Making it easier to walk, wheel and cycle

Councillors have approved a new strategy to enable more people to walk, wheel and cycle. 

Safe, reliable and healthy

On the Move Midlothian: Our Active Travel Strategy for Everyone 2024-2034 aims to make journeys by walking, wheeling and riding a bike accessible, safe, reliable, healthy and cost-effective ways to travel, for all or part of a journey. 

Improving connectivity

Midlothian Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, Councillor Colin Cassidy said: “Journeys by walking, wheeling and riding a bike positively contribute to the health and well-being of Midlothian’s population, which is particularly important as we are the fastest growing local authority area in Scotland. It also improves connectivity within the region and neighbouring authorities, enhances economic growth and opportunity and all while helping deliver on our climate change commitments.” 

Consultation feedback

The strategy incorporates feedback from a 12-week public and stakeholder consultation which ran from April to July 2024. A total of 178 people filled in the survey and a further 13 stakeholders responded. The survey was in addition to previous public and stakeholder consultation and engagement work done with community and disability groups. 

10-year action plan

At the full Council meeting, councillors approved the strategy, welcomed the response to the consultation, noted progress on securing funding for active travel projects and agreed council officers should continue to explore external funding opportunities to help deliver the strategy’s 10-year action plan. 

In progress

Successful active travel initiatives already underway thanks to £753,062 of Transport Scotland’s Active Travel Infrastructure funding include the installation of new crossings, tightening of junctions, footway widening, and traffic calming measures to improve active travel routes to school and ensure the safety of young children and families.  Other funding includes £270,000 of Transport Scotland’s ‘People and Place’ funding to deliver Bikeability training and work in schools, organising staff lunchtime walks, and bike maintenance sessions for members of the public. 

Bike hire at Sheriffhall

In September, the council also got support from SEStran for a £56,000 initiative to install Brompton Bike Hire lockers at Sheriffhall Park and Ride to integrate active travel and public transport. 

Local neighbourhoods

Among future active travel priorities included in the 10-year action plan is improving walking and cycling in local neighbourhoods by including street design elements such as dropped kerbs and road safety improvements.

Cross-boundary journeys

Larger scale plans include improvements to Melville Dykes Road from the A7 into Lasswade and onwards to Loanhead to help pedestrians and cyclists travel locally as well as make cross-boundary journeys between Edinburgh and Midlothian communities.   

Gowkley Moss

The plan also prioritises making the A703 from Gowkley Moss to Hillend and onwards to Edinburgh, safer for active travel journeys and improving pedestrian and cycling facilities between Eskbank Train Station and Dalkeith Town Centre.

Extending National Cycle Network

Funding would also be sought to extend National Cycle Network 196 from Penicuik to the Midlothian/Scottish Borders boundary at Leadburn. This will link into the Scottish Borders extension of its network from Peebles-Eddleston-Leadburn, creating a fully off-road tourism and leisure route from Peebles to Musselburgh.