The Edinburgh Reporter July 2023

8 NEWS

Chris Hill

Ross Nixon

Spokes Bike Breakfast offers the chance to chat about cycling

Bikes in the quad

5TH

In 1560, the Treaty of Edinburgh (also

known as the Treaty of Leith) was signed,

the purpose being that French and English

troops would withdraw from Scotland;

and Mary and François were to agree to

give up any claim to the English crown

and recognize Elizabeth as the rightful

Queen. And in 1820, scientist William John

Macquorn Rankine (picture by Thomas

Annan) was born in Edinburgh; Rankine

specialised in thermodynamics and his

detailed knowledge of the workings of

steam engines was sparked by work he

carried out as a teenager during study

breaks, at the Edinburgh and Dalkeith

Railway where his father worked. Also in

1847, the final run of the Edinburgh to

London mail coach took place; henceforth

mail would travel by train.

8TH

In 1823, the death of Sir Henry Raeburn

at his house in St Bernard’s, Stockbridge,

was announced.

12TH

In 1698, a fleet of five ships set sail from

the Port of Leith for the Isthmus of Darien

in Panama; the ships were launching the

Darien Scheme, a project which aimed to

establish a Scottish overseas colony in the

New World to rival those of England and

Spain; the scheme was to prove a disaster

and caused the ruin of dozens of

businessmen and landowners who had

invested in the project; the main

consequence was the subsequent Union

between Scotland and England. And in

1838, the Reverend John Jamieson,

lexicographer, philologist, and antiquary,

died in a house in George Square.

24TH

In 1513, James IV mustered part of his

army South of Edinburgh on Burgh Muir

(today its remains include the Meadows

and Bruntsfield Links) before heading for

the Battle of Flodden.

31ST

In 1871, the Emperor and Empress of

Brazil, Dom Pedro II and Theresa Christina

Maria, visited Edinburgh.

The complete list for the whole month

of July is published online on the website

theedinburghreporter.co.uk

If you wish to join the club then email

[email protected]

By KIRSTY LEWIN

EVERYBODY KNOWS that folk who love to

cycle also love to get together to chat and eat, even

early in the morning. That’s why local authorities,

employers, universities, colleges, and schools

across the world often celebrate cycling by hosting

bike breakfasts. Spokes and The City of

Edinburgh Council invited us all to the first bike

breakfast in the city since 2019. Cyclists came

from as far away as Musselburgh to the City

Chambers’ quadrangle for tea and coffee, fruit,

and breakfast rolls. I was delighted with my egg

roll and chuckled to see comments later on social

media about whether there might be a real meat

option next time! Edinburgh Bike Coop was on

hand, and I saw at least two councillors queuing

up politely to get their bike chains degreased and

oiled. Many organisations were there, from the

large ones such as Sustrans Scotland, Cycling

Scotland, and Cycling UK in Scotland, through to

the small but high-profile groups such as the

InfraSisters, the school bike buses, Spokes Porty

and folk from Critical Mass Edinburgh.

It was too early in the morning for long

speeches. I said a few words on behalf of Spokes

• mainly to thank everyone for coming,
  particularly the supportive councillors. I did,
  however, comment on how lovely it is now in
  parts of Leith where traffic is being significantly
  reduced as part of the Leith Connections project.
  I’m sure as more people experience how pleasant
  streets can be with limited traffic, they too will
  want that for their own neighbourhoods.
  Cllr Scott Arthur, the “interim” convener of the
  Council’s Transport and Environment Committee
  gave the main speech. He talked about the
  combined challenge of the two 2030 targets: net
  zero and reducing car miles by 30%. He warned
  that that we should not let ourselves be distracted
  by the growing number of climate sceptics and
  conspiracy theorists. He went on to list various

policies and major infrastructure projects that

would contribute to these targets. I’m still not sure

how these targets will be met without demand

management mechanisms that reduce private car

use – both the short trips and the commuting

trips into the city from other local authorities.

My final message to councillors was simple

• don’t compromise on designs when developing
  these schemes and ensure that everyone who
  wants to will be able to access the new cycling
  infrastructure promised for some parts of the city.
  A segregated cycle route may ‘only be 400 metres
  away’ but if that 400 metres involves cyclists,
  including children, sharing road space with

HGVs then the cycle route is not accessible.

Sarah Boyack was the only MSP to come along.

Spotting her in the crowd, I asked her to say a few

words. She kindly did, and, without the

microphone as it failed at the crucial point, she

celebrated cycle campaigners such as the

InfraSisters and called on The Scottish

Government to continue to fund even more

active travel infrastructure.

And with that, the formal events were over.

When I left to head off to work the quadrangle

was still busy with people chatting, comparing

cycles, and yes of course eyeing up the wonderful

cargo bikes on show.

A fabulously sunny weekend and the supercars taking part in the

charity Gumball 3000 from Edinburgh to Porto Montenegro attracted

Hot wheels at Gumball crowds to George Street where parts were closed to other traffic.

Jerry Ozaniec, Membership Secretary

of the Old Edinburgh Club takes a

look back at some important dates in

the history of Edinburgh.

This month

back when...

Cargo bikes to the fore

William John

Macquorn

Rankine