CYCLISTS now make up a fifth of all rush-hour traffic on Lothian Road, according to a new study.

Cycle lobby groups say the results prove that cyclists are making a big contribution to reducing congestion and plan to press the council for more help in boosting the number of cyclists.

The Lothians cycle campaign group Spokes found that 19.1 per cent of all northbound vehicles on Lothian Road between 8am and 9am were bicycles.

The study, which took place on May 15th, also found cyclists made up 16.4 per cent of all traffic heading into the city during the morning rush hour on George IV Bridge, where it meets Forrest Road.

Spokes claims the council needs to do more to encourage cycling, including improving the coloured surfaces for both cycle, and shared bus and cycle lanes.

But council chiefs said they were already doing a great deal for cyclists in the city and added the survey results were proof that cyclists felt safe when using their bikes during rush hour.

Dave du Feu, of Spokes Resources Group, said: "The council needs to appreciate the very high level of bike use they have already achieved, and the contribution it is already making to the economy of the city.

"There is vast potential for further increase if the council takes cycling seriously and stops shooting themselves in the foot by removing colour from cycle and bus lanes.

"The huge levels of cycling on George IV Bridge, leading to the Mound, highlight the scandalous delay in resurfacing the Mound cycle lanes."

The latest survey follows on from a similar one in November last year which found one in seven of all forms of transport on Lothian Road during the morning rush hour was a bike.

Ian Maxwell, a member of Spokes, added: "I am delighted with the count because it illustrates the potential of cycling to make a real difference to congestion in Edinburgh.

"There are clearly a lot more cyclists on the roads than people think and more needs to be done to encourage this."

The Spokes count found that cars were the main cause of congestion, with 509 private northbound cars between 8am and 9am as well as 173 buses and commercial vehicles.

The group claims if half the 161 cyclists drove instead, cars would increase by a further 16 per cent.

Jackie Howlett, who organised the survey, said: "The amount of cycle traffic revealed by the survey surprised everyone, and all our volunteers were delighted to have helped."

Councillor Phil Wheeler, the city's transport leader, said: "The council puts a lot of work into supporting and promoting alternative methods of transport such as cycling.

"This may explain why Cycling Scotland recently voted Edinburgh as one of the best cities in terms of the quality of provision for cyclists.

"The survey suggests that cyclists feel safe when using their bikes during rush hour, just as it is vital that all road users feel safe.

"Initiatives such as advanced stop lines for bike users, which have been installed at all suitable signalised junctions, will have helped this.

"Coloured cycle lanes are not under threat because they exist to protect bike users, and would only be altered following consultation with interested parties."