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Melissa

@iammelissa.bsky.social
280 followers 860 following 475 posts

Mother, wife, community builder. Covid aware cargo biker. Current: Edinburgh, Scotland 🇺🇸🇬🇧🇪🇺

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Reposted by Melissa
SpokesLothian @spokes.org.uk · 14/10/2026
🙋 #SpokesComp 2026 results HERE--> www.spokes.org.uk/2026/10/spok... @edi.bike @edfoc.bsky.social @chdot.bsky.social @edinreporter.bsky.social @secretedinburgh.bsky.social @laidbackbikes.bsky.social @vickyallan.bsky.social @joshpizpom.bsky.social @portyenergy.bsky.social @tracygriffen.bsky.social
Spokes and Me: #SpokesComp results

Our 2026 competition brought out a cornucopia of experiences, ideas and reminiscences. It is incredible to read not just how cycling and cycle facilities locally have changed over the years, but how individual lives have changed too, sometimes substantially, thanks to Spokes being around.

The life of our top prizewinner, Hazel, was revolutionised thanks to a cargo-bike which she bought in part using a Spokes grant. Although purchased, nervously, for child-carrying, growing confidence in the cargobike led to extensive volunteer work, cycling instructor qualifications, and eventually paid work setting up and running Porty Cargo Bike Library. Not to mention family shopping, cargo-bike camping, giving friends lifts – and getting rid of the family car!

Second prizewinner, Mike, actually moved to Edinburgh in part thanks to the Spokes Bulletin! Visiting Edinburgh for a job interview he chanced to pick up a Spokes Bulletin on a cafe leaflet rack – and realised there was more to the city than his ‘formal, pompous and pretentious’ interview experience. Some months later, going freelance, he was able to move, and chose Edinburgh!… rapidly buying bikes for his daughters, and joining Spokes! Since then, “cycling has been a central part of my life.”6 pictures from the competition
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Melissa @iammelissa.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
And any child 7 and under has never been offered the vaccine in the UK (unless they went abroad to get one), so any child now with long Covid also got it….from Covid
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Melissa @iammelissa.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
With buses being diverted down George St again, I remain curious as to why cars are given the centre parking when bikes on the ccew are squeezed out. Idk if the detour includes the 5 or so tour buses or not, but they seem accommodated while cyclists are 💯 not. Confusing, at the least
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Melissa @iammelissa.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
I like bats, they’re cool. These lights are petrifying as a human experience though. Maybe just another symptom of being a woman in a public space 🤷🏻‍♀️
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Melissa @iammelissa.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
As someone v involved in the 3rd sector, it’s all just extremely exhausting. Choices by governments are being made, without enough scrutiny by a hallowed out media and a population overwhelmed by digital propaganda … anyway I just morn the loss of spaces for non commercial enterprise etc
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Melissa @iammelissa.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
This is so sad. It’s more than the glut of student housing but also the destruction of low rent creative spaces that hallows out everything and adds more to :: waves hands wildly ::
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Melissa @iammelissa.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
No… is that the bit that floods consistently? I’m currently stressed by Marine Dr/Muirhouse Pkwy since Silverknowes Rd is a deep gravel pit 🤪 feeling like we need a map, red strings…
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Melissa @iammelissa.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
What was this? Using AI tools to legitimise extremism?
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Melissa @iammelissa.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
This is a new cycle path I get to use while Silverknowes Rd is MIA. It dumps bicyclists directly into the W Granton roundabout off a tall kerb with cars entering on the parallel road. 0 safety. There’s no way onto this two-way path heading south until W Shore Path. The track record is long and poor!
A photo from a new bike lane of the path into a Pickford truck in a traffic roundabout
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Melissa @iammelissa.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Ahh that’s the best! Congrats Ben!!
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Melissa @iammelissa.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
There’s even data for that theprogressplaybook.com/2023/11/20/1...
theprogressplaybook.com
13-year study finds protected bike lanes make roads safer — for everyone
Cities with dedicated bike lanes had 44% fewer deaths and 50% fewer serious injuries.
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Melissa @iammelissa.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Do you know the presence of a bike lane doesn’t equal safety? This bike lane ends in a trap with no legal way to continue.
A bike lane in Edinburgh with no legal way to exit
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Melissa @iammelissa.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
#edtravcyc the constant merry go round that’s the Davidsons Mains roundabout continues - watch out to see if this non-bike-accessible version is still running Monday morning! This may be your only sign as there are literally no signs to forewarn
A blocked roundabout with one moved traffic cone A blocked street with no way to mount the kerb. The photographer is standing between the two points.
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Reposted by Melissa
WWF Scotland @wwfscotland.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Isle of May puffins dropped by around 30% since 2024. 🚨 Nature is feeling the impacts of climate change and increasingly extreme weather. By restoring nature and tackling climate change, we can help safeguard species like puffins. #Wildlife #ClimateChange
bbc.co.uk
Isle of May puffin numbers plummet after extreme weather
Researchers said numbers in one of the UK's most significant colonies of the seabirds may have fallen by 30%.
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Melissa @iammelissa.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Anyway to your point, my eldest will do it with me if required but we’re the exception. Often he refuses and I can’t blame him? I have no idea at what age I’d feel comfortable for my child to do this without an adult. Again, Marine Dr is new!! 😫
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Melissa @iammelissa.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
It’s a trap, nothing more than that? And we’re forced to use it as Silverknowes Dr is entirely torn up, and won’t use Whitehouse Rd. Marine Dr is almost worst because it’s new? And this fab route completes the two points in my OG post. Someone with good recording should make a video - it’s wild
A road marked as a bike path that ends with 4 bollards in front of a grassy area. A pavement is on the left without a dropped kerb. A development is in the distance
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Melissa @iammelissa.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Especially for kids, it’s not only infrastructure into the centre that matters but a network meaning *efficiently* being able to travel in other directions… because kids don’t need to commute to work but do need to get across neighbourhoods to meet friends, join activities
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Melissa @iammelissa.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
And I mean actual infrastructure that doesn’t require cycle confidence to use. Here’s two roundabouts on my ride home from Granton - both end at a roundabout and neither successfully or safely. This can’t actually be considered infrastructure that gets more casual people on a bike
This bike lane ends at a tall kerb into a roundabout. A Pickford truck is in the roundabout ahead Bike lane ending at a roundabout with no way to access the roundabout
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Melissa @iammelissa.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
My kids’ choice is either bus or bike and they’ll pick bike unless my eldest needs to bike himself (bc he does if it’s all 3) then he’ll pick bus. The decision is always a regret though! I do still think build infrastructure and they’ll come, though 
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Melissa @iammelissa.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Our underlying reason is not having a car. If there was more car club availability though..?? We have a cargo mission today, no kids will be involved, and I wish there was a bike that could carry 3 bigger kids. As everyone ages here, the ecosystem all does seem very young family focused
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Melissa @iammelissa.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Had a fun milestone on the Edinburgh cycle paths last week. We’ve had this bike for 4.5 years - with kids and no car …. Here’s to another 5k! #bikesky @ternbicycles.com
Our tern GSD’s odometer shows 5000 miles on the display screen on the handle bar. Nothing is in the front black basket or in the black phone holder. There’s a path behind with green grass and trees on either side of it
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Melissa @iammelissa.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Someone I watch on YT who has been doing videos for ~10 years makes 4¢ a month off ad revenue. The issue is that there’s not much reason to believe all that ad revenue is going to creators and not shareholders. Disruption happens in different ways
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Reposted by Melissa
By Cory Doctorow (GPG 0xBF3D9110957E5F4C) @doctorow.pluralistic.net · 26/08/2026
Our whole digital world has been wrapped in chains by rent-extracting monopolists who gloried in their power to use hook IP to deprive you of the right to use your property in ways you see fit, writing private laws that made it a crime to displease them. 87/
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Reposted by Melissa
Larry the Cat @number10cat.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Farewell, Dolly x
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Melissa @iammelissa.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Great birthday edition!!
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Melissa @iammelissa.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
It’s just waiting for someone, anyone, with leadership skills to unlock how amazing it could be. Not this total compromise where absolutely no one is like - yeah, this is working perfectly, change *nothing*
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Melissa @iammelissa.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
“Best seat on the bus!” A study of Edinburgh in August. The alt text describes each photo.
An inadequate bus stop where there’s a crush of people. The pavement is too small and the bus service far too infrequent allowing for the dangerous build up in the left. There’s a yellow stagecoach bus is ahead. Having waited there, it’s so uncomfortable and tricky with little kids. I imagine doubly for any sort of mobility issue. Or if you want to go inside the shop. This is taken from “the best seat in the bus” where eventually a large man would trap me and force me to climb over the actual seat to get off the bus. Fun!The congestion by Charlotte Square. There’s 5 buses lined up down the road. Only one will make the turn during the light signal change. The sky is blue there’s a green tree on the right, and the light is golden on the buildings on the left. This is taken from the front of the bus, aka “the best seat in the bus.”A crush of people by Waverly Steps. There’s people getting on, people passing, and more people watching a street performer. It’s entirely inadequate and I’d argue dangerous because it’s not actually Disney World, it’s a bus stop for a European capitol, and given the crowd I’d wonder if there’s ever been a health and safety analysis of this space. Why aren’t people closer to the street performer? Probably because they want to sit on the limited seating available in this wasted city landscape in the heart of Edinburgh. This photo is taken from the front of the bus, aka “the best seat in the bus.”The bus, probably aggravated by August in Edinburgh (but who am I to project?), entirely pulled up, after the light turned red and parked through the entire advance stop line. I mean I never personally cycle through princes st because I value my life and here’s a great example why. There’s nothing in this photo beyond paint (not infrastructure), some sign post with plastic bollards, and some people’s feet crossing the side road. The bottom right diagonally is the edge of the bus. This photo is taken from the front of the bus, aka “the best seat in the bus.”
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Melissa @iammelissa.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
I had to do it in two rounds but so glad they’re here
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Melissa @iammelissa.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
With the one billion choices that is Edinburgh in August, do check out the free exhibition The Legacy of Slavery - visiting from Alabama. The Scotland connection is so important, but the whole work is just extraordinarily powerful www.eif.co.uk/events/the-l...
A printed white ticket for The Legacy of Slavery at the Playfair Library being held up on North Bridge, with the Balmoral Hotel lit in sunlight behind
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Melissa @iammelissa.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
The Bronze Age story was not true. It was recycled news from a misremembrance on a podcast
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Reposted by Melissa
The Guardian @theguardian.com · 18/08/2026
Ulez led to better lung size and function among London children, study finds
theguardian.com
Ulez led to better lung size and function among London children, study finds
Researchers find capacity stunted by pollution was restored after introduction of ultra-low emission zone Children’s lungs grew bigger and stronger after the most polluting vehicles were restricted from entering London, a study has found. Examinations of London schoolchildren before and after the introduction of the city’s ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) found a restoration of lung capacity that had been stunted by exposure to pollution. Continue reading...
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Melissa @iammelissa.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
Having cycled this recently, I really love the bone jolt you get when it ends abruptly at W Granton Rd without a dropped kerb into a roundabout. The whole vibe is just so Edinburgh
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Melissa @iammelissa.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Gah! I suppose so!! See how good recency bias is. And, positively, less potholes. But that’s maybe the end of my compliments 🙃
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Melissa @iammelissa.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
It’s quite impressive when looked at it that way lol
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Melissa @iammelissa.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
It’s always been one shot crossing here I think? Or was before the works. They made the pavements wider so the crossing is shorter iirc but it certainly hasn’t made any drivers less aggro to us on bikes or shocked that we exist and may also want to use the intersection I mean oil power plant
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Melissa @iammelissa.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Oh haha paint isn’t infrastructure and there isn’t even a bike painted anywhere. Seems just as hard to cycle through as it was before the works started in April. Hopefully the school students have a better time crossing at least 🤷🏻‍♀️
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Melissa @iammelissa.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
#EdTravCyc the quality st, main st roundabout is open. Have only pedestrian’ed it not yet cycled. Thoughts, Edinburgh?
A roundabout at dusk that’s mostly empty except for the rear of a red car on the left and a taxi exiting on the right
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Melissa @iammelissa.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
It’s almost as if things have ramped up to 11 in cyclist danger this month, even as Voi ridership keeps going up. Completely bizarre
static.klipy.com
All The Way To 11 - Volume Knobs
Alt: The numbers all go to 11 - man holds a cigarette while running his finger under Volume Knobs that go to 11
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Melissa @iammelissa.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Eclipse in Edinburgh just passed! Along with an extra rainbow!
Eclipse at its peak which is about 90%A rainbow over the eclipsing sun because it’s still Scotland
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Reposted by Melissa
Equal Justice Initiative @eji.org · 12/08/2026
We are excited to present "The Legacy of Slavery in America" as part of the Edinburgh International Festival this year. The exhibition displays an abridged version of our Legacy Museum in Montgomery, and is the first international exhibition for EJI.
eji.org
EJI Presents “The Legacy of Slavery in America” at the Edinburgh International Festival
This is the first international exhibition for EJI.
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Melissa @iammelissa.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
It’s something extra when it’s professional drivers, ya know? Driving multi-tonne trucks
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Melissa @iammelissa.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
It’s so odd because otherwise this area would be fringe venues so it’s not like this parking is critical in other years..
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Melissa @iammelissa.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Cycling the CCEW! The sun is shining, bikes everywhere, fringe acts to take in… Nothing quite like George St when Princes St is closed. Edinburgh Council really just putting active travel in its place!
Going east on George St, there’s outdoor dining, construction walls in the bike lane on the left, and a bus and taxi in the road. A cyclist is squeezed and can’t use the bike lane. But it’s the morning so things aren’t backed up yet. The sun is shining. Going west on George St, there’s a coach bus parked on the left and a line of buses on the right. There is just enough room for a confident cyclist to use the bike lane. At least things are stopped so it’s slow passing because it’s the afternoon and things are now backed up. The sun is shining. Looking back on George St from the Advance Stop Line from the intersection at Charlotte Square. A tour bus is in the box and is revving his diesel engine in frustration (I guess? He gave me a wave when I looked back in fear?). The queue of buses is long and it took manoeuvring to get to this spot to take the bike light. The sun is shining but there’s shadows in the road.
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Melissa @iammelissa.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Really seems that children should be able to cycle to the central children’s library around the corner from here but then again there are any number of libraries around town that at truly hard to bike to even as adults
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Melissa @iammelissa.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
NPR does the same in the US, too
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Melissa @iammelissa.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
A believable claim tbh
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Melissa @iammelissa.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
This was the view yesterday, which was an August day
A yellow road sign says Work Starts here 7 April 26 until 19 June 26. There’s yellow heavy constructionequipment, cones, fencing, and other construction bits that I don’t know the names of. This is on a cobbled street with park trees behind.
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Melissa @iammelissa.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
It’s looking more promising at the Quality Street, Main Street roundabout. The temp lights were temporarily out yesterday which looked stressful for all involved 😬
Entrance to E Barnton Gardens is no longer blocked by construction equipment. This photo shows a badly paved road opened to a roundabout behind with random construction detritus on either side of the pavement. The sky is heavy with clouds. The view down Main Street, showing that there are still temporary lights and many traffic cones. The sky is heavy with clouds.
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Melissa @iammelissa.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
I just spent the last hour in a taxi (should have been 25 mins) & that guy was so ready to remove all the private cars from the city centre. An important constituency in agreement! He got a notif that basically nothing is moving between the meadows/grassmarket rn. The infra is not coping!
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Melissa @iammelissa.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Fun fringe sights on my cycle last night, including these new lights installed at Davidsons Mains Park in Edinburgh. I assume this is aimed at wildlife? I’ll be sure to stay on the road, I’m already amped up cycling home on an empty Blackhall path I don’t need more shocks by then 😂
a mostly in focus photograph of red lighting lighting up a park with a paved road lit regularly on the far right side the photo. A green bin is on the kerb. There are no cars and it’s evening.
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