The unveiling of new tram tracks in Edinburgh’s city centre has led to the city council coordinating classes in road navigation for the city’s cyclists following a spate of accidents in the past week.

New tram lines have been installed in Princes Street, with the reopening of the thoroughfare taking place just over a week ago. In that time some half a dozen cyclists have been involved in crashes.  The plight of the pedal pushers was made even more prominent after one cyclist posted video footage of his crash on the popular website YouTube. Tie, the company behind the tram developments, claimed that training sessions would start early next week.

The head of the city’s cycling forum, CitycyclingEdinburgh.info, Chris Hill, claimed that until appropriate signage and road markings were installed there was a very real risk of serious injury on the busy thoroughfare.

The majority of accidents have taken place as cyclists enter the street as there are no indications of any tram lines, which can be lethal to those on a bicycle. In one case where a cyclist fell to the road Hill said had a bus been travelling behind it would have been deadly.

Hill claims the lack of a simple coat of paint and a few signs is defeating the city councils aim of increasing cycle traffic to 15% by the year 2020.

Tie, who has rolled out tram lines in several other cities over recent years, said consultation with previous councils had proven that training sessions were beneficial. Though the exact date is yet to be finalised, independent specialist instructors will be used to educate cyclists how best to ride safely in tram line areas.