Major bicycle route upgrade in Edinburgh gets under way

UPGRADING work on a major cycle route in the capital is under way to improve safety.

New or extended cycle lanes will be added between the city centre and Edinburgh University’s science complex at King’s Buildings.

The £540,000 “quality bike corridor” also includes tightening parking and loading restrictions so the existing cycle lanes are blocked less often by vehicles.

• Graphic: Kings Buildings to George Square cycle route

It will take about three months to complete the improvements, which stretch south from the Mound via George IV Bridge, Potterrow and Causewayside.Marshall Poulton, the council’s head of transport, said: “It’s an exciting time as work begins on this important new bike corridor in south Edinburgh, especially as figures show this area of the city is home to a very sizeable proportion of people who choose to commute by bike.

“The council is committed to helping encourage residents to find healthy and environmentally-friendly ways of getting around the city.”

A second phase of the work in the summer will see improvements for cyclists and pedestrians at the Mayfield Road/West Mains Road junction outside the King’s Buildings campus.

The council said the scheme was backed by three in four of those who took part in a consultation.