Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 02/10/2026I'm assuming today is synthetic April the first. 010
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Imagine the design meeting - "So, a bike is six foot long and three foot high", "Yep", "Okay, how about I design a bike cupboard that is three foot wide, and six foot high", "Er?", "Six foot, three foot - it'll fit. Plus room for another seat." "Sold!" 020
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 30/09/2026I could go on at length about this - but apparently not everyone appreciates that. 020
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 30/09/2026We haven't really had a true planning system since the early 1980s. The planning system is really a management process for private sector development - setting a series of hoops to be jumped through, in the hope of producing development that serves (or at least maintains) the public interest. 143
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 29/09/2026That is one bizzare image at the top of the article! 221
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 24/09/2026In the 2025 Report, Queensferry St to Orchard Brae active travel improvement scored 8 and was paused. A90: Queensferry to Queensferry Street bus priority measures scored 14 and is proceeding. Can't find anything specific to this junction though. 020
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 21/09/2026Claims of "common sense" are what people with no evidence use to justify an argument. 060
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 16/09/2026So, at least according to the Scottish Government's interpretation of the law, it is now impossible for a Scottish local authority to intrduce road user charging. 110
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 16/09/2026Those with a long(ish) memory may remember the Scottish Government telling local authorities that they could not implement road user charging schemes due to legislative defects - but not to worry, as it would all be sorted via a "regulatory check". Well, today that check was binned: 221
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 15/09/2026Did quite a bit of cycling around Hackney and Islington recently. While there are some great on-street segragated lanes, what really made it pleasent was the number of LTNs, modal filters, cut-thoroughs and snickets. No need to follow a single cycle-mega-route, just bimble where you want to go. 072
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 14/09/2026I am officially branding bus lanes as "great". I look forward to reading about this in Tuesday's Evening News. 100
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 12/09/2026It's mad this attitude presists in Edinburgh local media. 10% of working age adults in the city cycle to work, 34% get the bus, 23% walk. Hell, 42% of Edinburgh residents aged 17+ don't have a driving licence. It's car dominance that should be seen as "controversial". 0143
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 09/09/2026Be fair - there are now quite a few spots in Edinburgh with before...after....before (redux) . Meadows-George Street, George Street, Braid Estate, Cramond/Silverknowes etc. Beat THAT Glasgow! 010
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 01/09/2026Also, this all rather gazumps the pilot exercise - which I hope was intended to see whether a Scottish cap would deliver value for money, as well as social, economic and environmental benefits. 000
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 01/09/2026Yet no budget was allocated for this, so the money will have to come from another budget. Not easy to rustle up a potential tens of millions of pounds, will be interesting to see where this cash comes from. 110
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 01/09/2026So, the Scottish Government have announced the £2 bus fare cap for Stathclyde starts next Monday. The current 12-month pilot in the Highlands and Islands has a budget of £10 million. Seems reasonable that a cap for seven months of 2026-27 in Strathclyde would likely cost more, possibly much more. 121
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 28/08/2026I would say the arguments are "mostly tedious" - this comment in the article manged to raise a smile: "A barber is walk-in trade. How do you have walk-in trade if nobody can come along and get parked?". 250
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 26/08/2026Had a go on this a couple of weeks ago. Possibly the best stretch of cycle track I have used in the UK. Yes, better than the Embankment in London (discounting the view). 121
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 26/08/2026The £68 million looks like the "Tier 2" part of the Active Travel Infrstructure Fund. Previously, £40 million had been allocated across the 32 Councils as "Tier 1" funding. So SG capital funding for active travel looks to be £108 million in 2026-27. 042
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 26/08/2026Erm, the Bus Infrastructure Fund for 2026-27 was announced as £60 million - not £55 million. See the attached Written Answer issued in March. www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-.... That is an 8.3% reductionparliament.scotThe Scottish ParliamentThe Scottish Parliament examines what the Scottish Government is doing, makes new laws on devolved matters and debates the issues of the day. 110
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 24/08/2026Yeah - research has found that simply making the alternatives to car more attractive does not reduce car use. You also need measures to directly reduce car use (road user charging, road space reallocation, removal of parking) to see numbers fall. e.g. abdn.elsevierpure.com/en/publicati...abdn.elsevierpure.comTravel Demand Management Targeting Reduced Private Car Use: Effectiveness, Public Acceptability and Political Feasibility 193
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 23/08/2026Oh look - Land Rover offer a 28 speaker, 1,700 watt "Meridian signature sound system" as an option. I assume that is okay though, as it is inside a car. www.landrover.com/meridian-sou...landrover.comMeridian Sound Systems - SUV Audio - Land RoverLand Rover has partnered with Meridian Sound Systems to offer superb music while on the move. Learn which Land Rover has which Meridian Sound System here. 020
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 23/08/2026There's something especially disheartning about someone you respected turning out not to be who you thought. I always caution new starts - if you ever find yourself asking "should I say/post this in a public forum", then the answer is "no". 001
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 23/08/2026That was genuinely funny. The other thing that caught my eye was the reference to IQ numbers. I have never heard a genuinely clever person mention IQ. I've always thought of it as a crutch for inadequates - particularly far-right loons. No-one truly smart needs a number to prove it. 100
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 19/08/2026Totally - why anyone would plonk a huge sign on one of the busiest pavements in Scotland asking cyclists to join the fray is clearly crazy. The fact it is also technically wrong is just the icing on the cake. 131
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 18/08/2026There was also a private sector proposal to reintroduce passenger services (e-rail). The line remains firmly unreopened. 010
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 18/08/2026There have already been two feasibility studies into reopening the south-sub - “Review and Options Analysis of Edinburgh South Suburban Railway” (Atkins, March 2004) and “Review of the Reintroduction of Passenger Train Services on the Edinburgh South Suburban Railway” (Halcrow, March 2008). 120
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 18/08/2026I know this is a minor gripe but that sign is techncially wrong. There is no footpath here. "The pavement" is techncially a "footway". A footpath is something that is entirely separate from a carriageway. Honestly, there just aren't enough Edinburgh transport pedants to keep up with nonsense. 131
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 18/08/2026Johnston Terrace is included in Edinburgh Council's list of public roads, meaning its management is solely the responsibility of the Council. I suppose Voi, as a priavte comapny, can set the rules for the use of their bikes as they see fit (within the law and any contract with the Council). 020
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 17/08/2026I love the "Why we need to test new bus lane times" section. Effectively...we used to do this, it worked, we reduced the hours, things go worse, now we need to check whether doing the thing that worked works. 192
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 17/08/2026Yes - as long as the card has an "ITSO number" (i.e. ITSO followed by a long string of numbers) on it then it can be used for free bus travel, and travel on the trams if you live in Edinburgh. 000
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 17/08/2026Under-22s are meant to tap on and off with their Young Scot card. Edinburgh Trams then get paid for carrying the young person - paid by the Council mind (which owns Edinburgh Trams). Welcome to transport governance in Scotland... 100
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 16/08/2026The bagged speed camera is just the chef's kiss here. Perfectly illustrates the priorities of the various public authorities. 010
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 15/08/2026This provides a useful overview of research in this area - although it is largely EU, not UK (scroll down to Table 1 for demographic data). I suspect research is lagging the recent rapid uptake of longtail bikes, which are better suited to child transport: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...sciencedirect.comElectric cargo bikes in urban areas: A new mobility option for private transportationRegarding climate change and energy resource problems, mobility transition is essential to shift from private fossil cars to sustainable modes in both… 030
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 12/08/2026Also in this picture - the hotel work site that compromises the pavement and occupies a full road lane. Now in its sixth year! Yet there was no consultation, no ETRO, no campaign for its removal by "pedestrian campaigners" or the NFBPUK. Odd how it is only cycle lanes that seem to be a problem. 061
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 07/08/2026Sources, Scottish Transport Statisticsw 2025, Table 1.3 and Lothian Buses website. 020
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 07/08/2026There were 180,900 cars registered in Edinburgh in 2024, and 1,400 buses and coaches. The Lothian Buses fleet is about 750. So cars outnumber Lothian Buses by about 240 to one. This ignores all the cars that drive in from outside of the city, assuming an extra 40,000 cars then that is 295 to 1. 142
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 06/08/2026In what must be a new low for the "Edinburgh" Evening News, they have illustrated an article about strikes at the National Galleries with a photo of...the inside of National Museum. 050
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 04/08/2026The carriages were sold to Via Rail (Canada), where they still run. 010
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 04/08/2026Scotland-Europe sleepers (Nightstars) almost happened after the channel tunnel opened. Quite a few of the carriages were actually built and infrastructure changes made to accommodate them. Cancelled in mid-90s due to security/border issues, commercial viability concerns, technical complexity etc. 120
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 04/08/2026The mad thing is, those vehicles may well be there legally. The bus lane operates very limited hours. There is only a single yellow line for part of its length, meaning vehicles can park/wait outside of the time when restrictions apply. For all the paint/signs, this is car parking most of the time. 131
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 01/08/2026Hang on - I thought no-one was coming to Edinburgh because of the tourist tax and the licensing of short-term lets. 231
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 01/08/2026Typical, just the sort of thing a tram would do! You really have to watch them, one minute they are a massive white elephant and the next they are "vital to the city's economy"! 010
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 01/08/2026I'm intrigued about the claim that "...the trams lost two per cent of your Council Tax last year". Is it just MY council tax - which seems a bit personal, or everyones? Have they tried to find it? Could I find it - say, in a bush near Balgreen? Hopefully the Council stop giving trams things to lose. 150
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 31/07/2026I particularly like how they have paved over two drains. What could possibly go wrong? 1142
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 29/07/2026Due to privatisation, outsourcing and rampant subcontracting it is often the case that the people who do the signing are employed by a different comany from those doing the work, who may well be subcontractors themselves, appointed by a main contractor working on behalf of the utility company. 120
Morningsider @morningsider.bsky.social · 29/07/2026The obvious thing to do was move the statue. There are large paved areas a few metres away - in front of Greyfriars Art Shop or the National Museum. 0100
