Blackford Safe Routes

In a word, yes - they are tinkering at the edges of a profoundly broken system.

50 years! 🤣 We’ll need boats by then 😪

Do you think that SRZs are scalable? Will it create areas of “haves and have-nots”? Will drivers ignore the give way rule, more than they do today, if an SRZ is not present?

Do you think that side-road zebras - which will hardly inconvenience motorists at all - could be a distraction from reducing danger at source?

Namely: low-traffic neighbourhoods & pedestrianisation

Joking aside, the year is 1996 and the newly formed City of Edinburgh Council and its arms-length development corporation - EDI - are unveiling a masterplan for Princes Street. The year is 2026, EDI may be long gone but the council is still unveiling masterplans for Princes Street 🤷‍♂️

And pedestrianisation!

Controversial take:

Side-road zebras are a distraction from implementing low-traffic neighbourhoods & measures to reduce traffic - measures that would reduce danger at source

Toronto’s snow mountains: towering peaks that refuse to melt and leave a toxic trail Reaching up to 100ft, these massive piles contain tonnes of salt that keep roads clear but pose environmental and health risks

No tech “solution” available …

www.theguardian.com/world/2026/m...

Ultrasound repellers could keep hedgehogs off roads, scientists hope Study shows animals hear very high frequencies, making it possible to design a deterrent to cut deaths

Tech/automotive industry - always looking for ways to “solve” the problems they created in the first place

It’s tech-solution on top of tech-solution, all the way to the bottom 😪

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Cheaper commuting: the best ways to save on the costs of your travel to work From railcards to route tweaks, here’s how to stop your daily train or car journey breaking the bank

Sigh. Cycling isn t even mentioned.
Which can be a huge money saver, as well as getting you healthier. When I switched from car to bike i was saving almost £200 a month, and it wasnt much slower cos not stuck in traffic.
Bizarre.
www.theguardian.com/money/2026/m...

Our neighbor Stef was inspired to hand paint two signs in support of safe streets on the southwest side.

She’s hopeful that the Archer/Kedzie project will make her community of Brighton Park safer and more welcoming for everybody: people walking, biking, taking public transportation, and driving.

Keen to hear more. Has someone written about it?

ChiWhoBike #18 | Chicagoans Who Bike “Last summer my granddaughters were in town (they’re ten and eight) so my daughter and her husband put them on the back of their e-bikes, I took my e-bike, and...”

Send them some stories from @chiwho.bike, there's lots of great interviews with ebikers! One of my favorites is this Grandpa we chatted with who inherited his daughter's old ebike

chiwho.bike/interviews/18

Pavement repairs to begin on Leith Walk as locals still deal with tram line fallout The City of Edinburgh Council will begin pavement repairs on Leith Walk in March, tackling loose paving and improving accessibility after tram…

Spoke to the Herald about the critical importance of pedestrian accessibility & safety down Leith Walk - grateful to the Council team for initiating repairs & end of March after good dialogue www.heraldscotland.com/news/2592120...

“Because cycling enabled me to connect to the disability community, my understanding of transportation needs is broader, and I use this knowledge to be a better advocate for transportation infrastructure that better meets everyone’s needs.” Via @bikehfxlobby.bsky.social

"Dark PR" by Grant Ennis I'm not going to beat about the bush. This book is about evil.

“I’m not going to beat around the bush. This book is about evil.”

“It’s about the mundane, humdrum, self-assured, self-justifying, pocket-lining, smug & arrogant lies & disinformation that communications ‘professionals’ spread daily.”

Read #DarkPR by our own @grantennis.bsky.social. #UrbanTruth

“…countries and cities still have the nerve to claim wider roads and highways will improve congestion (they won’t, they’ll induce more driving/traffic) and reduce emissions/pollution (they’ll do the opposite – we’ll have more cars in the same or worse congestion emitting a lot more).”

#UrbanTruth

Yellow cargo bike with big yellow bucket in back in front of Shell gasoline sign showing gas prices fo 3.48 - 4.49.

Beat rising gas prices with this one weird trick.

cover page of new Spokes Favourite Bike Rides booklet, with photos of some of the rides inside

A taster page from the booklet - favourite ride from Balerno to Fountainbridge, with photos of the entrant, the colinton tunnel, and a map 3 A Beeline to the City 11 km, 7 miles 40–60 minutes E This is a straightforward route, suitable for cyclists of all abilities. The surfaces are good, navigation is simple, there is no traffic to worry about and the going is almost completely level. It’s worth lingering in the Colinton Tunnel to view the impressive murals. Start: Balerno End: Fountainbridge From Bridge Road, take the signposted Water of Leith path (NCN 75), which starts near Balerno High School. Follow the path for about 7 km as it meanders alongside the river. You will pass Spylaw Park (on your right), then go under the City Bypass and through the Colinton Tunnel. The path eventually leaves the Water of Leith, crossing the Lanark Road by a footbridge before dropping down to the Union Canal towpath. With the canal on your right, take the towpath (still NCN 75) for a further 4 km to its terminus at Fountainbridge. (Care is needed when crossing the Slateford Aqueduct. Cyclists are very strongly advised to dismount on this narrow section of path; those with a poor head for heights may prefer to avoid it completely.) Gregor Steele Gregor came back to cycling after he retired. He enjoys leisurely rides in the country, which he says fit in with his other hobbies: photography and local history. He is also a writer and poet, and does a lot of his composing while riding. Why this is my favourite ride: This is a journey to be enjoyed at a leisurely pace. There is beauty to be found all along the route, but for me the highlight is the Colinton Tunnel, with its famous murals. I have passed through it many times, but always find something new.

How to get your copy... Getting your copy All Spokes members will be sent a free copy, as a thank-you for being a member. This will be sent out in mid or late April with our annual paper-based mailing. If you’re not a member, join Spokes by the end of March and you will be included! The Edinburgh Bike Coop and the Water of Leith Visitor Centre sell edition 2 and are being approached about edition 3. Order direct from Spokes, post free. Email office@spokes.org.uk. We will send you details to make a BACS payment. Prices.. Edition 2 (12 pages) – £2 Edition 3 (16 pages) – £3 Edition 2 and Edition 3 – £4 If you also order one Spokes map, ask for either booklet free If you also order two or more maps, ask for both booklets free Important – if you are a Spokes member, you will still receive a free copy of edition 3 in April even if you buy one now. With around 1000 members it would be too complex for us to do otherwise … your second copy could be a lovely present for a friend, relation or colleague!

🚲🚲 #FavouriteBikeRides #Edinburgh/ #Lothians - out now!

HERE-> www.spokes.org.uk/2026/03/favo...

@edi.bike @edfoc.bsky.social @edinreporter.bsky.social @edinburghminute.com @gavincorbett.bsky.social @laidbackbikes.bsky.social @gregorsteele.bsky.social @edcriticalmass.bsky.social @wolct.bsky.social

Could you show me a country that have successfully implemented a universal free bus service?

The free use of a limited resource will cause problems - the evidence is in the Wikipedia

What would happen if we made loaves of bread free? Would there be any left on the shelves? Any incentive for anyone to make or distribute the bread? Would people hoard it, waste it, feed it to ducks?

Spring has sprung and with the weather improving a cycle commute is becoming a more and more attractive proposition.

So we ask you to post articles and guides for the new cycle commuter. Tips for finding routes. Anything we can share to help someone thinking about starting to actually get started!

If it weren't for Ebikes, we'd be full-time motorists.

we don't use cars a lot in the US just because it's huge and sparse out here

we use cars because auto manufacturers spent a lot of money ensuring that it was the main way to get around; a hundred years ago there were interurbans in eastern Kansas, and it was FAR more sparesely populated than today

Perhaps the proponents (the Greens) could provide the evidence that entirely free buses *won’t* ruin the service?

HINT: it’s too many cars getting in the way of buses and slowing them to a crawl that prevents uptake. Making buses free won’t change that

A la Colinton Rd?

Space for 5+ car lanes but nooo space for active travel. 😬

@edinburghcouncil.bsky.social @stephenjenkinson.bsky.social @cllrconorsavage.bsky.social @drscottarthurmp.bsky.social can we fix this?

Join us Become a supporter! ​ Complete the short form to leave your details  to join with your neighbours who are supporting the low traffic schemes. We'll be in touch to link you with a local group in...

For the latest on Hackney’s LTNs, and what more we need to do to reduce traffic, check out our website and sign up to support Low Traffic Hackney and get monthly email updates

www.lowtraffichackney.org/join-us.html

A poster with information about the Merchiston and Districts Community Council meeting on 17 March at 7-9pm, Merchiston Tennis and bowling club, Polwarth terrace, EH11 1NA

Join us for our next in-person meeting focused on road safety and traffic in our community. Cllrs Stephen Jenkinson and others will be there to hear resident views & discuss the issues.

@stephenjenkinson.bsky.social

17 March 7pm
Merchiston tennis and bowling club, EH11 1NA

All residents welcome!

How an electric bike can protect your money as another oil shock hits Over $100 per barrel and rising, the oil shock of 2026 in its early days could still surpass the levels

How an electric bike can protect your money as another oil shock hits.

The argument for fossil fuels is ending, but so too is the argument for relying on cars for journeys of under five miles.

Here's some numbers to convince:

www.cyclingelectric.com/in-depth/how...

Did not feel safe with our kids on the High St. at all. Kept having to watch for inattentive SUV drivers mounting the kerb as they swerved in to park.

And constantly telling the kids “watch out for this driver / door / reversing car” all while frightening revvy engine noises going off

You're right, cars shouldn't dominate a space like this. I'm also not sure if the local businesses are aware of how unappealing the present situation is.