Up to 100 places are up for grabs on a celebratory glow in the dark bike ride through the heart of Edinburgh to celebrate the Capital becoming Scotland’s first 20mph city.
The GlowRide, organised by the Council and supported by Cycling Scotland and Sustrans Scotland, will take place on Sunday 4 March, the eve of the ‘go live’ date for the fourth and final phase of the 20mph rollout.
Residents of streets from Colinton to Comiston and Oxgangs to Liberton will enjoy the benefits of calmer, quieter traffic from 5 March, marking the end of the citywide rollout, which started in the city centre and rural west Edinburgh in July 2016.
All residential and shopping streets in the Capital – plus the city centre – will be 20mph from 5 March, with a strategic network of roads maintained at 30mph and 40mph.
To celebrate Edinburgh becoming the first 20mph city in Scotland, up to 100 ‘blinged up’ bikes will embark on a three-mile GlowRide, departing from the City Chambers quadrangle from 7pm on Sunday 4 March and led by qualified guides from Cycling Scotland.
The event is also looking to promote safe cycling at night and national campaigns such as Be Bright Be Seen. Bike safety checks will be available and cyclists will be able to decorate their bikes with brightly coloured LED lights before the ride starts.
It’s free to take part in the GlowRide – anyone interested should register via EventBrite. Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Riders must be aged twelve and over and have access to a bike that they can ride for the event.
Transport and Environment Convener Councillor Lesley Macinnes will welcome the riders to the GlowRide and say a few words to commemorate the completion of the 20mph rollout. She said: “This glow in the dark bike ride is a great way to mark the end of our rollout of calmer and safer streets in the Capital. We know that slowing down traffic encourages people to walk and cycle more, helping everyone stay fit and improving air quality in our city.”
Cycling Scotland’s William Wright, Marketing and Development Officer said: “We are delighted to be working with the City of Edinburgh Council, Sustrans Scotland and the local communities on helping to deliver the GlowRide to mark the completion of the 20mph roll-out across the city. Events such as the GlowRide are great opportunities for people to get out on their bikes and encourage them to continue to travel more actively to work, study, the shops or to visit friends and family – getting healthier, saving money and maybe even making new friends in the process.”
The city-wide roll out of the 20mph in Edinburgh has received Scottish Government funding through Sustrans Scotland’s Community Links programme.
Sustrans Scotland Community Links Manager, Dave Keane said: “The Glow Ride will be a fantastic way to mark the final stage of the introduction of 20mph streets in Edinburgh. Lower speeds on roads help reduce the risk and severity of collisions and make local neighbourhoods more pleasant environments in which to live, shop, walk and cycle.
“By reducing speed limits, building good quality cycling and walking networks and improving the layout of streets, even more people will choose to cycle and walk for more of their everyday journeys, benefitting themselves and the environment in which they live.”
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