Cycle paths get busier as two wheels prove better than four

The regional transport body has installed a network of bike counters along key cycle paths around the city, such as Middle Meadow Walk, to gauge how popular cycling is across the city.

Initial findings show the number of bikes recorded by the counters leapt from 38,718 in the last three months of 2007 to 75,489 between January and April 2008.

The counters also reveal that the city's cycle paths are mostly used during the week by commuters, with 8am and 5pm the peak times, while Wednesdays are the most popular day for cyclists, according to the Sestran figures.

Locations for the bike counters include the North Edinburgh Cycle Path at Telford Road, the A8 at Gogar and the Forth Road Bridge.

Cycling lobby groups today said more counters were needed, particularly in on-road locations, to get a true picture of the city's cycling patterns. It is also difficult to judge how much of an impact weather conditions played on the increase.

Councillor Russell Imrie, chairman of Sestran, said the counters showed cycling's increasing popularity in the Capital.

He said: "The continuing steady increase in cycling throughout the region is very encouraging.

"Sestran's regional transport strategy includes a commitment towards promoting it as an ideal travel mode for shorter journeys and recreation – facilities for cycling in Edinburgh have never been better.

"Each person who cycles to work contributes towards easing congestion in the city, and helps reduce our carbon footprint.

"Edinburgh is a relatively small city and in many cases walking or cycling can actually be quicker for some shorter journeys than the car. It's also good for our health and it's fun."

A survey by cycling lobby group Spokes earlier this year found cyclists made up 20 per cent of all traffic heading into the city during the morning rush hour.

The traffic census also found that 1122 of the 1490 cars that passed counting points on Lothian Road and Forrest Road/Bristo Place had only one occupant.

A spokesman for Spokes said: "We welcome the fact that cycle use in Edinburgh is now being monitored by automatic counters, but would be very cautious about drawing firm conclusions from these initial figures.

"What this report describes as overall numbers are in fact quite restricted samples, a bit like counting the cars on the Bridges and Lothian Road and then using that as a total for the whole of central Edinburgh.

"These figures highlight the need for the city council and Sestran to build up a more complete picture of cycle use within the area, counting the cyclists on main roads as well as those on cycle paths.

"Once we have this overall total, continuous counts at specific locations become far more useful."