Why cyclists should be banned from Portobello Prom - Hayley Matthews

I’m going to put my neck out there and just say it, I don’t think cycling bikes should be allowed along Portobello promenade.

Should cycling be banned from the Prom?

Oh what a relief it is to get that off my chest. Now, I do realise there will be many people who completely disagree with me, I’m not saying I’m right, I’m just letting you know what I think and I’m about to tell you why.

I think it’s dangerous to have bikes speeding along when there are so many kids playing, adults walking and dogs too.

I’m sick of jumping out of the way and getting a fright when a speeding cyclist zooms up behind me! Enough is enough! Furthermore, there was a post recently on the Porty People Facebook page about a little dog who went under the wheel of a cyclist who was travelling quite fast along the promenade, so how long until a child gets hurt?

There were many comments defending and contesting bikes being allowed along the promenade. However, to put it into perspective the definition of promenade is “a paved public walk” – and yes the definition also states drive or cycle leisurely yet many don’t do this leisurely, they cane it along.

I’m not an avid cyclist but f I was I can’t think of anything worse than cycling down a crammed area that’s highly pedestrianised.

We don’t see cycling bikes pounding along the streets that are heavily pedestrianised such as Princes Street, The Bridges or Leith Walk. Nope, these areas have cycle lanes to keep pedestrians and cyclists apart so that we’re all safe.

I realise there’s been discussion of a cycle lane on the promenade but it’s not really practical. However, I do think something needs to be done before it’s a child that goes under the wheel of a mad, rapid cyclist heading along the promenade.

Maybe Edinburgh Council should make dedicated times for allowing cyclists to travel on the promenade but also pedestrians can walk too – at least the pedestrians would be aware that cyclists would be on the prom at a certain time.

I don’t know if anything like this would work but something needs to be done because the amount of times that I’ve seen my kids nearly collide with a bike along the promenade, it’s too many to count, and it’s becoming a less enjoyable place to visit.

Also I’m not hating on the cyclists. I think cycling is an enjoyable experience and it’s a beautiful place to travel along on a bike but I don’t think it safe any more, especially now with more and more people being pushed outdoors to meet. Even if it’s cold, windy and wet you still see the promenade really busy and more people means more chance of colliding.

I really feel strongly that something needs to be put in place before somebody gets badly hurt, be it cyclist, pedestrian, child or animal. Cycling isn’t allowed on the pavements, and with the promenade like a huge pavement surely my argument has some justification for restricting cyclists.

I’d love to know what everybody thinks about this because I’ve been racking my brain for a solution and I don’t know how Edinburgh goes forward with this – or do we insist all bikes ring their bell? Anyway, if I have to leap out the way of one more bike pounding towards me on the promenade with my two kids by my side, it won’t be their bell I’ll be ringing, it’ll be their neck!