The 5th edition of our highly praised West Lothian Cycle Map was launched on 11 October by Kirsteen Sullivan, MP for Bathgate and Linlithgow and Cllr Peter Heggie, Council Deputy Provost, at West Lothian Bike Library / Crofthead Community Centre.
The whole county was surveyed in detail by Spokes volunteers, together with a new area covering Falkirk, Bo’ness and the Kelpies. The map was then completely redrawn and revised by our maps group’s skilled volunteer cartographer, using new software which enables simpler future updating.
Also used by walkers, the map is invaluable for everyone seeking safe routes to shops, work or school, for planning leisure rides, and for other imaginative purposes! You are very likely to find quiet routes and short cuts that you didn’t even know existed.
If you normally use a car for local shopping or leisure, the map can help you try cycling instead, making healthier and more sustainable choices more often!
Features of the map (some completely new) include…
- All new housing developments since our last edition
- Contours and shading, to identify gradients and hills
- A scale of 1:32,000, covering the entire area effectively within one manageable sheet
- Large-scale (1;12500) street maps of Livingston, Linlithgow, Bathgate, Blackburn and Whitburn (on the back of the main map)
- Printed on water and tear-resistant synthetic paper (a recyclable polythene)
Spokes maps of Edinburgh and the Lothians have now sold over 150,000 copies since the first Edinburgh edition. This is no surprise, given the high praise they receive…
- Your maps are invaluable and the detail amazing, far better than any other commercially available maps
- After years with online maps, was surprised how much I preferred a real one
- Got my new copy after my old cycle map was worn from many rides. Thank you Spokes for a fab resource.
Map launch
The map was launched by Kirsteen Sullivan, MP for Bathgate and Linlithgow, and Cllr Peter Heggie, Deputy Provost of West Lothian Council. Also present was Graeme Burton (a Council projects manager), David Liddell (Bike Library organiser), Michael Duncan (Crofthead Community Centre), Katharine Taylor (Spokes Maps Group coordinator) and, of course, many of our excellent volunteer surveyors.
Kirsteen Sullivan [who, incidentally, also launched our 4th edition in 2018 when she was Council Deputy Leader] said.. “It’s always a pleasure to support Spokes in its work to promote the best routes for active travel. The new West Lothian Cycle Map is a fantastic resource for residents across West Lothian and Falkirk, helping cyclists and walkers find safer and greener routes to work, school and for leisure activities. This kind of voluntary effort in active travel plays a vital role in working towards healthier communities and a cleaner environment. A huge well done to all volunteers involved in delivering the updated map.”
Peter Heggie said: “I was delighted to attend this launch event and hope that people from West Lothian and beyond enjoy using this new map to explore our county.”
Volunteers’ thank-you
The event was also a thank-you for the many Spokes members and other volunteers who had given countless hours in surveying and identifying every road, path, cut-through and other important features in the huge area covered by the map. Crofthead Community Centre provided some excellent scones and sandwiches for us.
Prize for Donald Tainsh
Donald, one of our surveyors, had entered the Spokes annual summer competition, this year’s theme being My Favourite Bike Ride, and his entry of rides round Livingston came a superb 3rd (out of 30 excellent entries). Dave du Feu from Spokes spoke about Donald’s entry and then Kirsteen Sullivan MP presented his chosen prize, an Africap (donated to the competition by Lanterne Rouge, the famous East Lothian bike cafe). Our bluesky post includes more information.
All competition entries, including Donald’s will shortly be at spokes.org.uk, but do check out his amazing youtube library of rides round Livingston, LostInLivi.
West Lothian bike projects
After the launch (and the lunch!) Graeme Burton, projects manager from West Lothian Council, gave us a quick verbal rundown on active travel projects currently underway and planned by the Council, followed by a useful Q/A. The details are largely as in this powerpoint which he used at the June West Lothian Active Travel Forum.
We heard that West Lothian Council is in a similar position to Edinburgh (and, probably, most Scottish councils) in that the results of bids for Scottish Government active travel funding are often announced very late in the financial year in which they have to be spent; and that major (multi-year) projects can only be bid for on an annual basis (so the Council has a risk of no cash to complete the project).
Graeme is very happy to be contacted [graeme.burton@westlothian.gov.uk] with suggestions or questions about these or other potential projects.
Thanks
- All our maps are entirely volunteer-produced – surveying, design and layout, launching and distribution to shops – everything except the specialist printing. We cannot praise loudly enough our surveyors, our expert cartographer, and, not least, the ‘hustlers’ who get the maps into shops and ensure they are topped up as needed. Many hundreds of volunteer hours go into producing each map and getting them into the hands of grateful users. A great deal of admin is also entailed to ensure that everything comes together, for which the maps group coordinator Katharine, hustler organiser Robert, office manager Anne and others also provide essential time and expertise. Thank you to all!
- West Lothian Bike Library, organiser David Liddell, and the Crofthead Community Centre all did a great job doing much of the launch (and lunch) organisation
- Launch photography (including all photos in this article) was by Bob Douglas
- West Lothian Council (particularly Graeme Burton) provided information for the map. The Council also purchased 1000 copies for their own stalls, staff active travel promotions, and other purposes, thus also helping us keep down the per-copy retail map price.
Shop Local!
The map sells in local bike and book shops at the excellent normal price of £7.50. We believe it is or soon will be on sale at the following West Lothian outlets, but please let us know if any don’t have it, or if you know another outlet that would definitely like to stock the map. Many Edinburgh bike shops also stock it.
- Livingston – Scot Cycles, East Dedridge Industrial Estate, Abbotsford Rise, Livingston EH54 6QD
- Livingston – West Lothian Bike Library, Crofthead Farm, Templar Rise, Livingston EH54 6DG
- West Calder – Pedal Power, 13 Main Street
- Linlithgow – Far From the Madding Crowd (bookshop)
- Torphichen – Torphichen Inn (presumably the ‘wee shop’ round the side of the Inn and down the hill)
Special Offer [ending 31 October]
Until 31 October 2025 you can order direct from Spokes, by post or email [office@spokes.org.uk] at the special price of £7 each including postage.
You can also order 6 maps for our standard bulk-order price of £30 – perfect to resell at your workplace, school or amongst friends and relations – give them a cheap price or raise cash for a charity. Or as a present to your 6 best friends! [Postage may be added if delivery or collection cannot be arranged].
More info
- Map launch press release
- Press reports – [printed / online to follow]
- High demand in !
Help us promote the West Lothian map – and other Spokes maps
- If you find a local bike shop that is sold out of the new West Lothian map, or a bikeshop, bookshop or other that would like to stock this or other Spokes maps, email maps@spokes.org.uk
- Repost our bluesky post
- Like/share our facebook article
- Find out more about Spokes maps on our maps page.
Join Spokes
Our maps contain a membership form – or use our website membership page. By joining you’ll receive a roughly-monthly email of current developments, issues, events, etc; and how you can help. You don’t have to be an ‘activist’ – we also welcome ‘sleeping but interested’ members!