http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Protest over Cowgate death and councillor inaction en Mon, 18 May 2026 21:59:26 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21659#post-382013 Fri, 14 Nov 2025 10:47:20 +0000 neddie 382013@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Good write-up from Edinburgh Reporter</p> <p><blockquote>Protesters at the City Chambers on Thursday called on the council to improve road safety in the Cowgate.</p> <p>Critical Mass, the cycling campaign group, demand action on safety measures in the Old Town Street remembering a fatal incident there last year.</p> <p>The incident which took place in the Cowgate just over a year ago may not be up for discussion today but campaigners do not want to let the council forget about it. They shouted: “Cowgate, one year on. What have your done?”</blockquote></p> <p><a href="https://theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2025/11/road-safety-in-the-cowgate-must-be-a-priority-say-campaigners/" rel="nofollow">https://theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2025/11/road-safety-in-the-cowgate-must-be-a-priority-say-campaigners/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21659#post-382002 Thu, 13 Nov 2025 18:41:41 +0000 gembo 382002@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Well done to those that braved the weather. The WoL is in spate. I was on the WoL path avoiding the flood on the Lanark Road west </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21659#post-382000 Thu, 13 Nov 2025 15:19:47 +0000 neddie 382000@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>And the Evening News:</p> <p><a href="https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/edinburgh-roads-campaigners-protest-at-failure-to-bring-in-traffic-restrictions-in-cowgate-one-year-after-tragic-accident-5401058" rel="nofollow">https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/edinburgh-roads-campaigners-protest-at-failure-to-bring-in-traffic-restrictions-in-cowgate-one-year-after-tragic-accident-5401058</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21659#post-381998 Thu, 13 Nov 2025 14:58:56 +0000 neddie 381998@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Good write-up from Edinburgh Reporter</p> <p><blockquote>Protesters at the City Chambers on Thursday called on the council to improve road safety in the Cowgate.</p> <p>Critical Mass, the cycling campaign group, demand action on safety measures in the Old Town Street remembering a fatal incident there last year.</p> <p>The incident which took place in the Cowgate just over a year ago may not be up for discussion today but campaigners do not want to let the council forget about it. They shouted: “Cowgate, one year on. What have your done?”</blockquote></p> <p><a href="https://theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2025/11/road-safety-in-the-cowgate-must-be-a-priority-say-campaigners/" rel="nofollow">https://theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2025/11/road-safety-in-the-cowgate-must-be-a-priority-say-campaigners/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21659#post-381995 Thu, 13 Nov 2025 13:17:03 +0000 neddie 381995@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Scenes from this morning's protest:</p> <p><a href="https://flic.kr/p/2rF6uoN"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54920026162_a8c8c56fe1.jpg"></a></p> <p><a href="https://flic.kr/p/2rFcuRn"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54921198375_57da11898d.jpg"></a></p> <p><a href="https://flic.kr/p/2rFc1PP"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54921104093_f370cd7737.jpg"></a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21659#post-381994 Thu, 13 Nov 2025 13:04:04 +0000 chdot 381994@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>One year after a horrific road death in the Cowgate, what have Edinburgh council done?</p> <p>Excellent protest from Critical Mass, on a dreich day! </p> <p>Great to see @stephenjenkinson.bsky.social &amp; @chasbooth.bsky.social speak to protesters </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/blackfordsaferoutes.co.uk/post/3m5j4gl7xgc2q" rel="nofollow">https://bsky.app/profile/blackfordsaferoutes.co.uk/post/3m5j4gl7xgc2q</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21659#post-381987 Thu, 13 Nov 2025 10:24:05 +0000 chdot 381987@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yesterday </p> <p><a href="https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/man-arrested-after-incident-in-edinburghs-cowgate-which-saw-police-close-road-5400053" rel="nofollow">https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/man-arrested-after-incident-in-edinburghs-cowgate-which-saw-police-close-road-5400053</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21659#post-381985 Thu, 13 Nov 2025 00:43:34 +0000 neddie 381985@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>A second protest is happening again tomorrow </p> <p>Thursday 13th 8:30am outside the City Chambers, High St</p> <p>“Cowgate. One year on. What have you done?”</p> <p>Organised by Critical Mass </p> <p><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/edcriticalmass.bsky.social/post/3m5a7fxz3ic2e" rel="nofollow">https://bsky.app/profile/edcriticalmass.bsky.social/post/3m5a7fxz3ic2e</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21659#post-380774 Mon, 25 Aug 2025 11:37:58 +0000 chdot 380774@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>Urgent measures were promised by @Edinburgh_CC last November after Michael Leneghen was killed in a collision with a bus in the Cowgate. But we’ve now been told the traffic curfew will revert to 10.00pm after the festival restrictions expire next week </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://x.com/livingstreetsed/status/1959906001424929274" rel="nofollow">https://x.com/livingstreetsed/status/1959906001424929274</a></p> <p>“</p> <p>The 10.00pm traffic curfew has been in place for about a quarter of a century - the Cowgate has changed a lot since then! We've called for it to be brought forward on a permanent basis. </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://x.com/LivingStreetsEd/status/1959906005627621870" rel="nofollow">https://x.com/LivingStreetsEd/status/1959906005627621870</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21659#post-377952 Thu, 19 Dec 2024 17:47:30 +0000 neddie 377952@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The Council are utterly bogged down in uselessness. (Mostly caused by trying to accommodate cars in the city)</p> <p>List of delays on all the active travel projects:</p> <p><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54214723341_af044893cc_h.jpg"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54214723341_3cea049022.jpg"></a></p> <p><a href="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54214960294_eb4abbe9dd_h.jpg"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54214960294_eb416089d3.jpg"></a></p> <p>Click image to embiggen </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21659#post-377357 Tue, 19 Nov 2024 10:59:31 +0000 neddie 377357@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><blockquote>Edinburgh's Cowgate: Late-night traffic ban set to be extended in wake of horrific fatal accident*</blockquote></p> <p><a href="https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/edinburghs-cowgate-late-night-traffic-ban-set-to-be-extended-in-wake-of-horrific-fatal-accident-4872258" rel="nofollow">https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/edinburghs-cowgate-late-night-traffic-ban-set-to-be-extended-in-wake-of-horrific-fatal-accident-4872258</a></p> <p>Cllr Jenkinson:</p> <p><blockquote>In response to this tragic accident I’m pleased that my committee took the right decision yesterday to support Officers short, medium and long term proposals to improve pedestrian safety in the Cowgate area of the city.</blockquote></p> <p><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/stephenjenkinson.bsky.social/post/3lbbxnexyfk2b" rel="nofollow">https://bsky.app/profile/stephenjenkinson.bsky.social/post/3lbbxnexyfk2b</a></p> <p>*not an accident, but a <em>result</em> of systemic road danger </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21659#post-377356 Tue, 19 Nov 2024 10:40:24 +0000 pringlis 377356@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>[Edit: Ah, MediumDave just pipped me to it]. Yes "Local Bus Only/Except Local Buses" wording is what prohibits coaches.</p> <p><img src="https://c7.alamy.com/comp/2DN7RT9/bus-only-street-in-london-england-united-kingdom-uk-2DN7RT9.jpg"> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21659#post-377355 Tue, 19 Nov 2024 10:38:34 +0000 MediumDave 377355@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The distinction on the bus lane signs is "bus" vs "local bus". The latter is what most of us would understand as a bus whereas the further can encompass coaches, minibuses operated under a section 19 exemption (no PSV licence required) and possibly other things too. </p> <p>I don't know what the various bus gates in Edinburgh do; it possibly varies from location to location </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21659#post-377354 Mon, 18 Nov 2024 22:03:34 +0000 Morningsider 377354@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yes, pretty woolly language used on the Council website. I had always thought that only service buses could use the bus gates, but without seeing the original Orders I can't be sure if that is the case. </p> <p>It is certainly possible to limit bus gates to service buses only. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21659#post-377353 Mon, 18 Nov 2024 19:40:11 +0000 Baldcyclist 377353@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Edinburgh council website simply refers to restrictions on bus lanes/gates as public service vehicles.<br /> Public service vehicles seem to have a loose definition of anything that can carry passengers for reward. So it seems unlikely private hire coaches would be barred, in the same way that private hire cars aren't barred. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21659#post-377346 Mon, 18 Nov 2024 15:55:29 +0000 neddie 377346@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>There are no Lothian bus routes along the Cowgate.</p> <p>The 'bus' involved in the incident was a private coach and most likely would not have been allowed to travel through any proposed bus gate.</p> <p>In any case, the outcome would likely have been pretty terrible, even if the vehicle was a car, or lorry, or whatever.</p> <p>The underlying protest theme is more general - 9 people have been killed on Scotland's roads in November alone - and 6 of them were pedestrians. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21659#post-377345 Mon, 18 Nov 2024 15:52:30 +0000 Morningsider 377345@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@Baldcyclist - no scheduled local bus services run along the Cowgate, not even the open top tour buses. Most probably a coach involved in this incident - which would be banned from passing through a bus gate. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21659#post-377343 Mon, 18 Nov 2024 14:55:24 +0000 Baldcyclist 377343@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Wasn't the recent tragidy due to a bus incident? Not that I'm against bus gates, but it seems a bus gate being in place would have made no difference to the individual involved, nor made the driver more aware they had just killed someone as they contimued driving down the road. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21659#post-377341 Mon, 18 Nov 2024 14:34:21 +0000 neddie 377341@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Edinburgh Reporter:</p> <p>Video and statement from an Edinburgh Critical Mass member</p> <p><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/edinreporter.bsky.social/post/3lb7rvvback2x" rel="nofollow">https://bsky.app/profile/edinreporter.bsky.social/post/3lb7rvvback2x</a></p> <p>The @edinburghcouncil.bsky.social Transport and Environment Committee meeting takes place today. Ahead of the meeting there was a quiet but forceful protest by @edcriticalmass.bsky.social </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21659#post-377334 Sun, 17 Nov 2024 16:51:12 +0000 neddie 377334@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Dear Cllr,<br /> I support/ride with Edinburgh Critical Mass and join them in calling for Transport and Environment Committee (TEC) councillors to dial down the rhetoric, support the facts and make Edinburgh safer.<br /> The evidence on bus gates, modal filters and low-traffic neighbourhoods is that they reduce the risk of death and injury by 50%. These measures are also proven to reduce traffic volumes and miles travelled by car, a key priority for Edinburgh Council to achieve by 2030. Indeed the council’s own Our Future Streets and City Mobility plans include these road safety measures into their designs. So why are Transport and Environment Committee councillors not supporting the facts and delaying progress on safe streets?<br /> This is not a bike versus cars debate. This is about designing Edinburgh’s roads in the best interests of the city’s residents. Re-balancing Edinburgh’s transport system towards safer streets offers immense benefits and opportunities for a healthier, fairer, greener and safer city. Prioritising the flow of cars and enabling increasing traffic volumes and vehicle size can claim none of these benefits. Instead, by focusing on traffic flow, we are seeing a more polluted, noisy, unwelcoming and dangerous city for residents that is unfit for the 21st century.<br /> Moreover, common complaints used against bus gates and traffic filters are that it marginally increases the length of car journeys. However, these arguments do not consider that pedestrians and cyclists regularly take a longer route, in order to be safer and avoid exhaust fumes. Why is this acceptable for pedestrians and cyclists, but framed as a valid concern for car drivers by TEC councillors?<br /> I/We have also seen rhetoric that bus gates and traffic filters are controversial, but saving lives is not controversial and these changes in road design save lives. Rather than repeat the sensational wording in the media, I/we ask that councillors show strong leadership and refrain from using divisive language to delay progress.<br /> The recent tragedy in the Cowgate should serve to remind councillors of the consequences to delaying necessary road safety measures. Campaigners have been calling for improvements to the Cowgate for many years, out of fears for people’s safety. Those fears were realized on 2nd November, in one of the most horrific traffic collisions. Let there be no more families left grieving a loved one.<br /> I/we would like to see cross party support for the safety of Edinburgh’s residents, regardless of whether they walk, cycle, take the bus or drive. Therefore I/we are asking for your support and the support of your colleagues on the Transport and Environment Committee to support the implementation of bus gates and traffic filters across Edinburgh.<br /> Yours sincerely,</p> <p>Name<br /> Address<br /> Postcode </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21659#post-377333 Sun, 17 Nov 2024 16:50:21 +0000 neddie 377333@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“Saving Lives is Not Controversial” Campaign email<br /> Template email for Councillors. This template can be used to write to your ward councillors in support of the Edinburgh Critical Mass protest on 18th November 2024 and to ask councillors to stop delaying progress on safe streets. If you don’t know who your councillors are, you can find out through the website: <a href="http://www.writetothem.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.writetothem.com</a><br /> Remember to include your full name, address and postcode at the bottom of your email, as proof that you are resident in the ward. You may also wish to copy in Transport Convenor, Cllr Stephen Jenkinson. <a href="mailto:Cllr.Stephen.Jenkinson@edinburgh.gov.uk">Cllr.Stephen.Jenkinson@edinburgh.gov.uk</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21659#post-377332 Sun, 17 Nov 2024 16:47:26 +0000 neddie 377332@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>SAVING LIVES IS NOT CONTROVERSIAL CAMPAIGN </p> <p>In support of the protest tomorrow at 8:30am outside City Chambers on the High Street, we’ve created a template email to send to your ward councillors. Even if you can’t join the protest tomorrow, you can support the message by sending this email ahead of the Transport and Environment Committee meeting to show that making Edinburgh safer is important to residents. </p> <p>Simply copy, paste, add your details and send! &lt;muscles emoji&gt; </p> <p>Share this message with friends and family who support safer streets. Thank you! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21659#post-377331 Sun, 17 Nov 2024 16:36:05 +0000 neddie 377331@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Happening tomorrow. Hope to see some of you there </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21659#post-377327 Sat, 16 Nov 2024 14:36:26 +0000 neddie 377327@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>More details on the Book of…</p> <p><a href="https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=985617820272207&amp;id=100064719934884" rel="nofollow">https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=985617820272207&amp;id=100064719934884</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21659#post-377326 Sat, 16 Nov 2024 14:22:20 +0000 neddie 377326@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yes, Transport Committee is Monday. Think that's the idea... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21659#post-377324 Sat, 16 Nov 2024 14:10:34 +0000 gembo 377324@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Alas waiting in for gas engineer sorry or would be there. Is it Transport Cttee on Monday? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=21659#post-377322 Sat, 16 Nov 2024 14:04:26 +0000 neddie 377322@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>From Critical Mass:</p> <p><blockquote>The proposed bus gate would have avoided another death - but it was delayed. Saving lives is not controversial, and people are fed up with culture wars!<br /> Join us to take our call for safer streets to the council. Meet at 8.30am this Monday (18 November) at the City Chambers.</blockquote></p> <p>Would be good to see loads there...</p> <p><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54143924555_25378564ca.jpg"></p> <p><a href="https://x.com/EdCriticalMass/status/1857465023204823480" rel="nofollow">https://x.com/EdCriticalMass/status/1857465023204823480</a> </p>