Off for a wee tour of Edinburgh’s local high streets to see how welcoming they are for a middle-aged woman with glasses on a bike. The more comfortable I feel, the more I’ll spend. I’ll not stop if I am close-passed/driven at or abused by a driver. Wish me luck!
Traffic jam in Porty High St (we can safely say they are not all here to shop) 
Left High St for Prom - police and hordes of young people everywhere. Impossible to cycle. No money spent yet.
Leith Walk - lovely! But only pubs open. Don’t feel like a pint yet.
Made it to Stockbridge. Horrible traffic. People cycling behind pedestrian cones and then giving up as cones displaced. No conflict with pedestrians. Looking for a bike friendly shop to support. First question - where is the bike parking?
Still looking for bike parking - every lamp post full too.
Found some bike parking (and pedestrian wands!) - you can park your large SUV right outside Herbies - waited in queue then gave up. Still no money spent. Have just noticed time. Might shoot up to Bruntsfield and Morningside for the welcoming party - money burning hole in pocket.
Lovely ride up mound, confused by cycle infra on George IV bridge (blue/white arrow sign blocking entrance to protected lane) and now about to head into Bruntsfield. No sign of a war zone yet altho appearances can be deceptive.
No sign of genocide or war zones - took the lane all the way down to Morningside. Counted 10 folk cycling up hill in just over a minute. Lots of pedestrians. Looks like high footfall. Battalions of SUVs making their presence felt
Such a thing of beauty! And the residential street is quiet, busy only with bird song and the sound of children laughing. Why wouldn’t you beg for these at the end of, or in the middle of, your street? #busgate
So I still have a few more high streets to do tomorrow to get the full experience. It’s incredible that people are opposing measures that would encourage folk to hang about, browse, feel good about the place and themselves, and shop. We can be better than this #shoplocal
In Bruntsfield and have just watched 2 women remove #SpacesForPeople cones from outside their shops - have photos - approached them - they said it was a protest. Sadly won’t be able to support their businesses now.
Brilliant - a trader from across the road came over and replaced the cones. Will be supporting his business - off to buy something now!
Cuckoo Bakery - cones removed again.
Interesting - cone removers have tables outside their business taking up pavement space - lovely to see people eating outside with #spacesforpeople but taking up pavement and removing cones? #cakeandeatingit
Still no enforcement - @edinhelp - people in Bruntfield removing #spacesforpeople cones. Blatant!
George IV bridge - this will be split for half walking/half cycling
Cockburn St lovely with less traffic - sounds of music, chatting, clinking cutlery.
Have to head home to charge phone - lovely riding through Holyrood Park on roads open only for walking/wheeling/cycling.
Just waiting for my phone to charge before heading out again. Important to note that the majority of traders don't appear to be moving the #spacesforpeople cones - please keep supporting your local high street shops - it's really important that they recover and thrive.
If anyone wants to join me for a socially distanced Edinburgh #spacesforpeople safari (by bike) - just shout. It's fascinating to spend time watching how people interact with the new temporary infrastructure, and helpful in thinking about modifications and improvements.
Right - off to Gorgie and Dalry now. Normally not keen on cycling through there - unpleasant conditions. #Mysteryshopper change of outfit just in case that cone-removal bakery business has an outlet there too.
One minute onto Porty High St and close passed by driver of massive black SUV pick-up. Then stopped in ASL at red light at top of Portobello Rd and driver of white SUV behind me put foot to floor and screeched through red light. So far, so dangerous.
A bit surprised to be joined in what I thought was an ASL by a @on_lothianbuses coming into Princes St - now off bike waiting for a gap in buses to get through.
Ah yes - Morrison St motorway with red strip in middle. Two bou racers sped past just beforethe picture. Wouldn’t attempt this if inexperienced cyclist #donttrythisathome
What’s happening here?
Hmm - Dalry Rd at corner of Richmond Terrace. No idea what’s happening here? @edinhelp - #SpacesForPeople cones moved?
Some fun road surfaces pics! (At a bus stop). Another fine reason to take the lane.
Abandoned Dalry and Gorgie - canal is quiet now but at busy times it can be congested and inconsiderate behaviour by minority of folk causes conflict.
Thought I’d go home via Bruntsfield. An interesting interpretation of #SpacesForPeople cones here 😀
Just for your amusement. Just been overtaken twice by driver of huge white SUV - once so he could get to red light before me, once so he could immediately cut across me to turn left. Lovely driving 😀👏🏽👏🏽
And - in the middle of Edinburgh - sheep! By the Innocent Path.
That’s it for today. It’s safe to say that a minority of drivers cause the majority of problems in Edinburgh on our high streets and pavements. We need tough parking/driving enforcement, pedestrian 🦶 🦶 cones, clear comms, & zero tolerance of deliberate removal of cones.
And of course safe cycling infrastructure (Phase 2) speed reduction, traffic reduction, & traffic calming. Less traffic also means more space for blue badge holders. The #travelhierarchy in the National Transport Strategy is not there to taunt us - it’s there for implementation.
