After lengthy repair, the 172m Porto’s Dom Luís I Bridge reopened to public transport, taxis, cyclists & pedestrians only. After lengthy repair, #Edinburgh’s 160m North Bridge reopened with a lane of hatching, no cycling provisions, without widening busy pavements and no traffic reduction measures.
Simply love the reopened North Bridge, where Edinburgh Council took advantage of eight years of works to put active travel and pedestrians first
Rejoice! Edinburgh’s got a new contender for the world’s worst cycle lane! Imagine a dark stormy night 😱 - needs a “cyclist dismount”, “road narrows on left”, “cycle lane closed” or whatever sign. Or maybe make the “keep right”permanent?
Just passed on the bus. Flooding puddled up alongside and one of the kerbstones knocked out into carriageway already 🙌🏼
Nothing at all could go wrong there... bsky.app/profile/john...
@johnrobson87.bsky.social · 7d ago💦 Didn’t they foresee the splashing risk due to blocking drainage or is the puddle especially for cycles? The exit markings at Candlemaker Row MUST be realigned as the cycle markings lead directly into kerb & visibility for buses etc exiting is blocked 🙄 A primary cycle route downgrade yet again 🙁
👍 #GreyfriarsBobby footway widening 🤔 We trust #cycling safety will be included, or will be very nasty pinchpoint on busy 🚲route .. we have asked @edi.bike @stephenjenkinson.bsky.social @finlaymcf.bsky.social @cllrcmiller.bsky.social @chdot.bsky.social @edfoc.bsky.social @edoldtowncoco.bsky.social
#EdTravCyc @spokes.org.uk @edi.bike @robbieainsworth.bsky.social Newbattle Terrace closed between Canaan Lane and Whitehouse Loan for SPEN? roadworks? Still cyclable but signage just for cars saying diversion needed. Much safer exit from Canaan Lane as a benefit for cycles.
#EdTravCyc @spokes.org.uk @edi.bike ⚠️ caution ⚠️ needed on North Bridge headed north. So many raised ironworks and no obvious warning signs (to me at least) could be lethal on a bike if not aware. Also amount of tarmac and road width being reinstated is crazy! No cycle provision or widened pavements
@edinburghbug.bsky.social @edinburghcouncil.bsky.social what’s up with the Dalry Road bus lane towards Haymarket. 17:45 today completely full of parked cars?! If this is park of the 7/7/7 trial it’s gonna need some strong enforcement!
Much needed bus priority measures after Princes St fire: - remove George St parking - 3 lanes bus-only - 1 lane segregated cycleway, preserving CCWEL link - Fringe tents moved to Princes St btw Hanover & Frederick??? edinburghbususers.group/an-open-lett...
An Open Letter to the City of Edinburgh Council: Urgent Temporary Bus Priority Needed Following Princes Street Fire
The recent devastating fire at the former Debenhams building on Princes Street has presented Edinburgh with an unprecedented transport challenge. With the Princes Street public transport corridor d…
edinburghbususers.group
'Spokes & Me' In 2027 Spokes will be 50! For our 2026 #SpokesComp tell us any way that Spokes being around has been good for you Could be as simple as using a #SpokesMap to make a great outing or commute route --> www.spokes.org.uk/2026/07/spok... @edi.bike @edfoc.bsky.social @chdot.bsky.social
FYI @spokes.org.uk @edi.bike @sw20.info @livingstreetsedi.bsky.social Also does anyone know if the lane / track via Lymphoy from Currie to Malleny is cyclable? This would avoid the busy Lanark Rd West.
Water of Leith Conservation Trust@wolct.bsky.social · 2mo agoEdinburgh Council have informed us they have closed the Walkway at Kinauld Tan Works Footbridge (Approx. Location: w3w.co/minute.guise...) as a hole has appeared in the bridge. There is no through route over this bridge in either direction . It will be closed all weekend diversion via lanark rd,
Wallyford Roundabout over the railway has been made safer for cycling 🙌 A bit of an odd arrangement of actually going around the roundabout given toucans and then being dumped on Haddington Road down to Musselburgh. But it will link up to the long term Active Toun plans. @edi.bike @spokes.org.uk
Marchmont Road crossing closed without instruction / diversion. There may be temp lights further up. #EdTravCyc
CCWEL closed/coned at junction of Melville Street and Queensferry Road for four-way traffic lights. No direction for cyclists I could see but I presume join carriageway? #FlagshipCycleRoute #EdTravCyc
NCR1 obstructed at toucan crossing between Meadows and Innocent railway. Crossing is closed due to drivers running red light to pass nearby Summerhall roadworks. Barriers have since been extended across cycle path and it's necessary to dismount to cross. #EdTravcyc @spokes.org.uk @edi.bike
🙋 Spokes Action-Update members' email [join to get on the list!!] --> www.spokes.org.uk/wp-content/u... includes.. 🚲 #pop26 📈 #TrafficCount 🎵 #Amsterdam 🤔 Consultations @edi.bike @edfoc.bsky.social @chdot.bsky.social @edinreporter.bsky.social @tracygriffen.bsky.social @harryjwilliams.bsky.social
All the active travel love / frustration / joy at today's brilliant @pedalonparliament.org as thousands of regular folk took to their wheels calling for a cycle-friendly Scotland with safer streets for all 👍🚲🛴👍🚶👍 Bumper photo album > andycatlin.myportfolio.com/pedal-on-par...
🙋 #PedalOnParliament Sat 30 May --> pedalonparliament.org 🙋 visit our #cargobike stall with #SpokesMaps etc, from 11am @edi.bike @chdot.bsky.social @edfoc.bsky.social @stephenjenkinson.bsky.social @chasbooth.bsky.social @davidfkey.bsky.social @jackrmcaldwell.bsky.social @johnrobson87.bsky.social
Fab to see so many people, from across the community, attend our rally in support of safe routes for kids. As a result of our efforts, the two traffic filters outside JGPS primary school are now permanent and another filter that was under threat has been saved, on Braid Rd 🎉
As noted above, Warriston Path closed between Tesco and Boat Green. Passable this morning but won’t be when the digger wakes up
Seems to be closed between Tesco and the housing estate. Plenty of folk walking through the works anyway and no signed diversion that I could find. It's disappointing to again see no notice for a planned closure on a busy walking and cycling path.
Goldenacre path closed between the Water of Leith Bridge and Boat Green today and tomorrow. Supposedly internet cable works? Diversions signage in place but need to go via busier traffic on Inverleith Row. @spokes.org.uk @edi.bike @robbieainsworth.bsky.social #EdTravCyc
Some (seemingly ineffective) “cycle hire only” markings have been added to the Greenhill Gardens dock. Progress… but surely appropriate for on road not pavement?! @spokes.org.uk @edi.bike FYI - @livingstreetsedi.bsky.social @edinreporter.bsky.social
#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)
Does anyone know why the lovely beech hedges have been cut down on “West Granton Access Cycleway”?! Can see what they looked like here; maps.app.goo.gl/rGBskoAqT38u... Such a shame 😕… aren’t hedgerows projected? @spokes.org.uk @chasbooth.bsky.social @edinburghcouncil.bsky.social #EdTravCyc
Trying out the new/upgraded path from Newton to Winchburgh in @westlothiancouncil.bsky.social Opens up some different routes to/from Hopetoun Estate if out that way. @edi.bike @spokes.org.uk
T H R E E Y E A R S 😶 FYI @edinreporter.bsky.social
Martin McD@mcdmartin.bsky.social · 4mo agoHallelujah! The Gayfield Square air vents have been repaired! Well over 3years since the tramworks team broke them. Now just need to het rid of the yellow cover. @jackrmcaldwell.bsky.social @spokes.org.uk @spurtle.bsky.social @edi.bike
Lovely ride (with headwind) from Perth to Arbroath today. Many bits of new cycle infrastructure to use. Great quality. Well done @anguscouncil.bsky.social 👏
