The Edinburgh Reporter September 2021

8 NEWS
Cycling friends Kirsty
Lewin, left, and
Stella Thomson
Back
in the
picture
Artist Bernie Reid
returns with
Mexican
mural
Experience the
joy of cycling
Active travel is about connections
By KIRSTY LEWIN
IF YOU DON’T cycle, you may be watching the
debates in Edinburgh about safe cycling
infrastructure with surprise or bemusement.
You may read arguments about public health,
about climate change, or equalities. What you
don’t hear enough about is joy. Most of us who
cycle in Edinburgh do it because we love it. We
love the fresh air, the feeling of getting around
under our own steam, the rush of flying down a
hill, the reward of a cake and coffee after a long
ride, the joy of seeing a small child ride a bike
for the first time.
When cyclists stop at a traffic light in a red
advanced stop lane, and another cyclist is there,
they often have a chat. We might comment on
each other’s bikes, or on the route we’re taking,
or ask about cycle parking at a particular
location. When we pass each other on roads or
paths, we usually nod or wave or smile. Often
we’ll even stop to chat, despite never having
met before, because we recognise the brand of
cycle, or we think the other person is from
cycling Twitter and we can finally put a face to
a social media handle.
The social activity is not confined to making
connections with strangers. Many of us have
social lives that include cycle campaigning. We
get together for site visits, studying road and
junction lay outs to work out how to make a
street safer for cycling. We ask each other about
personal experiences and needs. How would
you manage with children on this street? Is this
street suitable for cargo bikes? Could you ride a
trike or a handcycle here? Invariably, at these
site visits, new connections and friendships
are made.
And then there’s the cycling activity that is
strictly social. Cycling to an East Lothian beach
for a picnic. Cycling out to Midlothian
reservoirs to lie under the shade of pine trees.
Cycling to South Queensferry to check out the
bridges. Cycling to the Pentlands with the
children for an overnight camping trip. Along
the way we may stop to look at bluebells, pick
brambles, dip our feet in a cool stream, spot
a kingfisher on the Esk, or an otter in the
Water of Leith.
Cycling is fast enough to get around
efficiently. But it’s slow enough to make
connections – with strangers, with friends and
family, and with our natural environment.
If you don’t yet cycle, do give it a try.
Check out your local bike shops for advice
and maps – and pick up some joy.
AT ONE OF THE newest restaurants in
town there is a 10 metre long wall painting
designed by Scottish artist, Bernie Reid.
Reid, who has his work exhibited in some
of the world’s leading galleries, was asked
to paint something with a Mexican
revolutionary theme for the new El Cartel
Roxburgh. The painting was created with a
mixture of emulsion and spray paint and
includes abstract figures in primary
colours, creating a visual drama for the
interior of the new Royal Mile restaurant.
Bernie said: “This was a fantastic
commission coming out of lockdown. El
Cartel wanted something reminiscent of
the large frescoes by Mexican painter
Diego Rivera who helped to establish
murals in international art in the early 20th
century. It was the perfect opportunity for
me to bring my graffiti style to an iconic
Latin American tradition.
“It is also quite a challenge to test
yourself by painting directly on to a wall -
to get the composition right in a way that
will attract people’s interest and draw
their eyes along the length of the picture.
I hope diners will be intrigued and that it
adds to the ambience and character of
the restaurant.
“My trademark is weird figurative
paintings with a graffiti attitude and that
means putting them in unloved spots
around the city so as many people as
Bernie relished the
graffiti-style commission
possible can see them. You must have fun
and feel involved in the art you produce.
That’s how I felt creating the wall painting
for El Cartel. I enjoyed it and I hope that
comes across and that everyone can find
something they like.”
Reid’s previous work can be found in
other Edinburgh restaurants owned by Bon
Vivant Group, and in the playground of
Wester Hailes Education Centre where
Gang Billboard is displayed in an area
accessible to everyone. There are others on
abandoned doors and street corners
around Leith.