Reposted by @chdot.bsky.social
🤩 In honour of #TheRezillos 50th
Sadly missed #WilliamMysterious - central tall guy
[1978 photo of Spokes activists]
@edi.bike @bjpaddy.bsky.social @chdot.bsky.social @punkrockhistory.bsky.social @scotspostpunk.bsky.social @helenrambler.bsky.social @threadinburgh.scot @secretedinburgh.bsky.social
![Spokes article on Scott Arthur's time on Transport Cttee..
Legacy
In terms of policies, the ban on pavement parking (and double-parking) was a highlight of Scott Arthur’s convenership. Once the Scottish Parliament put the law into effect, Edinburgh went ahead with a rapid but well thought-out and successful implementation [see ‘update’ para here], including a tough ‘no-exemptions’ approach, despite the predicted public backlash. Most Scottish councils were more fearful, and seemed to be waiting to see what happened in Edinburgh before implementing the ban in their own area. If only we could see similar speedy but effective action in other controversial Edinburgh transport policy areas!
Other positives (this is not an exhaustive list) include…
Going ahead with the ETRO Orders which look set to retain the vast bulk of the ‘Travelling Safely’ covid active travel schemes. There was, of course, backsliding at Silverknowes and a crazy continuing saga (which will plague the new Convener) in the Braid Estate, threatening the Quiet Route to the Meadows; though threats to the Comiston Road scheme were rectified. We were also very disappointed that some of the schemes scrapped by the previous Council were not reinstated – e.g. the uphill Morningside Road cycle lane and many of the shopping-street footway extensions which had replaced kerbside parking
Pushing forward a 7-7-7 bus lane trial on a major route, and resisting official and union pressure to allow private hire cars
Getting government approval to increase bus lane infringment fines from £60 to £100
Supporting officers firmly and publicly, in the face of highly vocal minority voices, on several issues, but notably on Corstorphine Connections low traffic scheme, including many visits to the area.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2ood4k4wojq5jku2zl3myqco/bafkreif37zyhg3meethujx2bemvzjzhgj6mgzutjsfkbho5qxjluf3mtay)
![Start of Spokes deputation to the Council on Princes St/ George St, referencing Jan Gehl 2011 report
Princes Street and Waverley Valley
CEC Planning Cttee 9.9.26, agenda item 71
Spokes submission on transport aspects
Spokes fundamentally rejects the recommendations in this report. The proposals represent only minor
change from those rejected by councillors2 on 12 November 2025, under Cllr Lang’s motion as amended.
Their very description as ‘pragmatism’ does not reflect councillors’ request for an “ambitious and exciting
strategy.”
As regards Princes Street itself, the approach mainly consists of repaving the north footway, and a 1.5m
improvement to footway width on the south side, whilst leaving the bulk of the width of Princes Street as a
4-lane transport corridor which, whilst busy at times, is for much of the day mainly an expanse of tarmac.
It is not the ‘place’ proposal which has been recommended by experts in urban design, from the Council’s
2011 Jan Gehl report [para 1102 here3] and subsequently, for what is Edinburgh’s premier street, and,
indeed, Scotland’s. Gehl recommended4 a place with high pedestrian provision, safe cycling as well as
quality public transport.
This can only be achieved by reducing the amount of road width allocated to bus, coach, tram and taxi, and
possibly reducing their numbers. We discuss this further below.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2ood4k4wojq5jku2zl3myqco/bafkreicgstmigd3m5dmde3i5xuddvwmmk3ep2fob2wux276rec6bleiije)
![Trams from Granton to the Edinburgh BioQuarter / Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and Beyond Strategic Business Case
CEC Transport & Environment Committee 10.9.26, agenda item 7.61
Written deputation from Spokes
Exec Summary
[2 below] A big lesson from the Leith Walk section of the Newhaven extension is that separated bike lanes can bring significant pedestrian casualty reduction, in addition to preventing cyclist tramline crashes. A lesson from Foot of Walk to Ocean Terminal is that parallel cycleroutes (to avoid tramlined roads where segregation is not possible) must be integrated into the tram project, or risk years of delay after the start of tram operation.
[3 below] There is very strong Spokes membership support for a northern extension, but with roughly equal differing views on which of the two options it should use, or whether both are acceptable. For both route options, there remain substantial disadvantages to safe and/or enjoyable cycling, which will need to be addressed to the maximum extent possible if either option goes ahead.
[4 below] The southern route, which is now likely to be the Council immediate priority, and is heavily used by cyclists, presents extreme difficulties in ensuring safe cycling. We argue for single track running for the Bridges section, and segregated bike lanes south of St Patrick Square – the latter hopefully bringing the same casualty avoidance benefits seen by both pedestrians and cyclists on the fairly similar Leith Walk.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2ood4k4wojq5jku2zl3myqco/bafkreihzl4pbf6sa5visfkshbbbhedhgbs6kv7propy2jpr7bcucd52nwm)
![start of spokes budget article
--> ScotGov draft budget 26/27: Active Travel obfuscation
The ‘Level 4 spreadsheet’ accompanying the Scottish Government’s draft budget shows Support for Active and Sustainable Travel rising by an incredible 66.3%, from £135.8m in 25/26 to £226m in 26/27. This has been widely commended.
However, when the smoke and mirrors are removed, it seems likely that total funding for active travel will actually fall slightly in cash terms, and, as a % of total transport, from 4.3% in 25/26 to less than 4% in 26/27.
[Nerdy update May 2026: In (5) below we predicted that, in order to balance a promised (small) rise in ATIF funding, there will have to be equal or greater cuts elsewhere in active travel funding. This has now happened. The ‘resource funding’ element of the People & Place scheme has been cut by 60% from £7.9m in 25/26 to just £3.2m for 26/27. This is cash which is used by Regional Transport Authorities such as, in our local area, SEStran, for projects to promote bike use.]
How can such an apparently good news story be so misleading? We discuss this in detail later below, but, in summary…
the big combined rise in Active and Sustainable looks likely to be for Sustainable (specifically, bus infrastructure) whilst Active looks likely to fall
the quoted £135.8m for Active and Sustainable is misleadingly low, which makes the 66% increase to £226m look misleadingly high. A fairer comparison says 19%.
1. Active Travel as a % of total transport
But, first, how does this fall fit into the trend of Scottish Government budgeted funding for Active Travel in recent years? As the table below shows, this would be the first time since 21/22 that the AT budget has fallen below 4%, down from a budgeted high spot of 5.6% in 24/25 (though cut later that year, so never fully spent) and way down from the previous commitment to reach 10%.
Budgets (£100k) 21/22 22/23 23/24 24/25 25/26 26/27
Total transport 3306.0 3485.4 3578.6 3925.4 3906.9 4145…](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2ood4k4wojq5jku2zl3myqco/bafkreiea5n4xs7kyw7md7mjzejyamefyk6kgvovxan4lx3lgi6ezm7jzie)
![PRIZES FOR THE 2026 COMP [more may be added]
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/bafkreid4gnc5dxbl6vgluntbxvwhx4dsdwodcndsys3och5pqmtvfzqafi)
