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Blackford Safe Routes

@blackfordsaferoutes.co.uk
2K followers 4.2K following 3K posts

Campaign for safe routes to school in Edinburgh. Run by the Travel Committee of James Gillespie’s Primary School and friends Not able to read DMs, please email instead blackfordsaferoutes.co.uk

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Nicole McEntee @nikkimcentee17.bsky.social · 10h
Our bike bus today was huge for National Bike/Walk/Roll to School Day! Estimated 50 kids + another 30 parents! We went off route for a little donut meetup and the incentive worked!
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Tom Flood @tomflood.bsky.social · 11h
Incredible how "would be great if kids could walk/bike to school independently" somehow turns into a discussion about needing a car to move furniture.
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clareskeltonmorris.bsky.social @clareskeltonmorris.bsky.social · 11h
This morning’s commute ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥
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Rosamundi @rosamundi.bsky.social · 17h
if I had a pound for every time some idiot councillor said "let cyclists use the park!" and the cyclists went "it's not safe, it doesn't provide useful routes, it bakes in conflict with pedestrians, and your parks close at 4pm in the winter, you muppet," i wouldn't be sat here about to go to work.
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The Ranty Highwayman @rantyhighwayman.bsky.social · 7h
is apparently good enough, this would just have people rolling through because that's what people do and it will just lead to calls for enforcement. In short, it's another example of safety coming from rules which work if everyone obeys them all the time. The actual solution to unsafe junctions
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Fietser @americanfietser.bsky.social · 7h
Mrs. Fietser knocked out the grocery run by bike on her lunch hour today. Driving a car just to haul a few bags of food through the neighborhood is incredibly inefficient. A car is simply too big of a tool for the job.
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SpokesLothian @spokes.org.uk · 15h
#BonningtonRoad 🙋 Petition for traffic calming & school crossing patrol --> you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/re... @edi.bike @chdot.bsky.social @jackrmcaldwell.bsky.social @chasbooth.bsky.social @katrinafaccenda.bsky.social @lhncc.bsky.social @leithcentralcc.bsky.social @leithfeederride.bsky.social
 To: Edinburgh council
Reinstate the School Crossing Guide for Bun-sgoil Taobh na Pàirce on Bonnington Road."
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Campaign created byThe terrifying reality is that even when motorists are being cautious and families are doing everything right, the infrastructure around the Bonnington corridor is fundamentally unsafe for young families. When you force double-decker buses, commercial lorries, and child cyclists to share the same narrow morning rush-hour space, there is zero margin for error. I know firsthand the terror of being hit on these streets, and I am launching this petition because we should not have to wait for a child to be seriously hurt before our streets are protected. We need a permanent Lollipop Guide outside Bun-sgoil Taobh na Pàirce to act as that vital, life-saving human buffer.
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Blackford Safe Routes @blackfordsaferoutes.co.uk · 3h
So LibDems and the Greens were there, and which other party?
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Chas Booth (he/him) @chasbooth.bsky.social · 9h
Good discussion at the @nebriefing.bsky.social screening in Edinburgh City Chambers hosted by Edinburgh Communities Climate Action Network (ECCAN). Disappointing turnout from councillors, 3 of 5 parties on the council represented.
Photo of audience members and panel members at Edinburgh City Chambers for National Emergency Briefing screening. Photo of screen with questions to stimulate discussion at National Emergency Briefing screening in Edinburgh City Chambers.Photo of audience members and panel members at Edinburgh City Chambers for National Emergency Briefing screening. Photo of audience members with National Emergency Briefing on the screen in the background.
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sbarlster @sbarlster.bsky.social · 5h
Travelled to a work event. I traveled by e-bike. The views were glorious. The air fresh. The trail was very bumpy, but you know, take the rough with the smooth. I could have gone by car. 🤣🤣🤣 There is no way I could have done that journey by car in the same time.
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 19h
“Someone with a 1-hr car commute needs to earn 40% more to be as happy as someone with a short walk to work. On the other hand, if someone shifts from a long commute to a walk, their happiness increases as much as if they’d fallen in love.” #CityMakingMath 50 reasons for more walkable streets.
fastcompany.com
50 Reasons Why Everyone Should Want More Walkable Streets
From making you live longer to making cities more resilient: If you want a reason to make your city more walkable, it's in here.
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Hackney Cyclist @hackneycyclist.bsky.social · 4h
Leidseplein, Amsterdam in 1972 and today
Then and now comparison of Leidseplein in Amsterdam — the 1972 photo shows a car-filled intersection in front of Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam, while the modern photo shows the same scene transformed into a pedestrian plaza with people walking and trams nearby.
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Merchiston Districts Community Council @merchistoncc.bsky.social · 14h
Want to organise leaf clearing in your own area? @edinburghcouncil.bsky.social can provide clean up kits free of charge if you would like to clear away leaves, weeds or litter in your neighbourhod. www.edinburgh.gov.uk/litter-flyti...
edinburgh.gov.uk
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Fietser @americanfietser.bsky.social · 10h
Sidewalks that dump pedestrians into the street for the benefit of turning cars is hostile design. It shouldn't be allowed design in any proper city. 90° corners direct behavior and force motorists to slow their speed and pay attention. This is how you create safe streets.
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Water of Leith Conservation Trust @wolct.bsky.social · 11h
A sunny session down in Leith at our monthly clean up. We protected the local environment clearing a large pile of rubbish. Maintained the walkway clearing leaves and reclaiming the width. Removed taggiing and adding additional planting to enhance it. #civicpride
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Cyclegranny @cyclegranny.bsky.social · 13h
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Cargo Bike Ben @cargobikeben.bsky.social · 19h
Correct headline should be “End of parking subsidy in Liverpool saves council tax payers over £1m”
bbc.co.uk
Liverpool parking charges bring in more than £1m council says
The figure has been revealed following a Freedom of Information request from a group of businesses.
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Blackford Safe Routes @blackfordsaferoutes.co.uk · 12h
Thank you!
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The Ranty Highwayman @rantyhighwayman.bsky.social · 14h
Of course, I've not been quite as stark as that and my language has been more carefully crafted than that, but running many of our rural A-roads at 50mph and 60mph needs to end.
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The Ranty Highwayman @rantyhighwayman.bsky.social · 14h
I've just finished a report which saying a 50mph speed limit on a rural single carriageway A-road with direct accesses and priority junctions is incompatible with Vision Zero and should be 40mph maximum and even that's too fast for side impact risk for drivers - it should be 30mph and redesigned.
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Cllr Emily Kerr 💚 @emilykerr36.bsky.social · 18h
Fascinating article on why campaigning against cycling and walking doesn't work for the Tories in London. From Conservative Home (!). conservativehome.com/2026/09/29/a...
conservativehome.com
Andrew Gilligan: Popular among activists, scrapping ULEZ doesn't add up - either politically or financially | Conservative Home
On the subject of motoring in London, there’s a long history of utter Tory refusal to look the electoral facts and numbers in the eye. You don’t have to agree with me on this. So please, let’s start t...
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People's Government of the Pelargir Commune 🇺🇦🇱🇹🇵🇸🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 @dov.bsky.social · 14h
All sub-objections to this quite literally do not matter: at core we cannot, cannot, cannot keep extracting oil and gas in the medium term and you have to internalise this yesterday
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Rev Peter W Nimmo @peternimmo.bsky.social · 14h
Oil in Aberdeen has been in inevitable decline for years, yet the loudest voices we hear seem not to want to diversify the economy
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ecocat.bsky.social @ecocat.bsky.social · 14h
Why is it a four lane urban motorway, I use it but increasingly feel the need to use the canal towpath. Narrower, slower, annoys walkers but what else. Every third trip or so squeezed between parked car and overtaking cars at traffic islands despite taking a defensive position central to road.
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Blackford Safe Routes @blackfordsaferoutes.co.uk · 14h
*increased risk of harm
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🚲 edi.bike | weekly news digest @edi.bike · 15h
Deadline 9th October!
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Blackford Safe Routes @blackfordsaferoutes.co.uk · 15h
The sad thing is the pavement & carriageway were recently resurfaced, with the kerbstones lifted out But the council made no effort to make the pavements accessible, ie widen them, nor do anything to reduce car dominance in this residential street
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Blackford Safe Routes @blackfordsaferoutes.co.uk · 15h
Many many people, regardless of gender, would be afraid to cycle on a 4-lane, 30mph road, treated as an urban racetrack and storage for privately owned cars Huge suppressed demand
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Blackford Safe Routes @blackfordsaferoutes.co.uk · 15h
@sbarlster.bsky.social
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Blackford Safe Routes @blackfordsaferoutes.co.uk · 15h
There is no safe way for women and girls to access by bike the campus you visited yesterday bsky.app/profile/drsc...
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Dr Scott Arthur MP (Edinburgh South West) 🌍🌈🌹 @drscottarthurmp.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
The Westminster Transport Select Committee, of which I am a member, is currently examining the safety of women and girls across the transport network, including walking and cycling routes. If you have views, please submit them to the enquiry: committees.parliament.uk/work/9900/sa...
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Blackford Safe Routes @blackfordsaferoutes.co.uk · 15h
Silence from the MP… So strange to be unable to say anything on the increased level of harm to children… Is it #MotorNormativity ?
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Blackford Safe Routes @blackfordsaferoutes.co.uk · 15h
Count the number of things wrong in this picture Leamington Terrace
A view looking along an extremely narrow pavement. A yellow road sign blocks part of it. A white small campervan is parked on a paved-over garden and overhangs the pavement. Cars are parked on yellow lines. There are townhouses in the distance and the sky is sunlit but grey
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Prof Bill McGuire @profbillmcguire.bsky.social · 16h
“techno-optimist” scientists [engaged in] less civic actions and protests, signed fewer petitions and engaged in less advocacy. .....also less likely to reduce the number of flights they took, cut car usage......." You know who you are - and should be ashamed www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Scientists who put faith in technology less likely to take climate action
‘Techno-optimism’ may lead to reliance on unproven solutions at expense of societal changes needed
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Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · 19h
“Local stores next to the protected bike-lane have seen a 49% increase in sales, compared to an average of 3% for Manhattan as a whole.” (Among MANY other public benefits.) Want To Make More Money? Build A Business On A Bike Lane. #CityMakingMath via @fastcompany.com #BikeLanesMeanBusiness
fastcompany.com
Want To Make Money? Build A Business On A Bike Lane
Research from New York City notes that newly installed protected bike lanes do more than keep bikers safe--they raise the income of the stores they are in front of.
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ruthmayorcas.bsky.social @ruthmayorcas.bsky.social · 16h
Not sure the £104milluon over 4 years for the entire country would enable such like this to be built here 😟
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Toroth (they/them) @torothhatchling.bsky.social · 21h
"And to get between these two places, they invented the car. Which was a brilliant solution to the problem they'd just created by inventing the sprawl. It's what historians call 'a circular economy.'"
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Fietser @americanfietser.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Urbanist Philomena Cunk. In America, they invented a clever system called sprawl. It’s a brilliant idea where they put the place you sleep exactly twenty-five miles away from the place they keep the bread.
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Jester mouse @jestermouse.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Would be nice if there were a dropped kerb here so you can easily join the cycle path at the earliest opportunity when coming up from Stenhouse. #EdTravCyc @stephenjenkinson.bsky.social
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Edinburgh Planning Updates @ediplanningupdates.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Partial selective demolition and mixed-use redevelopment: arts centre, commercial, hotel, co-living, student and apartments, with landscaping and infrastructure. 📍 1 Summerhall Edinburgh EH9 1PL 🖼 Kettle Collective
Architect's visualisation of the proposed development at 1 Summerhall Edinburgh EH9 1PLPlan or drawing from the planning application at 1 Summerhall Edinburgh EH9 1PLPlan or drawing from the planning application at 1 Summerhall Edinburgh EH9 1PLPlan or drawing from the planning application at 1 Summerhall Edinburgh EH9 1PL
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Gravel Influencer @gravelinfluencer.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
The mobility of children is simply not taken seriously or viewed as important. Something illustrative is how people will often say that kids "don't count" when you remind them that children and young teens are nondrivers who deserve the right to get around without cars.
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Hackney Cyclist @hackneycyclist.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
✅ Low-car city-centre streets ✅ Protected cycle tracks on main roads ✅ Ample cycle parking at shops and huge underground bike parking at the station = Streets safe enough for families to cycle, quieter neighbourhoods for residents and more welcoming cities for visitors. 📍 Delft, the Netherlands
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Merchiston Districts Community Council @merchistoncc.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Leaf clearing volunteers needed 🍂 We invite residents to join the Volunteer Team in the Merchiston Leaf Clearing Project Learn more and get in touch to help out! merchistoncc.org.uk/the-merchist...
People sweeping and picking up fallen leaves at the side of a road. A young boy crouches down to pick up leaves while a woman behind him holds open a large black bag
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SW20ed #Edinburgh @sw20.info · 06/10/2026
Change is possible.
Raeburn Place, Edinburgh. 

Tight pavements next to tenement streets with busy shop - four lanes for vehicles (two parked, plus a two way carriageway). Morningside Road, EdinburghEaster Road, EdinburghGorgie Road, Edinburgh
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Josh Morsell @joshmorsell.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
www.opb.org/article/2026...
opb.org
Bike buses give Portland commuters a ‘more fun’ way around the I-5 closure
The Portland Bureau of Transportation offers weekly group rides as an alternative commute during the southbound closure of Interstate 5.
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Water of Leith Conservation Trust @wolct.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
A busy day for staff from the Edinburgh office of AECOM at our visitor centre. They rolled up their sleeves to help get it ready for our Summer's End event on the 25th of Oct. Then they took to the river, removing several bags of waste to keep the river healthy Top work team
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Fietser @americanfietser.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
✅ No car necessary.
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Mike Cookson 🔶 🇪🇺🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @mikecookson.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Imagine if a politician came up with an idea to improve the farmers track that's just on the other side of that hedge, and link them together into a network. Simultaneously getting active travel and agricultural traffic off minor country roads. Like they do in the Netherlands.
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Doug Gordon @brooklynspoke.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Take a look at the bike traffic near Blackfriars Bridge in London during the evening rush hour. Incredible!
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