City of Edinburgh Council have launched a consultation on a new cycle path from Roseburn in the West through the city centre to Leith Walk in the East.

http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/roseburntoleith

The contentious bit seems to be Roseburn, where the plans are for general traffic lane to be replaced by a protected cycle path along the Northern side.

A local resident has expressed concerns that it will "will harm Roseburn businesses by preventing parking outside the shops for delivery vans and shoppers."

They have started both an online and paper petition. Of the signatories, 2 are local councillors and a MSP.

The petition recommends that the existing route through Balbirnie Place and Haymarket Yards is used which is convulted and crosses the tram lines at an accute angle.

When one of the Councillors put them signing it onto twitter, a lively debate ensued with evidence being given to show that bike lanes actually increase local shop's turnovers http://m.fastcompany.com/1682022/want-to-make-money-build-a-business-on-a-bike-lane

And that shopkeepers overestimate the number of shoppers arriving by car

http://www.citylab.com/cityfixer/2015/03/the-complete-business-case-for-converting-street-parking-into-bike-lanes/387595/

I believe that the best route is down the main Roseburn/West Coates route as it is both the most direct/encouraging for cycling and will improve the environment of Roseburn & West Coates.

In addition to signing this please do take the time to respond formally to the consultation through the online form or by email.