Edinburgh locals want new bus route to 'inaccessible' athletic sites
Local surfers and climbers are petitioning Edinburgh Council to introduce a direct bus route from city centre to Ratho, providing access to the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena and to the newly built Lost Shore Surf Resort.
The petition - now signed by over 1,200 people - will be considered by councillors on Thursday, January 30.
Both athletic complexes are located in Ratho, nearly 10 miles from Edinburgh City Centre but are not connected by a direct bus route.
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The petition claims it takes "over an hour" and "at least two bus journeys" to reach the climbing arena.
The Climbing Arena, the largest indoor rock climbing site in Europe, is located beside the Lost Shore Surf Resort - which launched in November 2024 and offers surfers the chance to surf artificially created waves.
Jemima Hawkins, a third year English literature student at the University of Edinburgh, has been surfing for years. She says that reaching Lost Shore is "basically impossible" for those without a car.
Jemima told Edinburgh Live : "As someone who likes to go surfing but also doesn't have a car, it's basically impossible to access. You pretty much can't go unless you're being driven or take an Uber."
While biking is an option, the student says the journey would take over an hour and require surfers to carry bulky equipment and ride home after an exhausting surf session.
Currently, many surfers turn to coastal sites to get their surfing fix, such as Belhaven Bay in Dunbar.
Despite being over 26 miles from Edinburgh city centre, Jemima says she frequents the East Lothian beach because it is served by a direct bus route - the X7 towards Dunbar - and often sees other people with surfboards riding the bus.
However, she hopes the Ratho sites will eventually be easier to access. Given its proximity to city centre and its offering both a climbing gym and surfing, Jemima says the site is "ideal".
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She added: "Surfing on the east coast of Scotland is freezing cold and there are often intense rip currents in some places. Theres always danger involved. Having inland surfing in a controlled environment is a safe way to enjoy the hobby.
"There’s nothing worse than being spooked because you tried to ride wave that's too big for you. If in safe environment, you can keep trying over and over."
The petition will be considered by councillors on Thursday at City Chambers.
It states: "We request that the City of EdinburghCouncil establish a direct and more efficient public transport route from the city centre to the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena(EICA).
"Currently, it takes over an hour to reach the arena, requiring at least two bus journeys, which is inconvenient for both regular users and visitors.
"Given that the EICA is one of Europe's largest indoor climbing arenas, a direct route would increase accessibility, promote physical activity, and provide an eco-friendly alternative to driving.
"We urge the council to consider implementing a direct bus service or modifying existing routes to create a faster and more convenient connection between the city centre and the EICA."
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