Thousands sign petition against dedicated cycle track
Campaigners claims the plan for the city centre will force business to close and increase pollution.
Opponents of plans for a dedicated cycle track through Edinburgh city centre are this afternoon (Weds) handing a petition in to the city council.
They have gathered around 2,600 signatures demanding the local authority scraps the idea.
Separating cyclists from other traffic is designed to improve safety and encourage more people to leave their cars at home, reducing congestion.
The track would run next to roads between Roseburn and York Place.
Protesters are focusing their opposition on the west end stretch from Roseburn to Haymarket, claiming it will lead to shop closures, higher congestion, air pollution and poorer pedestrian safety.
The petition supports the use of the existing National Cycle Route 1 as an alternative, which runs along the off-road paths and low-traffic streets of Balbirnie.
They say this alternative would save the council ÂŁ1m.
Taxi drivers are also said to be angry at the planned removal of a rank outside Haymarket Station.