Two Key Safe Cycling Routes Show Massive Increase in Use

If you build it, they will come. Sound familiar? Turns out that old adage isn’t just reserved for baseball games with ghosts, it actually works for safe cycling infrastructure.

Recent traffic data from Cycling Scotland shows the success of two central cycle routes in Glasgow and Edinburgh. There has been a significant increase in cycling activity, which highlights the importance of investing in safe and accessible cycling infrastructure. Why? Because the greater the safe cycling network, the more people choose bicycles to commute and get around town.

In Glasgow, the South City Way cycle route, running along Victoria Road in the south of the city, has seen a 46% year-on-year increase in cycling activity. Over a two-day survey period in September 2024, 5,457 cyclists were recorded on the South City Way, representing 15% of total journeys on Victoria Road. This is a new record for cycling modal share on an urban street in Scotland. By comparison, nearby Saracen Street, which lacks dedicated cycle lanes, saw just 1.5% of journeys made by bike.

Further evidence of the South City Way’s impact is seen on surrounding streets. Cycling activity on Nithsdale Road, a nearby route with no safe cycling lanes, rose by 45% from September 2023 to September 2024. Similarly, cycling on Allison Street increased by 22% over the same period, illustrating the wider influence of the dedicated cycle infrastructure.

In Edinburgh, the City Centre West to East Link (CCWEL), connecting Roseburn to the city centre, has also experienced significant growth. According to Cycling Scotland, a traffic survey conducted in January 2025 showed that 2,199 cyclists used the West Coates section of the route, representing an 83% increase from the same period in January 2024. Overall, the CCWEL route recorded a cycling modal share of 8.3% in September 2024, just nine months after its completion.

“This is yet more evidence that when Scotland builds high-quality cycling infrastructure, it gets more people cycling,” said Keith Irving, Chief Executive of Cycling Scotland. “Given that cycling journeys typically account for around 2% of traffic on urban streets, the fact we are now seeing four to seven times that number of journeys being cycled on these routes – together with the huge growth in cycling numbers – shows just what can be achieved when Scotland invests in safe cycling routes.”

The success of these routes underscores the vital role that quality infrastructure plays in promoting cycling as a mode of transport.

Annalise, a commuter who cycles with her son along Glasgow’s South City Way, shared her experience with Cycling Scotland.

“It’s brilliant to have this and it makes such a difference,” she said. “I’ve lived in other parts of the city that don’t have anything like this, and I didn’t cycle as much as I do now. We cycle together to school a few days a week, and I then use the route the rest of the way to get to work in the centre. It saves me so much time.”

Both Glasgow and Edinburgh have made substantial strides in developing these routes. Glasgow’s South City Way is one of the most ambitious urban cycling projects in the country, providing a 3km fully separated, on-street cycle lane connecting Glasgow’s Southside to the city centre. The route was developed by Glasgow City Council in partnership with Sustrans and has received cross-party support, with further expansions planned as part of the city’s wider active travel network.

Similarly, Edinburgh’s 4km CCWEL route, which officially opened in 2024, offers a direct and safe cycling corridor between Roseburn and Picardy Place. The project, funded by Transport Scotland through Sustrans’ Places for Everyone programme, also included improvements to road crossings, footways, and greening along the route. The CCWEL now connects to the 2km Leith Walk cycle route, which recorded 580,000 cycle journeys in 2024, reflecting a 40% increase from 2023.

 “I’m pleased to welcome this latest evidence from Cycling Scotland. It confirms what cities around the world and here in Scotland already know – where you create a safer environment for cycling through quality infrastructure and support to use it, you see more people cycling,” said Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop. “In turn, this means more people living healthier lives, saving money, leaving their car at home and reducing their emissions.”

As the data shows, the investment in cycling infrastructure is having a clear, positive impact on travel behavior. Cycling Scotland continues to monitor changes in travel patterns across Scotland, conducting traffic surveys in partnership with local authorities to track shifts in modal share and support the development of more sustainable, active travel routes across the country.

Looking ahead, the Scottish Government has committed to further investment in active travel. In 2025-26, £188 million will be allocated to help create more opportunities for people to choose sustainable, active travel for everyday journeys.