http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Forum: Debate! - Recent Topics en Fri, 01 May 2026 19:38:21 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10783#post-119240 Wed, 24 Jul 2013 11:09:53 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 119240@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I've been thinking a bit about this recently, seeing some of the arguments for and against, and it's really not a black and white issue.</p> <p>I should say that I think the cost of it could be spent much much better elsewhere. But. We put ghost bikes up because 9 cyclists have died on Scotland's roads so far this year - in 2010 on the A9 I <em>think</em> 13 motorists and motorcyclists died. Now is it 'possible' that dual carriageway all the way would actually have prevented many of those deaths?</p> <p>It's suggested that speed plays a factor in the deaths, but more likely, is inappropriate overtaking. Clearly targeting this poor driving so that it doesn't happen would be the most cost effective action, but practically how can it be done? (yes, enforcement, but how do you catch the people doing it in the first place without having police cars every 5 miles?) Whereas, if there is dual carriageway... There's no overtaking that involves crossing to the other side of the road. That's a simple fact. Yes, people might go faster, but you've removed one potential cause of conflict immediately.</p> <p>It's kind of like us asking for segregated facilities, it's removing a potential source of conflict, so dual carriageways do that for single carriageways. Certainly at present the little sections of dual carriageway 'encourage' people to get past before it ends the number of ridiculous overtakes I've suffered while driving that road is legion) and yes yes yes yes I <em>do</em> agree that stamping out bad behaviour is much more preferable to having to spend loads of cash on infrastructure. But again, as a simple statement, would dual carriageway all the way lead to fewer deaths? And if the answer is yes, does that make dualling the road a good thing? I guess what value is a life?</p> <p>I have heard as well that money should be spent on the rail link instead, which I'd agree with, thoguh for some different reasons - it's been suggested that dualling will lead to small towns being bypassed, but they already are for the most part anyway, and people still drive in, and if the final destination is Inverness (or further, I'm usually going to Ullapool) then on the train they'll sit till that destination, whereas driving they may (should) want to take a break and will therefore stop in one of these small towns.</p> <p>I guess one benefit would be if more freight could be carried on a better rail network so there are fewer lorries on the road.</p> <p>This is all a bit rambling. Really in short I think that dualling <em>will</em> save lives; that if we could change <em>behaviour</em> that would be better (certainly in the long run as it will be reflected elsewhere than just on the A9); that's it's costing a ridiculous amount of money; and that many people both pro and anti get a little blinded to the shades of grey.</p> <p>Erm.</p> <p>Discuss. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3748#post-39367 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 12:53:56 +0000 Stepdoh 39367@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>was brought to you by the lady doing a right turn from the western approach on the drumbrae roundabout while not indicating and talking on her mobile.</p> <p>Gah. It's not like it's a hugely busy roundabout or on a major route or anything. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21434#post-372654 Tue, 02 Jan 2024 14:41:54 +0000 chdot 372654@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>As posted on the <a href="http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=12296&amp;page=7&amp;replies=202#post-372652">tarmac thread</a></p> <p>“Looking through <a href="https://www.showcase-sustrans.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Cameron-Baillie-Granton-Waterfront-Sustrans-Presentation-29-11-22-Updated.pdf">link</a> above I realise that Pennywell Road is the subject of North Edinburgh Active Travel (NEAT).</p> <p>“I’ve been aware of NEAT since some time last year when I despaired at discovering yet another large/detailed/expensive/etc consultation/project full of good work/community involvement/identification of problems/ideas/etc”</p> <p> <a href="https://neat.scot" rel="nofollow">https://neat.scot</a></p> <p>I went to one ‘drop in’ session. Someone from CEC and Sustrans.</p> <p>Anyone else had any involvement (or even aware of this)? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21346#post-369810 Fri, 18 Aug 2023 13:51:48 +0000 chdot 369810@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>This has been discussed on various threads through many years. </p> <p>Previous proposals dissipated due to lack of money - which also halted the extension to Newhaven for quite a while.</p> <p>Now it’s all back again as a proposal and the issues remain whether or not to go down the Roseburn Corridor or to go via the Western General Hospital. </p> <p>Obviously neither is still a strong possibility as CEC has no money and whatever money SG has, it may choose to keep spending on roads or on non-transport things.</p> <p>Today ScArthur (as he seems to be calling himself) is on site. </p> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/cllrscottarthur/status/1692453055390765279" rel="nofollow">https://twitter.com/cllrscottarthur/status/1692453055390765279</a></p> <p>(Video) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20759#post-355630 Wed, 13 Oct 2021 15:15:41 +0000 chdot 355630@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>Services on networks including South Western Railway and ScotRail will be reduced in new timetables. </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/oct/13/uk-rail-firms-move-to-shed-thousands-of-jobs-amid-covid-cost-cuts" rel="nofollow">https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/oct/13/uk-rail-firms-move-to-shed-thousands-of-jobs-amid-covid-cost-cuts</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21305#post-368001 Wed, 10 May 2023 10:47:41 +0000 chdot 368001@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Obviously the NEPN (North Edinburgh Path Network to those new to Edinburgh or unwilling to go north of Princes St…) is a key part of Edinburgh’s ‘cycle infrastructure’. </p> <p>It accounts for a significant part of the ‘off-road mileage’ and is largely the result of accidents of history - significant amounts of railway lines built in the relatively flatter and more industrialised parts of Edinburgh, followed by the rise of road transport, line closures and subsequent calls by Spokes, the Cockburn (and others) for conversion to a walk/cycle ‘network’. </p> <p>The bulk of the NEPN was developed and tarmaced under Lothian Regional Council. Phil Noble was a key officer. He has since worked on all sorts of Active Travel plans and projects in Edinburgh. His job has included dealing with the unhappy traders of Roseburn, calmly. </p> <p>The next significant development will happen <em>when</em> the Powderhall to Meadowbank section becomes an important new ‘active travel corridor’. </p> <p>Meanwhile there remain ‘issues’ - particularly maintenance and access. </p> <p>As ever with CEC ‘responsibility’ is spread across different departments and teams. </p> <p>I was reminded of this yesterday by </p> <p><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52883950167_4a5b71bfb9.jpg"></p> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/vicnicsnp/status/1655910189915070464?">A local Cllr tweeted @edinhelp</a> who passed it on to CEC’s “Forestry team” (they are particularly efficient so I presume the tree has been removed). </p> <p>Unusually there hadn’t been high winds to blow this down, but there was significant rainfall the day before. Once again it demonstrated that there are trees without sufficient roots in various parts of the (former) railway cuttings. </p> <p>As ever, there is the issue of ‘balance’ between ‘public safety’ and ‘amenity’ - plus ‘resources’. </p> <p><a href="http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17071">A previous NEPN thread</a>. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21912#post-383750 Tue, 31 Mar 2026 16:50:16 +0000 chdot 383750@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://bikebiz.com/rider-research-hubs-latest-study-shows-importance-of-initiatives-to-get-kids-on-bikes/" rel="nofollow">https://bikebiz.com/rider-research-hubs-latest-study-shows-importance-of-initiatives-to-get-kids-on-bikes/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21910#post-383709 Sat, 28 Mar 2026 11:10:12 +0000 chdot 383709@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>“It was a tough battle. Very tough. But I strongly believed the roads had to be pedestrianised so that people could enjoy the riverbanks, and that once they were pedestrianised and people had that experience, they wouldn’t want to go back. And that’s what has happened,” Hidalgo says.</p> <p>“Today there are generations of children who have not known cars there. People say ‘Wow!’ when you tell them.”</p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/28/changing-a-city-is-complicated-anne-hidalgo-looks-back-on-12-years-as-paris-mayor" rel="nofollow">https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/28/changing-a-city-is-complicated-anne-hidalgo-looks-back-on-12-years-as-paris-mayor</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21885#post-383148 Tue, 10 Feb 2026 12:18:17 +0000 chdot 383148@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>Quick Answer: </p> <p>Cycling is low-impact, joint-friendly, and one of the safest ways to stay active as you age. Most seniors don’t stop riding because they’re weak — they stop because they’re scared of falling, traffic, or getting hurt. That fear is real. And it’s fixable. </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://www.theoldguybicycleblog.com/2023/11/should-70-year-old-ride-bike.html" rel="nofollow">https://www.theoldguybicycleblog.com/2023/11/should-70-year-old-ride-bike.html</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21899#post-383481 Mon, 16 Mar 2026 21:04:48 +0000 Kenny 383481@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Cycling home this evening (rush hour) on the NEPN, at around St George’s School, and saw someone on a powered scooter doing, I kid you not, in excess of 30mph. It was, frankly, terrifying the speed they were going at. </p> <p>I didn’t think powered scooters were able to go that fast; clearly I was wrong. </p> <p>Not really sure what the point of this post is, other than to warn folks to stay safe out there. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=7059#post-73975 Tue, 12 Jun 2012 09:32:04 +0000 Kirst 73975@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>was me I'm afraid.</p> <p>I pulled out at a roundabout when I really shouldn't have done. Luckily for me the taxi I should have given way to was going slowly and didn't hit me. </p> <p>In my defence, I was very distracted by the idiot behind me whose driving was making me nervous. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6668#post-71401 Tue, 22 May 2012 08:49:20 +0000 chdot 71401@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"<br /> Physical activity (but not screen time) varied strongly with daylight hours, indicating the importance of outdoor activities and (possibly) when children are able to walk or cycle to school more safely.</p> <p>"<br /> "<br /> Physical activity for 60 minutes or more, seven days a week<br /> At sweep 6, mothers were asked about their child’s participation in four types of physical activity (for at least 5 minutes) in the past week. For activities outside school, these included walking, organised sports or exercise activities such as swimming lessons or a gymnastics class, and other active behaviour such as running about, riding a bicycle or kicking a ball around. Mothers were also asked whether their child had taken part in walking, sports, exercise or other active things when the child was at school.</p> <p>"<br /> "<br /> Ogilvie, D., K. E. Lamb, et al. (2011). “Recreational physical activity facilities within walking and cycling distance: Sociospatial patterning of access in Scotland.” Health &amp; Place 17(5): 1015-1022.</p> <p>"</p> <p><a href="http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/05/5385/0" rel="nofollow">http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/05/5385/0</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21645#post-376966 Tue, 22 Oct 2024 11:13:47 +0000 bakky 376966@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>This from Living Streets Edinburgh's recent email missive on Leith Connections consultation (emphasis mine):</p> <p><blockquote>The Council has recently launched a consultation on some big changes planned for Leith, from Lindsay Road in the west through Commercial Street and Bernard Street to Salamander Street in the east.</p> <p>The key feature is a cycleway (continuous, except in narrow Bernard Street) and various associated changes to pavements, junctions, bus facilities and parking. There appear to be some significant improvements for pedestrians - such as ‘continuous footways’ over side road junctions, and a single-stage crossing over North Junction Street at the Ocean Drive junction. </p> <p>However, it is also very disappointing to see many pavements less than 2 metres wide - the “absolute minimum” that the Council normally considers acceptable. <strong>There seem to be ten ‘floating bus stops’ (which mean people getting on and off the bus have to cross a cycle lane); we know this is a serious concern to many disabled and blind people.</strong> The plan would also remove significant sections of bus lane on Lindsay Road and Commercial Street. Many of these changes are not highlighted on the Council’s consultation.</p> <p>Unfortunately these kind of problems seem to feature in most big active travel schemes promoted by the Council, despite our repeated efforts to ensure that schemes put ‘walking and wheeling’ first - in line with Council policy. We have asked the Council for more detailed information on the narrow footways and bus stop designs (which isn’t shown on all the drawings) and are waiting for a response. </p> <p>Please have a look and give your views by 17 November: <a href="https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/leithconnections/" rel="nofollow">https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/leithconnections/</a> There is also a drop-in event in the Kirkgate on 29 October (see website for details). And do let us know your thoughts too, so that we can take account of them in our own response!</blockquote></p> <p>I believe the 'parent' Living Streets org's report on Floating Bus Stops doesn't simplify this down to 'these are bad':</p> <p><blockquote>However, whilst there is some concern about bus stop bypasses, our observational data suggested <strong>the level of discomfort or difficulty most people experience in using these bus stops, when well designed, is very low.</strong> Where a cycle track is extremely busy – a much wider group of pedestrians can be disadvantaged, unless reliable support is provided to allow easier crossing. There are also examples of poor design.</blockquote></p> <p>They go on to say:</p> <p><blockquote>If levels of cycling are to be significantly increased, and this is to become an ordinary, inclusive means of transport, then entirely ruling out the use of bus stop bypasses is not a viable option. This would mean significant gaps in cycle tracks with cyclists returned to the carriageway, which is already understood to create risk or fear for cyclists.</blockquote></p> <p>(Above from report <a href="https://reports.livingstreets.org.uk/inclusivedesign/BS_MainReport/report.html">Inclusive Design at bus stops with cycle tracks</a>).</p> <p>My own experience of riding through these is that by and large they're conflict-free once 'bedded in' with the local community - even on poor implementations like Leith Walk. I find it really frustrating that Mr. Hunter has decided LSE's position on this is so lacking in nuance.</p> <p>Not sure what the take-away would be. Make a special effort to commend the inclusion of floating stops when responding to consultations?</p> <p>Apologies for my usual struggles with brevity. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17168#post-236662 Thu, 17 Nov 2016 12:40:32 +0000 chdot 236662@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"</p> <p>A broken down train has caused commuter mayhem this morning.</p> <p>"</p> <p><a href="http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/broken-down-train-causes-delays-between-edinburgh-to-glasgow-1-4291938" rel="nofollow">http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/broken-down-train-causes-delays-between-edinburgh-to-glasgow-1-4291938</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21749#post-379762 Sun, 25 May 2025 10:16:52 +0000 Morningsider 379762@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Been chatting with a few wonderful cycling folk on Bluesky about this post by Councillor Jenkinson about <a href="https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/edinburgh-to-explore-introducing-congestion-charge-for-cars-coming-into-capital-5143261?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR4T2lrflRmPQvlEecYxaESAOKVg3kX3s-qRDMSXar5Lfbpe8ZREMBQPvE1_Cw_aem_44P7TGg3hzfJ3Sd0uyBMzg#ejicqmbn19pulnat7hxhopdeb8uei4je">an EEN article</a> on a possible Edinburgh congestion charge:</p> <p><blockquote>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.<br /> </blockquote> Obviously, CCE a far better place to post on a complicated issue that needs a bit of space to discuss.</p> <p>I think the Councillor has been badly advised, as the Council does appear to have the power to introduce a congestion charge. Exactly the same powers it would have used in 2005, which are set out in part 3 of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001 and the following regulations:</p> <p>Road User Charging (Liability for Charges) (Scotland) Regulations 2005<br /> Road User Charging (Consultation and Publication) (Scotland) Regulations 2003<br /> Road User Charging (Penalty Charges) (Scotland) Regulations 2005.</p> <p>The Scottish Government also published a guidance note on implementing road user charging schemes called "Delivering Integrated Transport Initiatives Through<br /> Road User Charging – Consultation and Approval Process: Guidance for Local Authorities" in 2001. Old, not available online but as far as I can tell still in force as the legislation it deals with has not changed. It was used by the Council to prepare its 2005 road user charging scheme - which most people forget <a href="https://democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/Data/City%20of%20Edinburgh%20Council/20030918/Agenda/integrated_transport_initiative_update_localtransport_strategy_2004_to_2007_and_proposed_publication_of_congestion_charging_.pdf">received 'approval in principle'</a> from Scottish Ministers.</p> <p>Councillor Jenkinson refers to any potential scheme covering the whole of the central belt. There are a couple of barriers to this. The first is practical - the current legislative set-up only applies to local roads, a congestion charge cannot apply to trunk roads - such as the bypass, M8, M9 and so on. The Scottish Government stated in December 2024 that:</p> <p><blockquote>...the Scottish Government does not have a policy position to progress national (Scotland-wide) road pricing</blockquote> Which looks like road user charging on the nationwide trunk road network is not likely in the foreseeable future. Doesn't rule the scheme out completely, but massively complicates its implementation.</p> <p>The second barrier to such a scheme would be political. I cannot see Councillors in West Lothian, Falkirk, South Lanarkshire and the rest ever signing up to such a scheme - the political cost would be too great and the opportunity for attacks on "metropolitan elites" in the big cities simply too good to ignore, especially in the current political climate.</p> <p>So why propose such a scheme and not one wholly within the Edinburgh Council area? I can't speak for the Councillor's motivations, but if I wanted to look like I was doing something on traffic demand management without any chance of it ever happening, I would do something similar. </p> <p>Be interesting to see how this develops. Any thoughts? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21887#post-383186 Thu, 12 Feb 2026 13:18:53 +0000 chdot 383186@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>the man who cycled around the world for four years </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/feb/12/i-lived-the-life-ive-always-dreamed-of-the-man-who-cycled-around-the-world-for-four-years" rel="nofollow">https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/feb/12/i-lived-the-life-ive-always-dreamed-of-the-man-who-cycled-around-the-world-for-four-years</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21883#post-383145 Tue, 10 Feb 2026 09:41:20 +0000 chdot 383145@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>In 2024, 5% of people had cycled as a means of transport at least one day in the week leading up to the survey interview and 5% had cycled for pleasure or to keep fit. These figures were slightly lower than in 2023. [Table 25a] </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://www.transport.gov.scot/media/15dglody/pdf-version-transport-and-travel-in-scotland-2024.pdf" rel="nofollow">https://www.transport.gov.scot/media/15dglody/pdf-version-transport-and-travel-in-scotland-2024.pdf</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21877#post-383001 Mon, 26 Jan 2026 17:19:44 +0000 bakky 383001@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Bringing together a few thoughts on this after we got into it in another thread; Twitter is dead.</p> <p>(Organisations will be slower to react to this; but the people are gone).</p> <p>On the morning of Friday 23rd, Pedal on Parliament chucked a save the date posting out all over various social media channels, including X. </p> <p>At the time of posting, PoP had:</p> <p>6,101 followers on X</p> <p>0 followers on Bluesky</p> <p>0 followers on Mastodon</p> <p>1,404 followers on Instagram</p> <p>683 followers on Facebook (page)</p> <p>1,351 members on Facebook (group) </p> <p>By 4pm on the 26th (today), here is a summary of all the post interactions on X vs. Bluesky:</p> <p><a href="https://freeimage.host/i/fPjEbus"><img src="https://iili.io/fPjEbus.md.png"></a><br /> Bluesky: 38 reposts, 5 quote posts, 35 likes</p> <p><a href="https://freeimage.host/i/fPjVXZG"><img src="https://iili.io/fPjVXZG.md.png"></a><br /> X: 1 like. 1 repost. They were both by the same person.</p> <p>Over the weekend, after the impact of the posts and general grapevine, the follower counts have changed as follows:</p> <p>6,101 followers on X (=)</p> <p>67 followers on Bluesky (+67)*</p> <p>3 followers on Mastodon (+3)**</p> <p>1,417 followers on Instagram (+13)</p> <p>682 followers on Facebook (page) (-1)</p> <p>1,361 members on Facebook (group) (+10)</p> <p>* <em>New followers on Bluesky can be attributed to activity undertaken to follow known cyclists, mutuals with other orgs and starter packs like Blackford Safe Routes &amp; SW20's lists to follow</em></p> <p>** <em>Mastodon is not a 'full account' presence but a federated bridge that mirrors profile changes and posts from Bluesky</em></p> <p><strong>In Summary:</strong></p> <p>X/Twitter's mindshare is only continued by the presence of organisations and services there who have not had the training, tools nor policy implementation to migrate them elsewhere. The people - at least as far as 'oor bubble' goes - have left it.</p> <p>(This is not a particularly academic example but I think it's both interesting and instructive). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21867#post-382777 Wed, 14 Jan 2026 09:39:40 +0000 chdot 382777@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Not about cycling, not about Edinburgh, just a reminder of things that are possible due to people realising they have common/overlapping interests -</p> <p>‘Cycling’, transport, energy, environment, ‘place’, food, resources, learning, fairness etc etc</p> <p>Edinburgh is full of organisations aiming to improve things in a challenging world! </p> <p>Long may it continue. </p> <p><a href="https://scotlandstowns.org/chief-officers-blog-our-garnock-valley-energy-vision-and-collaboration-in-action/" rel="nofollow">https://scotlandstowns.org/chief-officers-blog-our-garnock-valley-energy-vision-and-collaboration-in-action/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10427#post-113952 Wed, 12 Jun 2013 10:48:58 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 113952@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Right, given the way the last thread to mention helmets went (though became civilised towards the end - I've no idea on the two posts that were deleted right at the very end - let's come to an amicable agreement....</p> <p>If anything comes up on helmets direct the people posting to this thread, where we can contain the argument (I've lined the thread in lead, submerged it in a deep lake in an undisclosed location that only a man with big facial hair and claws coming out of his knuckles could find, and left it guarded by dementors and young Tories).</p> <p>I'm not pro-helmet<br /> I'm not anti-helmet<br /> I sometimes wear a helmet<br /> I sometimes don't wear a helmet<br /> I will ride in events where they are mandated<br /> I will ride without one where they aren't mandated<br /> I'm not convinced a helmet will save my life<br /> I'm not convinced they cause harm in themselves<br /> I'm not convinced people wearing them puts other people off cycling<br /> I don't think sheriffs should use the fact someone wasn't wearing a helmet as a mitigating factor in their own death<br /> I am against legal compulsion<br /> A broken helmet after a crash is not proof that your head would have been broken<br /> Falling without a helmet and not breaking your head is not proof that helmets are pointless<br /> Yes, I know the Dutch and the Danes don't really wear helmets, again correlation, not cause of a cycling culture</p> <p>I think that covers everything ;) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18494#post-271256 Thu, 04 Jan 2018 11:57:22 +0000 fimm 271256@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>In <a href="http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=18455&amp;page=2#post-271209">this thread</a> HankChief proposed a "Soderberg number" to be defined as the number of days travelled by bike / number of days travelling by motorised means.<br /> Soderberg being the name of the cafe formerly known as Peter's Yard.</p> <p>He included a link to <a href="http://annacycles.co.uk/lifestyle/my-car-free-year/">this blog</a> which is by a person who didn't allow themselves to travel by car <em>at all</em> (neither as driver nor passenger) for a year. </p> <p>Now while I keep wondering if I cycle further then I personally <em>drive</em> a car during the average year, I've never done the stats to find out, and I'm certain that I travel further by car than I do by bike (my hillwalking habit sees to that).*</p> <p>I've a friend who is trying to never buy stuff that has plastic packaging. She was struggling to buy cheese IIRC... I wonder how she does for shampoo? </p> <p>*Yes, there are hills that can be done by public transport, and I've done some like that. But one of the things about being a member of a mountaineering club is the car sharing; if I stopped doing that I wouldn't really be a participating member of the club any more, and I haven't got to that point yet. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21856#post-382573 Sun, 28 Dec 2025 23:01:13 +0000 chdot 382573@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/dec/28/soak-it-up-everything-science-taught-us-about-health-and-wellness-in-2025" rel="nofollow">https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/dec/28/soak-it-up-everything-science-taught-us-about-health-and-wellness-in-2025</a></p> <p>They <em>probably</em> don’t mean cycling… </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21854#post-382542 Mon, 22 Dec 2025 09:16:40 +0000 chdot 382542@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>Emulating the bike-friendly highways enjoyed by our continental neighbours will take a lot more money and political will </p> <p>…</p> <p>It is, however, not a picture of unqualified gloom. London is experiencing a sustained cycling boom, now at nearly 1.5m trips a day, 43% higher than 2019. A handful of other places have seen increases in bike use, albeit less spectacularly.</p> <p>…</p> <p>He adds: “Existential is this rather ghastly word, but it’s true: unless we can do what Europe does, what is going to happen to the UK cycle market is it’s going to be a leisure market, like golf or tennis or badminton or anything else.”</p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2025/dec/21/cycling-changing-at-speed-britain-keeping-pace" rel="nofollow">https://www.theguardian.com/news/2025/dec/21/cycling-changing-at-speed-britain-keeping-pace</a></p> <p><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54998475445_8bfa95cf02_z.jpg"> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20470#post-344489 Wed, 20 Jan 2021 16:21:15 +0000 neddie 344489@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>A thread to put all your favourite (anti) car quotes...</p> <p>I'll start:</p> <p><blockquote>The automobile has dissolved the living tissue of the city. Its appetite for space is absolutely insatiable; moving &amp; parked, it devours urban land, leaving buildings as mere islands of habitable space in a sea of dangerous &amp; ugly traffic.</blockquote></p> <p>- James Marston Fitch, NYTimes, 1960. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19429#post-300569 Fri, 01 Feb 2019 21:13:17 +0000 chdot 300569@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>Reducing roads and property maintenance</p> <p>“</p> <p>(And a lot more.)</p> <p><a href="https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/raft-of-midlothian-services-set-to-be-decimated-in-bid-to-close-funding-gap-1-4866428" rel="nofollow">https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/raft-of-midlothian-services-set-to-be-decimated-in-bid-to-close-funding-gap-1-4866428</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=20604#post-351302 Fri, 04 Jun 2021 11:51:08 +0000 chdot 351302@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Discuss</p> <p><a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/15_minute_city" rel="nofollow">https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/15_minute_city</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.eugene-or.gov/1216/What-is-a-20-Minute-Neighborhood" rel="nofollow">https://www.eugene-or.gov/1216/What-is-a-20-Minute-Neighborhood</a></p> <p>Apparently one person (perhaps more??) in Transport Scotland is interested in the idea. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1521#post-14532 Tue, 12 Oct 2010 13:59:55 +0000 chdot 14532@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>An associate of mine who has cycled in Edinburgh for the last five years, wanted a change of scene. </p> <p>"Glasgow cycling is interesting, you're happily cycling down a town street like Lothian Road, when without notice it turns into a dual carriageway with your lane feeding into a motorway, so suddenly everything is at 60, you're going up hill and have to change two lanes.... hmm. </p> <p>Nice path along the river into town from me (I'm in Partick)." </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21829#post-381584 Tue, 14 Oct 2025 15:40:00 +0000 chdot 381584@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter/2025/oct/14/how-to-make-bike-last-longer" rel="nofollow">https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter/2025/oct/14/how-to-make-bike-last-longer</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21819#post-381321 Fri, 26 Sep 2025 14:49:10 +0000 neddie 381321@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Good article from the Irish Examiner:</p> <p><blockquote>Road policing experts, road safety professionals, and the National Union of Journalists’ (NUJ) ethics council ... call for language that recognises human agency, avoids speculation, and refrains from calling collisions “accidents” unless they are demonstrably unavoidable. They remind journalists not to present vehicles as if they act independently, but to identify drivers where appropriate.</blockquote></p> <p>...</p> <p><blockquote>At present, our reporting habits risk obscuring the truth. When a headline declares that a cyclist “was in collision with a truck”, it subtly suggests the cyclist was the instigator — while the person driving the truck disappears from view. Readers are left with a story in which tragedy simply happens, as if by chance — rather than one in which human decisions and behaviours can be examined. Was the driver speeding? Were they distracted? Did they fail to yield? Such questions are much harder to ask when the driver is written out of the account.</p> <p>This matters because language influences how we think about prevention. If crashes are reported as random, inevitable events, then all that remains is condolences. </p> <p>But if they are reported as the outcome of choices — by drivers, by engineers who design unsafe junctions, and by policymakers who fail to reduce speed limits — then accountability becomes possible. Prevention becomes possible too.</blockquote></p> <p><a href="https://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/commentanalysis/arid-41712236.html" rel="nofollow">https://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/commentanalysis/arid-41712236.html</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21816#post-381215 Wed, 17 Sep 2025 17:56:39 +0000 chdot 381215@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>I carried on cycling as a form of exercise (even taking up triathlons during my maternity leave to prove I was more than just “mummy”), but always left my son at home during these me-times. One day, a friend, who had been a keen long-distance cyclist before we met at post-natal class, excitedly turned up at my house with her daughter in their brand-new rear bike seat. That moment changed my life forever. Chris and I immediately bought a similar seat, which allowed us to cycle all our local journeys and get out for two-wheeled adventures as a family at weekends. </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://bikebiz.com/bikebiz-industry-insights-a-conversation-with-karen-gee-from-cycle-sprog/amp/" rel="nofollow">https://bikebiz.com/bikebiz-industry-insights-a-conversation-with-karen-gee-from-cycle-sprog/amp/</a> </p>