Over a thousand cyclists from all over Scotland gathered in Edinburgh on Saturday to call for safer streets for cycling and walking. This 14th Pedal on Parliament (PoP) was seeking decisive moves in favour of active travel from all levels of government. With ongoing roadworks for Union St Central scuppering Aberdeen Cycle Forum’s normal “pop-up PoP” event, I travelled to the capital to show our support.
Assembling on the meadows
It felt incredible to join the throng pedalling the closed-road route from the Meadows to Holyrood. The sound of bicycle bells filled the air on the Royal Mile. One piper even played “Daisy, daisy, give me your answer do” as we passed. The children who joined the ride seemed to particularly enjoy the singing, chanting, smiling and waving – not to mention the VIP treatment of a bike-mounted police escort.
The foot of the Royal Mile (Photo credit Andy Catlin)
Politicians joining the event included Dr Scott Arthur MP (Labour), MSPs Kate Campbell (SNP), Sanne Dijkstra-Downie (Liberal Democrat) and Patrick Harvie (Green) plus several Edinburgh City councillors. The Scottish Government’s new Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport, Stephen Flynn, was invited but regrettably did not attend.
Politicians at the head of the ride. (Photo credit Iona Shepherd)
On the grass outside the parliament building Alex Robertson (PoP organiser) kicked off the speeches by thanking the police, marshalls and feeder-ride leaders, with Aberdeen Cycle Forum getting a shout-out as (possibly) the furthest-travelled participants. Alex’s speech began by pointing out “The Scottish government says cycling is their top priority – protected cycleways, sustainable type transport, active travel, top of the hierarchy. In 2021 they told us that we were going to get 10% of the transport budget by 2024 – real money. What do we get? 3.9%. Is that good enough? We’re asking for 6% this year, 10% by the end of this term. Full stop. No hiding it in bus budgets. Be transparent, be accountable.” He went on to say, “Only 48% of Scots think it’s safe to cycle where they live, 1 in 5 drivers are distracted by their mobile phones, bigger vehicles that hurt people more … we want enforced speed limits, presumed liability (for motorists in the event of collisions), police resources and safer streets.” Before saying, “There is no such thing as a cyclist. There are nurses getting to shifts, care workers, new Scots – just people choosing a green mode of getting around. We’ve let politicians and algorithms distract us and divide us: cyclists versus drivers is a straw-man argument.” Alex closed his address with a call for greater accountability from politicians, asking them to adopt PoP’s manifesto, set bold targets and deliver the requisite funding to achieve them.
Next followed a powerful and moving speech from Rose Marie Burke, the mother of Glasgow architect and cycle activist Emma Burke Newman. Emma was tragically killed in January 2023 by the driver of an HGV that had encroached on an Advanced Stop Zone or ‘bike box’. Mrs Burke now advocates for Vision Zero “The principle behind Vision Zero is that our societies should not accept death on the roads as inevitable. We no longer accept deaths in the skies or in the workplace as inevitable. Why the roads?” 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. This very issue was raised at our monthly meeting in May.
Next followed speeches from the politicians present. Kate Campbell, MSP said , “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.” MSP Patrick Harvie’s address described the benefits of cycling for normal, everyday transport: “(travelling by bike) I’m the one that arrives to meetings on time, while the ones desperately trying to find a car parking space are late.” “I arrive at the meeting with a sense of connection to the town, or the city or the community I am moving through. …I was given this sticker which says this machine fights climate change, which it does, but it also fights the disconnection that a lot of people feel when they are stuck in a little metal box being made to feel angry because they are surrounded by all the other little metal boxes.” He expressed support for Pedal on Parliament’s manifesto, the need to make active travel safer and allocate adequate funding to make cycling an easier everyday choice in Scotland. Sanne Dijsktra-Downie, MSP concluded the speeches: “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.” I look forward to hearing these and other representatives speak up for active travel in the chamber and committee rooms of the Scottish parliament.
Assembling outside the Scottish Parliament for the speeches (Photo credit Catherine Wykes)
PoP 2026 proved to be a great opportunity to catch up with folk from other active-travel advocacy organisations before taking the train home. These included: Cycling UK; Dundee Cycle Forum; Spokes, Sunny Cycles and Bike for Good (Glasgow); Infrasisters, VIE VELO and Critical Mass (Edinburgh).
My get-about-town-bike, sporting a new “this machine fights climate change” sticker, on the Cross-country train home to Aberdeen.
More photos from the event at
Aberdeen Cycle Forum 