@jarlathflynn.bsky.social
...One bike bus at a time, nature and photography. #Takethetrain.
💜 A huge honour, which I’m truly grateful for! Thanks for reading / riding with me — Ben
Cycling Scotland@cyclingscotland.bsky.social · 3w ago🚲🏆 We’re delighted to announce Ben Seven of @edi.bike and @pedalonparliament.org has been named Scotland’s 2026 Cycling Champion of the Year, celebrating his impact as a local and national campaigner for positive change. Congratulations Ben! 🎉 buff.ly/XrKoyOi
#SpokesComp ends Sunday 🙋 We'd love more entries from Non-Members! -> www.spokes.org.uk/2026/07/spok... @edi.bike @chdot.bsky.social @edfoc.bsky.social @bjpaddy.bsky.social @edinreporter.bsky.social @chasbooth.bsky.social @threadinburgh.scot @jarlathflynn.bsky.social @sw20.info @d4cae.bsky.social
![PRIZES FOR THE 2026 COMP
Top prizewinner gets first choice of prizes, and so on till all prizes allocated. Runner-up entries which don’t win a prize will get to choose a free Spokes map or buff
Museum of Scottish Railways (Bo’Ness) Family annual pass to the extensive museum
Bo’Ness & Kinneil Steam Railway Family ticket for one return trip
Ember Bus [takes 2 bikes] £50 bus tickets credit
Edinburgh Bicycle £50 Edinburgh Bicycle voucher
Camera Obscura Family ticket [2 prizes]
Filmhouse – prize of 2 tickets
Laidback Bikes Recumbent tour or cargobike hire
Harts Cyclery One-week ebike hire
Edinburgh Festival of Cycling Urban Arrow Cargo-bike day hire
Lanterne Rouge bike cafe, Gifford £20 voucher
Water of Leith Visitor Centre – £10 cafe voucher
Spokes £1000 voucher* towards cargo-bike purchase
Spokes £200 voucher* towards e-bike purchase
Spokes Set of all 4 Spokes maps
RUNNERS-UP Spokes map or Edinburgh map-buff](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2ood4k4wojq5jku2zl3myqco/bafkreih6ylljtfgostxrx6cocy7jz6jxu76yrew4cotzxauacunn7xrknq)
SpokesLothian@spokes.org.uk · 3w ago🙋 Just 3 days left to win £!000 towards a #CargoBike, £200 towards an #ebike, cafe vouchers or loads of other great prizes.. @edi.bike @chdot.bsky.social @edfoc.bsky.social @srd.bsky.social @johnrobson87.bsky.social @tracygriffen.bsky.social @marklazarowicz.bsky.social @secretedinburgh.bsky.social
🚲 edi.bike | issue 161 | 7th Sep '26 Bike Station fundraising after flash flooding; Spokes push back on unambitious Princes St plans; Byelections deliver two more cycling councillors; Transport Committee agenda review; events, infrastructure, route closures & more: buttondown.com/edi.bike/arc...
Great #bikebus this morning. Look at all those bikes that were cars before the bike bus. Later in #edinburgh I will speak to 20 schools that don't bike bus..YET. #bikebussalesman @coachbalto.bsky.social @stephenjenkinson.bsky.social @edinreporter.bsky.social @walkwheelcyclet.bsky.social
🎂 edi.bike | issue 159 | 24th Aug '26 🚲 Three years of edi.bike; Living Streets Edinburgh calls out half-arsed Cowgate closure; plus events, infrastructure, route closures & more: buttondown.com/edi.bike/arc...
FYI ... @jarlathflynn.bsky.social @blackfordsaferoutes.co.uk @sw20.info @thebikestation.bsky.social @furtherfrom.bsky.social @edcriticalmass.bsky.social @edi.bike @chdot.bsky.social @banzaiedinburgh.bsky.social @keithirving.bsky.social @edfuturesinstitute.bsky.social #bikebus
@parents4futurescot.bsky.social · last mo.2 self-employed roles to support families to set up bike and walking buses Glasgow Coordinator (150 per day) docs.google.com/document/d/1... Edinburgh Manager (£200 per day) docs.google.com/document/d/1... @sccscot.bsky.social @foescot.bsky.social @d4cae.bsky.social @spokes.org.uk
"Ambitious #CleanAir zones a priority" 👍Child #Lung health restored thanks to @mayoroflondon.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/environment/... @edi.bike @chdot.bsky.social @asthmalungscot.bsky.social @sparksstirling.bsky.social @jarlathflynn.bsky.social @sw20.info @stephenjenkinson.bsky.social #LEZ
Ulez led to better lung size and function among London children, study finds
Researchers find capacity stunted by pollution restored after introduction of ultra-low emission zone
theguardian.com
Some of my story, especially rewilding a 73-acre farm on the Beara Peninsula for over 17 years, is told in today's RTÉ Guide. A TV version of the film about that journey, An Irish Atlantic Rainforest, will air on @rteone.rte.ie over two Sundays this month: the 23rd and 30th.
www.theguardian.com/business/202... @edinburghminute.com @edinreporter.bsky.social @bbcnewsunofficial.bsky.social worth sharing with the people?
Octopus Energy urges millions of households to use less electricity during solar eclipse
Firm urges customers to avoid running washing machines and dishwashers between 6pm and 8pm on Wednesday
theguardian.com
Five years ago, young kids could ride themselves through (small) parts of central Edinburgh, until the council got cold feet. This kid will grow up and have their own kids before this street gets back to 2021. Why are other UK cities leaving Edinburgh so far behind?
youtube.com/watch?v=YFsv... get up to speed with the latest on muirburn ( burning of heather and peatland) @naturescot.bsky.social
Getting Ready for Muirburn Licensing Webinar
YouTube video by Scotland's Farm Advisory Service
youtube.com
🚲 edi.bike | issue 157 | 10th Aug '26 City of Edinburgh Council Transport Convener writes to Scottish Gov for Powderhall Link backing; George IV Bridge, signage will fix it; plus events, infrastructure, route closures & more https://buttondown.com/edi.bike/archive/issue-157-10th-aug-26/ #bikeSky
Following a meeting this week, Edinburgh council are increasing their support for bike buses. New school bike buses going forward will require bike bus marshals to be PVG checked by the council. This process will be free of cost but of course it's adds a level of admin for the volunteer.
Finally! I know a few people that can help with this. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... Scotland also? @edinreporter.bsky.social @spokes.org.uk @scottishgreens.org
60% of children should be walking or cycling to school by 2035, ministers say
Thousands of safer paths and crossings are promised to help people become more active in England's towns and cities.
bbc.co.uk
🚲 edi.bike | issue 147 | 1st June '26 Over a thousand people join to Pedal on Parliament; Voi Hire Stakeholder Workshop; Further delays on ‘Meadows to George Street’; plus events, infrastructure, route closures & more: buttondown.com/edi.bike/arc...
Well done to all who organised @pedalonparliament.org in Edinburgh. @spokes.org.uk @edi.bike @scottishgreens.org @snp.org
Hi @scottishgreens.org @snp.org @drscottarthurmp.bsky.social can it be arranged that there are no controlled fires in the Pentlands this year. The smoke and pollution last year was terrible. Not great for human health especially the elderly. Can you stop it?
Oh dear .. The Pentlands are on fire and so are The Crags😭. Just another sunny day in Edinburgh during a climate emergency. @bbcscotlandnewsnot.bsky.social @edinreporter.bsky.social
SRUC’s behaviour and welfare researchers (and their pigs!) feature on ‘The Future with Hannah Fry’ showcasing their pioneering work on AI detection of animal emotion, developed in collaboration with @uwebristolofficial.bsky.social Centre for Machine Vision. Watch here www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
Thread: 🗳️ TRO Sub-committee have made permanent the following measures this afternoon: - ETRO 21/29B Braid Rd - ETRO 21/29C Comiston Rd Three of the six modal filters on the Greenbank to Meadows Quiet Route have also been made permanent (ETRO 21/29D).
We have just had our best ever election result. Now we want to turn Edinburgh City Council Green next year, and we need your help! We need to raise money to run our best-ever city council election campaign. Please donate to our crowdfunder to make our campaign a success!
🚨“Keep our kids safe!” rally 🚨 - Tuesday 12th May outside the City Chambers at 12:30pm to show the strength of community support for road safety measures More details & how you can help: blackfordsaferoutes.co.uk/keep-our-kid...
Keep Our Kids Safe Rally - Blackford Safe Routes
URGENT COMMUNITY ACTION On Tuesday 12th May, the council will make a decision whether to make all, some or none of the Greenbank to Meadows Quiet Route permanent. This route protects children travelli...
blackfordsaferoutes.co.uk
I'm *wildly* excited to announce that my new book, 'Setting the Land Free – Visions of a Rewilded Ireland', will be published by Hachette on 27 August. We have a stark choice re our collapsing nature: the usual timid, token gestures, or real, gutsy ambition. This book makes the case for the latter.
Lovely bit of coverage for our cost findings on cargo bikes vs cars in collaboration with @cleancitiescampaign.org 😍 💫 Thank you @ebiketips.bsky.social 👉
Drivers could save £4,000 during fuel crisis by swapping to a cargo bike, new research suggests | electric bike reviews, buying advice and news - ebiketips
New research published amid the ongoing soaring fuel prices due to the conflict in the Middle East has estimated families could save £4,000 a year by swapping their car for a cargo bike.Campaign…
road.cc
Our latest edition of Perspectives magazine is here 🐮 Packed with fresh insights, expert analysis, and the latest industry trends, read it here: issuu.com/sruc1/docs/s...
#Holyrood2026 #SP26 Our #manifesto analysis --> www.spokes.org.uk/2026/04/holy... We looked at #activetravel, mainly 🚲, and some related transport/environment, but not at 🚌🚆 1 Greens, excellent 2 LibDem, positive in a fairly modest way 3= Labour & SNP, poor 5 Reform, bad 6 Conservative, terrible
![Table comparing AT investment promises in 2021 and 2026 manifestos. Sorry, tables don't come out well in ALT text!
Key to tables below++Very good and/or best+good=mixed, unclear, or less good than other parties-poor (or unrealistic)
- -very disappointing
NNot in manifesto [N is generally disappointing, but depends on the issue, so think!]
Page numbers shown are to pages of each party’s 2026 manifesto
2026 v 2021 comparison of AT Investment manifesto commitments
Sadly and shockingly, in view of the climate crisis, the cost of living crisis, and the need for healthier lifestyles to help the NHS crisis the 2026 manifestos mark a massive deterioration in active travel policies as compared to the 2021 election – or even 2016. Only the Greens, and to a lesser extent the Lib Dems, retain positive approaches.
Whilst this applies to many policies and promises, the astonishing contrast is seen clearly in this comparative table on the top issue, active travel investment
AT Investment
Conservative
Green
Labour
LibDem
Reform
SNP
2021 manifestos
[AT funding then was approx £116m, roughly 3.5% of total transport]
+
10% by 2026
++
£320m immediately [approx 10%] rising further
+
10% [unclear if soon or by 2026]
=
“aim” to double existing
[this would be approx 7%]
N/A
=
10% of “capital” bgt by 2026 [BUT this is less of the total transport bgt]
2026 manifestos
[AT funding is now approx £163m, roughly 3.9% of total transport]
- - p35; p75
cut the AT budget; end ring-fenced cash to councils
++ p26
at least 10%; multi-year funding
N
= p66
“Invest in active travel for the first and last mile”
- - p11
End ring-fenced cash to councils
= p64
£2.5m for bike repair; new fund for outdoor recreation paths](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2ood4k4wojq5jku2zl3myqco/bafkreibjehlqigqutbozlwiaphxrnvj32bcfcl3dbqbntksgl3jay2ptxi)
![Table of party manifesto comparisons (page 1)
2026 manifesto overall comparisons
Note that the manifestos include more transport policies/promises than are shown here, particularly on walk, bus and rail.
We hope this table includes most of the items directly relevant to cycling, as well as some relevant wider transport issues.
Also, note that if something is not in a manifesto, it doesn’t mean it won’t happen, though it is less likely to.
Issue Conservative Green Labour LibDem Reform SNP
AT Investment
[from above table]
- - ++ N = - - =
Extent of cycle/AT
routes/networks
ambition
- - p36
“End the
obsession with
cycle lanes”
Cycle lanes only
ok if not using
road or
pavement space
++ p26
“national blueprint
of walking, cycle
and wheeling
networks“; faster
Council AT project
delivery
N + p66
“Investing in
active travel for
the first and last
mile”
= p23
Rural Scotland:
“support
outdoor
recreation ...
cycling … with
accessible
paths”
= p64
outdoor
recreation
paths fund; no
Roseburn
tram; support
Powderhall AT
path [see note
3 below]
Is AT recognised
and supported as a
public health
measure
- p57
Only considers
leisure centres
& sport
+ p163
“space to walk, run,
play, wheel and
cycle is a right not a
privilege”
N ++ p33 & p61
“Supporting
wellbeing by
making it easier
for people to use
active travel”
N N
Neighbourhoods /
Car-free lifestyles
N + p118
“Support local living
and 20-minute nbd
approaches”
N + p52
New towns
“prioritising
features such as
rail links.. and
20-minute nbds”
N N
Disincentivise car
use/
Demand
management
- - p35
“End the war on
drivers”;
No targets; stop
any Workplace
Parking levies or
congestion
charging
++ p22
Seek road-user
taxation powers for
Scotland
++ p33
Levy on out-oftown
retail, to
support towns
+ p89
Business
rates
replaced by a
new levy
favouring
town centre
retail &
hospitality
= p73
“Moving all
forms of
transport away
from fossil fuels”
– But carrotsonly
approach
- - p21
“End the war
on the car“
N
20mph - p36
20mph only ok
where locals…](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2ood4k4wojq5jku2zl3myqco/bafkreic7sh5vtotgvkucrlfeiypqwuhkksdqosgnwxox657f4jwgfdluwy)
![Table of party manifestos (page 2)
Potholes - - p33
Fund pothole
filling by cutting
(scrapping?) the
AT budget
N + (or - -) p49
£350m fund
[see note 1
below]
+ p64
“fair funding” for
councils; use of
new technology
+ p21
“Fix potholes”
+ p72
“up to £350m”
for potholes &
resurfacing
Air pollution
including Low
Emission Zones
- - p36
Halt more LEZs
and reduce
fines in existing
++ p118
expand LEZs, plus
stronger monitoring
N - - p21
Abolish LEZs
N
Transport
integration, with
respect to active
travel
= p38
Rail, bus & tram
integration; no
mention of
walk/ bike
+ p22, p26
Better AT links to
public transport; All
new rail, bus, tram
to carry bikes
N N N N
Road building - - p34
New law to fasttrack
trunk road
upgrades; dual
A9 by 2031;
many other
trunk projects
+ p22
Future-proof roads
like A83 vulnerable
to climate change;
no mention of
expansion
- - p49
Dual A9 by
2035, look
into dualling
A77 and A75,
& create
National
Roads Plan
- - p64
Dual A9 & A96;
- - p21
“plan to
upgrade major
trunk roads”
[see note 2
below]
- - p71
Dual A9 by
2035, also
parts of A96;
and consider
A75, A77
Air travel taxation
ADT= Air departure
tax
- - p39
oppose any new
taxes; reduce
long-haul tax
++ p34
frequent flyer levy;
private jet tax;
more..
N + p66
Higher tax for
private jet
passengers
N + p27
private jet tax;
including for
‘ghost’ flights
USP – unique
selling points (good
and bad!) picked
out by Spokes
- - p33
1. AT schemes
are “ideological
projects”
2. ban bikes in
all pedestrian
areas
+ p16, p156
Universal rail card;
£2 max bus fares
+ p122
Council powers to
enforce traffic
contraventions
+ p55
“Crush illegal
e-bikes,
using drones
to track &
trace
unlicensed
bikes”
+ p64
”Dangerous
Roads
Programme“
- - p21
“End the war
on the car“
+ p38
£2 bus fare
cap
[1] Labour £350m pothole fund. The manifesto does not say where the money would come from. In early campaign speeches
Anas Sarwar had said it would be from cutting Active Travel funding. On our estimate this would mean a 40% cut on curre…](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2ood4k4wojq5jku2zl3myqco/bafkreihtx3yx2su5oubnssv3v75xk6lov5cp57qt2pftf5o4wn2u7hf5qe)
The Green Stories Competition is back for 2026! If you have a child from nursery to high chool and they have a love of nature then this could be a fantastic opportunity for them to flex their creative muscles and win. For full details 👉 buff.ly/CLNSwyQ
