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Diary of a cycle commuter. Lockdown positives

19/12/2020

7 Comments

 
Colinton Road, Edinburgh
Colinton Road in Edinburgh
There was a cycling boom from the start of lockdown in March 2020. Vehicle traffic declined to almost nothing and many people enjoyed cycling on roads that they would never have previously dared to venture onto. Bicycle sales soared and many roads had more people cycling than driving. Now that traffic levels have returned to near normal what has been the impact on this cycling boom? My personal story is a positive one, so I thought I would share it with you.

I take my son to nursery on a child seat on the back of my bike most days, unless the weather is really awful. My daily commute from home to the nursery is around 3 miles if you take the quickest direct route. I live in Edinburgh and this direct route  means using Colinton Road to reach Bruntsfield. Those familiar with this part of Edinburgh will know that Colinton Road can be busy and has no cycle lane on it. Before the pandemic I never felt confident to use this road with my son because it is pretty busy with traffic, but now I am using the road most days. What changed?

I'll start by explaining the route I used to take to get my son to nursery. It was somewhat convoluted , mainly traffic-free, using the Braid Burn path and the quieter backstreets of Morningside and Bruntsfield. It is not a direct route and the Braid Burn path can be slow going as it is narrow, shared with pedestrians and has some awkward gradients and barriers to negotiate. It probably added at least another mile, if not more, to the journey.

I happily cycled Colinton Road on my own. It's not the most dangerous road in Edinburgh, but it does have a high volume of traffic at peak times. I have not had any serious incidents and only a few close passes, because the road is mostly wide enough for vehicles to give bikes space without the vehicles having to cross over to the opposite carriageway. However, I was not happy to take my son on this road, particularly when there was a near enough traffic-free, albeit longer, alternative.

During lockdown Colinton Road changed completely. There was hardly any traffic on it at all. It was bliss for cyclists! I started to use it when taking my son on the bike.

When the nurseries opened again after lockdown I decided to keep using Colinton Road with my son and have been doing so ever since. The traffic volume has risen, but not to the same pre-Covid levels. There's not really a rush hour anymore because of homeworking. The only peak for traffic in the morning is for the school children getting dropped off at the various schools along the route, but I am able to avoid this time. 

Being able to use Colinton Road has made my commute to the nursery much quicker than the Braid Burn route. I am glad to be able to use this road and hope that I will be able to into the future. I do fear that if there is a return to the way things were before with everyone trying to get to their office for the same time I will no longer be confident to take my son on this road. However, the signs are that companies will be offering more homeworking and flexibility so it should mean that not everyone is on the roads at the same time.
Colinton Road, Edinburgh
Colinton Road is wide in most places, so plenty of space for bicycles and overtaking vehicles
Three miles is a short commute and in a progressive society concerned with active travel and climate change it should and must be possible for me to make that journey by bicycle and not to be made to feel that I must own a car to cover such a short distance. 

I do see other people cycling on Colinton Road during my morning commute, but I have yet to see another parent taking their child on the back of their bike. There are a lot less people cycling on this road compared to the days of lockdown. It makes it a bit lonely being the only one taking their kid on a bike on Colinton Road, so I would love to see more parents feeling confident enough to use this road with their kids. I know it doesn't have a painted cycle lane or the cycle wands that are getting installed on some roads, but it is a wide road and outside the start and end of the school day the traffic volume is not too bad.

I know it's not for everyone to cycle with their children on main roads, but I just wanted to share with you that the changes in the world have resulted in a positive cycling experience for me. In a difficult year I think it is important to share positive stories.
7 Comments
N
26/12/2020 09:18:28 am

Hi
I arrived back in Edinburgh in July after a 30-year hiatus and have been riding everywhere I can - we don't own a car and hardly use public transport. Since November I have commuted everyday to work and it is a dream - sometimes along the roads sometimes on the canal path. I must say that I actually feel safer on the roads as there are so many unlit joggers, pedestrians and cyclists on the canal paths which make it pretty scary; and the use of a bell when approaching the bridges seems a crapshoot. IO cn understand pedestrians and joggers having having no perception how invisible they are to others even when they seem to prefer dressing ion dark colours but it is sad that cyclists can't all get their acts together especially when they are in general happy to point their fingers are other road users' lack of consideration. Another thing is the use of head torches by cyclists - I find these are difficult too as when a cyclist is looking at you it shines right in your eyes....why not just have properly mounted lights? Anyway loving being back in Edinburgh regardless and riding instead of bussing!
N.

Reply
Colin
27/12/2020 09:04:00 am

Hi N,
That's great to read that you use your bike to get around everywhere. What you have said about the canal is the exact reason I don't use it that often. Although it is safe in terms of being away from vehicles the volume of cyclists and the narrow paths make it a challenge. Particularly going under the bridges, many with cobbles, as they have a blind spot and not everyone slows down or uses a bell.

Reply
Alistair Darling
31/12/2020 02:59:30 pm

I’ve always had a love for cycling and it’s something I’ve really done a lot of recently. Back when I was living in Downing Street, I never got the opportunity to cycle and when my time as Chancellor came to an end I became very busy preparing for the Independence Referendum. Since leaving Parliament in 2015, I’ve done more cycling but never as much as in the last few months, since I retired from the House of Lords at the end of July. My main issue with cycling in Edinburgh is potholes on the roads. Thanks to Labour’s work in the council, I never feel unsafe cycling on the roads due to the huge amount of segregated cycle lanes Labour and the SNP have erected across the city. But the amount of potholes is a huge annoyance. It’s lovely to hear stories from people like you who use your bike to cycle your child to nursery. I was never able to do that because I spent so much of time in London when my kids were growing up/in nursery and so my wife Margaret had to look after the kids, and she’s always hated cycling! I would love to see more bicycle parking in Edinburgh. Particularly in Morningside and Bruntsfield bicycle parking specs are few and far between.

Reply
Catriona Caburn
31/12/2020 03:39:45 pm

I hate cyclists! A few weeks ago a woman knocked off my wing mirror when I was cycling and it cost me £300 to get if fixed. Yesterday I saw that very women cycling when I was driving to Morrisons and I have her a wee tap when I cycled past her that’s now broken one of my fog lights and damaged my front bumper which is going to cost me £1350 to fix!!! This one stupid women has cost me £1650 and a huge amount of stress! I had a mental breakdown in Morrison’s after I tapped the women when I drove past her and now I’m on anti-depressants which my wife complains about because it has lowered my sex-drive. I live in the Isle of White in England and I know you’re in Edinburgh but all cyclists are F***ing scum!!! Why can’t they get cars like the rest of us!

Reply
Peter Hobson
31/12/2020 03:41:28 pm

What a vile excuse of a human being you are!

Reply
Anonymous
31/12/2020 03:49:08 pm

I’m so sorry. I made up the comments made by Catriona Caburn, Alistair Darling and Peter Hobson. I am bored and lonely on New Years Eve and thought I’d have a laugh. Feeling bad. Lol. Soz.

Reply
Mark Wringe
8/1/2021 04:23:02 am

I'm sure your son will appreciate it, well done to you. You brought back happy memories of my mother taking me to nursery school in the 1960s on a seat on the back of her bike.

Reply



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    My name is Colin Baird and I want to see all of Scotland by bicycle. Follow my blog on Facebook:

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    • Aberdeenshire
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  • Advice About Cycling in Scotland
    • What kind of bicycle?
    • Cycle Clothing
    • What gear to buy
    • Taking your bike on the train
    • Coping with traffic
    • Best cycling guide books
    • Best novels about cycling in Scotland
    • Family-Friendly Bike Holidays in Scotland
    • Mountain Biking Guide
  • Travel Writing Projects/Working with Me
  • Best Cycling Books
  • Diary of a Cycle Commuter