http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Forum: Infrastructure - Recent Posts en Tue, 14 Jul 2026 05:37:01 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21984#post-385069 Mon, 13 Jul 2026 22:40:18 +0000 Morningsider 385069@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Recently back from summer holidays in northern France, visiting (and cycling in) Paris, Rennes, and St Malo.</p> <p>I am sure most of you will have heard about the near miraculous work on cycle infrastructure and growth of cycling in Paris in recent years. Well, there are lots of cyclists and quite a bit of infrastructure, but cycling in central Paris is the closest I have ever come to playing real life Frogger. Certainly not for the faint of heart, or any cyclist minded to stop at a red light. </p> <p>Rennes was a real delight - half the size of Edinburgh, a two line underground! Lots of cycle infrastructure, a largely pedestrianised city centre, public e-bike hire, high frequency buses and an amazing rail/bus/cycle station in the centre of town. Also, seems to be home to almost every remaining 1980s Peugeot road bike still in existance. </p> <p>St Malo also had what appeared to be a rapidly expanding network of cycle lanes, plus a public e-bike hire scheme.</p> <p>What really impressed me about all three places is their attitude to rolling out infrastructure. It clearly happens at pace and at scale, generally using low cost approaches. "We" would probably consider some of it a bit rubbish - much shared use, sometimes a bit narrow, route finding sometimes a bit tricky. However, it is there, there is a network, and there seems to be an attitude of live and let live amongst users. No obvious "concerns" about using bus stop bypasses, or sticking to rigid (and gold plated) design standards. </p> <p>In all three places the facilities were years ahead of Edinburgh. If anything, Rennes should be the template for what Edinburgh could achieve rather than Paris - the scale of pedestrianisation (bikes largely allowed too) is quite something. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21982#post-385065 Mon, 13 Jul 2026 19:03:52 +0000 Yodhrin 385065@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hah. Yup. Thought so.</p> <p>AT team: please use the existing reporting forms and put in everying manually. Sure guys will do, I look forward to everything being deemed "low priority" and not fixed thanks.</p> <p>Councillors: *crickets* </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21978#post-385064 Mon, 13 Jul 2026 17:19:15 +0000 davey2wheels 385064@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@gembo podcast/YouTube <em>For the Love of Cycling</em> with presenters Ned Boulting, David Millar and others covering the stages also excellent. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15762&page=28#post-385061 Mon, 13 Jul 2026 11:18:57 +0000 bakky 385061@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Any ideas on the extent? As much as this?</p> <p><a href="https://freeimage.host/i/CE7GtMG"><img src="https://iili.io/CE7GtMG.md.png"></a></p> <p>Ironically consultant Jacobs (who designed Dundee St / Fountainbridge scheme) have their offices in this building! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15762&page=28#post-385060 Mon, 13 Jul 2026 11:04:21 +0000 chdot 385060@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>CPO of land to enable upgrade of ramp from crossing on Western Approach Road to Fountainbridge </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/file/40131/active-travel-improvements-programme-summary-dates" rel="nofollow">https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/file/40131/active-travel-improvements-programme-summary-dates</a></p> <p>2029 </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19103&page=23#post-385058 Mon, 13 Jul 2026 09:47:54 +0000 ejstubbs 385058@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jul/10/swift-nest-reportedly-thrown-in-skip-during-house-renovations-in-south-tyneside">Swift nest reportedly thrown in skip during house renovations in South Tyneside</a></p> <p>That's an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (it's actually Schedule 1 of Part 1 of the <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1981/69/contents">act</a>, shades of Alice in Wonderland*). And the company concerned has form for that kind of thing.</p> <p><blockquote>A single swiftlet that was found in a badly damaged nest was taken in by Laura Crompton, of Pawz for Thought, a local wildlife rescue centre. Though dehydrated and in a poor condition when found, it is said to be stabilising.</p> <p>Nest debris was also seen in a skip used by the contractors, which was removed from the site before NSG [Northern Swifts Group] representatives could make further checks, and the damaged nest was found where many birds had been reported. South Tyneside council is investigating the incident.</p> <p>...</p> <p>Sue Hope, of the NSG, told the Guardian it was unlikely that only one nest had been destroyed, as swifts tended to nest in colonies. Nests also tended to contain two or three swiftlets. She said that on her visit to the site on Wednesday afternoon, she saw at least 10 swifts circling above.</blockquote></p> <p><em>* “It’s the oldest rule in the book,” said the King. “Then it should be Number One,” said Alice.</em> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21978#post-385053 Mon, 13 Jul 2026 08:32:08 +0000 gembo 385053@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Apart from the inevitable Pog On Drugs it has been a cracking start to le Tour</p> <p>Mads Petersen has been good value. MERLIER could be Merrier but has come good, big MvdP been cut free from giving Jasper Disaster too good a lead out. Uno X doing well.</p> <p>Olaf Kooij looks good</p> <p>Girmay thereabouts.</p> <p>Isaac Del Toro waiting in the wings.</p> <p>Jonas tholes on.</p> <p>Maybe Thomas Traens not strong on descending? and Di2 failed Piddy. Drama</p> <p>The presenters on Channel 5 are coked up ebullient which I sort of dig. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=14986&page=11#post-385051 Sun, 12 Jul 2026 19:32:21 +0000 chdot 385051@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>Unfortunately, over the past decade, Edinburgh's greenspaces have faced increasing pressures from the acceleration of urban developments, tourism and population numbers, and climate change events. These factors, together with declining budgets and resources, threaten our ability to maintain greenspaces to a high standard and we have already seen a marked decline in some of our greenspace infrastructure, such as park buildings, paths and walls, as well as increased maintenance issues such as Littering, erosion and anti-social behaviour. There is a real risk that our greenspaces will continue to decline and deteriorate in quality, which will impact on the citizens of Edinburgh and its visitors.</p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://www.thrivinggreenspaces.scot/downloads/file/32/april-2025-edinburgh-thriving-greenspaces-vision-and-strategy-2050-pdf-2-" rel="nofollow">https://www.thrivinggreenspaces.scot/downloads/file/32/april-2025-edinburgh-thriving-greenspaces-vision-and-strategy-2050-pdf-2-</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21841#post-385050 Sun, 12 Jul 2026 18:06:39 +0000 wingpig 385050@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Does that bollard come out and to the wee vans which empty bins ever go across it? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21841#post-385048 Sun, 12 Jul 2026 16:08:46 +0000 bakky 385048@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'd say it's notable the barrier is still there (right of photo). If this was officially open again, they'd have removed the barrier from site? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=14986&page=11#post-385042 Sat, 11 Jul 2026 08:55:35 +0000 gembo 385042@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@chdot, this does resonate. After close to forty years of Stravaigin around Edinburgh’s byways even on Thursday afternoon I found a path out of Harrison Park I don’t think i knew about.</p> <p>It was a very short path. Due to the bridge work ongoing in the Harrison Park area </p> <p>I do not think it was the path that goes on from Dundee street for some distance in woods you don’t really realise are there and ends at the railway lines.</p> <p>Rather upon exiting the North East corner of Harrison Park I spotted a path and a woman walking a wee dug. It was not promising as despite being a nice woodland path it stopped about fifty metres into the woods. But lo a gate into the new housing was deliberately open to allow access and I wended my way through to the colonies and out at the Brewery as was. </p> <p>For anyone who has bothered to read this far this was because I had gone to the other Woods for my Glasgow Fair haircut. this Woods (barbers on Drummond Street sonce 1890) was stowed out the door. So I did not tarry. Instead I stravaiged on my bike in a semi conscious manner waiting to see which. Barber shop would fall out of the sky in south west Edinburgh. Low at Harrison Park I recalled that Sweary Jim ended his days at 246 Dalry Road. Mondays only. When the barbers of this shop called prosaically 246 we’re having a day off. Sweary Jim used to let me take my bike in but as the shop had three chairs on the go and was busy I chained the bike to a big bin. I entered and received a spectacularly good haircut off young Finlay. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=14986&page=11#post-385041 Sat, 11 Jul 2026 08:25:32 +0000 chdot 385041@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“<br /> The places I am most drawn to are dense networks: the North Edinburgh Path Network, riverside shortcuts, burns, and hidden glens. The Burdiehouse Burn Walkway, which takes you through picturesque Ellen’s Glen, is a particularly underappreciated route. The gentle Figgate Burn from Duddingston towards Portobello is another. These are well-used paths that rarely make guidebooks but are rich in atmosphere and easy to reach. The routes often connect in unexpected ways, creating journeys that feel like private discoveries even when walked by locals every day. Finding something that has always been there but largely overlooked brings a particular kind of satisfaction.</p> <p>These paths are one of Edinburgh’s great assets. They preserve fragments of the city’s industrial past while offering quiet, useful routes for everyday life; a generous gift from the past to the present. They make the city layered and surprising: even when popular spots are crowded, something peaceful is usually only a short walk away. A different Edinburgh sits just off the main routes. To walk these paths is not to turn your back on the city, but to know its other faces. And I will keep walking them because, after a lifetime on this ground, Herzog’s promise holds…</p> <p>Keep your eyes open, and the world keeps showing itself.</p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://www.theleithermagazine.com/leither/175/charlie" rel="nofollow">https://www.theleithermagazine.com/leither/175/charlie</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=8671&page=16#post-385039 Fri, 10 Jul 2026 17:40:55 +0000 chdot 385039@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/north-berwick-parking-wardens-issue-167-fines-in-first-two-weeks-since-parking-charges-introduced-8790528" rel="nofollow">https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/north-berwick-parking-wardens-issue-167-fines-in-first-two-weeks-since-parking-charges-introduced-8790528</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=14986&page=11#post-385037 Fri, 10 Jul 2026 15:53:50 +0000 chdot 385037@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>They were FOIed a couple of years ago by (not known)</p> <p>Several years of emails released</p> <p>A sad tale with little light</p> <p>The NR response is ‘fresh’ and <em>finally</em> indicates they want rid of the lot</p> <p>Logically obvious but they have previously said ‘but DB Cargo have a lease into next century’ - really! and (paraphrase) ‘it’s up to CEC’</p> <p>At this point FOI to CEC would be performative (and tie up more officer time)</p> <p>Things are moving, another FOI shouldn’t be necessary </p> <p>Nothing is certain, timescales unpredictable </p> <p>2027 is 50 years of Spokes </p> <p><a href="http://Powderhall.Link">Powderhall.Link</a> progress will also be worth celebrating -</p> <p>Write to your MSPs and Cllrs </p> <p>As Richard Rogers wrote 30 years ago -</p> <p>“<br /> Our transport and environmental engineers Ove Arup and Partners calculated that our broader mix of activities and greater emphasis on public transport could reduce the need for car journeys and thus roads by as much as 60 per cent. The balance between single-use road space and multi-use public space could be altered in favour of the latter. We vastly expanded the network of pedestrian-biased streets, cycle paths, market places and avenues, and made room for a substantial park. This network of public spaces sought to enable the 'open-minded cultural activities of the city. It was carefully interwoven with the public transport system to make a single, interconnected web of public space and movement that started at the citizen's front door and led ultimately, via car parks, buses and trams, to stations and airports. A flexible hierarchy of different modes of transport, ranging from safe sidewalks to high-speed trains and planes, afforded seamless mobility for all citizens.</p> <p>…</p> <p>Most of our public parks, squares and avenues are bequeathed to us from previous centuries. In this modern age of democracy one would expect many more important additions to the public realm, but in fact our contribution appears to be the erosion of these spaces by traffic and personal greed. The public realm is being restricted by the overbearing presence of security, the imposition of entrance fees to cultural institutions, the decline of public amenities and the dominance of the car, which reduces public spaces to narrow pavements. And buildings are being designed as if they were standalone objects, rather than elements that enclose and shape the public realm.</p> <p>“</p> <p>From Cities for a small planet </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21841#post-385036 Fri, 10 Jul 2026 15:33:52 +0000 chdot 385036@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“reinspected after actual repair”</p> <p>Well suggestion was ’serious structural issues’ so assume not… </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=14986&page=11#post-385035 Fri, 10 Jul 2026 15:23:45 +0000 gembo 385035@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>did Andy Kap bother FOI ing the council?</p> <p>So far Netwrk Rail sound happy to sell </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=14986&page=11#post-385034 Fri, 10 Jul 2026 15:03:59 +0000 boothym 385034@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>If Network Rail removed the fence and rails tomorrow, what would be the response of DB Cargo? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21841#post-385033 Fri, 10 Jul 2026 15:02:58 +0000 gembo 385033@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Reinspected and things settled or reinspected after actual repair</p> <p>The bridge on the WoL path at the one hole golf course is closed. But this closure is ignored </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21841#post-385032 Fri, 10 Jul 2026 14:52:06 +0000 chdot 385032@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55384791776_64f300258c_z.jpg"></p> <p>(Yesterday)</p> <p>So</p> <p>Reinspected and declared safe?</p> <p>Didn’t mention before, but when the last Critical Mass went to St. Mark’s Park, there was a guy hanging about who said he was the engineer who had inspected the bridge and said it was unsafe and STRONGLY said that 100 bikes weren’t ‘allowed’ to cross the bridge </p> <p>CM organisers had already decided to alter route out of Park </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=14986&page=11#post-385022 Thu, 09 Jul 2026 07:47:44 +0000 chdot 385022@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Some comments -</p> <p>“</p> <p>A spokesperson for Edinburgh cycling campaign edi.bike said, </p> <p>“We’ve heard from the Transport Convener that we’re in the ‘delivery phase’ of Edinburgh’s transport transformation - but according to the 2025 Walking and Cycling Index, the city managed to deliver just one mile of off-road and two miles of protected on-road cycleway in the two years prior. The Powderhall Link represents not only an opportunity to extend the long-established North Edinburgh Path Network and provide a safe and convenient east-west walking and cycling route, but to do so in an uncontested and near ready-made space. It’s the very definition of an ‘easy win’ once the land is handed over, and it’s astonishing that it’s been ten years since any rail traffic on the line and it’s still at the negotiating table.”<br /> …</p> <p>“</p> <p>Powderhall.Link campaigner and local historian Andy Arthur said </p> <p>“I’m just disappointed how little progress has been made in the last decade. </p> <p>“I sat in meetings in the Council’s HQ 10 years ago talking about getting the Link between The North Edinburgh Path Network and Lochend Park opened up for public use.”</p> <p>“</p> <p>…</p> <p>Get It On</p> <p>“</p> <p>Marc Bolan </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=14986&page=11#post-385021 Thu, 09 Jul 2026 07:35:49 +0000 gembo 385021@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>What are CEC saying then? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=14986&page=11#post-385020 Thu, 09 Jul 2026 07:19:30 +0000 chdot 385020@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>Today Network Rail has responded to a Freedom of Information enquiry by Andy of the Powderhall.Link campaign</p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://powderhall.link/2026/07/08/nr-confirms-all-p-l-for-sale/" rel="nofollow">https://powderhall.link/2026/07/08/nr-confirms-all-p-l-for-sale/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21673&page=4#post-385018 Wed, 08 Jul 2026 21:22:30 +0000 gembo 385018@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Word from the cafe is that Scottish Water think they will have a solution for the bridge in August. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21673&page=4#post-385017 Wed, 08 Jul 2026 21:11:50 +0000 DdF 385017@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The Clubbiedean Big Puddle is no more...</p> <p><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/spokes.org.uk/post/3mq5wfmjxtk2j">https://bsky.app/profile/spokes.org.uk/post/3mq5wfmjxtk2j</a></p> <p>with thanks to Gembo &amp; John Robson for photos </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17102&page=22#post-385015 Wed, 08 Jul 2026 14:23:12 +0000 neddie 385015@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Last chance to respond to the Craigmillar Niddrie Connections consultation. Maybe it will get built by around 2038. Plan for the future an' aw that.</p> <p><strong>Closes today 8th July 2026</strong></p> <p><a href="https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/craigmillar-niddrie-connections/" rel="nofollow">https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/craigmillar-niddrie-connections/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21982#post-385013 Wed, 08 Jul 2026 00:07:34 +0000 Tulyar 385013@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Sounds like a radical rebuilding issue here ISTR getting off the cycle path &amp; using the much smoother A8 carriageway pavement here </p> <p>Back in 1994 we had a mechanised vegetation management regime using a boom mounted chain flail on a small tractor operating with minimum of 5 staff &amp; blitzing about ½Km per day after the birds had fledged &amp; seeds/fruit had set (usually July/August)</p> <p>If roots are breaking through its very probably too shallow a road (pavement) base with inappropriate tree types growing close to the path </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21978#post-385010 Tue, 07 Jul 2026 15:53:55 +0000 gembo 385010@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The Welsh have given up broadcasting until stage 18</p> <p>Channel 5 highlights you sort of need to watch live.</p> <p>The race itself - some tactics already </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21982#post-385007 Mon, 06 Jul 2026 21:51:28 +0000 Yodhrin 385007@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Well I won't be writing to Kevin Lang, we've corresponded before over his work on the TRO subcommittee and let's just say we made our feelings for each other clear. Everyone else will get one though. Thanks. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21982#post-385005 Mon, 06 Jul 2026 16:54:42 +0000 bakky 385005@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Try: </p> <p><code><a href="mailto:activetravel@edinburgh.gov.uk">activetravel@edinburgh.gov.uk</a></code><br /> and<br /> <code><a href="mailto:Brendan.Forrester@edinburgh.gov.uk">Brendan.Forrester@edinburgh.gov.uk</a></code></p> <p>As well as ward councillors - one SNP three Lib Dem (oh dear):</p> <p><code><a href="mailto:norman.work@edinburgh.gov.uk">norman.work@edinburgh.gov.uk</a> </code>[SNP]</p> <p><code><a href="mailto:cllr.kevin.lang@edinburgh.gov.uk">cllr.kevin.lang@edinburgh.gov.uk</a></code><br /> <code><a href="mailto:cllr.louise.young@edinburgh.gov.uk">cllr.louise.young@edinburgh.gov.uk</a></code><br /> <code><a href="mailto:Cllr.Lewis.Younie@edinburgh.gov.uk">Cllr.Lewis.Younie@edinburgh.gov.uk</a></code> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21982#post-385004 Mon, 06 Jul 2026 16:08:47 +0000 Yodhrin 385004@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I decided to give it a go. I wrote to the contact email for the Broxburn-to-Maybury project to query the WETIP situation and ask if any of the City Deal funds could be used for remedial issues in the meantime. I'll also write to the council, but does anyone know who to contact? As I don't have an Edinburgh councillor to bother anymore I'm not sure who to ask if the council generally will fix it.</p> <p>I'm not hopeful about the accessibility issue being of much use - sure technically they're supposed to maintain all paths for wheelers, but there's not likely to be any wheeler "through traffic" and nothing on that ~1 mile stretch between Gogarburn and Ingliston that would prompt wheechair users to be on it to access anything, so I expect they could successfully argue it's low priority for that purpose. </p>