Friday November 13th 2026
Edinburgh City chambers
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Nicholas Malizia
Councillors voted to continue a bus lane trial after thousands of residents signed a petition urging officials to halt it.
Over 2,000 individual residents and 60 businesses protested against the changes enacted between East Milton Road and London Road amid concerns for local businesses, elderly people, and disabled locals.
The council launched the 18-month trial launched on October 12, 2026, extending bus lane hours during the day and introducing them on weekends. It was rolled out in an effort to improve public transport, tackle bus delays, and reduce congestion on main roads.
The trial has seen parking banned in bus lanes from 7am to 7pm, seven days a week. This replaced the previous peak operating times from 7.30am to 9.30am and 4pm to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday. Blue Badge holders are allowed to park during certain hours and loading is still permitted at specific times.
A petition has since accumulated thousands of signatures from locals concerned about the impact they would have on the community.
According to council documents, the petition stated: “The businesses along this stretch rely heavily on passing trade and customers being able to stop nearby. This includes florists, hairdressers, food businesses and other independent shops.
“Many customers are elderly, disabled or have limited mobility and simply cannot park a significant distance away and walk. Removing or severely restricting this access risks reducing footfall and putting already struggling independent businesses under even greater financial pressure.”
The owner of Nikkis Fleurs, a shop located in Meadow Bank within the trial zone, told councillors the bus lanes had “seriously” impacted her businesses.
Giving a deputation at the Transport and Environment Committee meeting on Wednesday, she said: “I’m not against bus lanes, I’m not against public transport, and I’m not against making Edinburgh a greener city. What I am against is introducing restrictions for 12 hours a day, seven days a week without properly considering the consequences for the people who live and work in these communities.”
She claimed around 20 to 25 customers would physically enter the shop on Saturdays prior to the trial. Now she sees just three to five, with Saturday walk-in revenue plummeting from as much as £1000 to as low as £60, she claimed.
The business owner added: “These changes have happened since restrictions were introduced and I believe they deserve serious investigation.”
Some councillors shared the fears raised by residents. Cllr Jo Mowat (Con) said: “This is an experimental traffic order process, so alterations can be made. I’m not having businesses going bust on my watch if I can do something about it. Can we perhaps adjust some of this?”
However, while other councillors acknowledged the concerns they were hesitant to scrap the trial just one month after it launched.
Cllr Lorenzo Martinico (Greens) said: “I myself am a user of that route. I can testify that the number of cars parked in bus lanes makes congestion particularly difficult. It’s early days to adjust the trial route and we need to be led by evidence of the process. I’m confident officers will do necessary monitoring.”
Cllr Chas Booth (Greens) said ending the trial early would be “catastrophic” for bus users but called for assurance from officers that local businesses will be considered.
Cllr Kevin Lang (Lib Dem) added that while the petition highlighted livelihood concerns from some business owners, the trial could improve the livelihood of other capital residents relying on public transit to travel to work.
He said: “There are competing issues and pressures here. What I heard today is particular pressure on Saturdays. Even relatively minor adjustments of timing for when loading is allowed could make a difference.”
Councillors passed a Labour motion 9 to 2 which agreed to take no further action “given that the bus lane trial is already underway and should be allowed to conclude before its outcomes are evaluated”.
The petition will be referred to the Traffic Orders team to be formally considered as part of the Experimental Traffic Regulation Order consultation process.
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