A cargo bike carnival in the Meadows on Sunday launched a report about cargo bike use across Edinburgh, and the importance of bike libraries, hubs and other lending schemes for normalising cargo bike use across the city and the country.
Organisers hope that the biggest gathering of cargo bikes in Edinburgh ever, will meet on the Meadows for games, stalls, a play about the history of the bicycle, and a mass bike ride.
Cargo bikes combine the relatively low environmental impact of cycling with greater carrying capacity and practicality. By enabling the transportation of loads that would be difficult to carry by conventional bicycle, including children, shopping, and equipment, they can play an important role in reducing car use.
These cargo-carrying electric bikes are currently most popular amongst families with young children as they are a fun and practical way to carry children and their stuff from school to club to family outing in a fast and easy manner. They have become a much more common sight out and about in Edinburgh in the last few years.
The Scottish government had a target of a 20 per cent reduction in car kilometres by 2030 which is currently being revised. At the moment, it is off track to meet such a target – so anything that encourages a move away from private car use is valuable.
The report: ‘Carrying change: Unlocking the potential of cargo bike use in Edinburgh and the Lothians’ focuses on the different uses people have made of cargo bikes hired from the various bike libraries and hubs across the city.
It suggests how the government can support the city-wide growth in cargo bike use by taking inspiration from schemes and infrastructure development in other European cities.
Lothians Cargo Bike Network is a newly formed informal coalition of organisations that hire out cargo bikes.
Data from this group was used to write the report that has been funded by the cycle campaign organisation Spokes.
The coalition have worked together to organise Sunday’s family day out in the Meadowsand are encouraging cargo bike owners to attend and enter the ‘best dressed car.
Sasha Taylor, Bike Station CEO said: ‘Cities across Europe demonstrate how cargo bikes can be part of the solution to sustainable travel in our cities. This report has been written to capture where Edinburgh is compared to other cities and sets out recommendations to realise the potential of cargo bikes in our city.
As proud custodians of Cargo Bike Movement’s mission and vision, The Bike Station is one of many local groups providing cargo bikes within our city. This report was compiled by Calum Glen, Impact and Data Officer for The Bike Station.’
Carol from Banzai Bikes – a cargo bike library in Bruntsfield said: ‘The Cargo Bike Carnival was a fun event showcasing all the different ways cargo bikes are being used across Edinburgh right now, by families, small businesses and community organisations.
“The versatility of cargo bikes and the incredible variety of loads, equipment and of course passengers that can be transported will surprise people! As well as trying the bikes you can take part in lots of fun activities including bike games, performances, a circus bike and a big bike ride, and find out about bike lending schemes across the city.’
Jane from Porty Community Energy, that has a cargo bike library on Porty prom said: ‘Our cargo bike library on the prom is very well used throughout the year, most commonly by families looking for a fun day out.
“Hiring out a cargo bike offers a fun alternative to an outing in the car with so many great cycle routes away from the roads now available in Edinburgh. It’s great exercise, and good for every family’s health and well being.
“We have had such good feedback from our library, that we think it’s a no-brainer that government funding should be used to support such schemes’
Two Holyrood committees are working together to gather evidence on the impacts of potential hyperscale data centre construction and operation in Scotland.
The Climate Action Committee is calling for data and evidence on the environmental impacts of hyperscale data centres from construction and operation to the long-term management and disposal of waste, hardware and materials.
The Economy, Tourism and Energy Committee, meanwhile, wants to understand the potential economic and energy implications of hyperscale data centre development in Scotland.
A hyperscale data centre is a large facility that can be used for internet-based applications, data processing and artificial intelligence. There are no hyperscale data centres in Scotland, although more than 20 are proposed in different locations across the country.
Rather than focusing on specific proposals, the Committees’ call for evidence wants to gather a complete picture of the impact of data centres.
The Committees plan to share their findings with the Scottish Government’s Minister for Public Finance, Hannah Mary Goodlad MSP who has said that guidance on hyperscale data centres will be published by Christmas.
In addition to its consultation, the Climate Action Committee will hold evidence sessions in October and November. The Committee has also agreed to consider whether to carry out further work in this area at a later date.
The call for views is open until 15 November 2026.
Stuart McMillan MSP, Convener of the Climate Action Committee, said:“We want to understand the environmental impacts of hyperscale data centres and will share our findings ahead of the Scottish Government’s upcoming guidance.
“We would like to hear expert views about impacts on air and water quality, nature and biodiversity, noise pollution and emissions. We also want to understand what can be done to prevent or mitigate negative environmental impacts.
“We’re particularly keen to ensure that Scotland learns lessons from other countries where hyperscale data centres are already in operation.”
Convener of the Economy, Tourism and Energy Committee, Duncan Massey MSP, said:“Data centres have been grabbing the headlines but now it’s time to dig into the details.
“We want to ensure we understand whether there are economic positives for Scotland and what they are. Will they drive new jobs and create long term employment? What about our energy systems, are they able to support hyperscale data centres?
“To aid our scrutiny of Scottish Government decision making, we want to hear from experts working in these areas in order to build a clear picture of all the positives and negatives associated with bringing large scale data centres to Scotland.”
A new trial to assess whether bus journey times and reliability can be improved by extending bus lane hours launches on Monday, 12 October.
The trial will be in force between Milton Road East and London Road, where bus lane times will be extended to operate between 7am and 7pm, seven days a week. Current bus lane times are peak only – 7.30am to 9.30am and 4pm to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday.
The changes will test whether longer bus lane hours can help reduce delays for buses along the route, in turn encouraging and supporting people to choose to travel by public transport and improving the experience for those who rely on buses.
Reliable and efficient bus services:
are essential for getting around the city
encourage more people to choose public transport over the car
provide a vital transport option for many residents who do not have access to a private vehicle
Edinburgh has a great bus service, but more can be done to reduce delays to buses along key routes. Bus lanes that support buses to get ahead of traffic for as long as possible during the day are one way to achieve this.
The trial route is used by several services including the number 44, which Lothian Buses has identified as one of the services most affected by delays and reliability issues outside of current bus lane operating hours. Initial data analysis shows that bus journey times on part of the route have increased by 22% since 2019.
Data and stakeholder feedback collected during the trial will be used to help decide whether the measures should be made permanent.
Transport and Environment Convener Councillor Stephen Jenkinson said: “Edinburgh is lucky to have a first-rate public transport system, which hundreds of thousands of people rely on every day. We want to make travel by bus an attractive, accessible and reliable alternative to the car and bus lanes support that.
“However, travel behaviour is changing and bus demand is increasing, leading to delays outside of traditional peak periods. This trial will help us to assess whether extended bus lane hours can reduce journey times on one of our busiest routes.
“Thanks to the nature of the trial we’ll be able to carry out real-world monitoring of traffic impacts and network performance, alongside feedback from the public.”
The 18-month trial will be introduced through an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO), which provides an opportunity to monitor the effects of the changes and gather evidence before recommendations are made on the longer-term arrangements.
Monitoring analysis will include bus journey times, traffic surveys, parking and loading surveys, business surveys and feedback from residents and other stakeholders. The first six months of the trial also serves as a consultation period.
During the trial some parking and loading restriction times will change.
People are encouraged to check signs and road markings and can find out more about the trial on the Council website.
We would like to invite all the local residents for our final BEACH CLEANING event in 2026 at Wardie Bay on Friday 30th October. We are very grateful to R2 for their ongoing support in organising our litter picking events.
Do remember that we also have some litter picking equipment at Granton Parish Church we are happy to loan to local community groups.
Edinburgh Green Councillors and Edinburgh Liberal Democrat councillors are jointly hosting a screening and discussion of the National Emergency Briefing. The event, in Edinburgh City Chambers, is tomorrow – Wednesday 7th October – and all 63 Edinburgh councillors have been invited to attend.
The screening and discussion, facilitated by Edinburgh Community Climate Action Network (ECCAN) shows a 40-minute film on the climate and nature emergencies, presented by ecologist Chris Packham, followed by a facilitated discussion on the issues raised.
Speaking ahead of the screening, Liberal Democrat group leader Councillor Ed Thornley, one of the hosts of the event, said: “The Climate Emergency is having very real impact in Edinburgh – flooding and extreme rainfall are serious and growing concerns in my own part of the city.
“So, I’m delighted to be working cross-party to host this important screening and discussion so that councillors from all parties can come together and discuss what that means for our city and how we can move forward together.”
Co-host Councillor Ben Parker, Edinburgh Greens co-convenor, said: “The climate and nature emergencies are the most important issues of our time.
“We know that the impacts are already being felt across the world, and here in Edinburgh. It is so important that all elected members are knowledgeable about how climate change will impact on our lives and what we need to do differently to keep people safe and ensure we have a planet to pass on to future generations.
“I hope that we see a good turnout from councillors for this important screening.”
Mark Dowey, Hub Manager at the Edinburgh Community Climate Action Network (ECCAN) said: “In Edinburgh, communities are leading the way in responding to the climate and nature crisis.
“This briefing gives councillors from across the political spectrum a unique opportunity to come together, reflect on the challenges we face, and discuss what they mean for Edinburgh.
“ECCAN is pleased to support that conversation and help strengthen the connection between decision-making in the city and the community action already happening on the ground.”
Falling salt levels in seawater could be contributing to driving blue mussels from parts of the Firth of Forth, researchers say.
Scientists at Heriot-Watt University found that baby mussels are especially sensitive to fresher water, with their growth and development badly affected when the seawater becomes diluted.
The lab-based study was sparked by the sharp drop in mussel beds that were once common around Musselburgh and Cramond.
The team says their findings, published in the academic journal Frontiers in Ocean Sustainability, could also help explain falling blue mussel numbers across northern Europe.
“Now there’s nothing there”
Dr Mark Hartl, from Heriot-Watt’s School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society, said the university’s marine science researchers had worked with mussels from the Firth of Forth for over 20 years and had observed the disappearance of the local populations.
Dr Hartl said: “We noticed them disappearing from Cramond at first, where we used to be able to easily find and collect mussels.
“At Musselburgh, you could walk for a mile out at low tide and it would be full of mussels, even as recently as 2018.
“It used to take me just a few minutes to find the mussels I needed. Now there’s nothing there.”
The researchers stressed that the experiments were carried out under controlled conditions in a laboratory and that long-term field work is required to conclusively show that changing local salinity has been a significant driver of the loss of mussels in the Firth of Forth.
However, they said the findings could help explain the absence of younger mussels that would normally replace older and larger adults.
Dr Hartl said: “We had noticed in Musselburgh that the mussels were big, and old. There weren’t any smaller ones.
“They were reproducing and producing larvae, but the larvae didn’t seem to be developing properly.”
Wetter winters mean less salty estuaries
Isabella Jackson is undertaking the research as part of her PhD at Heriot-Watt University.
Working with Dr Mark Hartl, Isabella looked at how pollution, temperature and salinity interacted during the first stages of mussel development.
Mussel embryos and larvae were exposed to different conditions in the laboratory over 48 hours.
Lower salinity had one of the clearest detrimental effects on the mussels: reducing salinity from optimal conditions cut normal larval development by almost 29%.
Isabella said: “Mussels in the Firth of Forth experience multiple stressors: pollution, temperature change and changes in salinity among them.
“We found that they are highly susceptible to changes in salinity, but pollution compounds the problem and amplifies the effects we saw under lower-salinity conditions.”
“Reduced salinity is likely to happen as wetter winters bring more freshwater into estuaries, and it is not something that can easily be fixed.
“But if we tackle some of the other problems, such as pollution, we may be able to alleviate the pressure on mussels.
“We may not be able to address every stressor at once, but reducing one of them could still make a difference.”
Isabella said the research also highlighted the importance of studying the early life stages of marine organisms.
“The early life stages are often the most sensitive to environmental stressors, but they are also easily overlooked, particularly in studies looking at multiple stressors,” she said.
“If larvae are not developing properly, this can create a bottleneck where a population is unable to sustain itself.
“Understanding what happens at this critical stage is an important piece of the puzzle when investigating why blue mussel beds are declining.”
Impact on biodiversity
Blue mussels, Mytilus edulis, were once widespread in estuaries around northern Europe.
Declines have been observed elsewhere in Scotland but some areas, like Orkney, still have healthy populations containing mussels of different ages.
Dr Hartl said: “A decline in mussel beds could have several potential impacts. It could reduce biodiversity, as mussel beds act as habitat for lots of other species. And, as mussels clean the water by ingesting contaminants, it could have an impact on water quality.
“Ideally we would set up field experiments to replicate what we did in the lab, and definitely determine that salinity levels are behind their decline.
“The Firth of Forth’s health has improved dramatically over the past few years, we’re seeing large mammals like humpback whales return now. But there are locations where a decline in biodiversity is happening, as witnessed by the disappearance of mussels, and we should monitor and try to resolve this.”
This research was funded by NERC Scottish Universities Partnership for Environmental Research (SUPER) Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP)
JOIN US for our next Climate Bites at Bridgend Farmhouse
We’ll be spending lunchtime exploring the farm, hearing the story of this brilliant community space and meeting some of the people growing food, connection and climate action there.
There’ll be a chance to look around, learn more about what happens at Bridgend and, of course, share a free lunch together.
Thursday 8th October
12:30–2pm
Bridgend Farmhouse
Free
Spaces are limited and first come, first served, so book your place through the link in our bio.
Come along, have a wander, meet new folks and share some good food with us!
A new blueprint sets out how people across Scotland can play a bigger part in the country’s response to the climate and nature crisis.
The Public Engagement Strategy for Climate and Nature aims to enable people to understand what climate change means for them, encourage local action and ensure people’s voices shape the decisions that affect them.
A separate Delivery Plan, due in spring 2027, will set out the specific activities, partnerships and commitments that will bring the strategy to life at a local and national level.
With 72% of people in Scotland agreeing climate change is an urgent problem, the strategy aims to turn that concern into meaningful participation, while stepping up work to prepare communities for impacts like flooding and extreme weather. The launch also continues the progress made on climate action, with greenhouse gas emissions in Scotland cut by 50% since 1990.
Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs Gillian Martin launched the strategy ahead of a visit to Lapwing Lodge Outdoor Centre in Paisley to view Scottish Government-backed environmental improvements including solar panels, battery storage and an EV charging point. She said: “Everyone has a part to play in tackling the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss.
Everyone also stands to benefit from doing so. People and communities are central to this, not just by making their own lives more sustainable, but by helping shape the solutions that work best for their local areas.
“This strategy, published during Scotland’s Climate Week, is about turning that opportunity into action, and that means giving people a real say in the decisions that affect them.
“The last year has shown just how urgent and necessary climate action is. From wildfires to flooding, coastal erosion and even water scarcity, climate change is already affecting our communities, and these impacts will only become more frequent and severe. Climate Week is a chance to show what progress actually looks like, and to remind people that this is something positive we’re all part of, together.”
The new strategy recognises the value of different approaches to supporting people to meet the challenges of the changing climate – from grassroots initiatives to national awareness campaigns.
For local people, this means information on practical help with protecting their homes from flooding, restoring habitats such as rivers and peatland, and changing travel habits or how homes are heated, as well as more targeted support for those most at risk from extreme weather.
It also means having a say in how their area responds, and a stronger connection with nature closer to home.
Thursday 8th October
12:30–2pm
Bridgend Farmhouse
Free
