8 NEWS
By KIRSTY LEWINTHE INFRASISTERS mass cycle ride takes
place on 8 March, leaving Middle Meadow
Walk at 7.30pm to celebrate International
Women’s Day (IWW). The theme for this
year’s IWW is Embrace Equity. Organisers
want to get the world talking about why
‘equal opportunities are no longer enough’.
The difference between equality and
equity is important. Equality means each
individual or group is given the same
resources or opportunities. But equity
recognises that people have different
circumstances, and resources should be
allocated in a way that enables equal
outcomes. This is criticalwhen designing
public spaces and transport infrastructure.
Women and girls should be able to cycle
safely and comfortably around Edinburgh
at all times of the day and night. But, the
current cycle infrastructure, dominated by
isolated off-road shared paths, is not
considered safe by many of them. There
are few escape routes, paths are not
overlooked by houses, and instances of
harassment, anti-social behaviour, and
even assault have been reported.DANGEROUS CHOICES
Women and girls must choose between
these paths or roads and junctions where
there can be aggressive unpredictable
drivers and most are poorly designed.
Many women and girls either don’t cycle at
all in the city, or stop cycling in the dark
winter months when the threat of male
violence feels simply too great.
In November 2021, a group of women
formed the InfraSisters to campaign for
night-time cycling infrastructure that’s safe
for women and girls. They were fed up with
being harassed on dangerous roads and
feeling threatened on off-road paths.
Our Streets Our Nights, is on International
Women’s Day. The rides are organised
and led by women, but everyone is
welcome to join. Once again the group is
calling for an equitable approach to urban
design including consideration of those
who use adapted cycles and trikes to get
around. Design compromises, that make
cycle routes and infrastructure
unwelcoming or unsafe for women
and girls, are not equitable.For more information please visit the
website at: http://www.infrasisters.org.ukInfraSisters on
International
Women’s Day
J L PreeceServing up help Young Musicians
It’s essential eating
Special deals for a fortnight to tempt people into the city centre
By STAFF REPORTEREAT OUT EDINBURGH is returning this month,
bringing tasty offers to the capital in a fortnight-
long celebration of food and drink. Look out for
announcements of where to go for special menus,
events and offers – all details are online from the
beginning of March.
Celebrating the best food, drink and hospitality,
and with more than 30 participating venues
confirmed, the Eat Out Edinburgh 2023 campaign
will run for two weeks from 13 to 26 March.
A bumper list of participating Edinburgh
venues will promote special tasting menus, set
menus, events and exclusive offers throughout the
foodie fortnight.
From business breakfasts to leisurely lunchesand evening gatherings over dinner and cocktails,
the Eat Out Edinburgh campaign has been
designed to bring friends, family and colleagues
together while helping to support the city’s
vibrant hospitality sector as it recovers from the
challenges of the past few years.
Businesses from St James Quarter to Charlotte
Square, George Street to Princes Street will be
involved, including Hawksmoor on St Andrew
Square, Badger & Co on Castle Street and
Grazing by Mark Greenway at the Waldorf
Astoria. Some businesses took part last year, while
others are joining in the fun for the first time.
Essential Edinburgh Chief Executive and
director, Roddy Smith, said: “Following the
success of last year’s campaign, we are bringing
back Eat Out Edinburgh for 2023 – with the helpof our partner businesses in the hospitality
industry, we want it to be bigger and better than
it was in 2022.”
He added: “This unique celebration of food
and drink enables our residents, visitors and
office workers to enjoy what’s on offer with special
menus, events and offers for city centre workers.
“After the challenges of the past few years, there
is a real appetite for people to come and see what
our city centre has to offer. So whether you’re a
local, from the wider Lothians region or visiting
from further afield, we know there will be
something on offer to suit all tastes.”For more information and the latest campaign
news, visit http://www.edinburghcitycentre.co.uk/
eat-out-edinburghL-R: Kate Russell (General Manager), Bonnie & Wild,
St James Quarter; Dominik Kawalec (Executive Chef),
Edinburgh Grand and James Sleigh, Signature GroupBy STAFF REPORTERTHE ROTARY Club Of
Dalkeith are hosting the
next round of the annual
Rotary Young Musician
Competition in the James
Watt Centre, Heriot-Watt
University, Riccarton
Campus EH14 4AS
(just off the City Bypass)
on Sunday 12 March
starting at 1.00pm.
This is one of the stages
of a National Rotary
UK-wide competition with
youngsters from all over
the south of Scotlandtaking part either vocally
or playing an instrument.
All the participants have
already competed in two
preliminary events so they
are all very accomplished
performers.
The event is open to the
public for a small entry
charge so why not pop
along to see the wealth of
local young musical talent
on show.
It could be a very good
opportunity to see some
of our future Scottish
performers who may hit
the big time in future years.By OLIVIA THOMASMCDONALD’S RESTAURANTS in Newbridge and
Corstorphine have contributed a total of £15,
to local charity Neil’s Hugs Foundation. This is a
charity which runs support groups to help,
understand and support families affected by
suicide. THe funds will support face-to-face and
telephone support services.
The McDonalds in the Community Foundation was
set up by 16 McDonald’s franchisees and 20
McDonald’s owned restaurants in Scotland
providing a central way of distriubting the funds
raised by the carrier bag charge to those charities
which need help.
Elliot Jardine owns both restaurants and said:
“We’re so proud to work with charities like Neil’s
Hugs and look forward to continuing to do so.”