A new active travel route from the Foot of the Walk to Dock Street was officially opened today by the Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson.
The route was supported by over £4.6 million investment from Transport Scotland’s Active Travel Infrastructure Fund for construction in 2024-25 and 2025-26. There was also over £360,000 Scottish Government funding for the design, through Walk Wheel Cycle Trust's Places for Everyone programme.
This marks the completion of the most recent phase of the Leith Connections project, which aims to improve connectivity, safety and accessibility for everyone who lives in or spends time in the area.
Under this phase, we have now completed 850 metres of two-way segregated cycle track which connects to existing segregated infrastructure installed on Leith Walk, Portobello, the Water of Leith path and on to the North Edinburgh Path Network.
Other improvements include a new signalised junction with pedestrian crossings, new paving, seating and planting, alongside sustainable drainage. Full details are available on our website.
Alongside this progress, we’ve also seen encouraging new data on active travel not just in the north of Edinburgh but across the city.
Walk Wheel Cycle Trust has recently published their Edinburgh Walking and Cycling Index for 2025.
This showed that 69% of residents walk or wheel at least five days a week, alongside overall increases in walking and wheeling journeys, and improved safety perceptions when walking and cycling.
Over 40% of respondents also said they’d like to walk and cycle more, with a further 57% of supporting shifting investment from road-building schemes to fund walking, wheeling, cycling and public transport.
Just last month Cycling Scotland released new data from their September 2025 surveys, showing an increase in cycling journeys at 11 different sites citywide.
West Coates on the City Centre West to East Link (CCWEL) recorded its highest cycling rate yet of 9.3%, with York Place seeing 1,921 bikes in the 48-hour survey period. Leith Walk also saw a new record rate of 9.71%, with 4,744 journeys. ‘Cycling rate’ here refers to the percentage of trips using a specific transport mode. Other examples include walking or using public transport.
We’re now looking ahead to the next phase of Leith Connections which will span from the Hawthornvale Path to Seafield.
Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson said:
Today is a key milestone in our plans to transform Leith and the north of the city into a better place for everyone.
From making it easier to get around through to creating more pleasant places to spend time in, whilst ensuring safety and connectivity are at the heart of the scheme – I’m very excited for these benefits to start becoming a reality.
I’m grateful for the patience and understanding of local residents and businesses as we complete this important work.
On the wider picture of active travel in Edinburgh, the data speaks for itself. When we invest in good, sustainable infrastructure then people will use it.
I look forward to seeing how the next phase progresses as we continue to work alongside our partners and the local community.
Fiona MacLeod, Director for Scotland, Cymru and Northern Ireland at Walk, Wheel and Cycle Trust, said:
It’s fantastic to see this phase of Leith Connections completed, a project that is creating real transport choice for local people. This new route makes it easier, safer and much more pleasant to travel between Leith Walk and the Shore – whether you’re walking, using a wheelchair, pushing a buggy, or hopping on the bike.
As well as creating healthier and fairer options for getting around, the improvements have revitalised the surrounding public spaces into a welcoming and inclusive area that people want to spend time in with friends and family, and by visiting local businesses.
With more projects like this being constructed across the city, the data shows that people in Edinburgh support this investment – recognising the benefits active travel brings to their health and wellbeing, their pockets, and to their communities.
Keith Irving, Chief Executive of Cycling Scotland, said:
It’s clear from the data that new, well-connected, protected cycle lanes are helping more people to travel efficiently and affordably by bike, with notable morning rush hour peaks. The rapid success in Edinburgh, and increases in cycling where other routes are being built in Scotland, show just how strong the appetite is for safe, dedicated cycling infrastructure that takes people conveniently from A to B.
Supporting more people to travel by bike benefits our health, reduces harmful pollution and our impact on the climate. Beyond this, it also gives people a meaningful way of saving money on everyday transport. We need more cycling routes just like these and safer roads for everyone, to bring these advantages to more people across the country.