Spaces for People Lanark Road: Council leader calls to pause decision on removal of cycle lane as hundreds protest

A council leader has called for the decision over whether or not a cycle lane should be scrapped to be put on hold as hundreds gather to protest its proposed removal.

Lanark Road has been at the centre of a heated debate over the last few weeks between local residents and Edinburgh councillors in meetings on the Spaces for People programme.

Cycle lanes were installed on the busy road this year, but, in a meeting just last week, SNP and Labour councillors voted to remove them and replace them with parking spaces in a newly-proposed plan.

A decision is due to be made on Thursday this week, but, as hundreds of cyclists gathered in Lanark Road on Wednesday night, council leader Adam McVey issued a statement calling for the decision to be put on hold.

His statement read: “Thanks all who got in touch on Lanark Road, including good suggestions from locals on how to improve it.

“We’re asking Council to pause removal to get more data on usage. Final decision in September, and asking officers to engage further with residents and community councils in the meantime.”

Hundreds of cyclists gathered near the Water of Leith Centre in Lanark Road at about 6pm to cycle, in single file, in the cycle lanes that they are fighting to protect.

Activists cycling in single file on Lanark Road's cycle lanes as part of Wednesday's protest picture: Chris Hill

Parent and cyclist Sara Dorman, who attended the demonstration, said there were about 250 people taking part in the protest.

Pictures and videos of the event show cyclists in their numbers travelling on the Lanark Road cycle lanes ringing their bells as they put pressure on the council to change its proposed plans.

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