What on earth does a person’s ‘identity’ have to do with bike lanes? - Susan Dalgety

I took one look at the form and passed it to my husband. I don’t drive and I can’t ride a bike, so I thought my views on the proposals would be less than valuable.

Cycling campaign group, Spokes, would like to see more safe and segregated cycle routes through the middle of Edinburgh. Photo: Ian Rutherford

I have no idea if a smaller junction at Viewforth – where we live – or one-way bike lanes are a good idea or not. My husband, on the other hand, has years of experience dodging crazy cyclists and reversing out of our shared driveway, carefully avoiding oncoming traffic.

If I can wander along the Union canal to Tollcross without being run over by a bike, I am happy.

He took to the task with all the seriousness I expected until i question 18 asked: ‘Do you consider yourself to be trans or have a trans history?’ “Why on earth is this question in here?” he asked.

I had no answer for him or at least not one I can risk being printed. So perhaps the city’s transport chief, Cllr Stephen Jenkinson, can help.

What on earth does a person’s ‘identity’ have to do with bike lanes and better pavements? If there are sufficient people who consider themselves ‘trans’ or non-binary’, will they warrant a separate pink, blue and white pavement?

I can only come to the conclusion that the question was included in a clumsy and cynical attempt to prove the council is inclusive, because knowing how many people in the area consider themselves to be trans can have absolutely no practical impact on the development of this project which, need I remind the council, is about “walking, wheeling and cycling.”