Cycling isn’t fringe culture in Edinburgh

As an Edinburgh local, I’ve been treating myself to some festival festivities, as I do every year. This year, however, I’ve been wowed by some picks from outside of the festival programme.

I recently visited the amazing ‘Pedal Power’ exhibit at the Museum of Edinburgh. The exhibition shows off the history of some of the incredible cycle campaigning that has taken place in Scotland’s capital and is well worth a look if you’re in Edinburgh for the festival, it’s on until 22 September.

Before the International Festival or the Fringe got started this year, the Edinburgh Festival of Cycling enjoyed another popular year, featuring Cycling UK’s own Jim Densham. The National Museum of Edinburgh’s ongoing CTC exhibit continues to bring in visitors despite a busier programme than ever outside. Clearly, cycling and culture are thriving hand in hand in Scotland.

I recently interviewed Cycling UK member Katy Rodgers who is making her way round the UK coast. Katy’s journey is clearly remarkable, but so was mine in some ways. In Edinburgh, I was able to find my carriage and get on to the train without any fuss thanks to Scotrail’s recently updated decals.

Cycling UK was consulted on these wonderous green gates which make life easier for passengers travelling with (or without) bikes. And, in Leven, I was able to glide across the concourses straight onto purpose-built active travel infrastructure.

These small victories may not be remarkable to everyone, but on an integrated journey, they make a huge difference and allow for more choice, for more people. Thinking back to the Pedal Power exhibit in Edinburgh, they often exist on the back of hard-fought campaigns.

It’s worth remembering that cycling didn’t always have a contentious place in the UK, motonormativity wasn’t always the norm and before monoculture come … cultures. I was reminded of this by my colleague who recently sent me this amazing BFI archive film of Cycling UK (CTC) in its heyday: ‘Cyclists Special’.

Cycling UK’s director of external affairs Sarah McMonagle welcomed the new Labour government by asking for the divisive rhetoric around cycling to come to an end. I fully agree. Hopefully the ‘culture war’ can be concluded with slightly more culture – cycling culture.

If you’d like to share in some campaigning, or culture, consider joining the charity as part of our growing Cycle Advocacy Network or as a member. Members get a monthly magazine full of inspiration, recommendations and, of course, culture.