Edinburgh to install 400 cycle racks on city centre streets

The City of Edinburgh is to install 400 cycle racks across the Scottish capital. Over the coming months, the racks will be introduced on city streets, creating up to 800 spaces for cyclists to secure their bikes.

Installation of cycle racks began on 16 May. The schemes is focused on the city centre, with further phases throughout the year including the wider city. The locations, many of which offer short-term parking, were selected based on public feedback, including responses to council surveys.

The cycle parking initiative has been jointly funded by Sustrans, which manages funding for Transport Scotland, the Scottish Government's transport agency, which contributed £66,000 as part of its commitment to the city's 20mph speed limit scheme. The council has also matched Sustrans' £66,000 from its cycling budget.

The council’s transport convener, Lesley Hinds, said: “As a council we recognise the many health, social and environmental benefits offered by cycling, and as such have committed to increasing our spend on related projects and improvements year-on-year.

“Part of this is about ensuring it is as accessible and easy as possible to get on your bike – and to park it – so by installing these new cycle racks we hope to encourage more people to opt for two wheels when travelling around Edinburgh.”

Sustrans Scotland’s national director, John Lauder, said: “With 12% of all commuting trips now being made by people on bicycle this increase in cycle parking reflects the increased uptake of people opting to take everyday trips by bike. Edinburgh is one of the leading authorities in Scotland helping people to travel in ways that improve their own lives by being more active, as well as benefitting the city's environment by reducing congestion and polluting vehicle emissions.”

In February 2012, the council pledged to increase the proportion of its transport budget spent on cycling by 1% each year, with a 9% proposed spend for 2016/17. The funding enables projects designed to encourage take-up of cycling, with projects including the development of segregated cycle lanes, improved cycle safety infrastructure and the city’s growing off-road cycle route network.