky.social · 27d

That's a reasonable request as you say. Ember generally try to strike a good tone rather than issue diktats to customers. Their explanation of fare structure was so logical I had to read it twice! 😆

@LaidBackBikes @laidbackbikes.bsky.social · 28d

Ember don't seem to worry about bike covers. Bike last night was just on side in hold. Imagine that they won't like muddy mountain bikes returning on their Fort William to Edinburgh & Glasgow services though.

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@LaidBackBikes @laidbackbikes.bsky.social · 28d

No - but have done in past. Students with bikes common - profile is younger passengers with under 22 Scot travel pass.
Monday we got on bus and two people with bikes heading towards Glenshee. Bikes booked to go in hold.

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@LaidBackBikes @laidbackbikes.bsky.social · 28d

Third week running of on time Ember E11 e-bus direct to from Blairgowrie to Dundee. Connection booked to Edinburgh with short wait. Almost integrated but short walks in between stops. 😆 Very wet but with 🌈 Good wi-fi @chdot.bsky.social @portyenergy.bsky.social @edi.bike @highlandcyclists.bsky.social

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