Launch of upgraded walking, wheeling and cycling route rounds off Scotland’s Climate Week in Edinburgh

Members of the community and stakeholder organisations have come together to celebrate the completion of a major project to transform a key walking, wheeling and cycling route in Edinburgh.

Significant improvements have been made to the QuietRoute 61, which now links Roslin in Midlothian to Portobello. Signage has been extended from its original end point at Gilmerton Road to Portobello Promenade, with numerous links into the wider active travel network along the route, including National Cycle Network Routes 1 and 76 at Jewel Park and QuietRoute 10 at Portobello Promenade. 

Amongst work carried out under the £1m scheme was the creation of a new ‘hybrid’ crossing and section of bi-directional cycle segregation at Gilmerton Road and the city’s first of three new ‘tiger’ crossings in and around the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and BioQuarter, which combines a zebra crossing with a crossing for people cycling. Improvements have also been made to crossings at Old Dalkeith Road and Niddrie Mains Road, along with other changes that better prioritise people walking, wheeling and cycling.

On Thursday (29 September) a launch event marked the milestone, involving members of the community, key project contributors and wider stakeholder organisations who all played a part in shaping and enabling the successful delivery of the project. 

Councillor Scott Arthur, Transport and Environment Convener, said:

It was fantastic to join with members of the community and key project contributors to celebrate the completion of the QuietRoute 61 project. This has transformed a key cross-boundary route between Edinburgh and Midlothian, helping people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to walk, wheel and cycle easily and safely.

It’s clear that we all need to rethink the way we move around the city if we are to cut congestion, air pollution and harmful carbon emissions, as we are reminded during Scotland’s Climate Week. Not only do Edinburgh’s QuietRoutes help people to make more sustainable transport choices, but they provide pleasant and enjoyable spaces, connecting key destinations around the Capital.

Chiquita Elvin, Head of Programme at Sustrans, said:

The improvements made to QuietRoute 61 will make it easier for people to walk, wheel, and cycle in the south east of Edinburgh. Through coordination between Midlothian and City of Edinburgh Councils, signage at key junctions has been improved making the journey to and from Roslin and Portobello more intuitive. We are excited to continue working with City of Edinburgh Council to make active travel an available and attractive choice for everyone.

Midlothian Council’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for active travel, Councillor Douglas Bowen said:

We welcome the improvements along the QuietRoute 61 introduced by City of Edinburgh Council to support active travel and improved accessibility. This has created an excellent cross boundary route, connecting numerous communities and destinations in Edinburgh and Midlothian.

Edinburgh’s QuietRoutes are a network of walking, wheeling and cycling routes designed for users of all abilities that primarily avoid busy main roads, with safe and prioritised crossing points provided where they intersect. The QuietRoute network is numbered and signed throughout the city, with online maps available from the council website.

Thursday’s celebrations coincided with Scotland’s Climate Week, which aims to raise awareness of climate change across the country. With transport one of the biggest contributors of carbon emissions, addressing the way we move around the city is key to achieving the Council’s net zero by 2030 goal.

By creating safer road crossings on busy roads, improving paths and connecting to other active travel routes, QuietRoute 61 is helping make sustainable travel by foot, wheel or bike easier and more accessible. The main destinations along the route are: Rosslyn Chapel, Roslin, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, the BioQuarter and Portobello High School, as well as numerous communities in the south east of Edinburgh, such as: Gilmerton, Moredun, Niddrie, Bingham and Portobello.

Find out more about QuietRoute 61 and Edinburgh’s other QuietRoutes online.

Published: October 1st 2022