Meadowbank retailers claim the 7‑7‑7 bus lane is wiping out customers and could force shops to shut within months.
Last Monday a city-wide trial dubbed the 7-7-7 bus lane went live in Edinburgh, stretching from Milton Road East to Leith Walk via London Road. The scheme reserves the lane for buses from 7am to 7pm every day, aiming to speed up public transport.
While the council markets the change as a boost for commuters, merchants in the Meadowbank and Jock’s Lodge districts report an immediate dip in footfall and new loading constraints that are jeopardising day-to-day operations.
Florist’s battle with the new 7-7-7 bus lane
At the heart of Wolseley Place, Nikki Boyd runs Nikki’s Fleurs a small florist that relies on street parking for both customers and deliveries. She says her shop, which normally greets around fifteen patrons a day, saw only one walk through the door after the lane was enforced.
"We’d usually have 15 or so customers walk in the door, and today we’ve had one," she told reporters. The pressure is mounting: "The chances are my business is going to go under. In 18 months my shop will not be here."
Boyd launched a petition against the lane in August, arguing that the corridor is unnecessary for traffic flow yet disastrous for commerce. The new rules give her merely a half-hour window to load large funeral arrangements, forcing her to park on a side street and haul bouquets two at a time. "It’s almost impossible to do, because you can’t just run out with them," she explained, noting that funeral directors and wedding planners demand precise delivery times that no longer align with the council’s timetable.
Even though she supports efforts to improve public transport, Boyd worries about a broader impact on the high street. "I’m worried about what it means for the future of the local high street. We can’t let it become a ghost town," she warned, highlighting how the lane’s restrictions could turn a once-busy commercial strip into a deserted avenue.
Other local businesses feel the pinch
Just a few doors down, the owners of Açai Bros Michael and Lynn, have suspended their partnership with Deliveroo. Delivery riders, they say, are reluctant to enter the area for fear of navigating the restricted lane. Michael added, "We know our customers are risking a ticket to park here. We’re actually looking at other premises away from the area." Lynn echoed the sentiment, noting that small shops lack the private parking assets of larger chains such as Starbucks, making them especially vulnerable.
On Willowbrae Road, Carmin co-owner of the dog-grooming salon Paws Perfect echoes the same anxiety. "It’s been really slow. I think people are worried about parking here and are avoiding the area," she said. Carmin confirmed that the entire row of businesses along the street has noticed a drop in passerby traffic, and while the full impact may only be clear after a few weeks, the early signs are unmistakable.
The council has invited feedback on the trial, but both Boyd and the other shop owners feel the process is already predetermined. Michael summed it up: "The council has said they are keen to hear feedback, but it sort of feels like the type of thing that will happen anyway regardless of whether we object." As the 7-7-7 experiment proceeds, Meadowbank’s merchants brace for a possible wave of closures that could reshape the neighborhood’s commercial landscape.
