Over a thousand people joined a mass cycle ride through Edinburgh to the Scottish Parliament to demand safer conditions for walking and cycling in Scotland.
Gathering in the Meadows and cycling to Holyrood along closed roads, Pedal on Parliament’s fourteenth action since it began in 2012 continued their call for safer streets for walking and cycling in Scotland.
The organisation’s manifesto demands action on a wide range of interventions for cycling and road safety, ranging from adequate funding allocation and building on the successes of protected infrastructure already built, to calls for greater enforcement powers for police to tackle unsafe driving, and presumed liability for motorists in the event of collisions.
The ride concluded on the grass outside the Scottish Parliament, hearing from attending MSPs Kate Campbell, Patrick Harvie, and Sanne Dijkstra-Downie.
Organisers opened the speeches with calls for better treatment of cycling as a normal transport choice, and calling for greater accountability from politicians – before handing over for a powerful and moving speech from Rose Marie Burke, the mother of Glasgow architect and cycle activist Emma Burke Newman who was tragically killed in January 2023 by the driver of an HGV that had encroached on an Advanced Stop Zone or ‘bike box’.
In her speech, Rose said: “Emma had a different kind of vision. She dreamed of having a big family, three children to be exact, cycling them to school on a cargo bike. She saw herself living in a community where cycling is the norm.
“Instead, she had to cope with a world of unadapted infrastructure, distracted, careless and dangerous drivers, as well as outdated lorries with huge blind spots. In her case, the drivers of the lorries and buses in the three lanes across the George V bridge at the light had breached the bike boxes, the advanced stop lines. It proved to be fatal.”
The junction in Glasgow where Emma was killed has now been made safer; but speakers observed that the issue of failing to keep bike boxes clear continues to be a safety issue on Scotland’s roads, amongst many other dangerous driving behaviours that largely go unenforced.
Ride participant Kate Campbell, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern, Musselburgh and Tranent, said: “I want to say a huge thank you to POP for organising such a wonderful event and to everyone who attended today and sent a very clear message to our parliament.
“As someone who is not a cyclist, but wants to be, I know just how important it is that we make our streets safe for cycling. And I will work hard over this parliament so everyone like me, who really wants the joy of cycling but just doesn’t have the confidence, can cycle safely on our streets.”
Green MSP Patrick Harvie gave a rousing speech about the need for safer conditions, and his own experiences – throwing his support behind Pedal on Parliament’s manifesto and the need for adequate funding for sustainable transport to make cycling an easier everyday choice.
Speaker and participant Sanne Dijsktra-Downie, MSP for Edinburgh North, said: “Growing up in the Netherlands, I loved having the freedom of being able to cycle to meet friends, play sports or go out.
“I would love kids here to experience that same freedom, and for that we need safer cycling infrastructure that is connected, well designed and fit for purpose.”
For the City of Edinburgh Council, Transport & Environment Convener Cllr Stephen Jenkinson, said: “Pedal on Parliament is an important election year event which showcases the importance of cycling and associated policy across our country.
“Here in Edinburgh, I’m proud that we’ve made real progress over the last few years with schemes like the City Centre West to East Link (CCWEL), Roseburn to Union Canal, and the latest phase of Leith Connections making it easier for everyone to get around the city.
“The data here speaks for itself. When we invest in good, sustainable infrastructure then people will use it. I’m committed to continuing this positive work and I hope everyone participating today enjoyed themselves.”
Dr Scott Arthur, MP for Edinburgh South West took part in the mass ride, and said: “I was proud to be taking part in Pedal on Parliament in Edinburgh today alongside so many people from my constituency.
“What struck me most was the sheer number of children involved. I’m not used to cycling surrounded by so many families, and that in itself maybe says something about Edinburgh.
“This year’s Pedal on Parliament comes at an interesting moment. Five years ago, after the last Holyrood election, we stood here with promises of reduced non‑essential car use across Scotland, increased investment in active travel, and world‑leading climate targets.
By the end of that Parliament, those commitments had largely fallen away. “Nonetheless, I remain an optimist. I’m hopeful that Scotland’s new government will show real leadership.”
To learn more about Pedal on Parliament, visit pedalonparliament.org