GNORTH EDINBURGH BACTIVE TRAVEL ACTION PLAN - THE BIKE STATION
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N O rt h
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Active Travel Action Pla
Produced by: In partnership with:
1 Summary and background 2 links to existing plans & policies 3 Community consultation 4 Survey responses 5 Infrastructure 6 Recommendations 8 Next steps
Summary and background
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This action plan has been created with the input of your community, to benefit your community. Through surveys, conversations and
focus groups, we have learned about what people who live and work in North Edinburgh think about walking and cycling. We have
combined this information with our own knowledge and experience of active travel in Edinburgh, to create a set of recommendations
that can be used by anybody in the community who wants to help make Edinburgh a Cycle Friendly City.
The plan is designed to offer practical and achievable advice that can be taken by community councils, schools, groups, families or individuals
to help overcome local barriers to walking and cycling.
There are many ways that groups and individuals can get involved in promoting active travel, learning new skills and making connections
with others. This plan has a list of practical recommendations to overcome barriers to active travel within your community.
The data collected through consultation will be shared directly with Edinburgh Council’s Active Travel team. To provide the best chance of
making an impact, we advise strongly that interested parties come together and support the North Edinburgh Active Travel Steering
Group. Supporting this group would open up opportunities to apply for funding from various sources that could help the community to
make real changes and improvements that could benefit all who live and work in the area.
The Bike Station can help to make this happen – please get in touch for more information. (Ashley@thebikestation.org.uk)
Why promote active travel in your community?
Walking or cycling for everyday journeys (active travel) offers benefits to both individuals and
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their community.
Some of the most significant benefits are:
WHO WE ARE
HEALTHIER AND HAPPIER COMMUNITIES
The Bike Station works with
Walking and cycling are fantastic forms of exercise that greatly improve both physical and mental
communities on a range of
health. It is important that communities feel able to build active travel into their daily routines,
environmental, active travel and
given that physical inactivity contributes to over 2,500 early deaths in Scotland each year.
community issues.
SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOLS AND NURSERY The Bike Station promotes cycling
Many of Edinburgh Council schools and nurseries are in the process of implementing new in all its forms by:
school travel plans. Every plan emphasises the importance of increasing walking and cycling.
An environment that supports active travel to school offers huge physical, psychological and v Refurbishing donated bikes and
environmental benefits to the pupils, their families and the wider community. re-using components.
BETTER PLACES TO LIVE AND WORK v Enabling healthier, happier and
Active travel can make your community a more attractive and safer place to live by reducing the more affordable journeys.
number of short journeys made by car. Fewer cars mean less congestion, easier journeys and
roads that are safer for all road users. This will also improve air quality, which will help to improve v Developing skills, confidence and
the health of everybody in the community. the spirit of adventure.
The Bike Station works in partnership with local experts to bring about lasting change. v Helping build sustainability into
With funding from Transport Scotland, The Bike Station has coordinated The Cycle Friendly Cities better connected communities
Partnership since 2015. The Partnership works to support anyone who wants to build more active
journeys into their everyday lives. l 1
LINKS TO EXISTING PLANS & POLICES
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CITY OF EDINBURGH COUNCIL ACTIVE TRAVEL ACTION PLAN 2016
https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/download/13766/active-travel-action-plan
NORTHWEST LOCALITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN 2017 TO 2022
https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/downloads/file/25732/north-west-locality-improve-
ment-plan
SUSTRANS BIKE LIFE 2020
https://www.sustrans.org.uk/bike-life/bike-life-edinburgh/
PRIMARY SCHOOL TRAVEL PLAN
(on schools website)
• Increase the number of pupils making active travel choices
• Establish walking buses within the local community along identified
This action plan is designed
banded routes
to complement existing
community plans. HIGH SCHOOL TRAVEL PLAN
(on schools website)
With many common goals • Promote procedures to protect the security of bicycles brought to school,
and outcomes, it would be and encourage active, safe travel through the use of bicycles
sensible to communicate • Continue to investigate safe walking and cycling routes to school, taking
into account distance and traffic, and responding to community and
and collaborate as much as
transport route changes over time
possible in our actions.
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Community Consultation
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Over the last few months The Bike Station has collected the views of people living and
During the course of
working in North Edinburgh through dedicated community meals, pop-up hub events, the project we:
at locations such as North Edinburgh Arts and its Community Workshop The Shed, The
Social Bite village, Wardie Primary School,Granton Parish Church, Pilton Community
Health project and others.
Top Five concerns raised in North Edinburgh
1. Weather
2. Lack of integrated infrastructure
(also knowledge of the existing network, quality. e.g. litter, dog mess, potholes).
3. Mechanical problems/lack of knowledge
4. Practicalities of moving children and luggage (e.g. groceries)
5. Risk of bike theft and personal safety.
Top five activities That encourage cycling
1. Better weather
2. Better cycling routes
3. Mechanical skills training and regular Community
Dr. Bike sessions
4.
5.
A better bike
Safe and secure cycle parking
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3
Out Of OuR
Participants:
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Survey responses
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'Poorly maintained paths, glass on cycle paths, not enough bike
stands available to lock bike up.'
'No good routes in or I just don’t know about them.'
'I don’t feel the paths are safe for children.'
Although North Edinburgh is fairly well connected through active travel
infrastructure, it is seemingly let down by the reputation of these paths, which
discourages active travel and impacts on access for everyone. Some of the concerns
over a lack of infrastructure appear to be due to people not being aware of what
exists and how different sections can be linked together for longer journeys.
Concerns were expressed around community crime/perceptions of safety.
'I would cycle more often if it wasn’t for the weather.'
This was the most common barrier to walking, wheeling and cycling! Further work
is required to enable individuals to access suitable clothing and skills.
'When you get overtaken too close when you are walking on the
path, it's scary for me and the dog too.'
Commuters put locals off accessing the path network because of the high volume
of traffic at peak times and speed. Normalising cycling for the community with local
partners and local champions will address this gap. There is a need to engage with
commuters to encourage considerate cycling as well.
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Infrastructure
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ACCESS TO BIKE SHOPS, OR WORKSHOPS TO REPAIR AND LEARN
MAINTENANCE SKILLS.
'There is only one bike shop nearby, which is hard for me to get to. Being
busy all of the week prevents me from fixing and maintaining my bike,
which stops me from riding as much as I would like to.'
'I’m scared of being on the road.'
Roads are perceived as “no go areas” for younger children, less confident cyclists and vul-
nerable members of the community. This is due to fast-moving traffic, and a commonly held
perception of danger- other issues include the condition of the routes, with potholes also
mentioned as a barrier to using these more direct routes for journeys.
ACCESS TO BIKE HIRE
This is a summary of some North Edinburgh is currently a gap in the network, and responses were relatively positive
around the idea of bike hire. Many individuals suggested that they would find access to hire
features that could be
bikes useful in encouraging them to cycle.
improved, reflecting
comments collected through
NORTH EDINBURGH CYCLE PATHS
consultation and the
Many of the Community who told us their stories associate risk with using the Cycle path
experiences of The Bike
network.
Station and other partners
that are familiar with the These risks include:
• Fast-moving cycle commuters,
network.
• Motorcycles on cycle paths,
• Bike theft and,
• Personal risk after dark.
These form the basis of a significant barrier to the community accessing these routes.
Significant work is required to address these beliefs.
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Recommendations
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This action plan should contribute towards the 'Planning and Strategy' component of Cycling Scotland’s Cycle Friendly
Community Award.
CYCLE FRIENDLY COMMUNITY
ISSUE ACTION AWARD CRITERIA
Lack of knowledge on bike Pop-up The Bike Station sessions with Dr
maintenance and local Bike; free maps and route planning; bike Infrastructure and Promotion,
infrastructure; Improve maintenance classes; bike library, On-site Cycling for All
access to bikes sales.
Project to clean up paths and discourage
Litter and dog mess on paths Infrastructure and Promotion
further problems
Safer and greater levels of active Schools and nursery to implement Play on
Partnership Working, Linking with Existing
travel to schools; cycle training; Pedals and Bikeability programmes;
National programmes
school travel plan outcomes implement travel plan actions
Small issues with existing Council to assess potential for small-scale Partnership working-linking With Existing
infrastructure improvements National Programmes
Support North Edinburgh steering group to
Perceived risks associated with work with Edinburgh Council and Sustrans Governance, Partnership Working,
Cycle Path Network on implementing changes as part of wider Infrastructure and Promotion
community work
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Who? What? Funding?
These services will be provided free
of charge, subject to confirmation of
The Bike Station, and community The Bike Station and Community funding.
partners to organise pop-up hubs and
partners
classes as part of outreach program Cycling UK Big Bike Revival funding is
2020/21. available for promotional events next
year.
Sustrans Safe routes to Schools funding.
Working with Council on Sustrans
Liaise with the City of Edinburgh Council if Places for Everyone project for
any further training or guidance needed. Pennywell road.
Primary Schools, High Schools
Sustrans Cycle and Scooter Parking
and Nurseries
Contact could complement cycle training in
activetravel@edinburgh.gov.uk schools.
Play on Pedals
angie.kinghorn@cyclinguk.org
Subject to council prioritisation process;
may be aided by community taking
Council looking to build capacity for initiative through steering group;
City of Edinburgh Council
active travel. consider Community Links+ and/or
Cycle Friendly Community Award.
Subject to council prioritisation process;
Campaign to have changes included in may be aided by community taking
CEC, Community Councils, and
2021/22 programme; existing initiative through steering group;
The Bike Station
consultation will be directly fed to consider Sustrans Community Links
council. and or Cycling Scotland Cycle Friendly
Community Award.
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Next Steps
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This active travel plan offers some suggestions of the barriers faced by the community and some actions that may help to overcome them.
While some of these actions are undeniably large, especially around infrastructure, there are things that every individual can do to contribute
towards making Edinburgh a more active, healthier and greener place to live and work.
Small changes can make a huge difference; from learning a new skill to helping to report problems, taking part in activities to forming a group
with like-minded people to apply for funding. There is something that everyone can do to contribute.
Here are some useful places to get started:
I want to... Who can help? Contact details
There is funding available for communities
who want to see changes in infrastructure,
Work with others in my community or gain access to training and activities. More information on the award:
to secure funding for active travel The Bike Station can bring people togeth- www.cycling.scot/our-programmes/cy-
improvements er to the Cycling Scotland Cycle Friendly cle-friendly/community
Community Award and assist with funding
applications
The Bike Station, https://thebikestation.org.uk/
Spokes, http://www.spokes.org.uk/
Comment on existing and or future
https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/communi-
walking and cycling infrastructure Community Council, ty-planning/community-councils/1
(paths crossing points , etc.)
https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/cy-
cling-walking
Active Travel team,
https://twitter.com/
@edinhelp
Report a problem with roads,
pavements or paths in my City of Edinburgh Council #edinhelp
community
https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/roadprob-
lem
Get my bike repaired and/or learn
The Bike Station https://thebikestation.org.uk/
how to fix it myself
8Sustrans Cycling UK
'The national walking and 'The national cycling charity.
cycling charity. Our mission is to enable
www.sustrans.org.uk millions more people to cycle.'
www.cyclinguk.org
Cycling Scotland
'Cycling Scotland is the
nation’s cycling organisation. Energy Saving Trust
We help create and deliver 'From planning your journey
opportunities and an with any mode of transports to
environment so anyone living with an electric car, our
anywhere in Scotland can experts’ tips should be your
cycle easily and safely.' first stop to achieving a
www.cycling.scot greener journey.'
www.energysavingtrust.org.
Paths for All uk
'We want to get Scotland
Forth Environment Link
walking, everyone, everyday,
everywhere.' 'Forth Environment Link (FEL)
www.pathsforall.org.uk works with communities on a
range of environmental, active
travel and local food issues.
Living Streets
FEL's vision is to link people and
'The UK charity for everyday
the environment for a greener,
walking. We want a nation where
healthier future.'
walking is the natural choice for
www.forthenvironmentlink.org
everyday local journeys.'
www.livingstreets.org.uk
9Visit us at our two locations:
Edinburgh
244 Causewayside
EH9 1UU
Perth
284 High Street
PH1 5QS
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