8 NEWS
Edinburgh cycling project wins award
Tree planting and money raising with Friends of Victoria Park
Think bike!
By KIRSTY LEWININFRASISTERS - a group of women
campaigning for night-time cycling
infrastructure that’s safe for women and
girls - led their third mass protest ride
through the Old Town recently. The ride
attracted around 130 people, with many
women saying they would never cycle the
route on their own as it is simply too
dangerous. With a carnival atmosphere,
bikes lit up with colourful fairy lights, and
cheered on by friendly drivers and
pedestrians, their message is however a
serious one.
Cycling should be a cheap, fast, fun way
of getting around, but for many women
and girls, cycling in the dark isn’t an option.
They face a dilemma trying to select a safe
route. There are some limited sections of
protected on-road infrastructure in the
city, but most are shared with drivers,
particularly at busy junctions.VERBAL ABUSE
Women and girls are often close-passed by
drivers, left-hooked at junctions, and
verbally abused just for being on the road.
The off-road paths, usually well-lit, are
isolated with few escape routes. On the
Innocent Path, the canal, and the North
Edinburgh Path Network, there have been
reports of anti-social behaviour, assault
and harassment.
The InfraSisters, through their Our
Streets Our Nights protest rides, are calling
on all councillors, irrespective of their
political party, to support their campaign.
They want the Council to:- Prioritise safe and comfortable on-road
cycle infrastructure, protected from
traffic, on well-lit direct routes - Provide well-signed routes which are
permeable and always have a way out,
not fenced/ walled on both sides, and
with good connections to other streets - Provide routes which use natural
surveillance where possible, for example
streets with high footfall
Creating safe cycling infrastructure for
women and girls will reduce inequalities
and benefit everyone. In a cost of living
crisis, and a climate crisis, it’s essential that
women have a cheap easy travel option for
moving around the city at all times of day
and night.
The InfraSisters are likely to have smaller,
more regular rides in future, highlighting
specific streets and routes that women find
intimidating or dangerous.
Sign up to the InfraSisters’ mailing list at:
http://www.infrasisters.org.uk/contactThe InfraSisters
bike revolution
CYRENIANS GOLDEN Years,
teamed up with Hibernian FC
and Hibernian Community
Foundation to host their second
Gamechanger Baffies & Blankets
Big Slipper giveaway lunch at
Hibs Stadium.
At the special event around 90
older people were given a freeblanket to keep them warm at
home. There were other services
all providing information and
advice on ways to keep homes
safe and warm, and everyone
was offered a fitting for slippers
by a qualified podiatrist.
Amanda Law works on the
Golden Years team asCommunity Keyworker.
She explained the importance
of the new footwear. She said:
"A well-fitting pair of slippers
goes some way to preventing
trips and falls in the home.
The slippers being provided are
more like house shoes and are
really good quality - we believeeverybody deserves the best."
The Gamechanger Lunch is
held every Monday in Hibs
Stadium at Easter Road, and it is
open to all and free to attend.Contact Cyrenians for
information or Email Amanda
[email protected]Cyrenians Golden Years Baffies & Blankets
By JOHN KNOXA WEE PEDAL which offers cycle tours
and activities from Bridgend Farmhouse
is celebrating winning the regional finals
of the Scottish Thistle Awards for the
best outdoor adventure experience.
The business is led by Leanne Farmer,
a former PE teacher, who teaches young
children to ride in the safety of
Craigmillar Castle Park. She also leads
cycle tours for visitors to Edinburgh,
taking them round the famous sights
of the city.
She started A Wee Pedal as a small
business in 2019 and now employs five
freelance instructors and guides. The
business is in partnership with Bridgend
Farmhouse, a community centre on the
Old Dalkeith Road, and it shares the
same values of inclusiveness,
encouragement and patience. Many ofthe children who come to learn to cycle
have additional support needs and
many of the adults simply lack
confidence on today’s busy roads.
There is a range of bikes, suitable
for everyone, including electric bikes,
often favoured by those on the city cycle
tours. They also offer bike maintenance
classes, an introduction to mountain
biking and balance-bike classes for very
young children.
A Wee Pedal now goes forward to the
national finals of the Thistle Awards to
be held next year. Neil Christison, the
regional director of Visit Scotland which
sponsors the awards, said: “A Wee Pedal
was praised by the judges for delivering
low-impact, inclusive and quality
experiences for both visitors and the
local community. This small inspiring
business has the community at its heart
and is committed to low-carbon travel.”PUPILS FROM Trinity
Primary School helped the
Friends of Victoria Park
(FoVP) group to plant some
trees near their school.
The newly planted trees
are part of the Queen’s
Green Canopy project.
FoVP have raised £2,
from the council, £2,
from the National Lottery
Community Fund and £
from the local community
through an onlinecrowdfunding appeal.
Most of this will fund a
community arts project to
cover up graffiti on the
former pumphouse in the
park next to the allotments.
Next summer, ChrisRutterford, the artist
behind the Colinton Tunnel
mural, will work his magic
on a mural there. Lucy
Metcalfe, chair of the
Friends of Victoria Park,
said: “We’ve been blownaway by the success of our
fundraising campaign for
the pumphouse mural as
we’ve exceeded our target
of £4,650. We are grateful
for the generous support
from various organisations.”Leanne Farmer helps a young
cyclist on their wayL-R John McLaughlin, Jess Tullis, Darren Collinson, Sandra Donald and
Linda Hannay all from Gilmerton who all received a free blanket