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Princes Street: think again, Edinburgh!

Princes Street, Scotland’s internationally renowned premier street, is unique, but has suffered in recent years. The opportunity to transform it, now under Council consideration, must not be squandered.

New drawings by Richard Murphy architects suggest an imaginative way forward, catering for tram, bus, cycling and large numbers of pedestrians, whilst reducing vehicle dominance. This […]

Programme for Government 25/26 – retreat on active travel, bus and traffic reduction

The Scottish Government’s 25/26 PfG has one big and welcome surprise on sustainable transport – peak rail fares will be permanently abolished from 1st September. Apart from that, funding for active travel is no longer transparent, the PfG confirms that the 20% traffic reduction commitment no longer exists, and trunk road expansion continues.

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It’s “Wait and See for AT Projects” – #SpokesMtg report

A major report to the May 22 Transport & Environment Committee will lay out a 10-year prioritised programme of active travel and wider transport projects in support of the city’s Mobility Plan. Speaking to a crammed hall, Transport Convener Cllr Stephen Jenkinson said that when he came into post he found an ever-expanding list […]

ScotGov draft budget 25/26: active travel cuts disguised

See also our 4.2.25 update to this article.

Despite larger than expected financial support from the UK government, the 25/26 Scottish draft budget cuts funding for rail, for bus investment and for active travel (AT). Presentation of the figures hides the extent of the AT cuts, which we estimate to be a £40m+ […]

Future Streets: Edinburgh is “on the way”

Speaking at our public meeting on Edinburgh’s new transport policies, London-based environment and cycling journalist Laura Laker said that Edinburgh now appeared to be on the way to a less car-dominated city and a more coherent approach to transport policy, with public transport, walking and cycling at its heart. On cycling in particular, on […]

Edinburgh Cycling: what will we see in ’23?

What can we expect locally for bike use and wider sustainable transport under Edinburgh’s new minority council? What will Spokes – and you! – need to support, to oppose, to provide, to improve or to highlight in order to encourage and speed up the move towards more sustainable and healthy places to live and […]

#SpokesMtg report: Cycling & Transport Policy in the new Edinburgh Council

The Climate Crisis and, within transport, the Council’s 30% car-km reduction target – Transport Convener Cllr Scott Arthur told the meeting that these are top issues for the new Council. To meet them, he said, will need big changes in parking management and bus priorities, together with a congestion charge, regional cooperation and faster […]

Spokes Bulletin 136 – year 2020 and beyond

The Spring Spokes Bulletin asks what concrete actions to boost cycle use we’ll see in Edinburgh in year 2020, and what the plans and intentions are between now and 2030?

At Scottish level, what do the experts say on the relationship between transport and climate? – and is the Scottish Government listening? – […]

#SpokesMtg: City Centre Transformation

It is time for both Edinburgh and Glasgow Councils to create people-friendly central areas, including major restrictions on motor traffic – and both cities intend to do so. This was the main theme to emerge from our 100-strong June 13 public meeting, addressed by top decision-makers from both cities.

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Transforming the City Centre, Picardy and Leith Street

Latest 6.12.17: ‘Picardy Group’ set up to oppose the Picardy Place gyratory plan. Manifesto Broughton Spurtle article

It is not widely realised that Edinburgh City Council has begun internal discussions on a potential major ‘Transformation’ of the City Centre…

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